Which setting strikes you? Don''t think too hard and be fast on the trigger!

[partgypsy]

I voted for the James Meyer. Confession: while there have been haloed rings on pricescope that are knockouts, not a big fan of the halo.
The JM ring is has both an antique but timeless look about it, something about it I can imagine wearing for a long time as a ring and not getting tired of.

 

[geckodani]

Date: 1/26/2009 8:07:55 AM
Author: Allison D.

Date: 1/26/2009 1:55:56 AM
Author: Gypsy
I love the James Meyer. And I voted for it. But it's because I actually don't like colored stones with too much else going on around them and that Leon has too much going on for me-- pave, bezel, milgrain. It detracts from it.

I would probably MOST prefer something with MORE diamonds than that James Meyer. But Leon is too ornamented for me for your beautiful pad.

Layla put her finger on exactly what I was feeling without realizing it.......for me, the Leon setting competes with the stone.

That pad is one of the most gorgeous stones I've ever (virtually) seen. It's in a class all its own. It should be the STAR and center of attention in its setting home, and I do think the Leon setting pictured would 'upstage' your beautiful pad.

Ditto... Thritto... whatever, LOL. I concur.

I mentioned this in your pad thread, but with the JM - my eye goes straight to the pad. With the Leon, I get sucked into the setting instead.

 

[JSM]

My eye was more drawn to the Leon, I think because the contrast between the diamonds and colored center stone made the stone stand out more in my eyes.

BTW, at the time I voted, it was 39 to 39! It is a tough decision, they are both lovely pieces.

 

[mayachel]

I love that the two are neck and neck in the polls! You have outstanding taste. I voted for the James Meyer upon taking your advice to not think too hard about it. I love the flowing lines and delicate simplicity. I am also a much bigger Leon Mege fan, so I surprised myself in the choice. Both are quite stunning in their own way, but the Meyer one just feels happier to me.

 

[Miscka]

My vote is for Leon, though with some modifications.

I ADORE JM (probably my dream ering is one of his designs) HOWEVER I was trying to figure out WHY this stone didnt work like that for me, and I think it has something to do with the fact that he almost always uses cabochon stones. I think this is for a design reason. I could be wrong, but something about the faceting in a colored stone just does not do it for me in his setting. With a stone that gorgeous and that special, I really think you should go a different direction.

I cant wait to see what you end up with!

 

[mrscushion]

Whoa -- an even split! Well, we''re really helpful, aren''t we?

 

[crown1]

i believe that i would select the jm. i would not be looking for a more "dress up" ring with that stone. i would be wanting everyday wearability. the lm seems too much for me. the "busy" descriptive word seems correct.

add the cleaning of all those small stones and the possibility of them coming out it seems too high maintainance. would you love this lm style if it was a generic non-designer? does the fact that many here hold lm in such high esteem influence your choice? does the fact that you consider him an artist as opposed to a ring maker influence the decision? for me, it is a matter of both beauty and functionality. the jm wins my vote.

 

[chrono]

Short easy answer for me - I don''t like a lot of pave work. The bezel should be simple; at least that''s my taste.

 

[monarch64]

I voted for the JM bezel...I tried to go by gut reaction and this is my first time seeing the pad or the settings. My first thought was that all I see is pad when I look at the JM, but all I see is bling when I look at the LM. I read through the thread after voting and agree with those who said the LM setting competes with the pad.

 

[princesss]

JM. Hands down.

The Leon is too busy, and all I could look at were the diamonds, not the pad.

 

[Bia]

Both are fab but I loved the James Meyer...it''s simple and intricate at the same time (is that possible?) and it''s just different and gorgeous and wonderful!!!!

 

[TravelingGal]

LOL guys...thanks. Some comments...

I am letting Leon take a look at the stone and see how he might prefer to set it. But I liked this setting because it had one or two of the same elements as the JM. I would not get pave on the shank - for practical reasons as well as financial. This setting has 5 stars on his site for cost of repro and I am sure I simply could not afford it. The JM is reasonably affordable. So I agree, too many diamonds, but I wonder if modification might help.

Yes, I have been on PS on years and halos are everywhere now so I am halo''d out. But in real life, I still think it can make for a striking ring, especially if the stone is smaller.

I do wonder how many of us, even with our "gut" decision, were influenced by the fact that we see so much Leon on this site and JM is a relatively new designer for us? I do agree with the poster who said that some of JM''s designs remind me of silver jewelry with the cab stones.

My feeling is this: I''d like both rings. I think the JM would be inherently more wearable and an every day ring. I do agree that the Leon would have more going on, but would have way more impact on the finger. Either way, I would not wear the ring every day - at least not for a few years because I don''t wear any of my rings as I don''t want to scratch my daughter.

One thing to keep in mind is the pad I''ve shared was photographed at huge magnification. You can''t see all those glorious shades in passing - it just has the uniform color of a penny when viewed from a distance. So it''s really just joy for me because I''m really the only one who will notice the amazing personality of this stone.

But yeah, I''m still torn. Leon emailed and said he could pick it up in Tucson, so I still think I would like to give him a shot to see what he can come up with. Whether one is "Leoned out" or not, the man does exquisite work for sure.

BTW, I polled two IRL friends. One has come back and voted for the Leon. It will be interesting what the other has to say.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 1/26/2009 12:19:22 PM
Author: TravelingGal
I am letting Leon take a look at the stone and see how he might prefer to set it. But I liked this setting because it had one or two of the same elements as the JM. I would not get pave on the shank - for practical reasons as well as financial. This setting has 5 stars on his site for cost of repro and I am sure I simply could not afford it. The JM is reasonably affordable. So I agree, too many diamonds, but I wonder if modification might help.

Honestly, knowing that you wouldn''t get pave on the shank of the Leon might swing my vote that way. It''s just too much as pictured, but would be much sleeker with less pave.

Might impact the poll knowing that info!

 

[Shoopy]

First off they''re both gorgeous.

But my eye couldn''t get away from the JM setting. It just looks so unique. I see a lot of LM settings here so when I think LM I don''t think unique anymore (although I would love to have a LM setting). The JM is just striking.

 

[Elmorton]

Here''s my dilemma- when I saw the LM, my heart skipped a beat (that split shank is almost exactly like the cartier shank that I originally wanted for my own e-ring, minus pave) because it''s beautiful and delicate and blingy but I could never see ME actually wearing it (which is my entire problem with LM, I think - his work is stunning, but I''ve seen very few pieces of his that would work with my lifestyle, wardrobe, etc). The JM on the other hand, when I saw it, I thought "Whoa. Now that''s a beautiful ring that I could wear every day and absolutely love every day." I hope that analysis helps a little, Tgal! They''re both gorgeous.

 

[Clairitek]

As much as I love Leon I am a sucker for Meyer bezels (James and his son Caleb, whose work I''ve seen in person). It is such a unique setting.

I think you cant go wrong with either choice! I''d be interested to see what else Leon comes up with.

 

[Ellen]

We''re looking at apples and oranges here.

Instinctively, I picked the JM, because it''s totally something I''d wear, and I like more casual, because that''s what I am. If I were wanting a dressier ring, then of course the Leon. It sounds like you want it more for everyday wear, I think? If so, I vote JM.

 

[TravelingGal]

I know! But apples and oranges are both so good!

Both my friends have come back and voted Leon, although one said (as many of you have) that maybe "no diamonds on the side", i.e. plain shank, might be better. I would still want something interesting done with the shank though. I''m a shanky kinda girl.

Neither seemed particularly enamoured with the JM.

 

[princesss]

Date: 1/26/2009 1:35:52 PM
Author: TravelingGal
I know! But apples and oranges are both so good!

Both my friends have come back and voted Leon, although one said (as many of you have) that maybe ''no diamonds on the side'', i.e. plain shank, might be better. I would still want something interesting done with the shank though. I''m a shanky kinda girl.

Neither seemed particularly enamoured with the JM.

Clearly, we need a fruit salad option.

What if you got something like the shoulders of the JM on the LM? Some of that detail could make a more interesting shank, and then you get the blingy top of the LM. Would Leon do something like that? I know it''s not his typical style.

 

[chrono]

It's your ring so you get to decide but I get the feeling you prefer the Leon ring.

ETA
How far does the melee go around? Is it a full eternity? Will dear Amelia be able to resize it? I can't tell from the picture but I assume you know the answer.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 1/26/2009 1:42:14 PM
Author: Chrono
It''s your ring so you get to decide but I get the feeling you prefer the Leon ring.

ETA
How far does the melee go around? Is it a full eternity? Will dear Amelia be able to resize it? I can''t tell from the picture but I assume you know the answer.

Actually Chrono, I am pretty torn down the middle, which is why I am letting Leon take a look and show me what he could do. If it were the choice of these two EXACT rings, I''d go JM. I don''t want a pave leon bling bling, which is what he excels at. But perhaps it''s because it''s what so many people commision him to do?

As I mentioned, I would not want melee on the shank. I would not be able to wear the ring much without worry.

 

[chrono]

Well, once you take away all that pave, it just becomes a regular diamond halo ring, almost like the JM but with with a diamond halo. I guess what I''m trying to say is that when someone chooses a Leon piece, they do so for the excellent pave work and usually go all the way with melees down the shank. It would be a shame to get a "blinged-down" Leon ring when he excels so well in them.

 

[mercoledi]

Can I make a counter offer? I had the extreme pleasure of meting Kismet this weekend and spending some time with her beautiful leon split shank. In spite of being a less-than-monster stone, the color really pops and the whole thing is well balanced and substantial. And blingy.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 1/26/2009 1:35:52 PM
Author: TravelingGal
I know! But apples and oranges are both so good!

Both my friends have come back and voted Leon, although one said (as many of you have) that maybe ''no diamonds on the side'', i.e. plain shank, might be better. I would still want something interesting done with the shank though. I''m a shanky kinda girl.

Neither seemed particularly enamoured with the JM.

I wouldn''t take that as a "it''s not that pretty" thing, it just has a very distinctive look/style. I imagine it will only truly appeal to a certain type of person, whereas "blingy" is something just about everbody relates to/likes.


I''m liken the fruit salad thang, I think you need two rings.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 1/26/2009 1:52:42 PM
Author: Chrono
Well, once you take away all that pave, it just becomes a regular diamond halo ring, almost like the JM but with with a diamond halo. I guess what I''m trying to say is that when someone chooses a Leon piece, they do so for the excellent pave work and usually go all the way with melees down the shank. It would be a shame to get a ''blinged-down'' Leon ring when he excels so well in them.

Yes, exactly...plus I''m generally sick of halos. Not that they aren''t beautiful, but I''ve just seen so many on PS over the last few years. And you are right...where leon excels is the pave work througout the entire ring.

However, I love his straight platinum work as well. His solitaire is one of my favs. And Ellen''s ring as well...the man just knows lines, IMHO. So I''m wondering if he might come up with someone with no pave, but interesting too. We''ll see! If not, the stone is going to JM, unless anyone has another contender. I am looking at the setting that Alj posted on my pad thread as well as styles similar.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 1/26/2009 1:57:22 PM
Author: mercoledi
Can I make a counter offer? I had the extreme pleasure of meting Kismet this weekend and spending some time with her beautiful leon split shank. In spite of being a less-than-monster stone, the color really pops and the whole thing is well balanced and substantial. And blingy.

Wow, I hadn''t seen that ring before (and I looked through all of them on Leon''s site). That''s beautiful!!!

 

[Aloros]

The JM was my immediate reaction, and definitely the one I looked at first and for the longest. There''s something very subtly elegant about it and I like that.

 

[E B]

The JM bezel, hands down. I'd love one myself.

The Leon is beautiful, but it looks like it'd have to be "babied" quite a bit. No fun.

 

[April20]

I am enamored by the James Meyer bezel. That setting really allows the colored stone to sing.

 

[musey]

I voted for the halo, ONLY because for some reason, I tend to greatly prefer blingy diamond settings for colored stones, but simpler settings (and solitaires) for diamonds. No clue why.

Generally speaking, if you were asking about a diamond, I''d vote for the james meyer right away.