Setting My Dream Lavender Spinel with Inken (Enhoerning Jewelry)

[voce]

Part 1: In March 2019 I acquired an elongated cushion lavender spinel from Haydenfred Gems. I considered it close to my dream lavender color, reflecting pink and/or blue depending on the light.

However, I did not like how it appeared against my hand, which made it look more pink, less purple.

It also had a pronounced tilt window. In the picture below, it's the second stone from right.

I selected a Stuller setting for it, since I didn't have an immediate inspiration for a custom design for it.

I thought it would look nice with a white diamond halo, with a couple mint garnets at the sides to give it more pop, so I selected a couple mint garnets from my stash of mint garnet melee from Yvonne to go with this lavender spinel (leftmost box).

I completed a lot of projects last year and a few this spring. After I sent Inken the stones to set in the summer after NYC started coming out of lockdown, I was sad to be informed that my center stone and the garnets are too small for the standard Stuller setting. So we'd have to go custom. It's back to the drawing board, as I did not want to have a custom design that simply mimics a standard style. If I pay to go custom, I want something utterly unique to come out of the experience.

 

[voce]

Part 2: As I've said to folks here and there, my work life got busier and busier after the pandemic had hit. So it took a couple more months for me to find the free time and inclination to sketch, and take inspiration from gems. Based on the new measurements from Inken, I started sketching some bright-cut diamonds around the spinel for a halo, then decided I didn't want something too "boxy" in overall shape so added green and pink stones. Sorry, I colored with highlighters that are way more vivid in color than the actual stones I had. I had the idea to go with a gallery that looks like loops, but, due to the point at the bottom and a wider top, also looks vaguely floral in shape. My sketch I think communicated the idea but was quite heavy and not that refined.

Based on only this sketch, Inken and her team came up with the first set of CADs.

I then had the idea of, what if I had a more textured band instead of a plain band? So I asked Inken to use a "CAD engraving" along the band, but only halfway down each side. The second set of CAD came out looking like this; there are thin bands along the edges of the band that looked plain in the CAD, which were for the setter to apply milgrain to. This is a detail that Inken thought of for me, without me asking for it!

 

[voce]

Part 3: A few weeks go by after I give the OK to cast, there are a couple updates here and there, then I am provided with the photos of the completed ring.

 

[pearaffair]

Oh it’s so beautiful! That halo really makes the centre pop! I loved hearing about your process. Can’t wait to see hand shots!

 

[voce]

Part 4: The thrill of opening the ring box. As always, Inken includes small gifts such as a polishing cloth, a nice velvet ring box, and a thoughtful handwritten card.

 

[voce]

Part 5: handshots. I zoomed in on some so you can see the milgrain.







All in all, I'm really glad I did this project with Enhoerning. Inken and her team refined my design and turned the dream into reality. It's always a pleasure to work with her!

 

[voce]

I still see a tilt window, but thankfully the diamonds distract me from it! The spinel is 2.14 ct and I didn't want to risk losing color by cutting it.

Okay, now I gotta stop obsessing and get back to work.

 

[2Neesers]

It’s so beautiful @voce ! The stone, the setting, the profile, everything about this piece is gorgeous

 

[whitewave]

It’s gorgeous!!!

 

[motownmama]

WHAT a ring!

 

[bright&shiny]

Beautiful - congratulations!

 

[elle_71125]

It’s gorgeous! I love how you added that extra pop of color on the sides. I feel like that plays up the center and makes the ring more fun. The shoulders with engraving and milgrain is a nice touch.

 

[natasha-cupcake]

This is gorgeous! Lavender spinel is one of my favorite colored stones and this one has just the right tone and saturation, in my opinion. I love the halo and the side stones, too. Really, really pretty ring!

 

[MamaBear]

What a pretty ring!!

 

[voce]

Oh it’s so beautiful! That halo really makes the centre pop! I loved hearing about your process. Can’t wait to see hand shots!

Thank you, pear affair. Hope the hand shots did not disappoint.

It’s so beautiful @voce ! The stone, the setting, the profile, everything about this piece is gorgeous

Wow, high praise! Thank you, 2Neezers. Looking forward to seeing thought next project completed, too.

It’s gorgeous!!!

Yay, I'm glad you think so.

WHAT a ring!

Thanks.

Beautiful - congratulations!

Thank you, bright &shiny.

It’s gorgeous! I love how you added that extra pop of color on the sides. I feel like that plays up the center and makes the ring more fun. The shoulders with engraving and milgrain is a nice touch.

Yay, happy that you also like the extra pop of color on the side. I feared only lavender and white diamond might have looked a little pale and alien on my hand! I think the engraving just gives another extra touch to play up the effect I wanted to go for, which was the idea of "exquisite".

This is gorgeous! Lavender spinel is one of my favorite colored stones and this one has just the right tone and saturation, in my opinion. I love the halo and the side stones, too. Really, really pretty ring!

Hey there, natasha-cupcake! Haven't seen you around much lately. I had no idea lavender spinel is one of your favorites. I'm glad I finally set mine. Do you have one you've set or are planning to? I'd love a little more colored stone show-and-tell!

What a pretty ring!!

Aw, thanks, Mama Bear!

 

[Yelena]

She is gorgeous Thanks so much for sharing your new beauty and the steps in the journey you took to create her. May you enjoy her for many years to come.

 

[voce]

Care for a few more?

 

[voce]

She is gorgeous Thanks so much for sharing your new beauty and the steps in the journey you took to create her. May you enjoy her for many years to come.

Thanks, Yelena! You are too sweet!

 

[GliderPoss]

It's absolutely gorgeous! All shades of purple are my favourite so winner in my book. The green pops of colour really add to it too.

 

[elle_71125]

I’m LOVING all these pics!

 

[Pinkmartini87]

It’s a gorgeous shade of lavender, wear it in good health and with much joy!

 

[Polyhex]

Such an elegant lavender ring! I love it!

 

[Bonfire]

Wow that’s beautiful! Dreamy!

 

[missy]

It's beautiful @voce you have an amazing eye for creating stunning gemstone pieces. Wear in good health and colorful joy.

 

[icy_jade]

Congrats! The scalloped halo is beautiful

 

[deorwine]

wow so pretty!!

 

[voce]

It's absolutely gorgeous! All shades of purple are my favourite so winner in my book. The green pops of colour really add to it too.

It’s a gorgeous shade of lavender, wear it in good health and with much joy!

Such an elegant lavender ring! I love it!

Wow that’s beautiful! Dreamy!

It's beautiful @voce you have an amazing eye for creating stunning gemstone pieces. Wear in good health and colorful joy.

Congrats! The scalloped halo is beautiful

wow so pretty!!

Thank you everyone! I'm working on my health and hate medical bills, but will do my utmost to get healthier, and enjoy more bling! I am totally doing another project with Enhoerning later in the year, starting November, with a blue sapphire center stone. These projects do so much to give me things to look forward to, as I know for sure I won't be able to celebrate Christmas with all the people I want to this year.

Hope you all stay safe and well to enjoy your bling (and hopefully you commission more stuff for more PS eye candy gratification if you're able to)!

 

[leslie1956]

What a beautiful ring, voce, I love the combo of lavender spinel with the pops of pink and green!

 

[T L]

Gorgeous ring!!

 

[voce]

What a beautiful ring, voce, I love the combo of lavender spinel with the pops of pink and green!

Thank you Leslie! Nice to hear from you!

Gorgeous ring!!

Thank you T L! Hope you stay well, and nice to see you pop around!