Advice needed for a solitaire setting... help please!

[carbonfan]

Hi everyone and happy new year!! I am currently on the hunt for a plain solitare setting and I would welcome advice from all of you. Rcently I quite fortunate to upgrade my MRB in honor of our 14th wedding anniversary and I truly love the stone; however, something about the setting just doesn't feel right. I currently have the BGD Novela set (pave e-ring and full eternity band) and after several months of deliberation I find myself gravitating toward a simpler style of e-ring (plain shank). I have worn a pave-style e-ring for more than 15 years but I am ready to turn over a new leaf in 2017 (on the e-ring setting, anyway!). I will keep the eternity band and am hoping to select a style that complements it or at least allows for me to use it as a stacking piece.

I have scoured previous threads about favorite plain solitaire settings and they have been incredibly helpful, but now I am trying to narrow things down and I could really benefit from some guidance from all of you experienced PSers! I am looking for a timeless setting with clean lines and probably prefer 4-prong cathedral type. I don't mind subtle detail (e.g., melee in the basket) but I do not particularly want melee in the shank as that is what I currently have. The stone can hold its own and I really want it to be the star!!

Here are my top favorites (very similar choices, I know!). I am familiar with BGD but have never had a VC or Vatche piece. The BGD Eternal Grace and Vatche Caroline both feature melee in the basket; the VC settings do not but they are gorgeous as well. Based on everything I have read I truly admire Victor's work and I would love, love, love to own one of his pieces... but I may hold out for the Lily 3-stone as a RHR at some point in the distant future. Thus, I am open to all options for the e-ring setting!

Please feel free to vote, chime in, and/or suggest other styles. I am torn on single vs. double claw prongs, so please feel free to weigh in on this aspect as well. Many thanks in advance!

Brian Gavin Eternal Grace: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/eternal-grace-platinum-5704p

Vatche Caroline: http://www.whiteflash.com/engagemen...aire-engagement-ring-by-vatche-288.htm#size=6

Victor Canera Trueste: https://www.victorcanera.com/rings/the-trueste-solitaire

Victor Canera Classic Solitaire with Cathedral Band: https://www.victorcanera.com/rings/classic-solitaire-with-cathedral-band

 

[distracts]

I really like the Vatche Caroline. The struts for the basket that turn into the prongs have a nice swoopy shape to them and to me that really makes the design so much more elegant. I don't know how much the VC ones would be but I wouldn't be willing to shell out much more over the price of the BGD or Vatche for a plain solitaire. And especially not when I prefer the shape of the Vatche.

 

[ac117]

Of these choices I like the Vatche Caroline or VC Classic! looking forward to seeing what you pick. Your CBI is amazing and it's going to look stunning in any of these!

 

[tyty333]

To hard to choose! I like them ALL!

Ok...not the VC Trueste because the band looks to wide on it...couldnt see what the mm is on it though.

I really like the BGD and the Caroline with the pave in the basket but then...to have a VC would be dreamy...

I'm going to go with the Caroline! But really...such good choices I dont think you can go wrong with whichever you pick!

 

[LawmaLlama]

I'd go with the Vatche caroline. It is one I really like alot, and considered for my 14 year upgrade too (does that make us upgrade twinkies?) I ended up deciding to go with a 3 stone and got the Vatche Royal Crown #308 in plat, because I wanted the center to have 6 prongs. Their craftsmanship for cast work is beautiful. The polish and heft is fantastic. And the prongs are nice claws.

One thing to also consider is that of your 4 choices it is the only one without a donut at the shank. This may make a difference to you if you will have the eternity ring up against it. You may need a spacer ring. Although this may be the case with all of the choices.

Second thing is: are you sure you want the melee on the basket? There is a Caroline without melee. You might want to ask PS'rs if there is a danger of wear to the melee from the eternity band bumping against it, or if the melee falls out (which seems to occur more often with cast rings).

I'd go with the VC Classic as my second choice because of the simplicity and the aaahh to-die-for prongs. I don't care for the Trueste because the shank comes all the way up to the basket. To me it makes the stone look smaller-

I like your idea of holding off for a custom RHR at a later date.

I don't know why, but the BGD ring doesn't appeal to me at all.

Hope this helps, looking forward to hearing your pick.

 

[LLJsmom]

If you like the trueste you can ask Victor to make the shank thinner. You can specify a width and ask if he thinks it will be too narrow. I would choose one of his pieces and ask for diamonds in the basket if that is what you want.

 

[carbonfan]

Thanks to everyone for sharing your insights... I appreciate this more than you know! Between a crazy last few weeks of holiday festivities, entertaining relatives, having two of our three children home for the last 17 days, and investing significant time helping my father research retirement communities, my indecisiveness seems to be at an all-time high!!

distracts and ac117, I totally agree with you, as I adore the Caroline's swoopy shape! I just noticed on the web site that the specifications are for stones up to 1.99 carats so I would need to check to see if they can customize it for a slightly larger stone... surely they can!

tyty333, yes, upon further reflection I think that the shank of the Trueste is a bit wide, and to be honest I am not quite as sold on this design as I am on some of the others. And yes, having a VC would most definitely be dreamy... but I think I may save my VC dreams for a future 3-stone project!

LLJsmom, thank you for the advice! It is great to know that the shank width can often be customized. I will keep this in mind!!

LawmaLlama, you brought up some really insightful points as well; thank you! I hadn't even thought about the fact that only one of the styles features a donut at the shank. And I should definitely ask others about their experiences with basket melee... good call! How neat that you were also considering the Caroline for your upgrade! That said, your 3-stone Vatche Royal Crown #308 is out of this world gorgeous... what an amazing ring!! I may keep this style in mind for that distant project of mine! And incidentally, I should mention that Llama Llama Red Pajama is still our 3-year old's very favorite book, so I really love your screen name!

 

[carbonfan]

Okay, so after considering all of the brilliant points you all raised, I am still loving the Vatche Caroline and the VC Classic, but I am also considering a few non-cathedral possibilities. I have always loved the simplicity of BGD's Grace (somewhat different in silhouette from the Eternal Grace and also non-cathedral).. however, I have recently been taken with CVB's Jovyn (although this is 6 prongs and I usually go for 4 prongs) and MWM's Petite Torchiere. I just visited MWM's site and he has some beautiful 4-prong versions of the Torchiere with both regular and split prongs. He can obviously create the ring with or without the "surprise" diamonds so there is some versatility there as well.

I will try to post some pics below... let me know what you think of these! I am trying not to obsess too much, but I really want this to be my forever setting (or at least one I will keep for a very, very long time!). All thoughts are welcome... thanks again!!

Here are some photos of the MWM 4-prong Petite Torchiere with split prongs:

 

[carbonfan]

And here are photos of the MWM 4-prong Petite Torchiere with single prongs, as well as a photo of the BGD Grace and CVB's Jovyn. Let me know your thoughts... and..... GO!

 

[Acinom]

I don't think you can go wrong with any of these. Personally I would factor in the pricing as well. I have voted for the Trueste though as it is one my favourite solitair designs. Victor can indeed make the band smaller and add diamonds to the gallery, stems and donut if you like (but please note that adding diamonds to the donut can be difficult with a band.

Of the one you just posted I love the Jovyn and the Grace. If you love the Grace but find it too plain, you could perhaps add a pave band?

Happy decision making

 

[tyty333]

Oh great...more good choices! How hard are you going to make this for us?

I have always loved MWM settings...the platinum always looks like liquid mercury to me...However, I'm not a big
fan of split prongs on rounds. Dont really like his little heart shaped prongs either. Would prefer claw prongs. BTW how big is
your stone? I didnt see the size or somehow I'm missing it...
(split prongs should only be on bigger stones IMO...which I'm guessing yours probably is).

Never been a fan of the BGD Grace...all the rounded metal just makes it seem overly bulky to me and not refined
(I know in real life it probably looks just fine but I cant get over the pictures). It does have a more modern feel to
me if that is what you are after.

The CVB...love her work...love the claw prongs, love the proportions...everything very refined and well, just gorgeous.

Thats my 2 cents...

 

[soxfan]

I LOVE the jovyn!

 

[carbonfan]

Thanks all! You have given me a lot to think about and believe it or not I really feel closer to making a decision thanks to you guys! I couldn't figure out a way to revise the poll to include new choices (plus many had already voted) so I started a new thread to include all of the frontrunners. I realize it is a matter of aesthetics and that I really can't go wrong with any of these, but I welcome all feedback nonetheless!! Many thanks again, everyone!!