custom oval ering, help/opinions would be much appreciated

[napatastic]

Hello everyone! I have been lurking on PS for awhile now and have been reading and trying to absorb as much information as I can since I had absolutely no base of knowledge for diamonds or even fine jewelry. My boyfriend knows that he is dating an extraordinarily opinionated woman, so he (very smartly) chose to include me in choosing an engagement ring. We found a BEAUTIFUL oval diamond about a month ago and are starting the process of designing a custom setting for it. As I have mentioned I am very new at this, so I would really appreciate any advice, opinions or suggestions. I am having trouble not letting myself get distracted but the overwhelming feeling of "OH MY GAWD HE WANTS TO MARRY MEEEEE!!!! " and focusing on this ring design so that I don't find myself staring at "that one thing" in a couple of months wishing that I had noticed it when it could still be changed, because I know I wouldn't be able to stop noticing it then. So here are the details, and my intention is to include pictures of the first set of CADs and the inspiration pictures I sent the jeweler but I am not the most computer savvy so if you don't see the images bare with me and I promise to keep at it!

The diamond: (I will get the GIA # and more specs tomorrow, but for now this is all I can remember)
1.05 (8.21x6.2
Oval
D
VS2

I will add some pictures of the diamond soon as I know you will all be interested to see it

The ring:
Platinum, pave, split shank with the split shaped more like a Y than a V, delicate claw prongs, with an open side view (<- I don't know how to explain this part very well) and crossover gallery area. I am working with Mark Broumand in LA and just got the first CADs today, which are hopefully attached in this thread.

The metal part doesn't seem proportional at all and I am a bit worried about that, also there is a piece of metal surrounding the diamond (the basket maybe?)which I was hoping the ring could be designed without but perhaps that would not be safe for the diamond? Anyways, please let me know if you see anything or have any suggestions, y'all have so much more experience with fine jewelry and custom designs so I would really appreciate your time and thoughts. Thank you in advance!!!

The original inspiration setting (from a PSer a couple of years ago I believe)



annnnd I can't seem to upload the images of the CAD so I will try to figure it out and then post them.

 

[napatastic]

Re: custom oval ering, help/opinions would be much appreciat

Okay, i think I have the figured out how to add the CADs

 

[Lookinagain]

Re: custom oval ering, help/opinions would be much appreciat

I am certainly no expert on CAD's so I did a bit of reading before having my ring made and found this article by Wink Jones helpful.

https://www.pricescope.com/blog/7-tips-successful-cad-design-wink-jones

As you can see, CAD's are less delicate looking than the finished product. They appear to have more metal and are therefore more bulky. I had a ring made by Mark Broumand and am quite happy with the results. I've attached the first CAD and a photo of the final ring. Although I made some minor changes to the CAD, changing the prongs to white metal, this was basically the final CAD.

As for the basket and whether one is necessary, speak to him. It looks to me like your inspiration ring has one. If it can't be made without one, ask for photos of another ring that shows what the size of the basket will be in real life. I'm guessing the CAD makes it look much larger than it will be when finished.

I love your inspiration ring. Again, I'm no CAD expert, but the only thought I would have is that the split shank on the inspiration ring looks very, very delicate and I would make sure that the shank on the ring he is making doesn't have too much depth, if that makes sense, so that the final ring sits as low to the finger as you want.

 

[napatastic]

Re: custom oval ering, help/opinions would be much appreciat

Lookinagain, Thank you so much for your reply. I have read over and over again about how CADs are bulky and not exactly like the finished product. But when I actually got my CAD I guess it was just a bigger difference than i was expecting. I will definitely read that article and appreciate you attaching your CAD and finished product from Mark. I sent him a picture of a ring with no basket and explained to him that that is what I was hoping for(for some reason i couldn't get it to upload here), but after looking at all of his rings online, they seem to all have baskets so I think it is his preferred style. I have sent an email asking about it specifically and double checking about the dimensions of the shank, so I guess I will have an answer soon. Thank you again! Seeing your BEAUTIFUL ring has reassured me very much, I love the yellow gold against that absolutely gorgeous EC

 

[Gypsy]

Re: custom oval ering, help/opinions would be much appreciat

Need more shots of the CAD to help. Head on would be key. As well as full profile.

Also please read this.

The ring you like is from ERD, not Brilliantly Engaged. It was CAD. And it was very reasonable from what I understand.

Please read this: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/custom-jewelry-work-cad-and-cast-psa.175834/#post-3202426#p3202426']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/custom-jewelry-work-cad-and-cast-psa.175834/#post-3202426#p3202426[/URL]

 

[napatastic]

Re: custom oval ering, help/opinions would be much appreciat

Sorry for the delay in responding to this, I just got these images from Mark that show the planned dimensions of the ring today. He also reminded me that even these numbers would be winnowed down a bit during the final phases of the ring being polished, etc. Also I will attach the side view and the closest to directly down view that I have (this will be the first one, please excuse the somewhat random and terribly done gray bubbles, I am very technologically challenged and it was the only way I could figure out to cover up some additional/unnecessary information in the image).


side view


and finally the two images I received today showing the planned dimensions as well as an easier for me to imagine, imaging of the pave:




thank you all again for your time and for sharing your knowledge with me!

 

[Gypsy]

Re: custom oval ering, help/opinions would be much appreciat

So this is ERD/BE you are working with?

 

[napatastic]

Re: custom oval ering, help/opinions would be much appreciat

Gypsy, I am actually working with Mark Broumand in Los Angeles. The original ring was made by ERD/BE though.

 

[napatastic]

Re: custom oval ering, help/opinions would be much appreciat

bump to the top, in hopes of any last minute advice before I approve the CAD.

 

[Lookinagain]

Re: custom oval ering, help/opinions would be much appreciat

I have no more advice but please do come back and show us your finished ring.

 

[Gypsy]

Re: custom oval ering, help/opinions would be much appreciat

I don't love the trellis design of the profile of this one. It will make a flush fit band nearly impossible. Personally I'd have the profile re-designed like the original ERD ring you like.

This is the CAD ERD ring profile:


See here for the thread of that ring you liked: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/looking-for-perfect-oval-split-shank-pave-er.203581/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/looking-for-perfect-oval-split-shank-pave-er.203581/[/URL]


Okay? No trellis profile.

 

[chrono]

Re: custom oval ering, help/opinions would be much appreciat

I like the trellis but I'm not the type to be concerned about being flush with another ring. Perhaps it is the different proportions of the pictures but the shank in your CAD looks thicker (in depth, not width) compared to the original.

 

[napatastic]

Re: custom oval ering, help/opinions would be much appreciat

Gypsy, Is it possible to have a ring sit flush with it since it is a split shank? I didnt even realize that would be an option I guess, so in my mind I had accepted that it would not be possible. Just to make sure I am understanding, when you say flush you mean the wedding band would be pushed right up against the side of the ering all the way around, right? The pictures I have been able to find of splitshanks w/wedding bands all seem to have some space between the two. I will do more research and try to find an example so I can figure out if that is something that I would be interested in. Thank you! Also thanks for the link! For some reason I had it in my head that the ERD ring was from a couple of years ago, not a couple of MONTHS!

Chrono, I think you are right, looking at the two side by side my CAD seems much bulkier from the direct side shot. Certainly something I want to bring up, so thank you very much for pointing it out! Is it possible that making that shank thinner in depth will make the ring too delicate? I have been reading a lot of posts recently about rings being made too delicate to be safe to conform with customers demand for the very thin/delicate rings. I do not want to risk my ring being an "unsafe" place (which for some reason sounds silly to my ears ) for my diamond or to have to go through having it remade if it breaks because I asked them to make something unreasonable.

 

[chrono]

Re: custom oval ering, help/opinions would be much appreciat

That's a question I would ask the bench because it is up to their skill and experience to know how thin they can (and are willing to) go.