Design Opinions on my Toi et Moi

[geckodani]

This is the story of a lovely .75 carat RB that has happily lived on my hand since 2005. Set into a Scott Kay solitaire in 2008, that setting has had a good run... and now it's time for a change. I'm sentimental though, and even though the lovely RB isn't up to Pricescope specs, it's very loved by me, and I'm not willing to part with it. And I don't wear pendants, so a necklace is out.

Enter... the Toi et Moi. I was in a brick and mortar store looking at settings for re-set ideas, and she suggested I try on a Toi et Moi. Surely not, I thought. There's no way I'd like such a thing...

And here are the CADs for my Toi et Moi.

My husband and I are polar opposites. Literally. If you know the Meyer's Briggs, I'm an ENFJ and he's an ISTP. Literal opposites. So, if the earth mined RB represents me... he's totally a Lab Emerald.

The whole process I've envisioned the emerald on a tilt. But the more I look at it... the more I think it might drive me nuts. I've not been a fan of the straight side by side, but the more I look at it, the more I think it might be the way to go. And yes, I've asked for a revised CAD.

I'm also running into an issue of quality lab stones from WF starting at 1.4 carats or so. With the tilt, that feels too big. Side by side... might not be, based on a few inspiration pics. So... thoughts?

To tilt... or not to tilt!?!

My CAD:



And a few side by side options.



Here's the ring that started it all (not my stone pictured):

 

[AprilBaby]

Look at the ring on rocky talk with your design. It looks like perfection.

 

[monarch64]

I like it best withOUT the emerald cut tilted. The toi et moi styles I’ve seen with stones tilted usually involve pears, and those look nice tilted because of the narrower end sort of hugging the other stone. A rectangular cut just doesn’t have the same visual effect on tilt.

It’s gonna be a cool ring, regardless! Love the opposite personalities thing and using your OG stone in the new one.

 

[geckodani]

Look at the ring on rocky talk with your design. It looks like perfection.

I just saw that when I did a search and... I agree! It's stunning! I do like the legato heads on my CAD, but other than that... Yup!

I like it best withOUT the emerald cut tilted. The toi et moi styles I’ve seen with stones tilted usually involve pears, and those look nice tilted because of the narrower end sort of hugging the other stone. A rectangular cut just doesn’t have the same visual effect on tilt.

It’s gonna be a cool ring, regardless! Love the opposite personalities thing and using your OG stone in the new one.

Thank you! I'm stoked about it. And I agree; title makes more sense with a pear or marquise.

Thanks for chiming in. Im almost sold on no tilt, LOL.

 

[Mooshi]

Have you considered a "cuff" style instead? It's the same thing, but a space between the stones. That might change if you like it on a tilt, or might make you like the straight set more so. Jemma Wynne on insta has a lot of these to look at.

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[geckodani]

Have you considered a "cuff" style instead? It's the same thing, but a space between the stones. That might change if you like it on a tilt, or might make you like the straight set more so. Jemma Wynne on insta has a lot of these to look at.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

Thank you for the suggestion! For what is essentially my engagement ring, I'm not a fan of the cuff style. As a RHR, for sure!

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

No suggestions because I rely on others for help with CADs, but I love your inspiration pic and your plans. It is going to be a gorgeous ring and so excited for you.

 

[geckodani]

No suggestions because I rely on others for help with CADs, but I love your inspiration pic and your plans. It is going to be a gorgeous ring and so excited for you.

Thank you! I'm stoked. Now I just have to find the emerald.

 

[geckodani]

Alright folks. This is not a drill. Here's candidate #2 for my Toi et Moi. E, VVS2, 1.23carat. CVD, but that doesn't bother me. It definitely does the hall of mirrors thing, which the last one didn't. Let me know what you think. And also... now I'm debating between a Toi et Moi, or just two simple solitaires that I can choose to stack, or not, depending on my mood. Thoughts? I have video, but not sure how to post.

It feels like a good match to my existing stone:

 

[geckodani]

@cushioncutnut how is your emerald search going? I'm gonna stop. This one is pretty, and I'll drive myself nuts if I keep going, LOL.

 

[cushioncutnut]

Alright folks. This is not a drill. Here's candidate #2 for my Toi et Moi. E, VVS2, 1.23carat. CVD, but that doesn't bother me. It definitely does the hall of mirrors thing, which the last one didn't. Let me know what you think. And also... now I'm debating between a Toi et Moi, or just two simple solitaires that I can choose to stack, or not, depending on my mood. Thoughts? I have video, but not sure how to post.

It feels like a good match to my existing stone:

That looks lovely and hpht is hard to find. I will post an update soon. I ended up buying a pre-made ring with side traps. The emerald cut is 3.64 cts E, VVS2....we shall see! Trying not to get my hopes up too high! Good return policy so I am not going to worry too much.

 

[geckodani]

It looks good at work, too. We had fun playing today, LOL.

 

[geckodani]

Updated CAD, with actual dimensions:

 

[cushioncutnut]

Updated CAD, with actual dimensions:

I like it but I guess I am use to seeing one at an angle or higher than the other so I tend to gravitate towards that style.

 

[geckodani]

I like it but I guess I am use to seeing one at an angle or higher than the other so I tend to gravitate towards that style.

Same. And that was the original plan. And if I had picked a different shape, I'd do that. I kinda like the side by side symbolism here. Plus I can flip it around easily without worrying about the tilt. I was looking at the tilt option, and it was gonna drive me nuts for daily wear.

 

[monarch64]

That’s a beautiful EC. I hope you stick with the moi et toi/same ring design. I’ve seen people stack solitaires before and it drives me nuts because I imagine how much the separate rings scratch each other. Also spinning…they never quite stay where you want them unless you solder them together and that defeats the purpose of stacking.

Does this have to be a forever setting? If not I’d go for the MET for sure and if you decide down the road you want something else it’s not necessarily some elaborate setting you’ll hate to part with.

 

[geckodani]

That’s a beautiful EC. I hope you stick with the moi et toi/same ring design. I’ve seen people stack solitaires before and it drives me nuts because I imagine how much the separate rings scratch each other. Also spinning…they never quite stay where you want them unless you solder them together and that defeats the purpose of stacking.

Does this have to be a forever setting? If not I’d go for the MET for sure and if you decide down the road you want something else it’s not necessarily some elaborate setting you’ll hate to part with.

I'm definitely loving the EC now that I've learned a little more, LOL. And I came to the same conclusion about the stacked solitaires; the spinning would make me a crazy person.

Does this have to be a forever setting... No. But that's a recent development. It's interesting; for 17 years DH has been completely anti upgrade. He was extremely sentimental about the diamond he proposed with. Regardless of it's pre-pricescope less than stellar cut, LOL.

And I love it too, although I do sometimes wonder what it'd look like if I followed through and had BGD recut it for me (I'd lose a lot of the carat weight; they estimated it would go from .75 to somewhere in the .6 range).

This got rambly. Long story shorter, after I landed on the two stone concept that let me upgrade while keeping the same stone, and was allllll the way down the rabbit hole, DH decides to tell me I could just get a new ring if I want.

I'm sentimental enough, and I like this idea enough that I'm going to do the two stone. He really likes it too. But... We had the discussion last night that in a few years I might want to change it/get something different. This project is going to come in around 2k, and a whole new ring would be considerably more expensive etc.

So, we shall see. The EC might end up on his hand in a few years! For now, I'm excited about it! Should have it in about a month. Working out some final details with WF.

If you made it this far, thank you for coming to my Saturday morning ramble.

 

[monarch64]

I'm definitely loving the EC now that I've learned a little more, LOL. And I came to the same conclusion about the stacked solitaires; the spinning would make me a crazy person.

Does this have to be a forever setting... No. But that's a recent development. It's interesting; for 17 years DH has been completely anti upgrade. He was extremely sentimental about the diamond he proposed with. Regardless of it's pre-pricescope less than stellar cut, LOL.

And I love it too, although I do sometimes wonder what it'd look like if I followed through and had BGD recut it for me (I'd lose a lot of the carat weight; they estimated it would go from .75 to somewhere in the .6 range).

This got rambly. Long story shorter, after I landed on the two stone concept that let me upgrade while keeping the same stone, and was allllll the way down the rabbit hole, DH decides to tell me I could just get a new ring if I want.

I'm sentimental enough, and I like this idea enough that I'm going to do the two stone. He really likes it too. But... We had the discussion last night that in a few years I might want to change it/get something different. This project is going to come in around 2k, and a whole new ring would be considerably more expensive etc.

So, we shall see. The EC might end up on his hand in a few years! For now, I'm excited about it! Should have it in about a month. Working out some final details with WF.

If you made it this far, thank you for coming to my Saturday morning ramble.

All of that makes complete sense. And 17 years is awesome, but you have some time before your 25th to think about another redesign or anniversary ring? Haha, ever the PS enabler.

I am excited to see your new ring, I think it’s going to be fabulous!

 

[geckodani]

All of that makes complete sense. And 17 years is awesome, but you have some time before your 25th to think about another redesign or anniversary ring? Haha, ever the PS enabler.

I am excited to see your new ring, I think it’s going to be fabulous!

Thank you! And believe me, the 25th anniversary thing has crossed my mind.