elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Owners

[iheartscience]

I'm having issues with Sholdt creating a setting for my 2 carat round diamond that looks like both of yours. I love how both of your settings are low, the shoulders move smoothly up into the semi-bezels, and how the bezels around the diamond are thin.

I received my setting from Sholdt and it was set higher and the bezels around the diamond were much thicker. It's missing that fluidity that your settings both have. I'm working with Pearlman's and they're very responsive, but it seems that Sholdt has a reason for why all of the changes I requested aren't possible. So far I've been told that my diamond is too deep, thinner bezels are not safe for the stone, and that the angles of the photographs I'm seeing account for the differences between my setting and yours.

I'm concerned that Sholdt is not understanding what I am looking for and I want to figure out the communication issue before they remake the setting again and having it still be wrong. I would love to know who you worked with and if you have any tips for me to get a setting that I want.

Here are some photos of the setting I received. As you can see, it's quite different from the photo on the Pearlman's site and the setting you both have.

 

[maccers]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

I looked up audball's Sholdt setting and her bezel seems to be about the same thickness as yours and seems to be set higher. Having said that, i do see the difference you speak of with the other Sholdt pictures you posted. I wonder if they refined the setting recently?

https://www.pricescope.com/blog/jewel-week-sholdt-semi-bezel-engagement-ring-oec

 

[lin_ny]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

Firstly, what a beautiful ring!

As far as the 'flow' goes, I can see in the professional shot, the shank flows up into the bezel in nearly a straight line - and with yours, there's a lot more curve to it. I'm not sure why that's different or why that happens.

I looked at elle_chris' ring and I can see what you mean that your bezel is slightly thicker than hers. It has been 4-5 years though since she posted that ring, so perhaps the setting has evolved a bit. The thickness of your bezel appears to be similar to audball's.

The height looks the same to me (when comparing yours and elle_chris'). I would say, if they're gonna re-make it, just show them a picture of elle_chris' and ask if it can be made that thin. If not, request it be as thin as possible while still being safe. As far as the height goes, they can really only set it so low with a 2ct stone. Maybe they're right when they say it's as low as it can be? There doesn't appear to be much room underneath the culet.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

Hm. That is odd. It almost looks like the bezels are not thicker per se, but that the edges of the bezel are smoothed down a little to blend in with the shank on the examples you like, whereas yours has sharp edges.

I hope you figure it out! I finally saw a sholdt semi-bezel in person and it is a lovely mount.

 

[yssie]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

Edited - emailed.

 

[iheartscience]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

Maccers-hmm, they must have. I'm not sure why they would have changed it so much, but I really prefer the "old" version. Thanks for the observation. That must be it.

lin-yes, exactly! It's good to know I'm not imagining things. You may be right about the height. Maybe mine just appears higher because it curves up more sharply?

dreamer-agreed, and I've told them that as well. I think part of it is also that the shoulders of the other rings don't curve up as sharply as mine does, so there's more of a "drop off" from the outer edge of the bezel, if that makes sense.

yssie-emailed you back!

I'm just frustrated because I know Sholdt *can* make this setting exactly how I'd like it, but the version I got was completely different. And I did request all these things through Pearlman's before my diamond even got sent to Sholdt.

 

[jess719]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

The Sholdt ring on Brian Gavin's website looks like your ring, so it must be the new version. Good Luck!! I hope they can get you the version you want.

 

[iheartscience]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

The Sholdt ring on Brian Gavin's website looks like your ring, so it must be the new version. Good Luck!! I hope they can get you the version you want.

I agree, it looks like there are 2 different versions. However, Pearlman's checked with Sholdt and they said that there are absolutely not 2 versions. Perhaps the most frustrating part is that Sholdt doesn't seem to think there's a difference between the version I got and the multiple versions I've seen on PS.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

It very well be that a different person is making that ring now. That happened with that Locke's ring a few years ago.

Your diamond is gorgeous, and I hope you can get the setting made the way you want! I agree that the original is better.

 

[iheartscience]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

It very well be that a different person is making that ring now. That happened with that Locke's ring a few years ago.

Your diamond is gorgeous, and I hope you can get the setting made the way you want! I agree that the original is better.

That must be it...I can't think of another explanation. The original really is better, and that's all I want! Thank you, ds! The diamond rules, I haven't done a thread yet but it's a 2 carat BGD Blue, L/SI1. It faces up so white it would blow your mind.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

Does your contact at Pearlman's see what you are talking about and understand what you want? Its hard communicating though an intermediary if the middle man doesn't get what you are asking..,

Your diamond is hot.

 

[iheartscience]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

Does your contact at Pearlman's see what you are talking about and understand what you want? Its hard communicating though an intermediary if the middle man doesn't get what you are asking..,

Your diamond is hot.

Hmmm you make a very good point. Probably not, which may be why this hasn't been resolved yet.

And thank you! Can't wait to show it off, hopefully in a Sholdt setting if I can get this resolved!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

Wow!!!! That is one white L!!!! Gotta love those blues!!!

 

[woofmama]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

Thing my Sholdt semi-bezel setting is definately built like they way they did yours but mine is an EC. I do see a distinct difference from the pics you posted and agree that for a round the original style looks better. I had a few questions during the production of my ring & contacted Kaylee at Sholdt once. My concern was primarily setting height. Julian at Pearlmans was fabulous at communicating any other concerns with them. I'm not sure if my directly contacting them was frowned upon, but I can say they were helpful.
I hope that the setting gets done to your satisfaction. I'm sure it will be one smashing ring! I love my Sholdt setting. Awesome diamond!

 

[iheartscience]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

Thing my Sholdt semi-bezel setting is definately built like they way they did yours but mine is an EC. I do see a distinct difference from the pics you posted and agree that for a round the original style looks better. I had a few questions during the production of my ring & contacted Kaylee at Sholdt once. My concern was primarily setting height. Julian at Pearlmans was fabulous at communicating any other concerns with them. I'm not sure if my directly contacting them was frowned upon, but I can say they were helpful.
I hope that the setting gets done to your satisfaction. I'm sure it will be one smashing ring! I love my Sholdt setting. Awesome diamond!

Thank you for the input woofmama! Unfortunately Sholdt continues to tell Pearlman's that my setting isn't different from their previous settings at all, so I've asked for a refund. I'll post a separate review thread when I get the chance, probably tomorrow. This hasn't been a very positive experience, I have to say. I'm pretty bummed out because I had seriously wanted this setting for years. Guess I should have gotten it when they still made it how I liked it.

 

[iheartscience]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

Wow!!!! That is one white L!!!! Gotta love those blues!!!

I KNOW, right?! Several PSers have seen it and it blew their minds! I want to upgrade my studs eventually and I know what diamonds I'll be getting! I'm also going to point my friends to them when they get engaged.

 

[VRBeauty]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

I love that Sholdt setting, and I'm sorry yours isn't working out for you. I see what you mean about the differences, and if I were in your shoes I'd probably be returning the setting too. Yours just doesn't have the same sinuous lines as the example rings.

 

[iheartscience]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

I love that Sholdt setting, and I'm sorry yours isn't working out for you. I see what you mean about the differences, and if I were in your shoes I'd probably be returning the setting too. Yours just doesn't have the same sinuous lines as the example rings.

Thanks VRBeauty. Apparently everyone but Sholdt can see the difference in these settings. I'm probably going to go custom so I can get a setting that's exactly right.

 

[FrekeChild]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

I looked at the pictures you supplied, and added more and I think the shoulder slope difference is a function of the change of ring size.

(From left to right)
Table view: EC's (2.5ct, size 8-8.5), Stock (2ct, size unknown)/PK's (1.5ct, size 4), thing2's (2ct, size 6.5)

Profile view: PK's (1.5ct, size 4), Stock (2ct, size unknown), thing2's (2ct, size 6.5), EC's (2.5ct, size 8-8.5)

I'm guessing that since the stock setting and your stone are essentially the same size, that the stock photo is taken of a ring size that's fairly small, probably about a size 4. PK's and the stock photo are larger stones on smaller rings, meaning that the proportions are quite a bit different than a large diamond on a larger finger. To have your stone in a setting that slopes more like PK's, the shoulders will need a lot more metal added.

I think your ring looks quite similar to EC's, but the semi-bezel looks a little bit thicker, and the cup around the diamond is not as curved on yours.

I know how long you've been looking forward to this, and I'm sorry it's not working out the way you wanted.

 

[iheartscience]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

Awesome, thanks for the comparison Freke! The Pearlman's description of the stock photo says it's with a 2 carat, but that could be incorrect. Even comparing mine to elle_chris's, which is a larger diamond, mine seems to flare out more at the top and the bezel seems a lot thicker. It's strange to me that Sholdt wouldn't increase the shoulder size along with everything else so the setting is in proportion.

I guess I just have to go custom to get the shoulder slope and thinner bezel that I want.

 

[SMC]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

I was strongly considering the Sholdt setting too but have been a little apprehensive after reading this thread. I have a 2 ct RB that I got from JA. I have a size 4 finger, so I'm hoping that if I do get Sholdt, it'll turn out more like Portland Kelly's version. I was going to request it be set higher so there'll be room to clean around the stone too.

 

[iheartscience]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

I was strongly considering the Sholdt setting too but have been a little apprehensive after reading this thread. I have a 2 ct RB that I got from JA. I have a size 4 finger, so I'm hoping that if I do get Sholdt, it'll turn out more like Portland Kelly's version. I was going to request it be set higher so there'll be room to clean around the stone too.

It seems like the more recent versions all are set the way mine was, so I would only go with them if you're okay with that. audball recently got her .7ish OEC set in the same setting and hers looks like the version I received, too.

 

[yssie]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

I was strongly considering the Sholdt setting too but have been a little apprehensive after reading this thread. I have a 2 ct RB that I got from JA. I have a size 4 finger, so I'm hoping that if I do get Sholdt, it'll turn out more like Portland Kelly's version. I was going to request it be set higher so there'll be room to clean around the stone too.

It seems like the more recent versions all are set the way mine was, so I would only go with them if you're okay with that. audball recently got her .7ish OEC set in the same setting and hers looks like the version I received, too.

I wonder why they altered the design instead of creating a new version? They do look *different* to my eyes - the new one is a more structured semi-bezel, the old one looks sorta like they melted metal and it just happened to flow around the stone in that shape...

ETA do the cutouts in the profile of PK's look like they're shaped differently from yours and ECs? More "U"/"cuplike" - less "V"? It could be the photos, I can't tell.

Replied (finally!)

 

[iheartscience]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

I was strongly considering the Sholdt setting too but have been a little apprehensive after reading this thread. I have a 2 ct RB that I got from JA. I have a size 4 finger, so I'm hoping that if I do get Sholdt, it'll turn out more like Portland Kelly's version. I was going to request it be set higher so there'll be room to clean around the stone too.

It seems like the more recent versions all are set the way mine was, so I would only go with them if you're okay with that. audball recently got her .7ish OEC set in the same setting and hers looks like the version I received, too.

I wonder why they altered the design instead of creating a new version? They do look *different* to my eyes - the new one is a more structured semi-bezel, the old one looks sorta like they melted metal and it just happened to flow around the stone in that shape...

ETA do the cutouts in the profile of PK's look like they're shaped differently from yours and ECs? More "U"/"cuplike" - less "V"? It could be the photos, I can't tell.

Replied (finally!)

Yeah, exactly-the design is so much less fluid. And you described the old one perfectly-that metal flowing around the stone look is precisely what I want, and exactly what the setting I received lacks entirely. I think you're right about the cutouts being different, too.

Perhaps the most frustrating part is that Sholdt apparently doesn't think mine is different in any way from versions they've done in the past.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

Is it possible for them to try to soften the outer edge of the bezel so that it flows more gracefully into the shank? Not sure how much that would improve it, but the most glaring difference for me is the defined lines of the bezel, so if that could be done without remaking the whole ring it could help... ?

 

[SMC]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

I live in Seattle and decided to get my diamond set at the Sholdt workshop. I ended up choosing the semi-bezel setting shown here for my 2 ct diamond. I talked to Kalee Sholdt about getting the bezel made as thin as possible and she told me that though they could make it as thin as I wanted (like that picture from Pearlman's site), the stone would come loose and spin in the setting fairly easily. She said the bigger the stone, the more easily this would happen. She also said that they had problems with this in the past. I ended up asking for them to just use their best judgment.

I had a great time dealing with the folks at Sholdt. If you're local, I highly recommend setting up an appointment with Kalee to look at all the lovely settings.

 

[SMC]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

Not sure if anyone is interested, but I got pictures sent of my ring. It does have a thicker bezel than the older versions of this ring, but I like it! And more importantly, my boyfriend loves it (especially the profile shot)! We haven't picked it up yet so I don't know how it looks in real-life, but I'm excited!

I was concerned that I wouldn't like the thicker bezel, but I think that it somehow makes my diamond look a little larger and I do think that the thicker bezel is sturdier. It's a size 4.25, 2.02 J GIA XXX, platinum.

 

[woofmama]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

Not sure if anyone is interested, but I got pictures sent of my ring. It does have a thicker bezel than the older versions of this ring, but I like it! And more importantly, my boyfriend loves it (especially the profile shot)! We haven't picked it up yet so I don't know how it looks in real-life, but I'm excited!

I was concerned that I wouldn't like the thicker bezel, but I think that it somehow makes my diamond look a little larger and I do think that the thicker bezel is sturdier. It's a size 4.25, 2.02 J GIA XXX, platinum.

WOW-Sortmon your ring looks amazing! Can't wait for the SMTB thread. I absolutely love my Sholdt setting. I'm guessing you'll love yours too, especially with your honking rock.

 

[iheartscience]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

It looks gorgeous! I'm glad you love it! (And your ring size looks so tiny! Lucky! )

 

[SMC]

Re: elle_chris, Portland Kelly & Other Sholdt Semi Bezel Own

Thanks woofmama! I'm really excited to see it in real life but I may not be able to see it until the engagement.

thing2of2, thank you for your kind words! I know that this version isn't the one that you prefer but it's right for me. Have you found a custom jeweler to do your setting yet? I would love to see your completed piece when it's done!

Oh, and forgot to mention that the diamond is an eye clean SI1, purchased from James Allen. I loved the service that I received there too!