mimi72
Shiny_Rock
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2011
- Messages
- 194
I am a very frequent lurker but rare poster. This forum has been invaluable to me in my quest for an "upgrade" which has been going on for 5 yrs now. At long last, I have a dream stone. Long story long....estate auction this March, the low-end of the pre-auction estimate was at the top end of my price range (which kept going up the more I obsessed). I thought about it for a month and decided to bid. You have to be careful because they tack on 18% to your bid...so I had it all mapped out what my top was, but left the paper at work, and got caught up in the moment, and went ONE BID higher than I had planned...and won the sucker! I was weak kneed and woozy! Anyway, I am so glad I got the ring because I would have never have let myself buy something like this except in a moment of irrationality. But once the funds clear the bank, and life goes on, as my husband says money is only as good as the happiness it can bring, and I am happy every single time I look at my finger with this on it! My husband, by the way, is supportive conceptually, but will never know what I paid for this!
My original e-ring was a 0.6 ct RB H&A G VS2, so this is quite a change.
Specs -- GIA certed 3.77 ct, E, SI1, very good cut and polish, good symmetry. Don't have the cert with me but the dimensions are around 10 x 8 mm. One thing to know is that the cut corners are pretty small, so it's a much more rectangular than octagonal stone.
The setting wasn't very nice and I knew I wanted a Leon Mege eventually. But when I had it sized from 7.5 to about 5, and the setting got really ganked in the process. It's wearable, but I'm ready for the Leon!
I wear my ring 24/7, never take it off except to clean it. I don't plan on pairing this with a band. I like the "Gina" setting on his site (set with an 8 ct or so honker) and he advised against it for a variety of reasons. I was worried about the durability of pave since I'm not into having to be delicate with my hands etc. I called Leon and he was very nice, spent about 20 mins on the phone w/ me. He suggested a 5 stone setting with step cut sides (traps and bullets), said they look really nice and "everyone is always very happy with it". I don't know. The one example on this site is Lady LuLu's, which is fabulous, but *for me *maybe the side stones are a little bulky and I'd like the center stone to stand out more.
I LOVE the look of calibrated french cut sides (is this really expensive?) -- Looks great with cushions but haven't seen it done with an EC. Not sure if they would complement each other.
Fran Fine's (sorry tried to embed pic but don't know how) is gorgeous -- this may be my fall back. I like the smoothness of polished platinum though. I'd like something with a bit more interest though than a plain three stone with baguette sides. Also not too high on bullets - maybe it's the airplane wing effect.
No halos -- the stone is already pretty large for my conservative midwest area -- don't want to make it bigger with a halo.
I do love the idea of a split shank but I've only seen that done w/ pave....
Also, the classic Leon Split claw prongs are my ideal, if the corners are big enough for it.
What about skinny baguettes set north south, two on each side, graduated? bezel set or maybe not? I've seen this somewhere with one if not 2 per side, anyone have pics or thoughts on how that would look?
I wonder if I should just send the stone to Leon and see what he recommends when he sees it? He kept saying he has to see it to really decide what setting will look best. Not sure, there have been 1 maybe 2 Leon settings posted on this forum that personally I didn't think looked great (to MY eye..others thought they were fab).
Tell me what I should do!
This is the ring, I will try to post more, but you get the idea. The ones below are a few inspirations.
My original e-ring was a 0.6 ct RB H&A G VS2, so this is quite a change.
Specs -- GIA certed 3.77 ct, E, SI1, very good cut and polish, good symmetry. Don't have the cert with me but the dimensions are around 10 x 8 mm. One thing to know is that the cut corners are pretty small, so it's a much more rectangular than octagonal stone.
The setting wasn't very nice and I knew I wanted a Leon Mege eventually. But when I had it sized from 7.5 to about 5, and the setting got really ganked in the process. It's wearable, but I'm ready for the Leon!
I wear my ring 24/7, never take it off except to clean it. I don't plan on pairing this with a band. I like the "Gina" setting on his site (set with an 8 ct or so honker) and he advised against it for a variety of reasons. I was worried about the durability of pave since I'm not into having to be delicate with my hands etc. I called Leon and he was very nice, spent about 20 mins on the phone w/ me. He suggested a 5 stone setting with step cut sides (traps and bullets), said they look really nice and "everyone is always very happy with it". I don't know. The one example on this site is Lady LuLu's, which is fabulous, but *for me *maybe the side stones are a little bulky and I'd like the center stone to stand out more.
I LOVE the look of calibrated french cut sides (is this really expensive?) -- Looks great with cushions but haven't seen it done with an EC. Not sure if they would complement each other.
Fran Fine's (sorry tried to embed pic but don't know how) is gorgeous -- this may be my fall back. I like the smoothness of polished platinum though. I'd like something with a bit more interest though than a plain three stone with baguette sides. Also not too high on bullets - maybe it's the airplane wing effect.
No halos -- the stone is already pretty large for my conservative midwest area -- don't want to make it bigger with a halo.
I do love the idea of a split shank but I've only seen that done w/ pave....
Also, the classic Leon Split claw prongs are my ideal, if the corners are big enough for it.
What about skinny baguettes set north south, two on each side, graduated? bezel set or maybe not? I've seen this somewhere with one if not 2 per side, anyone have pics or thoughts on how that would look?
I wonder if I should just send the stone to Leon and see what he recommends when he sees it? He kept saying he has to see it to really decide what setting will look best. Not sure, there have been 1 maybe 2 Leon settings posted on this forum that personally I didn't think looked great (to MY eye..others thought they were fab).
Tell me what I should do!
This is the ring, I will try to post more, but you get the idea. The ones below are a few inspirations.