Tanzanite Amulet

[mhovingh]

This is the first amulet I photographed (all rings before this). I think the pictures turned out fairly well but I am inexperienced still so I would like to find out what the PS community thinks of them. Looking for any advice or constructive criticisms. I would appreciate any comments on the piece/stone too. Thanks for looking!

7.80 ct Oval Cut Tanzanite In 14k White Gold With Diamonds

 

[oddoneout]

It''s a funky design.

 

[Cehrabehra]

are the diamonds on the left channel set? their tables seem off or something - but the center stone is pretty to my unexpert eye

 

[mhovingh]

One on a bit of an angle.

 

[mhovingh]

Date: 5/16/2010 7:37:38 AM
Author: Cehrabehra
are the diamonds on the left channel set? their tables seem off or something - but the center stone is pretty to my unexpert eye

The metal needs to be re-done and the diamonds need to be re-set. My eye is no expert yet either (though I am working on it every day) when it comes to the stone but I can also at least say that it is pretty and definitely deserving of a re-done setting.

 

[T L]

Date: 5/16/2010 7:45:12 AM
Author: mhovingh

Date: 5/16/2010 7:37:38 AM

Author: Cehrabehra

are the diamonds on the left channel set? their tables seem off or something - but the center stone is pretty to my unexpert eye

The metal needs to be re-done and the diamonds need to be re-set. My eye is no expert yet either (though I am working on it every day) when it comes to the stone but I can also at least say that it is pretty and definitely deserving of a re-done setting.

There's nothing wrong with the stone. It appears to be a very nice size and rich color for tanzanite. It's too good for the setting I think. I'm typicall not a fan of channel set round diamonds, unless they're done with the best workmanship, and those don't look well set or to be of good quality, but it's hard to tell from the angel they're at in your photos.

 

[ma re]

The setting shows a very individualistic approach to design (meaning that it doesen''t look like something most people would normally commission or buy ready-made), but the stone is a real beauty and deserves the best setting possible. Because the piece looks quite "designer-ish" it''s tough to comment on it, so I''ll just say that some things (like the fact that the lower right prong is so far from the frame, compared to the other three) would bug me because I like symmetry and balance, so this amulet isn''t really my taste design-wise. Would you only like to touch-up the piece, or you don''t mind breaking it apart and doing something totally different with this gold and diamonds? Do you only like pieces like this one, which are quite contemporary and less ordinary, or there are other styles you like too? I have a feeling you could get some ideas here: http://www.markschneiderdesign.com/company-info/

 

[mhovingh]

tourmaline_lover - The diamonds and metal both would need some work before someone took this home, assuming they had the desire to keep the design. This was the first amulet I photographed so I didn''t get as many angles as I should have just from a lack of experience, with both photographing amulets and just jewelry/stones in general. From seeing and handling it in person, an up close looks shows the diamonds are not well set and the bumps in the metal. Viewing it on someone at 2+ feet distance, it looks fine. Despite it looking fine to someone that would be walking by you or even standing in front of you having a conversation, if I personally were buying it, for the money that would be put into just the stone, I would want those problems taken care of. This is not a cheap stone and the amulet should reflect that, in my opinion.

ma re - It is a custom design and I can agree that it definitely wouldn''t be expected to have any type of mass appeal. I personally feel the design seems too off-balance and the bot-right prong just adds to that in my opinion, which we apparently agree on. Thank you for that link, there are some really interesting and non-traditional designs that look extremely well done. I don''t design at this point (still learning the basics of gemstones and the metals) but I definitely hope to do some of that in the future, if not in an professional capacity, at least as a hobby with personal pieces. I am more of a traditional styles fan right now, with a liking for fairly basic designs, but I do come across the occasional non-traditional design that catches my eye. I am sure my tastes will change at least a little though as time goes on and I learn more about jewelry.

Thank you all for the comments that have been made so far. Please keep them coming. I am taking today off so I am counting on PS to keep me busy today.

 

[VapidLapid]

The diamonds are out of place, and for what this piece is doing they are unnecessary. I like the asymmetry you''re exploring and would like it to go further in that direction. It is also a good start exploring form and volume. Again I think it would work better if it were taken further. I am wondering if you lost the formal frontality of the frame by letting the sides become even more a gesture in space, more in line with the sculptural element that you''ve started would that work and still hold the stone in center then with no prescribed "correct" point of view? Maybe even then add more of the fluidly shaped frame sides to define the volume then, but just short of a cage. The stone has nice color, but I think a faceted stone says pendant more than it says amulet.

 

[ma re]

Maybe if the stone, together with the prongs, would be suspended from the top of the piece on some sort of a little chain and dangle freely, you would like it more. Wouldn''t be a huge change, but would probably add a sesne of balance to the design IMO. I agree with you 100% when you say that the stone this nice deserves a setting of great quality workmanship, and if you don''t see that right now, you shouldn''t settle for less. Also, take a look at the back of the piece - do you see some problems/defects there in workmanship? That''s how good quality jewellery is often "detected", cause in really fine items even the back (eventhough it''s not even seen) is nicely finished, properly polished, shows no bumps in the metal, nicely drilled and finished holes for stones etc.

 

[mhovingh]

VapidLapid - I like your idea that the diamonds are not necessary for the piece. That is something I hadn''t personally thought of and now wonder if the designer had considered the option of leaving out the diamonds and just having the tanzanite with the metal. I also agree you regarding my poor choice in calling an amulet rather than a pendant given the type of piece it is.

ma re - Regarding the workmanship and looking for problems/defects on the "unseen" areas, that is the way I am when I look at most things. For example, a family member had their car re-painted and when it was done the inside metal of the doors, that you can see only when the doors are open, was still the original color from not being painted. Starting back in grade school, I would not finish projects on time because I was constantly changing things out of a need for perfection. I have shaken some of that need for perfection off while going through school and the years after as a matter of "survival", but I still have it wired in me. If I was making a purchase of the piece rather than just the stone, I wouldn''t accept it as-is given it would be a purchase of choice, not necessity. Now regarding the hanging stone idea, I had not considered that as a possible remedy for the imbalance of the design. It seems like it could be a workable option to give an illusion of balance while maintaining the openness of the design, but as I said before, I am not a designer and haven''t looked much into design yet so I may not be envisioning it the way it would actually turn out when actually applied.