CADS are in!

[liaerfbv]

So I settled on ERD to reset my e-ring, and we started with a Bev K ring for my inspiration. I got first round CADs from Chris tonight, and I'm pretty happy with them. I have a few comments, but I want to see what the collective feedback is without tainting opinion. I'm still waffling on unplated 18k white gold vs. platinum, but that's just something I have to work out for myself.

First, my inspiration ring:

 

[liaerfbv]

Now for CADs:

 

[liaerfbv]

Cont.:

Let me know your thoughts!

 

[msop04]

Now for CADs:

Wow! I love this! I think your CAD looks better than the inspiration ring - it's much more delicate... Can't wait to see the finished product!

 

[facetgirl]

Ditto!

I love that Bev K setting... yours more

 

[Niel]

Love it.

 

[tyty333]

I think they did a pretty good job! I like yours better than the bev k. Your gallery is much
prettier.

 

[SB621]

I really like the CAD's. I think ERD did a pretty good job of getting the feel of the inspired BevK ring.

A few things I would change but this is just more my style of rings:
I'm not a huge fan of how the cuff sticks out of the shank. Is there a way to make that more streamlined/ fluid?
To me it looks like the BevK ring halo is set much lower, while your is up higher probably due to the leafs in the basket. Not a bad thing for this ring, but I prefer it squashed down low for this type of halo.
I don't love the triwire look of the shank. I would either have it mold to one band or do a delicate slight split shank to meet half way down. The triwire look gives in a more contemporary feel.

It looks lovely and I can't wait to see this complete!

 

[CharmyPoo]

I like the CADs better than the originals too. I am surprised how fluid and flowy it actually looks.

 

[junebug17]

I love it liaerfbv! I think it's prettier than the inspiration piece - I really like the basket!

 

[Acinom]

It looks beautiful and delicate. I can't wait to see the finished ring!!!

 

[MissGotRocks]

I think it looks great! Impressive work!

 

[motownmama]

I like the higher bezel in the inspiration ring, and I don't see that recreated in the CAD

 

[ecf8503]

The BK has an airline between the bezel and the halo - the CAD's don't.

I like the look of it overall, but I'm not sold on the triwire look, even though it's there in the BK.

 

[Christina...]

I like the CADs very much, the only thing that struck me was that the milgrain around the center stone looks bulky, more beaded to me. I prefer very fine milgrain, so it's just personal preference. It could also just be the nature of CAD making it appear more bulky than it will actually be IRL.

 

[liaerfbv]

Thanks for all of your replies! Initially, I told Chris I wanted to delete the airline, lower the center stone bezel flush, and completely redo the gallery/basket. He suggested we pinch the shank, and I left the rest of the design in his capable hands.

My initial reaction to the CADs were OMG love it! Which is always great. So now I'm just fine tuning the details. My main concern is that it looks too "busy" with all the different elements. I think Chris did an amazing job making it all work together, but I just don't know if it needs the leaves on the basket, and the wraps, and the milgrain, and triwire shank, and and and, you know what I mean? I love the triwire on the BK ring, but I think it's competing with everything else here.

So I'm thinking plain shank, lower the basket as much as possible to keep the basket leaves, and maybe soften the cuff a bit (like you suggested, SB!). I love the cuff, and it's one of my favorite elements of the ring -- maybe it just looks more prominent in the CAD? I know it's hard to see a finished project because of the excess metal, magnification, etc.

I was thinking about asking for a wax mold, but I'm not sure if it's worth it.

 

[liaerfbv]

I like the CADs very much, the only thing that struck me was that the milgrain around the center stone looks bulky, more beaded to me. I prefer very fine milgrain, so it's just personal preference. It could also just be the nature of CAD making it appear more bulky than it will actually be IRL.

I was concerned about that, because I also like a really fine milgrain. I am thinking it's just the CADs, but I'll probably mention it just to be sure.

 

[SB621]

Thanks for all of your replies! Initially, I told Chris I wanted to delete the airline, lower the center stone bezel flush, and completely redo the gallery/basket. He suggested we pinch the shank, and I left the rest of the design in his capable hands.

My initial reaction to the CADs were OMG love it! Which is always great. So now I'm just fine tuning the details. My main concern is that it looks too "busy" with all the different elements. I think Chris did an amazing job making it all work together, but I just don't know if it needs the leaves on the basket, and the wraps, and the milgrain, and triwire shank, and and and, you know what I mean? I love the triwire on the BK ring, but I think it's competing with everything else here.

So I'm thinking plain shank, lower the basket as much as possible to keep the basket leaves, and maybe soften the cuff a bit (like you suggested, SB!). I love the cuff, and it's one of my favorite elements of the ring -- maybe it just looks more prominent in the CAD? I know it's hard to see a finished project because of the excess metal, magnification, etc.

I was thinking about asking for a wax mold, but I'm not sure if it's worth it.

I definitely think if you bring down the halo/basket it will soften the cuff and look more fluid.

 

[Enerchi]

I think it is just incredible how well he was able to replicate the inspirational setting!!

If you are thinking its too much of something, what do you think you'd like to remove? (if anything!) I thought perhaps instead of 3 bezeled diamonds on the sides, how about one that covers the same space? or a marquis to mimic what the petal leaves in the gallery are shaped like?

Otherwise, I think its GORGEOUS! (and I'd vote unplated WG!)

 

[liaerfbv]

I think it is just incredible how well he was able to replicate the inspirational setting!!

If you are thinking its too much of something, what do you think you'd like to remove? (if anything!) I thought perhaps instead of 3 bezeled diamonds on the sides, how about one that covers the same space? or a marquis to mimic what the petal leaves in the gallery are shaped like?

Otherwise, I think its GORGEOUS! (and I'd vote unplated WG!)

Oh Enerchi, now you have my head whirling! I felt like something looked slightly "off" and I couldn't put my finger on what it was! I think it's the juxtaposition of the angles of the basket leaves with the circles of the bezeled side stones. The problem is, I love both of them. To me, the bezeled side stones are so unique, I don't know if I'd want to switch them to a marquise. There's a Simon G ring that has a marquise bezel on the side of a halo that I was looking at (Junebug, is this the ring you ended up choosing? I know we talked about it in another thread.) that I do really love, but I love the cuffs so much, I'm not sure how that would all work together?

Or, should I look at different basket styles to match the "curves" of the bezel circles?

 

[dragonfly411]

I love it!

 

[Laila619]

I think it's beautiful!! However, I am not a huge fan of the tri-wire shank. I love everything else though!

 

[Niel]

I think it is just incredible how well he was able to replicate the inspirational setting!!

If you are thinking its too much of something, what do you think you'd like to remove? (if anything!) I thought perhaps instead of 3 bezeled diamonds on the sides, how about one that covers the same space? or a marquis to mimic what the petal leaves in the gallery are shaped like?

Otherwise, I think its GORGEOUS! (and I'd vote unplated WG!)

Oh Enerchi, now you have my head whirling! I felt like something looked slightly "off" and I couldn't put my finger on what it was! I think it's the juxtaposition of the angles of the basket leaves with the circles of the bezeled side stones. The problem is, I love both of them. To me, the bezeled side stones are so unique, I don't know if I'd want to switch them to a marquise. There's a Simon G ring that has a marquise bezel on the side of a halo that I was looking at (Junebug, is this the ring you ended up choosing? I know we talked about it in another thread.) that I do really love, but I love the cuffs so much, I'm not sure how that would all work together?

Or, should I look at different basket styles to match the "curves" of the bezel circles?

WARNING: worst drawing ever.


But if you like both what if it had both. Two and then one marquise. And use an actual marquise not just the shape with rounds inside.

 

[Kawfee]

Wow, I'm a guy and i just want to say your CAD looks better than the original. Simple, clean, and elegant.

Really unique and I'm not a fan of halo's, but this just changed my mindl!

 

[Enerchi]

I think it is just incredible how well he was able to replicate the inspirational setting!!

If you are thinking its too much of something, what do you think you'd like to remove? (if anything!) I thought perhaps instead of 3 bezeled diamonds on the sides, how about one that covers the same space? or a marquis to mimic what the petal leaves in the gallery are shaped like?

Otherwise, I think its GORGEOUS! (and I'd vote unplated WG!)

Oh Enerchi, now you have my head whirling! I felt like something looked slightly "off" and I couldn't put my finger on what it was! I think it's the juxtaposition of the angles of the basket leaves with the circles of the bezeled side stones. The problem is, I love both of them. To me, the bezeled side stones are so unique, I don't know if I'd want to switch them to a marquise. There's a Simon G ring that has a marquise bezel on the side of a halo that I was looking at (Junebug, is this the ring you ended up choosing? I know we talked about it in another thread.) that I do really love, but I love the cuffs so much, I'm not sure how that would all work together?

Or, should I look at different basket styles to match the "curves" of the bezel circles?

I like the cuffs - I'd keep them for sure - they give a nice 'break' to the ring...

I like Niel's drawing but what if instead of the 2 smaller rounds, there was just the marquis along - sort of like the photo pictured above, but using, as Niel said, a single marquis, not the metal in that shape w rb's inside.

That, to me, mimics the petal effect.

OR....

just because my mind is also "whirling" (!! ) what if there was a small bezeled heart/trillion/half moon shape instead? Something semi triangular to balance the joining of the halo down the shank. It is hard to describe in words... I hope you can kind of grasp what I'm trying to get across!

 

[pandabee]

Your CAD looks very nice!!! I also love it much more than either of your inspirations, but agree with PP about the tri-wire shank. Seems too thick and rigid to me. Very excited to see how this turns out for you!

 

[liaerfbv]

Niel, our drawing skills are about equal, so no judgment here! I see what you are getting at and I really like it. However, DH randomly looked over my shoulder at the CADs and emphatically loves the bezeled circles... so now I'm torn. Obviously, it's my ring and I'm going to do what I think looks best, but of course, I want him to like it too. Enerchi, thanks so much for all the ideas too! I think I'm going to stick with the bezels and the cuff, and work some more on the gallery. I'm very torn though because I do LOVE the leaves that Chris has designed!

I'm off to scroll through some eye candy for ideas...

 

[Tinabell]

I really love the CAD designs! I especially like the separation in the shank. It's sleek and unique. I like the milligrain in the CAD around the outside of the halo; I'm actually a fan of the beading effect it has, however if it was slightly smaller around the bezel it would create a beautiful delicate look. My favorite thing about the the Bev K is the floating halo. I'm a big fan of floating halos! I think your ring is going to be absolutely stunning, and I can't wait to see the final product!!

 

[liaerfbv]

I was planning to get the matching BK eternity band with mini bezels... but if I kept the leaves on the basket and then got a milgrain swing ring with alternating marquise and bezels, I feel like that would tie together all the shapes and I'd get to keep the basket I love.

Final thoughts:
- plain shank
- lower basket and halo
- delicate milgrain
- matching milgrain marquise and bezel wedding band

I feel good about the design! Thanks everyone for working through CADs with me and for your positive and helpful feedback! This is one major reason I've decided to get more active on PS lately - there's no way anyone IRL would care enough to discuss the minute details of jewelry with me. Case in point, I asked my best friend what she thought of the triwire shank and she literally replied "I think it's cute you think I know what those words mean."

 

[liaerfbv]

So - for an update... Chris and I actually ended doing a few more rounds of CADs after this one. He sent me a plain shank and it was just all wrong. I opened the picture and immediately was like oh no this is not what I wanted at all. So we went back to the triwire shank and made a few adjustments to the basket, and I'm really really excited about the final design. I've attached a pic of our latest CAD so everyone can see where we ended up!

I need some slight hand holding with my metal choice. Historically, I've preferred unplated white gold to platinum on my skin. I am extremely pale with blue undertones and without blush I look slightly corpse-like (I'm really selling myself here! ). Chris has recommended platinum for this ring and after doing exhaustive research, picture comparison, borrowing a platinum ring from a friend to wear for a few days to get a feel for the patina and coloring with my skin, I'm going ahead with his suggestion. However, I still have reservations.

Does anyone have any reasons why I shouldn't use platinum? I'm mostly concerned with how the metal is going to look with my skin long term (at least a few years) and how it's going to blend with my OEC vs any concerns about scratching, etc. I've attached a pic of my stone in my old setting (which was unplated white gold). Please reassure me that platinum will look fine and I'm crazy, or tell me why you'd choose the unplated white gold.

Thanks!