Channel Set with bezel-type side on the stone - think it would work?

[getzer]

I have a heirloom diamond that has two small chips on the side. I''ve fallen in love with a simple solitaire channel setting that looks like a helix shaped tension setting:
http://www.topperjewelers.com/jewelry/steven_kretchmer/tension_set_helix

Do you think it would look dumb to put a small layer of metal around the stone - like what is seen in this ''golden gate'' ring, which still exposeses the bottom of the ring and keeps it more protected than just the channel set?

http://www.crossjewelers.com/style/active/goldengate_a.htm

All opinions, please - let me know if you think it would look ugly, or too metaly.

Much appreciation in advance!

 

[Circe]

What you''re describing actually sounds a lot like another poster''s ring - Cookie Thyme just posted pictures in the under a carat thread that sound like they might fit the bill. I think it''s a gorgeous look! Very modern, very clean, and yet something about the curves is still nicely organic.

 

[Circe]

Here''s a shot of it (hope Cookie Thyme doesn''t mind my reposting). It''s not a full bezel, but it definitely looks like it ought to protect the stone nicely - and if you want a full bezel, I''d imagine most jewelers could modify the design without any problems.

 

[getzer]

That is definetely very close! I like how the sides stick out on the tension setting pic - more so then when they wrap around the diamond - but that is one GORGEOUS ring!

Anything else that you''ve seen?

 

[Circe]

I can''t think of anything off the top of my head ... but if you do a search, you should find tons. This kind of setting isn''t usually called a channel setting (those are lots of little stones held in a kind of groove) ... I think you''ll get better results if you try searching for a bypass ring/setting, or just tension-set (since a lot of the threads that aren''t full tension rings still use the term to describe the look). Good luck!

 

[getzer]

Thank you so much for your help!

 

[honey22]

Can you have a chipped stone tension set? I thought I heard somewhere that not all stones are suitable for tension setting, ie. really thin girldes maybe? I am not 100% sure, but I would look into this before purchasing a setting.

Good luck!

 

[getzer]

The jeweler said he could set it just so in the ''channel'' so that it would cover the chips - but it will at some point break, no doubt about it.