Which tanzanite should I send to Patrick Irla? Paging Freke?

[jstarfireb]

Hey guys! I'm trying to decide which of my 2 loose tanzanites I should send to Patrick Irla for a hydrangea setting. The prongs and band will be silver, and the hydrangeas will be small and rose gold.

I have an oval cut by Bob Kast, unheated, 5x7mm, lighter in color but with a beautiful shimmery sparkle. This is the stone I was originally planning to send to Patrick until I bought the gemburi one. It would be set N/S. Also, the tilt window is not nearly as large IRL as in the photos:

The 5mm Asscher from Gemburionline, which is darker and more bluish:

Here are both stones together:

And here is Freke's hydrangea ring from Patrick Irla:

So, Freke and anyone else who wants to answer...which one would look better in a similar setting? The hydrangeas will be smaller and the prongs will be silver, otherwise it will be the same.

 

[FrekeChild]

Really tough choice. I think they''d both be gorgeous. Did you already talk the size of hydrangeas?

 

[jstarfireb]

Thanks! We talked briefly a while ago before I even got the Asscher, and it was just the oval. I mentioned that I was looking for small hydrangeas, and he said there were 3 "stock" sizes, and we could choose which one complemented the stone best. Given that they are both pretty small stones, I don''t want the hydrangeas to overpower the stone.

At this point I''m leaning toward the oval, because I think the lighter purple color would be better with rose gold. But it''s still close to 50/50.

 

[FrekeChild]

Have you thought about doing the asscher starset?

 

[jstarfireb]

Actually, I hadn''t. I''m thinking that I''d rather have it set the regular way, though. Starset would leave V-shaped spaces on either side between the stone and the hydrangeas, which I don''t think would be appealing.

 

[kayla.tastikk]

Personally, I''d do the asscher because the contrast with the delicate flowers and the "harsh" lines of the cut would be great.

 

[jstarfireb]

Thanks, Kayla! That''s also something I hadn''t considered. I had been focused on shape and color, but never really thought about how the step cut vs. brilliant cut affected things.

 

[FrekeChild]

You mean like this?

 

[jstarfireb]

Freke, is that pic intended to show the V-shaped spaces I was talking about? I see them in your ring but am not bothered by them. The oval would have similar spaces as well. I think I would be bothered a lot more with the Asscher, since the straight edges make the spaces more prominent.

 

[FrekeChild]

Date: 3/30/2010 12:59:30 AM
Author: jstarfireb
Freke, is that pic intended to show the V-shaped spaces I was talking about? I see them in your ring but am not bothered by them. The oval would have similar spaces as well. I think I would be bothered a lot more with the Asscher, since the straight edges make the spaces more prominent.

Yeah. I think that unless the prongs for the oval were oriented to be in the V like they are for the round (and I''m pretty sure he does that intentionally) it''s going to look kind of awkward if you''re already concentrated on it.

And that''s why I thought of starsetting the asscher. Then the prongs for the asscher would be between the petals. Instead of the flat edge.

I think I''d ask Patrick for his opinion.

 

[oddoneout]

Beautiful stones. I think the oval would look better with the more organic style of the ring.

 

[chrono]

While I prefer the asscher tsavorite, I feel that the oval lends itself to the setting better as it gives it a better sense of flow in design. I worry that the straight edges of the asscher cut will contrast too greatly with the curved petals.

 

[RaiKai]

I would choose the oval as it seems more organic which for me flows better with that style setting. The colour will look nice too - soft and very pretty. Of course that may not be the look you are going for!

 

[jstarfireb]

Thanks for all the input, guys! Keep it coming!

I was actually considering selling the oval once I got the Asscher, but now (like most of you) I think it flows a bit better with the setting, and the soft color will look great with rose gold. But like Chrono, I prefer the Asscher on its own when I compare the two. I will definitely have to think about it some more. Asking Patrick himself is a great idea too.

Freke, I see what you''re saying now, and I think we''re talking about 2 different spaces. You''re referring to the little notch between the prongs at 3 and 6 o''clock and their respective hydrangeas, right? I''m actually referring to the larger space between the other 4 prongs and the top and bottom petals of the hydrangeas, which would be accentuated by a starset Asscher. I''m not too good at describing these things, but does that make any sense?

 

[Callisto]

Hmmm tough choice they are both so pretty.

If you just showed me the stones and asked which one to keep I would choose the asscher, but I think i agree with the above posts that the organic feel of the ring fits better with the oval.

I see what Kayla is saying about the contrast of the shapes and styles, but there is a fine line between really neat looking artistic contrast, and just looking mismatched.

Maybe Freke can post a head on shot of her ring and someone could do some photoshop magic...

 

[FrekeChild]

Jstar--I just noticed that you said you wanted smaller hydrangeas--has he started making smaller than mine? From what I remember, the size of mine were the smallest he was making at the time.

I''ll go hunt down a straight on pic...

 

[FrekeChild]

Patrick's best attempt

Mine

Do you happen to know the measurement corner to corner of your asscher? I can go measure the hydrangeas on my ring if you'd like...

ETA: Here is a link to my original thread

 

[Kunzite]

Another vote for the oval. I adore the asscher, but I think the more organic, less angular oval would be better in the ring.

 

[jstarfireb]

Thanks again for all the responses. Freke, especially thanks for the pics! My biggest request with the hydrangeas is that they are no larger than the length of the stone. The oval is 6.93mm long, and the asscher is just about 6mm corner to corner. Since Patrick mentioned he has 3 sizes of hydrangeas, I wouldn''t be surprised if one of them were smaller (like the tiny ones he uses on the bezel rings like this one).

 

[jstarfireb]

I think the oval looks pretty good with hydrangeas that are about its size, but I''m a cruddy photoshopper...

 

[jstarfireb]

Here's the vendor pic of the asscher, which is better than any of my pics. If any of you would like to photoshop it in a starset orientation in the ring, I'd love to see it! I have no idea how to make that happen myself.

 

[jstarfireb]

Well, guys, the more I think about it, the more I realize I should stick with the oval. Thanks for all your opinions! I have other plans for the asscher at the moment...

 

[FrekeChild]

I can photoshop it later if you still want me to Jstar?

 

[jstarfireb]

Sure, Freke, just as long as it''s not too much trouble for you!

 

[FrekeChild]

Nope! I''ll try to do it tonight!

 

[PumpkinPie]

I can see the appeal of both options - but I think I would go with the oval - I LOVE that ring..

 

[FrekeChild]

Hey jstar. Sorry I didn''t get the images up. My one computer with photoshop died last night, so I''m in the business of finding a repair shop now...

 

[jstarfireb]

Oh no! Good luck with getting your computer up and running!

 

[FrekeChild]

You ready? (Had to get a new adapter for my laptop...I might have dropped it and broken the other one...)

 

[FrekeChild]

These are not to scale...obviously. And the asscher wasn''t photographed straight on, so it looks a little funny...