Help design my mini-ring

[HopeDream]

Hello all,
Help me work through design options for my fall project!
I have a lovely tiny brellia to set and I'm trying to figure out what will work out the best.

The details:

Currently I seem to be wearing my ultra-modern minimalist tiffany silver + band set.
Pros: light, strong, I love the sleekness of the flush set band and the slightly smaller band for contrast, it's very life proof and fits under my lab gloves with ease.
Cons: "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that bling." The 1 pointer doesn't announce itself as much as i would like. No one can tell that I'm wearing a diamond

So... I bought a slightly larger mini-diamond
Voila: a gorgeous .30 I VS1 Brellia http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10075/
3.71mm x 3.72mm x 2.71mm
I know for most of you this would barely be acceptable as a stud earring, but for flush setting purposes it's almost too big because of the 2.7mm depth.

My initial plan was to have it flush set into a band, but I usually like my bands around 1.5-2mm deep, and I'm worried that if the whole ring is 2.8+mm deep it will look and feel like I'm wearing a donut. So at this point I think my options are:
A)Thick donut ring - nope on both materials cost and esthetics
B)Taper the band thicker in the area of the diamond - maybe?
C)Have a bezel pop-up around the stone - maybe?
D)Something else?

I've assembled some pictures of design options and paper mock-ups to try band width. (my main silver ring is 2.5mm wide)
What do you think? Are there other Ideas you can suggest that might look nice? Different styles? milgrain? something else?
The goals are super-extra-uber low profile, and a pleasing esthetic.

Also, my search for a local jeweler who does nice bezels has turned up zilch, so any recommendations on a decent bezeler who does nice clean work, takes outside stones, and isn't outrageously expensive?
Thanks for any help you can provide

 

[chel180]

what a great project! i'm a fan of both brelias and bezels and think all your inspiration photos are great. you're finished ring will be stunning, understated and very wearable.

I don't know of many moderately priced vendors that make good bezel settings. Bezel quality tends to be hit and miss on the whole. Brian Gavin does nice bezel work and will set external diamonds into settings made by him for a $75 fee but still not cheap. I believe half bezels are slightly cheaper but please don't take my word for that. considering the size of you're stone I would suggest that you are careful not to swamp it with a thick or clumsy bezel.

Where did you buy your brelia? If it was GOG then then they sell sholts rings which you may be interested in- lots of bezel and super sleek and modern. Consistent quality and affordability is generally better in of the shelf settings so this may be a good option. Below if just an example:
http://www.sholdtdesign.com/Vashon/R482.htm

noticing what you've said about lab gloves so anything with decoration or sharp corners is going to snag. Have you considered a bypass style or a semi bezel? As these aren't full bezels they would look less heavy and to my eye, be very complimentary to your cushion.


What's your budget for the setting? that will help to make better suggestions:

whats you're finger size just to gauge proportions?

 

[HopeDream]

Hi chel180,

Budget: I'd like to keep to under $1200 for platinum If I can, with the-lower-the-better price-wise.
Finger: 4

I have worked with BGD in the past and have been quite pleased with their results, but I was thinking about sharing the love and trying out someone new. I got the Brellia second hand, but it did originate at GOG.

I had considered semi-bezels, but it would really bother me to know that part of my stone's girdle is exposed, and try as I might, I just don't trust tension settings. I do lab work, but I'm also involved in environmental work with re-bar and boulders (also in gloves), so safer is better.

What do you think about this design from Green Lake Jewelers? http://www.greenlakejewelry.com/gallery/gallery_detail.aspx?ImgID=87522

I wonder if the milgrain would get all munged-up over time?

 

[chel180]

Milgrain will wear down over time but if you're wearing gloves it should be fairly protected. I've seen a few greenlake bezels and to me they are a bit heavy. But thats just me I may not have seen the best versions.

If you wanted to go even more budget friendly how about going for silver and an etsy seller?- I've seen pill box bezels by sally, HOW with a rope like bezel that very pretty. I'm thinking something like a combo of these two items which would be well within your budget:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/123508084/peridot-and-iolite-grace-pendant-with?ref=shop_home_active_17
https://www.etsy.com/listing/54663109/hammered-lotus-seed-ring-in-14k-rose?ref=shop_home_active_6

or one garnet girl
https://www.etsy.com/listing/128824069/tanzanite-yellow-gold-gemstone-ring?ref=shop_home_active_16
https://www.etsy.com/listing/101050096/herkimer-diamond-crystal-ring-asscher?ref=shop_home_active_21

Otherwise engagement rings direct, ERD do a lot of PSers bezels so may be worth contacting them.

 

[Rhea]

I love the first design! The one that's half bezel set in a curve.

 

[LouMom]

Following this because I would like to embark on almost the same quest, but with my mother's round stone.

 

[HopeDream]

Hi Chel180,
I love the idea of Esty, but it's very hard to find an Etsy vendor that is willing to set outside stones. Onegarnetgirl does lovely work but specifically states that she doesn't work with outside stones.(I'd love to work with a Canadian vendor though). Sally at heart of water does gorgeous work, but her designs are all a bit high for me. I want to play to a jeweler's strengths, and not have them completely change their style just to fit my project.

I have certainly considered silver to bring costs down, but in the long run I don't want to deal with tarnishing, and even the new anti-tarnish silver alloys just don't wear as well as platinum in the long term.

I'll have to follow up with ERD to see what they can do.

Rhea - That half bezel is a cool design, isn't it? Unfortunately the vendor doesn't work with outside stones. I really like a lot of their stuff. ( Nodeform weddings on Etsy https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/NodeformWeddings?page=4 )

LouMom - Tell me about your mom's stone! What style are you looking for in your ring?

 

[E B]

I'd say moderate. It doesn't overwhelm the stone but gives you a good amount of presence like your Tiffany does.

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

I would do this tension setting in cobalt chrome! http://www.boonerings.com/stone-settings/princess.htm

I just re-read and saw that you don't want a tension, they really are incredibly strong and secure, my DH has worn his Boone ring daily for over 3 years with no trouble, even when changing tires and heavy lifting.

 

[chel180]

Ok great- lets wait to hear from ERD.