What to do with diamonds?

[akw94]

Hi,
I thought I needed something to change my focus at the moment so here I go...

For some time, I''ve been planning to have my grandmother''s ring re-done. My initial plan was to do earrings and a necklace. Since that time, I''ve decided to use all the diamonds for a necklace. I think that will make the piece much nicer vs. trying to separate them into different pieces and each one isn''t as substantial.
I''ve been trying to decide what to do. I was thinking of something simple, perhaps all the diamonds formed into a cluster, similar to what they look like in the ring. I''ve already had them removed (for the earlier plan to use them) and they are different sizes so I''ve been told that some designs will be difficult. I want something fairly classic in style and not too unique to keep the finances on the piece down.

I had a thread on this quite awhile back but just can''t find it. Lately, I''ve been thinking about this a lot and would really like to have this done in the near future.

Any ideas please? I would love pictures b/c I am not so good dissecting the jewelry lingo.

Thank you!

 

[akw94]

Here''s the photos, forgot them yesterday.

 

[belle]

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/from-old-to-new-need-suggestions.62251/ your old thread (irina is such a talent with design!!)

good luck with your project!

 

[akw94]

Belle,
Thank you for finding that thread! I looked but wasn''t successful.

No one has any other ideas for a necklace???

 

[Gypsy]

Are the emeralds all of similar size?

And are the diamonds, which are different sizes at least in size groups? Like 5 are this size 10 are this size and so forth> It would be much easier to help you with some more specific information.

 

[akw94]

Gypsy, sorry for the lack of info. I meant to include more initially.

I don''t plan to use the emeralds b/c I was told they are in pretty bad condition. I might use them for something separately but I don''t want to limit my wearing of the diamond necklace and I know throwing the emeralds in would do that for me.

As for the diamonds, here''s what I have (I''m not using the diamonds on the sides for this, just the cluster on the top):

1 x 3.2
1 x 2.9
5 x 2.8
4 x 2.7
1 x 2.6
7 x 2.5
Total - 19 diamonds

Hope that''s more helpful.

 

[Gypsy]

Okay. Wow that is a challenge. Let me think about that. Not guaranteeing I''ll come up with anything but... still, it''s worth a shot.

 

[Gypsy]

I am the WORST person to draw anything... but hopefully you get the idea.

 

[Rhea]

I like the design that Gypsy came up with!

 

[akw94]

Gypsy, thank you for the idea. I never thought of something like that. Actually, the flower pendants were similar to what I was initially thinking of for earrings but decided I''d rather have a nicer necklace.

Anyone else have necklace ideas?

 

[akw94]

Ok, I got back two ideas from a local jeweler. Please excuse my awful drawing and tell me what you think. Which would you pick? Would you change anything about either? Both have the biggest diamond (3.2) in the middle and then others surrounding. They have both these pendants in the store so would just custom make the pieces w/my diamonds. Also, I don''t really like the beading seen in the second one, separating the diamonds, so they said they could remove that. Both would be done in white gold.

Here''s something I thought was weird and hopefully someone can help me understand. The first piece was priced in the store, including their diamonds, for less than they''d charge me to custom make mine, with my diamonds. Does that make sense? Why would it cost more when I''m NOT buying the diamonds. They said it''s due to it being custom but it just seemed odd to me. Aren''t the diamonds the most expensive part? Then the second piece was just a bit more expensive with their diamonds than inserting mine into the pendant. It made me feel like they were overcharging me but I''ve never done anything custom before.
What do you guys think?

Thank you!

 

[monarch64]

Dixie, I'm far from being an expert, but I think a lot of the cost involved in making a custom piece doesn't have much to do with the materials, but the labor. First, someone is helping you come up with a design in which to incorporate the stones you're providing (pay jeweler for providing design advice and creating sketch). Then, a wax is made (pay wax making person for labor and time), then the piece is cast (pay cast making person for labor/time), then a bench jeweler actually sets the stones into the metal casting (pay bench jeweler for setting stones, and finishing piece)...then figure in a substantial markup so the jeweler can make a profit. Jewelers have access to melee or stones waaaay cheaper than we as consumers do, so whether you provide the stones or not I think does not make a big difference.

You might want to ask the local place you visited today how many people will be working on your piece in the end. Do they have someone on site who does the wax, casting, and setting and finishing of the piece? Or is the job pieced out to different people who each specialize in one specific part of the whole thing? That can up the cost as well as there is legwork involved in jockeying the piece around between different folks.

Experts feel free to correct me if I'm off base here.

 

[poshpepper]

I love Gypsy''s idea!

 

[akw94]

Monarch, thanks for the breakdown! I guess I just thought about it in simplified terms and it seemed crazy to me but that''s life.

Posh, I like Gypsy''s idea too but I decided I''d rather have just a pendant vs a pendant and diamonds on the chain. I think it will make it a bit more everyday.

Other opinions on the 2 above or other ideas?

Thanks.