found a setting for my M! Sizing questions -- need advice

[Lula]

Hi, I have been looking for a setting for my Crafted by Infinity 1.00 M SI2 (previous post)
and I wasn''t finding anything that made me swoon, until I visited a friend in another city and found this setting:

 

[Lula]

sorry for the bad quality -- these are cell phone photos taken by my friend!

 

[Lula]

The M is just sitting on the top of the setting, loose.

I have always admired my friend's estate/vintage jewelry. Her husband has done business with this jeweler for many years. It's a locally owned, independent business, not a chain or maul store. The business sells new, custom, and estate jewelry. This setting is termed "estate" and is very reasonably priced, but it is not antique. It is a newer Beverly K type style, but it is "previously worn" so it is not "new." It is in perfect condition except that the rhodium plating has worn off, which I don't mind because I prefer white gold without rhodium plating.

The ring is size 5.5 and I wear a 7.5, though I prefer my rings loose, so I usually wear a 7.75.

The store assures me they can resize this ring to fit me. But I have some concern about the pave setting and how successful this will be.

1. Does going up two sizes increase my risk of losing a stone because the tension on the stones will change?

2. Will the sizing make the ring's proportions look weird in any way because of the size change?

3. The jeweler said they will also have to modify the prongs to fit a round stone, but this didn't sound as problematic as the sizing issue.

Thanks for your help!!!!

The first picture was hideously large, so I resized:

 

[Amethyste]

Usually, the rule of thumb is no more than 2 size up or down. All of the stones will have to be rechecked to make sure there are no loose ends. I am not sure about the proportions, but I dont think it will impact the look of the ring.
I am sure more knowledgeable people will chime in

By the way, it is a very pretty setting!

 

[beechezz]

I think your stone looks gorgeous in this setting. If it can be done (the sizing) I say go for it!

 

[Upgradable]

I believe there is less chance for loosening of stones when sizing up vs. sizing down. Just make sure the jeweler rechecks each melee after sizing. I don''t think the proportions will change at all. And I must agree that the mounting is a lovely choice for your M. I love warm stones!!

 

[tyty333]

I think that setting shows off your stone beautifully...plus it has a lot of bling factor!

 

[WinkHPD]

Date: 8/8/2009 10:26:48 AM
Author: sarap333
The M is just sitting on the top of the setting, loose.

LOL! This is good, otherwise I was going to tell you that the setting job on that diamond was horrible and that the prongs needed to be trimmed. I suspected this was only sitting on top of the ring since I could not imagine anyone leaving the prongs that long.

I have always admired my friend''s estate/vintage jewelry. Her husband has done business with this jeweler for many years. It''s a locally owned, independent business, not a chain or maul store. The business sells new, custom, and estate jewelry. This setting is termed ''estate'' and is very reasonably priced, but it is not antique. It is a newer Beverly K type style, but it is ''previously worn'' so it is not ''new.'' It is in perfect condition except that the rhodium plating has worn off, which I don''t mind because I prefer white gold without rhodium plating.

The ring is size 5.5 and I wear a 7.5, though I prefer my rings loose, so I usually wear a 7.75.

The store assures me they can resize this ring to fit me. But I have some concern about the pave setting and how successful this will be.

Sizing up this much may well break one or more of the stones if your jeweler is not careful, although they are small. If you were going down it would loosen the prongs, but in going up it actually tightens them.

1. Does going up two sizes increase my risk of losing a stone because the tension on the stones will change?

2. Will the sizing make the ring''s proportions look weird in any way because of the size change?

You are approaching the limit for which the ring will still look round. It may look slightly ovalish when not on, but it will not look strange at all while on your finger. If your jeweler can do it without chipping any of the melee goods you will be happy with the result.

3. The jeweler said they will also have to modify the prongs to fit a round stone, but this didn''t sound as problematic as the sizing issue.

Thanks for your help!!!!

The first picture was hideously large, so I resized:

Your jeweler can also remove the balance of the rhodium by reversiing the polarity of the electrodes in his plating bath. This will strip ALL of the rhodium off the ring for you. I agree that with your beautiful M color that the slightly yellowish cast of the white gold will be better.

Congratulations on your new ring, it is very beautiful!

Wink

 

[junebug17]

I just wanted to let you know that I absolutely adore that setting and think your diamond looks beautiful in it!!! This is the first time since being a member of PS that I have felt a twinge of jealousy over a ring! I love vintage/antique settings, this one is so up my alley

Wink, so nice of you to offer your expert opinion, what a great place this is!

 

[Lula]

Thank you, Amethyste, Upgradeable, tyty, and beechezz, for the compliments and the feedback about the sizing issue. I thought the M looked "at home" in the setting, and it was the first setting out of the many that I looked at that I felt that way about!

Junebug17, thanks so much (though I'm sorry I am inspiring ring envy!).

I just put a deposit on this setting on Friday (yesterday) so I won't know until next week if the store's jeweler thinks it can be done, but, like I said, this store has done a lot of work for my friend and they have a good reputation.

Wink, thank you for your advice and for your comments -- yes, I realized when I posted the pictures that people would think the setting job was horrible, so I quickly added the notation about the M being loose in the setting! There are no slouches on this site!

I will be sure to ask them about getting rid of all the rhodium plating; I very much appreciate your comments about that -- I too think the rhodium plating must go

And it is clear from many of your comments here that I need to check the setting over carefully for chipped melee.

I was considering yellow gold for this M, but the white gold settings looked nicer. I also was considering a more modern, chunky setting, but like I said, the M looked very much at home in this vintage style setting, and I love the cushion-y halo.

My friend and the owners of the store loved the M. Everyone (including several other customers in the store!) were impressed with the cut of the stone and the colors in it. The sparkle is amazing.

So any lurkers out there who have questions about the "lower color" stones, fear not -- they are beautiful.

 

[Lula]

Last night I had dream that the jeweler broke a lot of stones in the setting and replaced them with really ugly greenish diamonds!

Agghhhh, I love buying diamonds but hate choosing settings.

I''m going to call them in the morning to ask about the chipping issue, the rhodium plating, and noticeable the re-sizing will be (oval rather than round shape).

Thank you all again for your help! This forum is such a great resource.

 

[Amethyste]

Sarah, i had a thought last night but was too tired to get up to reply... Here I am this morning

Since they have to put new head/prongs on it, have you considered yellow prongs for your beautiful diamond?
It might just add a wow factor to the ring.. I am not sure if you are trying to make the stone appear less warm? I am speaking for myself though, but since it is a M and shows off warmth, I think that yellow gold prongs might just enhances its beautiful tone. I love warm stones, they are so beautiful and unique, and love when they are shown "as is", no mask !

Just a thought

 

[Lula]

Amethyste, thank you! What a cool idea! I will ask the jeweler about it tomorrow when I call them with my other questions.

I am not trying to make the stone look less warm -- I like its warmth and took the advice of several PS'ers in my previous post to check out how my M looked in a halo setting with whiter stones. The whiter pave looks great with the M and enhances its "M-ness." I did notice that the rhodium plating was the wrong color for my M, so unplated white gold (or yellow gold) is a better metal choice.

What do others think of mixing white-yellow gold in a setting? I know I am seeing more and more rings with mixed white-yellow gold on them and I really like the look -- though it does take some getting used to after years and years of wearing only white gold/platinum.

 

[junebug17]

Sara, this is just totally my personal preference, but I prefer rings that are all one color of metal. Not to say that rings that mix the two aren''t pretty, I love and appreciate all kinds of jewelry, but for my own personal style I just like rings with one metal color. But that''s just me!!

 

[risingsun]

It''s a really beautiful setting. I wouldn''t change a thing

 

[WinkHPD]

Speaking as me personally,

I THINK THE YELLOW PRONGS WOULD BE HOT HOT HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


SSSSSSSIIIIIIIIZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZLLLLLLEEEEEEE!


Wink

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 8/9/2009 5:36:20 PM
Author: Wink
Speaking as me personally,

I THINK THE YELLOW PRONGS WOULD BE HOT HOT HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


SSSSSSSIIIIIIIIZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZLLLLLLEEEEEEE!


Wink

Yup, would be a great look for sure!!!

 

[Lula]

LOL -- I guess Wink likes the idea "just a little."

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I'm going to look at some more pictures online of the mixed-metal settings, but I'm leaning toward the YG prongs -- just to give a little unexpected kick to the setting. I could always change them out to WG if I decided I didn't like the YG after a while.

I'll give you all an update after I speak to the jeweler after they send it to their benchman for evaluation/work.

I'm starting to get nervous that they won't be able to size it -- more weird dreams tonight, no doubt!

 

[Kaleigh]

Good luck, please keep us posted. I do think the yellow gold prongs would add a nice contrast to the setting.. And would give a nice kick to it as you said. I am excited for you!!!

 

[marcy]

I think your ring will be stunning.

 

[Amethyste]

Date: 8/9/2009 1:05:32 PM
Author: sarap333
Amethyste, thank you! What a cool idea! I will ask the jeweler about it tomorrow when I call them with my other questions.


I am not trying to make the stone look less warm -- I like its warmth and took the advice of several PS''ers in my previous post to check out how my M looked in a halo setting with whiter stones. The whiter pave looks great with the M and enhances its ''M-ness.'' I did notice that the rhodium plating was the wrong color for my M, so unplated white gold (or yellow gold) is a better metal choice.


What do others think of mixing white-yellow gold in a setting? I know I am seeing more and more rings with mixed white-yellow gold on them and I really like the look -- though it does take some getting used to after years and years of wearing only white gold/platinum.

I think mixing metal is a nice touch - it adds so muh more diversity to a look in my opinion. I am glad my suggestion piqued your curiosity. I think delicate yellow prongs would be just beautiful surrounding your diamond

 

[Lula]

Thanks again, everyone! Your enthusiasm for my ring is great -- I''ll post more after I hear back from the jeweler.

 

[Lula]

Here is a picture I found of a Tacori setting with rose gold prongs on a platinum setting. I think it looks great -- thanks again Amethyste for this idea -- is this what you were thinking -- except maybe smaller prongs?

 

[Amethyste]

Date: 8/10/2009 9:53:01 AM
Author: sarap333
Here is a picture I found of a Tacori setting with rose gold prongs on a platinum setting. I think it looks great -- thanks again Amethyste for this idea -- is this what you were thinking -- except maybe smaller prongs?

that is terrific look in my opinion. But yes, i mean smaller prongs as in maybe claw prongs? More delicate... it really visually bothers me when I see "balls" for prongs, As it takes away the refinement of a piece of jewelry... you know what i mean?

 

[ckrickett]

Date: 8/10/2009 10:02:26 AM
Author: Amethyste

Date: 8/10/2009 9:53:01 AM

Author: sarap333

Here is a picture I found of a Tacori setting with rose gold prongs on a platinum setting. I think it looks great -- thanks again Amethyste for this idea -- is this what you were thinking -- except maybe smaller prongs?

that is terrific look in my opinion. But yes, i mean smaller prongs as in maybe claw prongs? More delicate... it really visually bothers me when I see ''balls'' for prongs, As it takes away the refinement of a piece of jewelry... you know what i mean?

Claw prongs get my vote!! mmhmm

 

[Lula]

Yummy, I agree, claw prongs! And double claw prongs -- super yum! Thanks again, Amethyste and Crickett.

I''m calling my jeweler now!

 

[ckrickett]

Date: 8/10/2009 10:21:36 AM
Author: sarap333
Yummy, I agree, claw prongs! And double claw prongs -- super yum! Thanks again, Amethyste and Crickett.


I''m calling my jeweler now!

double claw prongs

 

[Lula]

Okay, I just spoke to the jeweler, and they will know later today whether or not the re-size is possible. And he said, "no problem" to the double claw, delicate prongs in YG!!!

Acckkk, I hate waiting!

So, Wink, just FYI, if they can't resize it, I'm sending you on a mission to find a suitable replacement!

Crickett, I just saw your emoticon -- too funny!

 

[Amethyste]

Date: 8/10/2009 10:30:42 AM
Author: sarap333
Okay, I just spoke to the jeweler, and they will know later today whether or not the re-size is possible. And he said, ''no problem'' to the double claw, delicate prongs in YG!!!

Acckkk, I hate waiting!

So, Wink, just FYI, if they can''t resize it, I''m sending you on a mission to find a suitable replacement!

Crickett, I just saw your emoticon -- too funny!

YAY!!!! I cant wait to hear from your jeweler!!!

I am excited for you