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- Aug 14, 2009
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Re: POLL: three stone OR graduated five stone and which sett
I personally would not be happy flanking any stone (a transitional, in your case) with sidestones that are the same shape (round) but perform visibly differently - whether or not MRBs would perform "visibly differently" will depend on the faceting and proportions your particular specimen boasts. I think when sidestones are differently outlined (round center and pear sides, etc.) the eye just expects differences in performance, but when stones are the same shape we intuitively expect them to perform similarly. Do you have any close-up photos that show its patterning?
Creating a multi-stone with RBs and creating one with old cuts are two very different undertakings! I personally have an MRB multi-stone (fivestone) and an MRB eternity band, and never wear them together on the same finger. I do enjoy wearing them "together" with one on each hand How big are the stones in your eternity?
Pairing your heirloom transitional with a suite of old cut sidestones has two advantages:
1. They're cheaper than MRBs, all else equal, and
2. They're much more forgiving - antiques were all cut by hand, and so slight variations in performance and faceting are not only "perfectly acceptable", they're expected.
Using old cuts has two distinct disadvantages:
1. They're harder to find, especially suites, and
2. They might take longer to find, especially suites.
Depending on your stone's faceting, vendor availability, etc., if you do decide to go the antiques route, I'd recommend contacting Grace (http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/) and asking if she has any recommendations. Both a five-stone and a three-stone using your stone as the center definitely seem feasibly in-budget (including setting)... I'm wondering if a three-stone using your stone as a side, finding it a mate, and finding a larger centerstone might also be within budget? Grace's bench does wonderful work so you can have the setting made in-house as well.
If you go the MRB route I recommend the trellis over the Uprong, as it spaces the stones out more (increases horizontal finger coverage). PSer FancyDiamonds posted a fantastic thread comparing her trellis and Uprong settings: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/a-perfect-5-stone-trellis-design-from-whiteflash.154045/?hilit=mum']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/a-perfect-5-stone-trellis-design-from-whiteflash.154045/?hilit=mum[/URL]
I made my mum a graduated five-stone with OECs (0.39, 0.45, 0.53, 0.47, 0.42, size 6.5). I sourced the OECs myself, and WF made the setting. The graduation is very slight, which I also prefer for stones in these sizes
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/wf-made-my-mum-a-pressie-a-2-25ct-oec-five-stone.173503/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/wf-made-my-mum-a-pressie-a-2-25ct-oec-five-stone.173503/[/URL]
ETA: Forgot to add - I agree, BGD's website is far better than WF's! It's easier to navigate and seems to have been more carefully thought out. I do, however, know from personal experience that the skills of their respective web designers do not in any way represent the skills/knowledge of their jewellery sales personnel, jewellery designers, CAD artists, and benches
I personally would not be happy flanking any stone (a transitional, in your case) with sidestones that are the same shape (round) but perform visibly differently - whether or not MRBs would perform "visibly differently" will depend on the faceting and proportions your particular specimen boasts. I think when sidestones are differently outlined (round center and pear sides, etc.) the eye just expects differences in performance, but when stones are the same shape we intuitively expect them to perform similarly. Do you have any close-up photos that show its patterning?
Creating a multi-stone with RBs and creating one with old cuts are two very different undertakings! I personally have an MRB multi-stone (fivestone) and an MRB eternity band, and never wear them together on the same finger. I do enjoy wearing them "together" with one on each hand How big are the stones in your eternity?
Pairing your heirloom transitional with a suite of old cut sidestones has two advantages:
1. They're cheaper than MRBs, all else equal, and
2. They're much more forgiving - antiques were all cut by hand, and so slight variations in performance and faceting are not only "perfectly acceptable", they're expected.
Using old cuts has two distinct disadvantages:
1. They're harder to find, especially suites, and
2. They might take longer to find, especially suites.
Depending on your stone's faceting, vendor availability, etc., if you do decide to go the antiques route, I'd recommend contacting Grace (http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/) and asking if she has any recommendations. Both a five-stone and a three-stone using your stone as the center definitely seem feasibly in-budget (including setting)... I'm wondering if a three-stone using your stone as a side, finding it a mate, and finding a larger centerstone might also be within budget? Grace's bench does wonderful work so you can have the setting made in-house as well.
If you go the MRB route I recommend the trellis over the Uprong, as it spaces the stones out more (increases horizontal finger coverage). PSer FancyDiamonds posted a fantastic thread comparing her trellis and Uprong settings: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/a-perfect-5-stone-trellis-design-from-whiteflash.154045/?hilit=mum']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/a-perfect-5-stone-trellis-design-from-whiteflash.154045/?hilit=mum[/URL]
I made my mum a graduated five-stone with OECs (0.39, 0.45, 0.53, 0.47, 0.42, size 6.5). I sourced the OECs myself, and WF made the setting. The graduation is very slight, which I also prefer for stones in these sizes
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/wf-made-my-mum-a-pressie-a-2-25ct-oec-five-stone.173503/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/wf-made-my-mum-a-pressie-a-2-25ct-oec-five-stone.173503/[/URL]
ETA: Forgot to add - I agree, BGD's website is far better than WF's! It's easier to navigate and seems to have been more carefully thought out. I do, however, know from personal experience that the skills of their respective web designers do not in any way represent the skills/knowledge of their jewellery sales personnel, jewellery designers, CAD artists, and benches