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Bella's OEC Pendant Project

Bella_mezzo

Bella_mezzo

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 19, 2009
Messages
5,760
YAY-my old cut Chunky is getting a new home so I can wear her all the time:-)

Sally is designing a lovely setting that will combine my favorite elements of the BGD Barbara, with milgrain, and a uniquely Sally back (either a lotus back or something carved) b/c I don't want to get poked by the stone and I wanted a little something special on the back.

I'll post new pics of the stone and the concept soon, but before I send the stone off I need to get a chain...

I bought a chain on ebay but I hate it, it's solid 14k white gold but dull and I think too thin. It looks completely invisible on, which I guess could be ok, but I want a hint of sparkle on my neck. The cable chain on my old BGD bezel pendant was lovely, but I have no idea how to find one like that.

I like cable chains and diamond cut ball chains...where do I get a good one for a great price?

It needs to be 17-18 inches. if you have one sitting in your jewelry box that you don't use, post it on preloved b/c I'd be happy to take it off your hands :naughty:
 
I got my bead chain from ebay, brand new, and it was very reasonably priced... but I forgot the vendor. Hopefully Athenaworth can chime in since she found this vendor.
 
Thank you!!!! I almost purchased this before, but went with the cable chain from another vendor.

So, second time is the charm:-)

Which mm would you recommend? I don't want it to be super obvious on, but would like a glimmer of sparkle on the neck.
 
I am not a real necklace person, but for women built like us Bella I think a little bolder with jewelery is better ::) So I vote the larger size! The 1.2mm, which is still very small really.
 
I bought the largest one and the smallest one. The large one is what I wear everyday. I gave the small one to my friend's newborn baby daughter because it was just so thin for me and I was afraid of it breaking.

Eta: the large one also feels more fluid, as if each bead moves on its own, which I like. The small one feels more stiff, as if it's a single thin cable and it didn't wear as well. It works for the baby because it's hanging on her teddy bear with her birthstone pendant, but probably wont wear well on an adult.

Here's a pic of the 16" 1.2mm on me:

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thanks ladies!!!! I just bought the 1.2mm...so excited!!!
 
Looks like a lovely chain and the idea of a milgrained Barbara with a HoW back to it, sounds delish!! Will she send you pics/drawings/CADS first for approval? Hope you share them on PS!

I bought an OEC from Dreamer and its now set as a Barbara pendant and I love it! Yours will be so much larger and "wow-ier" - can't wait to see it!
 
the chain arrived today...and it is perfect...super blingy and sparkly...best ebay seller ever!!!

i am shipping to Sally tomorrow and will share sketches when i have them.

Very exciting!
 
I am waiting on a next round of sketches from Sally, but so far...



Here is the original ring I bought on ebay:

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Here is a close-up of the stone.

It was sold to me as a G SI1-2 .8 ct OEC.

The unofficial opinion of the jeweler when it was unset is that it is a 6.5 mm, .91ct, G, SI2, Old Mine Cut.

Eitherway, it's chunky and gorgeous, eye clean from the top, brilliant from edge to edge, and shoots off the most amazing fire/rainbows! A perfect pendant stone!

And wow does it look better out of those yellow gold prongs!

chubby_hint_of_rainbow.jpg

chubby_upsidedown_cropped.jpg
 
Definitely loving it more out of that original setting!!

Beautiful stone - I agree - that will be a stunning pendant!
 
So, now for the pendant...

Here are my inspirations...

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Thanks to Forte and Athena i got a lovely 1.2mm sparkly bead chain from the ebay seller she recommended but I forgot to take a pic before I sent it off to Sally.
 
:appl: That's mine!!! :bigsmile: I received my BGD Barbara at the end of June. Do you want any more pics of the back of it?

back_of_barbara_0.jpg
 
I wanted to incorporate some of Sally's lovely lotus and/or carving elements into this pendant.

So, I sent the stone to her with the inspiration photos and my not to clear explanations...

She sent back this lovely sketch. it is a little different than I was originally thinking of b/c it widens at the bottom, but it is gorgeous and growing on me.

I sent back this maybe helpful, maybe not helpful pictograph, and we'll see what she sends me next :cheeky:

icm_1.jpg
 

Attachments

:appl: :appl: :appl: :appl: Enerchi, thanks for posting! I'm set for now with photos of the back, but I'll let you know if I need anything else:-)

not sure why the sketches aren't really uploading, let me try again...
 
Bella_mezzo|1344173420|3246310 said:
:appl: :appl: :appl: :appl: Enerchi, thanks for posting! I'm set for now with photos of the back, but I'll let you know if I need anything else:-)

not sure why the sketches aren't really uploading, let me try again...
Click to expand...
No problem - just let me know if I can help!! (oooh, I'm so pumped to be someone's "inspiration" picture!!! Weeeeeeeeee!!!!)
 
Sally's sketch

sally_first_sketch_for_chubby_pendant_cropped.jpg
 
My response (I really, really suck at drawing, so please disregard proportion/shape of petals, etc. I was just trying to show how I was envisioning the base to look and the pendant to curve and how low I wanted the diamond set.

I'll be back when Sally sends me the next round of sketches:-)

I think I am going to set it all in white gold b/c the stone looks so much better unset than it did in the yellow gold prongs, but I LOVE Sally's rose gold and high carat yellow gold and am also thinking about incorporating one of those metals in the "petals" of the lotus.

The bezel will definitely be white gold...

pendant_sketches.jpg
 
Okay, here are Sally's new sketches. I love them, but need some help/input from my awesome PS friends.

1. How should the chain attach to the pendant? The sketch has "Mickey Mouse" ears but I'm thinking that maybe either turning the "ears" 90 degrees so that they don't look like ears, directly attaching the chain to the pendant, or running the chain through the pendant might be better...what do you think?

2.Metal...currently it is going to be all white gold...but I love rose gold and high carat yellow gold and feel like all white might be too stark feeling and rose or high carat yellow gold on the petals would make it a little more special. The bezel and probably the center circle on the bottom will definitely be white gold b/c my bezel earrings are white gold and b/c I liked how white the stone looked when it was liberated from the previous yellow gold prongs. So...do you think using rose or yellow gold on the petals would make the stone look too warm on the neck and/or would it enhance or detract from the design?

3. Do you like the domed basket better than the previous one that had an angled basket and a base? They are both so pretty, I am second guessing myself now...

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icm_2.jpg
 
I meant to post and tell you that your drawing for Sally of what you do and don't like are a great example of how to communicate clearly with a vendor!

1. I like the chain snaked through the back somehow, but only if the back is constructed so the pendant can slide freely and stay upright. Like the BGD Barbara. Otherwise just go with the "ears", they are so small you won't really notice them.

2.No one else will see the back so it would only be for you anyways... seems simpler to go al lwhite metal. If you like the idea of another metal color, go for it on the petals!

3. I like both esthetically, and would choose the one that works best pragmatically for keeping the stoen facing up. I do have a slight preference for the rounded, second iteration though.
 
Those are beautiful designs, Bella! I think you will definitely be thrilled no matter which direction you take!

If you purchased the beaded chain, and you are considering having it run thru the back of the pendant, I'd suggest you get Sally's take on how that might work as a slider - she may need to redesign the petals to allow for beads to slide --- or not, I'm just putting that out there as a thought :))

I do like the suggestion of having the chain loops or 'ears', turned to be front/back, rather than side facing and that will definitely minimize the Mickey Mouse effect (I always think that too, when I look at fixed pendants magnified on the internet...) but as Dreamer says, I think IRL, they will NOT be that noticeable at all.
 
Thanks DD, I try to be clear but my sketching and technology skills are nowhere close to other awesome PSers:-)

Enerchi-Thanks! I just heard from Sally on her opinion re the slider and it's that the jump rings will be stronger.

So...Jump rings it is and we've decided to keep the piece all white gold.

My stone arrive YAY, so I can breathe now and let Sally work her magic:-)
 
What a relief to know the diamond is safely in her hands - phew!
I'm glad you settled on a few of your concerns. It always just takes that weight off, once you know you are comfortable with where its headed --- how exciting - now, how much longer for production to happen? (and then... pics, of course!!)
 
Bella, I'm late to this but my mickey mouse ears, while visible in the pics, are not visible in real life at all, the diamond just appears to be floating on my neck, just as another point of data for your decision making. It's always interesting when I see the pics because I think gee those look kind of big but they SOO are not at all!

The sketches so far look fantastic. I wanted to just say make very sure that the tapered basket and the fact that it's not stationery will not cause it to be more likely to flip or even tip fwd and look 'top heavy'.

I know a few people who say that the BGD Barbara flips a fair amt, some say it doesn't but enough do. Flipping pendants are a total pet peeve of mine lol. One of the reasons I love my original pendant is because the thing never, ever flips. I had BGD 'replicate' it for an OEC I had but it didn't quite come out like my old one, a bit heavier and less delicate, potentially also due to the fact that the new stone was larger, heavier, deeper...but that original pendant I got years ago is so crazy delicate looking compared to so many of the pendants I see being done today. Who knew it would eventually become my 'holy grail' of bezel pendants... it makes it super hard to think about getting rid of it!

Anyway, can't wait to see your finished product!!
 
Ditto Mara. I always am fussy with my jewelry, so it has to wear well and be comfortable. I too looked at the sketches and wondered if the pendant would be able to balance on the tapered setting vs. a little wider "base." It may bother you if the stone tips or doesn't stay face up. I am sure you are in good hands though. Can't wait to see the finished product! :wavey:
 
I just wanted to chime in with my .02. Mara - your original pendant was the basis for mine! I absolutely love how delicate it is and I have never had flipping issues. If my memory serves, I think its a stock stuller setting that WF modified for me.

Bella, I agree that the tapered sides are more aesthetically pleasing, but I think the straight sides really help keep the pendant from flipping if that's important to you. I guess it helps to have a little more surface area touching skin :) But no matter what its going to be gorgeous! I had the pleasure of meeting Sally in person while honeymooning in Thailand. It was great to hand deliver my stone to her and talk about the design in person. She was SOOO sweet and I know she will take excellent care of you.
 
Kat..yes! It's amazing for a modified basic stock setting you know? I think my only instructions were to make it as thin as possible on all edges and they really did a great job. I wanted to do the same with the OEC but it was not a uniform shape so wouldn't have fit in a stock piece unfortunately.

Bella, just saw you are going with mickey ears, so nevermind re: my not stationary comment. I do think that stationary helps keep it a bit more stable. But I would double check on the taper of the bottom, it looks really 'small' in that sketch so just may tip fwd or be a little top-heavy. See what the vendor says. Good luck lady!
 
Hi Bella,

I am working on a pendant too, hence my coming across your thread! I am totally smitten with the idea of a bead chain! I may have to inquire about one too. Not sure if it will work, as I was planning to get the Barbara, but now I'm wondering if I should go for a stationary set too. I had that same JBEG photo saved at one point. I am terrible at filing, saving photos, and who knows what is where. Anyway, can't wait to see your new pendant after Sally works her magic!

ForteKitty,

In the event that you happen to stop back in here, does your pendant have a thread in SMTB? It looks perfect!!
 
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