Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

[msop04]

I recently purchased a beautiful honey zircon from PT, and I am torn on what metal to use for the basket/prongs. This is the setting I'm having made by David Klass:

I want the shank and "leaves" to be in 14K WG, but the basket/prongs to sort of melt into the stone (be as close to the neutral color of the zircon as possible). I'd like to keep a champagne-ish neutral color, and NOT bring out any yellow in the stone, if possible, as it is rather a chameleon IRL. [emoji4]
Any help/suggestion for what alloy I could use to achieve the most neutral look would be very much appreciated!

DK suggested 18K RG, but hasn't gotten my stone to see it IRL just yet.

Here is the stone.

 

[msop04]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

Just realized Tapatalk added my pics in the wrong places, but I'm sure you guys get the idea - HA!

 

[msop04]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

I also wanted to add that I'll probably have DK do double claw prongs instead of the tab prongs.

 

[Niel]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

Tapatalk always does that
You know how I feel about.the metal and setting

 

[msop04]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

Tapatalk always does that
You know how I feel about.the metal and setting

Yes, ma'am! [emoji41][emoji41]

 

[Siameseroo]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

Beautiful zircon. It reminds me a little of decodaze's yellow beryl a few threads down (I thought I was experiencing déjà vu!)

How does the zircon look placed with the different metals? Do you have different coloured bands to place it against? You might find that it looks better against one metal colour than the other.

 

[Acinom]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

Gorgeous zircon!! Jason Brim posted this and I immediately contacted Peter Torraca, but it was already on it's way to a customer for viewing. I am so glad that customer is you!! Congrats

I second the idea of putting the stone next to different types of metal to determine the ideal colour.

I hope you do not mind but I will say it anyway as I always appreciate that others are brutally honest to me as well.. While I LOVE that stone and LOVE that setting, I just do not see it together. The beautiful zircon has geometric Art Deco lines and the setting looks more flowery and romantic. I am not very experienced in jewelry, so I could be very wrong. With a stone like this, the outcome will be stunning anyway.

 

[msop04]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

Beautiful zircon. It reminds me a little of decodaze's yellow beryl a few threads down (I thought I was experiencing déjà vu!)

How does the zircon look placed with the different metals? Do you have different coloured bands to place it against? You might find that it looks better against one metal colour than the other.

Thanks, ricezo! I saw it and had to have it!

I have placed it next to 14K yellow gold and 14K rose gold, but not in great lighting (dim bedroom), but I didn't really care for either. The gold was too yellow and the RG was too pink... Unfortunately, I don't have any 18K Yellow or RG to compare.

DK will probably know what's best when he has the stone in hand, as it just doesn't show it's true color in photographs.

 

[arkieb1]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

I love that setting and the stone!!! Can't wait to see it finished.

 

[msop04]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

Gorgeous zircon!! Jason Brim posted this and I immediately contacted Peter Torraca, but it was already on it's way to a customer for viewing. I am so glad that customer is you!! Congrats

I second the idea of putting the stone next to different types of metal to determine the ideal colour.

I hope you do not mind but I will say it anyway as I always appreciate that others are brutally honest to me as well.. While I LOVE that stone and LOVE that setting, I just do not see it together. The beautiful zircon has geometric Art Deco lines and the setting looks more flowery and romantic. I am not very experienced in jewelry, so I could be very wrong. With a stone like this, the outcome will be stunning anyway.

Thank you, Acinom -- I fell in love when I saw it on his facebook page! It is really beautiful.

Regarding the setting, I don't mind at all! I like the way the setting softens the harsh lines of the asscher cut, so I rather like the combination. I wasn't really looking for anything other than a "neutral colored ring" that I could wear with yellow, rose, or white gold without it clashing too badly. DK is currently doing a drawing for me, so if it doesn't look how I imagined, we can make changes or scrap that setting altogether. I have a difficult time visualizing how something will look until I see a rendering... we shall see how it turns out!

I did a really bad photoshop of how it may look (the color is off, and so are the lines of the stone)... I'll try to post it in a sec. Thanks for our comments!

 

[msop04]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

Here is the sad photoshop... don't judge! HA! [emoji16]

(No laughing, guys! [emoji15])

 

[Lovinggems]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

Maybe ask DK about unplated White gold as well? I am looking forward to seeing the set stone, it seems like a gorgeous romantic colour.

 

[msop04]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

I love that setting and the stone!!! Can't wait to see it finished.

Thanks, arkie! I'm so excited!!

 

[msop04]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

Maybe ask DK about unplated White gold as well? I am looking forward to seeing the set stone, it seems like a gorgeous romantic colour.

Good idea, Lovinggems... I need it to be "two-tone" to go with my gold and rose gold as well, so we'll see what he says. I love the muted neutral tone of brushed gold, but that's kinda difficult for basket and prongs... (sometimes I think I'm making up this color for my mystery metal - HA!)

 

[msop04]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

Okay, another sad photoshop, but maybe a little truer to color...

It still shows a little darker than IRL, but at least you can see the undertones are more brown than yellow or pink/peach. It's lighter and more muted than the pic shows as well...

 

[Acinom]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

Great photoshopping!
Since you are after making the lines of the stone softer and give a romantic feel to the ring it will be a good combination. And with David's CAD's you will be able to see different perspectives.
Lovely project

 

[msop04]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

Great photoshopping!
Since you are after making the lines of the stone softer and give a romantic feel to the ring it will be a good combination. And with David's CAD's you will be able to see different perspectives.
Lovely project

Thanks! That's the look I was hoping for, anyway... I have always loved double claw prongs on asschers, and had asked for them, but I'm starting to wonder about the tab prongs again... Hmmmm...

I guess David can always show me both and give his opinion... I can't wait to see what he comes up with -- he's sooo talented!

 

[msop04]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

I thought I'd add that the OEC in the Erstwhile setting is almost 3 ct, so 9+mm, and my stone is 9.67 mm. Hopefully, that will allow me to keep the aesthetic of the original with my asscher.

 

[arkieb1]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

What kind of prongs are you going to use that will make or break this ring. Rectangular tabs in each corner would look good or razor sharp claws in each corner, maybe a double claw.... The claws on the original look fantastic with the original but don't work or flow with the more crisp geometric shape of your stone.

 

[Acinom]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

Great photoshopping!
Since you are after making the lines of the stone softer and give a romantic feel to the ring it will be a good combination. And with David's CAD's you will be able to see different perspectives.
Lovely project

Thanks! That's the look I was hoping for, anyway... I have always loved double claw prongs on asschers, and had asked for them, but I'm starting to wonder about the tab prongs again... Hmmmm...

I guess David can always show me both and give his opinion... I can't wait to see what he comes up with -- he's sooo talented!

Both tab prongs and claw prongs will look great with this stone. It's a good idea to ask David to show you both options.

It seems that DK has a growing customer base among PSers. He does such excellent work for an amazing price. I cannot wait to see your finished ring.

 

[msop04]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

What kind of prongs are you going to use that will make or break this ring. Rectangular tabs in each corner would look good or razor sharp claws in each corner, maybe a double claw.... The claws on the original look fantastic with the original but don't work or flow with the more crisp geometric shape of your stone.

That's a great question, arkie... the rounded tab prongs on the original are iffy, but I still wanted to see what DK comes up with for comparison (I agree with doing the regular tab prongs, if that's how I decide to proceed, as the rounded ones just don't mesh with the straight lines/faceting of the stone). I asked him to do sharp double claw prongs, since I feel they look so nice on asscher cut stones. I'm not really a fan of single claw prongs for this, but I'm certainly open to suggestions.

 

[Acinom]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

Some eye candy with single and double claw prongs and double kitten paw prongs

 

[msop04]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

Some eye candy with single and double claw prongs and double kitten paw prongs

The single claw LM prongs are very nice... I'm the shorter ones are the "kitten paws"? Although I'm not sure I'd choose them, that's a cute name!

I've seen some double claw prongs that were sharper... let me see if I can find them.

 

[msop04]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

These were the style of double claw prongs I was thinking about, but after looking at the other LM single claw, it's gonna be a difficult decision!

 

[msop04]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

It seems as if the single claw showcases cut corners of the asscher better, no? Does anyone else think this?

...and thanks for the photos, Acinom!

 

[Acinom]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

Love the prongs on the last one you posted

And mm, not sure but the single prongs seem to showcase the overall octagon outer shape of the Asscher cut a bit more?
I cannot find any examples of Asschers with tab prongs.

 

[Acinom]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

Ha! Found some Asschers with tab prongs. This thread can be helpful in comparing different prong styles: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/emerald-cuts-asschers-a-collection.113993/page-5']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/emerald-cuts-asschers-a-collection.113993/page-5[/URL]

 

[msop04]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

Ha! Found some Asschers with tab prongs. This thread can be helpful in comparing different prong styles: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/emerald-cuts-asschers-a-collection.113993/page-5']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/emerald-cuts-asschers-a-collection.113993/page-5[/URL]

Ahhh! I'll check that out -- thanks!

 

[pregcurious]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

I would put it with stepcut traps. Kind of like this:

 

[DecoDaze]

Re: Help me choose a metal for my new Peter Torraca zircon

A couple of thoughts--I agree with Lovinggems about asking David about unplated WG, maybe higher karat for more warmth? That might work well, especially if you think YG is too yellow.

For the prongs, I think in close-ups, the single claws show off the cut corners best, but I'm wondering if from a distance, the single prongs will tend to visually "square off" the corners? I think from a distance (e.g., normal viewing conditions), the double claw emphasizes the lines of the cut corners better. I'm planning to do double claws on my asscher beryl for that reason. Of course, I could be wrong!

Love your stone!