Solitaire Setting Search In Progress! Thoughts? Opinions? Help? :)

[geckodani]

Care to help a girl out? I''m looking for a new solitaire setting. I already messed up a reset once, and am determined to do research until I am blue in the face to make sure I''ll be happy with this one. Also using WF, rather than an unknown B&M.

So... I have been through every post I could find on solitaires, peg sets, flush fits, solstice settings, tiffany replicas, 4 vs 6 prongs, cathedral settings, etc etc etc.... I''m talking with WF about getting a modified solstice head peg set for me. But, since you''re all so fabulous- I thought I''d run it by you first and see if you had any suggestions I hadn''t though of yet.

The diamond in question is a .75, RB, D, VS2.

Here''s what I know:

* Must be 6 prong. I''m a 6 prong girl through and through. 4 just don''t do it for me.
* Must sit flush. Gaps make me crazy!
* 2 mm band preferred.
* Undecided on cathedral settings.

I also know that:

* I dislike the standard tiffany knock off. The matchstick prongs just don''t do it for me.
* Vatche Royal Crown is too expensive, and the band is too thick for my tastes.
* A peg head on a band will not "flow" organically. I''m willing to sacrifice the organic look for a flush fit.

I think my best options are to either have WF peg set a stuller solstice head on a band for me, or have them modify the prongs on a standard tiffany knock off, notching them so a band will sit flush and rounding out the prongs. I haven''t discussed that option with them yet.

Anyone have suggestions I haven''t thought of yet?!?!

Here are some pics of things I''ve been looking at and debating:

 

[geckodani]

...

 

[geckodani]

 

[beau13]

I just LOVE my stuller solstice head...I''m sure the finished product will be very eyecatching!

 

[geckodani]

Date: 8/28/2008 2:39:10 PM
Author: beau13
I just LOVE my stuller solstice head...I''m sure the finished product will be very eyecatching!

I keep ogling your ring too, LOL! So gorgeous!!! So you think it will be okay for a .75? I''m trying not to overpower the poor thing, LOL.

Did you use the low or the medium head?

 

[geckodani]

Up close and personal with the head designs.

 

[luvmyhalo]

Hey Dani! The "round 6 prong peg" looks pretty...very delicate.

I also have the stuller solstice. It is a bulky head. I''m going to see if my jeweler can thin it out for me...it just seems to overwhelm my stone (1.61ct). It''s a very pretty head but it just has a lot of metal!

 

[geckodani]

Date: 8/28/2008 4:49:55 PM
Author: luvmyhalo
Hey Dani! The ''round 6 prong peg'' looks pretty...very delicate.

I also have the stuller solstice. It is a bulky head. I''m going to see if my jeweler can thin it out for me...it just seems to overwhelm my stone (1.61ct). It''s a very pretty head but it just has a lot of metal!

Mind if I stalk your posts for more pics?

I think if they can thin it out it''s still my fave. But at that point, I might as well go with something else, you know? Hmmmm. Thanks for responding!

 

[shimmer]

Agree with luvmyhalo...the solstice is my favourite but seeing it next to the others (great idea!) does show how much metal is going on there. I think WF would do a great job modifying it though, but I do understand that if it''s not perfect the way it is, maybe it''s not the one?

 

[geckodani]

Update: We got a refund on my screwed up setting (Go Mr.Gecko!) but now my diamond is chilling loose in the safe. Search just became more urgent!

I''m kinda leaning towards the second one, the tulip one, which makes no sense, other than the fact that I think that it will help with the flush fit. ???

 

[LostSapphire]

Wasn''t there something called a "swan" that was gorgeously fluid?

I''ll try and find it.......

LS

 

[geckodani]

Date: 8/28/2008 9:20:12 PM
Author: LostSapphire
Wasn''t there something called a ''swan'' that was gorgeously fluid?

I''ll try and find it.......

LS

Yeah, it''s the Vatche swan. I like it, but it''s out of my price range. I do love it though!

 

[LostSapphire]

Date: 8/28/2008 9:22:49 PM
Author: geckodani

Date: 8/28/2008 9:20:12 PM
Author: LostSapphire
Wasn''t there something called a ''swan'' that was gorgeously fluid?

I''ll try and find it.......

LS

Yeah, it''s the Vatche swan. I like it, but it''s out of my price range. I do love it though!

Sorry, but here''s a pic anyways.

 

[geckodani]

Date: 8/28/2008 9:23:41 PM
Author: LostSapphire

Date: 8/28/2008 9:22:49 PM
Author: geckodani

Date: 8/28/2008 9:20:12 PM
Author: LostSapphire
Wasn''t there something called a ''swan'' that was gorgeously fluid?

I''ll try and find it.......

LS

Yeah, it''s the Vatche swan. I like it, but it''s out of my price range. I do love it though!

Sorry, but here''s a pic anyways.

I can Drool!!! LOL! Also - wouldn''t a band just cover up the surprise diamonds? I''ve never understood that, LOL!

 

[LostSapphire]

Date: 8/28/2008 9:24:47 PM
Author: geckodani

Date: 8/28/2008 9:23:41 PM
Author: LostSapphire

Date: 8/28/2008 9:22:49 PM
Author: geckodani

Date: 8/28/2008 9:20:12 PM
Author: LostSapphire
Wasn''t there something called a ''swan'' that was gorgeously fluid?

I''ll try and find it.......

LS

Yeah, it''s the Vatche swan. I like it, but it''s out of my price range. I do love it though!

Sorry, but here''s a pic anyways.

I can Drool!!! LOL! Also - wouldn''t a band just cover up the surprise diamonds? I''ve never understood that, LOL!

I agree with you on that one. Have a look in the threads (I just searched ''swan'' and got quite a few). Maybe there''s something in there that makes your heart *sing*.

Ls

 

[geckodani]

Date: 8/28/2008 9:52:09 PM
Author: LostSapphire

Date: 8/28/2008 9:24:47 PM
Author: geckodani

Date: 8/28/2008 9:23:41 PM
Author: LostSapphire

Date: 8/28/2008 9:22:49 PM
Author: geckodani

Date: 8/28/2008 9:20:12 PM
Author: LostSapphire
Wasn''t there something called a ''swan'' that was gorgeously fluid?

I''ll try and find it.......

LS

Yeah, it''s the Vatche swan. I like it, but it''s out of my price range. I do love it though!

Sorry, but here''s a pic anyways.

I can Drool!!! LOL! Also - wouldn''t a band just cover up the surprise diamonds? I''ve never understood that, LOL!

I agree with you on that one. Have a look in the threads (I just searched ''swan'' and got quite a few). Maybe there''s something in there that makes your heart *sing*.

Ls

*sigh* I''ll keep looking! My mom and I are going on a hunt to the B&M stores this weekend so I can try on a bajillion styles too. I didn''t get to do that the first time around. I think that after the busy setting that had so, so many problems, I now want to keep it simple. Does that make sense?

Nice Avatar, BTW.

 

[Deelight]

I don''t know what your max budget, this LM ring is seriously beautiful and having it with a plain shank would be stunning and very delicate

http://www.artofplatinum.com/4images/details.php?image_id=103

 

[ButterBean]

Hey there Geckodani! You''re a solitaire girl like me? I prefer yellow gold, but these are my favorites of the lower priced offerings.

#1 has to be the Dimend Scaasi - I really love that one.

 

[ButterBean]

I also like these 2 from Whiteflash alot, but the price is creeping up there.

 

[ButterBean]

OOPS, can''t seem to attach more than one at a time. Here''s the other WF

 

[ButterBean]

I guess it''s not going to attach. But look at the WF Laureato, too.

 

[geckodani]

Date: 8/28/2008 10:18:22 PM
Author: Deelight
I don''t know what your max budget, this LM ring is seriously beautiful and having it with a plain shank would be stunning and very delicate

http://www.artofplatinum.com/4images/details.php?image_id=103

I would LOVE a LM. Too pricey though, unfortunately! I''m trying to do this for $1500 for the solitaire setting and a blingy band. Meh. Thanks for the suggestion and the eye candy though!

 

[geckodani]

Butterbean - I like the Dimend Scaasi one - but don't they only sell settings with stones? I thought they wouldn't sell just a setting. I'll have to investigate! I really like the way the band tapers on that one!

The Laureato has a phenominal head, but I'm not crazy about the way it joins to the shank. Hmmmmm.

Thanks for all the suggestions! Keep 'em comin if anyone has more, LOL!

ETA: Butterbean - I am DEFINITELY a solitaire girl! I strayed a bit and am glad to come back.

 

[geckodani]

Date: 8/28/2008 10:53:14 PM
Author: ButterBean
I also like these 2 from Whiteflash alot, but the price is creeping up there.

ButterBean - Where did you find this one?

ETA: I know it's from WF, but do you know what thread? It's not as chunky as the Tiffany Replica on the site, and the band tapers...

 

[shimmer]

That last WF ring is a modification of the legato to a six-prong. I was talking to Katie about a 6 prong legato and this is a picture she sent me. I have a (REALLY BAD) photoshop of something I did when I was considering it...I called it the legato hybrid, I'm so dorky hehe.

 

[shimmer]

Didn't attach! Oh, I think this was Katiedid's picture too (before I photoshopped), hope you don't mind!

 

[geckodani]

Date: 8/29/2008 10:49:28 AM
Author: shimmer
Didn't attach! Oh, I think this was Katiedid's picture too (before I photoshopped), hope you don't mind!

Hmmm. I was thinking about asking if they could put a 6 prong head on the legato. I LOVE the way it looks from the top with the taper...

Question - how high is your band shimmer? Does it snuggle under there? Would it smack a 6 prong?

ETA: I need an emotie of banging my head against my desk, LOL.

Man, I wish I liked 4 prongs! I ADORE the legato from the side. The top just... meh. It's beautiful, but not me.

 

[geckodani]

Hey Shimmer- you totally don''t have to answer this, and I know it will be a bit different for me I''m sure, but how much was your band? Just trying to get a ballpark idea. Jamie is going to get with me next week about the band, but since I''m now in a bit more of a hurry, I''m trying to come up witha budget.

 

[Kelli]

Hey Dani! I''m not much help, but I hope you find what you are looking for! This thread is helping me too, because I already talked to Lesley or Vera (shoot--can''t remember which one) about changing my prongs as well after my recut is done. The head on mine is from stuller too, although I have no idea what it''s called. I like the band because it was shaped (and thinned out) to match my wedding band, but the head makes it like eight feet tall. Although I did actually get a LOT of compliments on how pretty the setting was, the height of it just looked a little gawky for me. The pictures make it look way worse than it did IRL, but it still sat pretty high. I''ll post pics because you said you were undecided on cathedral, and mine is a cathedral. One GREAT thing about it is that it''ll sit flush with a lot of bands, which I know is something you want. Hopefully mine will still sit nicely with my wedding band if I lower it a little.

Pics coming as soon as I can locate them.

 

[Kelli]

here she is being rediculously tall