Help deciding what's next on my list...

[liaerfbv]

I have a few pending projects that I'm mulling over and a big birthday coming up in a few months, and I'm trying to decide what I should work on next.

1. Diamond bangle bracelet with Grace. I have some loose stones that could possible work for this project but I was earmarking those for something else. I was also kicking around doing a similar bangle design with cab sapphires, but I think I would prefer diamonds.
Pros: I wear bracelets every day. I wear bracelets more than any other jewelry honestly.
Cons: I have a million bracelets (mostly costume, but a few special ones). How much would this one get worn?

2. I also have another engraved bangle project I think I want to work on with CvB, but that would be far more expensive I think.
Pros: Really want to work with Caysie!
Cons: Again, how many bracelets do I need?

3. Recut my mom's old diamond studs to ideal (hopefully) MRBs and reset into 2 pendants for me and my sister.
Pros: I hate that those earrings have been sitting unworn for years. I'd love for them to be loved and special again.
Cons: I think the necklace would be more meaningful to me than to her, so is it worth it to break up the stud set for something I don't think she'd wear or appreciate? Even if I recut the stones and kept them as studs, they are too big for me (and I would never sell them). I originally wanted to try and cut them into OECs (discussed in another thread), but that will not work.
Plus I already have studs I wear daily. Make one into a pendant and save the other for a different project down the line?

4. OEC pendant. I really want an OEC pendant for my "family" of e-ring and daily studs.
Pros: I'd wear it a lot. I think.
Cons: I don't need an OEC pendant and a MRB pendant (if that's what I do with my mom's studs).

5. Alternate e-ring. I don't need it, but it's on my list. I've decided I want either a 5 stone or a small bezeled solitaire. I've been looking around but nothing has caught my fancy yet, but I'm not in any hurry.

As you can see, I'm all over the map here. I've been trying to make sure all my purchases are thoughtful and things I will truly wear and love, because I went through a rash period where I ended up wasting a lot of money. I'd like for whatever I do decide to work on next to be my birthday present to myself, and I want it to be a forever piece.

Thoughts?? The problems we have! (laughing at myself...)

 

[Niel]

Do you have a DD?
could you reset the studs and give her the ring and not your sister?

I mean give it to your sister if you think she's wear it, but if she wouldn't care I'd save it. How big are they?

 

[liaerfbv]

No kids now or in the future.

Studs are pretty large, I don't have exact weight or mms, but I think they are around 2.25-2.50tcw. My mom left them to me when she passed away, so they are special but not well cut and I've never worn them. I think my sister might wear a pendant, but she's not especially into jewelry so it could go either way.

 

[Niel]

No kids now or in the future.

Studs are pretty large, I don't have exact weight or mms, but I think they are around 2.25-2.50tcw. My mom left them to me when she passed away, so they are special but not well cut and I've never worn them. I think my sister might wear a pendant, but she's not especially into jewelry so it could go either way.

Could you use then in that grace bracelet?

 

[pyramid]

What about a Y shaped necklace with one diamond near top in the V or the Y and the other at foot, maybe a colored diamond in middle.

 

[Bonfire]

I love the idea of recutting your Mom's studs and making two pendants. What meaningful pieces this would create for you and your sister, and she may surprise you and wear it! You mention giving careful consideration to your next project as you don't want to be wasteful in your choice. There is no way you can go wrong here. No, you can't make your sister wear it, but give her a chance she may appriciate the sentimentality of it. Your Mom would be pleased!

 

[distracts]

No kids now or in the future.

Studs are pretty large, I don't have exact weight or mms, but I think they are around 2.25-2.50tcw. My mom left them to me when she passed away, so they are special but not well cut and I've never worn them. I think my sister might wear a pendant, but she's not especially into jewelry so it could go either way.

Could you use then in that grace bracelet?

I was wondering if she could use one for a pendant and one for the bezeled solitaire or five-stone.

I think you should just nix the OEC pendant idea. It sounds good in theory, but what else are you gonna do with your mom's diamonds? You already have those - using one for the pendant will be WAY cheaper.

 

[liaerfbv]

I thought about using the studs for the Grace bangle, but it doesn't feel like a special enough piece. Like I said, I wear a lot of bracelets, stacked and a lot of variety, and I think the bangle would more of a "fun" piece.

I agree that I should probably cross the OEC pendant off the list. I love the idea of the Y necklace that was suggested, and I'll have to investigate those further! I'm leaning towards getting the stones recut for 2 pendants though, and my sister can do what she wants with hers.

 

[liaerfbv]

I was wondering if she could use one for a pendant and one for the bezeled solitaire or five-stone.

Oh man, that had not even occurred to me!! I was thinking an old cut for the bezeled solitaire, but maybe it would be nice with a MRB also! More modern than most of the jewelry I wear, but perhaps I could get on that train....

 

[Niel]

I was wondering if she could use one for a pendant and one for the bezeled solitaire or five-stone.

Oh man, that had not even occurred to me!! I was thinking an old cut for the bezeled solitaire, but maybe it would be nice with a MRB also! More modern than most of the jewelry I wear, but perhaps I could get on that train....

I like that idea.

I just am making other suggestions because I'd hate for you to put in all that no ey and effort and give it to your sister if she really wouldn't ever get use out of it. Sounds like your mom have then to you because she knew you would get use out of them. And then its not another project you put money into without the desired results you wanted.

You know I've seen some modern moi et toi rings that you could use those recut stones in as a alt ering. Though they may not be your style.

 

[Niel]

Here's one example. But I do t wanna talk you out of anything. Worse case scenario your sister never wears it. If that's a scenario you're fine with do it! I would absolutely love it if my sister did that!

 

[liaerfbv]

No, I appreciate your input Niel. I posted because PSers have great recommendations!

I love that ring, but I don't wear RHRs and I definitely want my alt e-ring to be much smaller than than my main ring.

I actually talked to my sister last night and she said she would "definitely" not wear a pendant necklace (though at 24, she may regret saying that in 10 years! )... so the matching pendants are out. I could use one of the studs as a pendant for me, and the other one as an alt e-ring stone as previously suggested. I absolutely love the new beehive Sholdt that Erica from LAD has on her page!!

Of course, DH threw a wrench in the plan when he said he said he thought I'd get more use out of a bracelet than anything (the man knows me well), so who knows what I'll end up doing!!

 

[Niel]

No, I appreciate your input Niel. I posted because PSers have great recommendations!

I love that ring, but I don't wear RHRs and I definitely want my alt e-ring to be much smaller than than my main ring.

I actually talked to my sister last night and she said she would "definitely" not wear a pendant necklace (though at 24, she may regret saying that in 10 years! )... so the matching pendants are out. I could use one of the studs as a pendant for me, and the other one as an alt e-ring stone as previously suggested. I absolutely love the new beehive Sholdt that Erica from LAD has on her page!!

Of course, DH threw a wrench in the plan when he said he said he thought I'd get more use out of a bracelet than anything (the man knows me well), so who knows what I'll end up doing!!

Love that idea. A modern e ring and a vintage e ring. I think that's a nice idea.

 

[CRYSTAL24K]

I think that your sister may surprise you and wear the necklace for the sentimental value alone. My sister is not into jewelry, but I bought her, my mom and myself beautiful Italian 18k butterfly necklaces (my mom loves butterflies) and she wears the necklace often.

All the best with your decision.