Help with CAD for my Antique Cushion PLEASE!!!

[rubyjim]

Hey all!!!
I got the most recent CAD for my antique cushion.
But I could really use your thoughts here. I’m struggling to make some decisions.
I have searched for one like this and I can’t find one so it’s really hard for me to tell what it will look like!

It’s platinum.
I wanted 8 prongs.
I wanted micro pave.
I asked her to widen the doughnut to straighten out the prongs bc I didn’t want that “V” look.
But now that I see the CAD I’m having trouble pulling the trigger. I’m not sure why I guess I just need some friendly advice!!
Some things I’m wondering...

Will the 8 prongs look like too much metal?
Will the stone be sticking up to high?
Would it be prettier with a plain band, no diamonds?
We could do 4 double claw prongs and lower the stone.
Of course this is just a CAD and everything looks bigger and thicker. The idea is dainty, delicate prongs and band.
Please just tell me what you think!!!
Thank you!!!
https://p3d.in/25MVe

 

[Matthews1127]

I love the design!! I’m wondering if you could go with 6 prongs, instead of 8, just to give the stone more exposure for better light return, and to better view it from more angles.
At 8 prongs, you might as well bezel it. Other than that, I love the design & the bling on the shank. It will be less chunky, when it’s finished. Will you have more claw-like prongs?

 

[rubyjim]

Really you love it!?!?? YAY!!!!
Ok I was actually going to ask her about 6!
I don’t know if the prongs ate claw like. She said tiny thin dainty.
What would claw like look like?
Thanks Matthews1127!!

 

[tyty333]

I would remove the diamonds from the donut and make it smaller. Diamonds on the donut and the basket just seem over done. Plus diamonds on the donut are going to play havoc with your wedding band.
How big is the stone? Did I miss that?

 

[Niel]

I would eco tyty in that the diamonds in the donut will do more harm than good. They’ll eat at a wedding band next to it and also be more likely to pop out and need replacing.

 

[Niel]

I don’t like the band in the head in that I think it’s in an odd position. It’s not in the middle of the prongs and it’s not at the diamond. It seems unresolved. I would want that bar to line up with the girdle of the diamond. I don’t think the diamond needs to be any lower.

 

[Matthews1127]

Really you love it!?!?? YAY!!!!
Ok I was actually going to ask her about 6!
I don’t know if the prongs ate claw like. She said tiny thin dainty.
What would claw like look like?
Thanks Matthews1127!!

Take a look here for examples of claw prongs, and prong styles:
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/engagement-rings/prong-setting-styles

I agree with the above: if you’re wearing this ring with a WR, you can have trouble with rubbing & damage with the bling around the donut. I like it along the shank. I’d love bling along a basket, too! Around the donut is tricky, if it’s not a stand alone ring.

 

[Niel]

also the prongs seem thick but I cannot speak to if that’s the cads or what the finished product would look like. Can he show you finished work and their accompanying cads to make sure the prongs end up looking the way you want?

 

[rubyjim]

Tyty333.... the diamond is 2.36 ct it’s 7.87x7.33

I’m going to wear it alone bc my wedding band no longer fits! Oooops.
And I really want to owcase this stone.

Niel, so if we move the band in the head up is that more like a halo?

Here’s a picture of the stone
Thanks again !!!!

 

[rubyjim]

Correction on above
I want to Showcase the stone

 

[Matthews1127]

Tyty333.... the diamond is 2.36 ct it’s 7.87x7.33

I’m going to wear it alone bc my wedding band no longer fits! Oooops.
And I really want to owcase this stone.

Niel, so if we move the band in the head up is that more like a halo?

Here’s a picture of the stone
Thanks again !!!!

I think I understand what @Niel is saying; it’s not a halo, but it’s a more cohesive bar or band around the stone.
Right now, it doesn’t look “finished”, where it is.

 

[rubyjim]

Ok yes!!! I see what you mean about the band or ring.
Matthews yes I think the prongs will be claw like and def thinner than the CAD!!
Thank you for the link I’m going to study it!

 

[rockysalamander]

What width is the shank? You want it no narrower (along the finger) than 1.9 mm with pave. Less than than you risk the shank flexing and warping in normal wear.

If you lower the height of the stone in the setting, it will widen the setting and shorten the prongs...making them also look less V-shaped.


You said you have a cushion, but these seems to be round. It is a pretty symmetrical/square cushion?

The bottom of the donut seem to flare upward over the finger (like a dinner plate). It may be the angle of view, but I would check. i would also eliminate those pave on the donut if you plan to wear anything with this ring

Where the shank and head meets is awkward. The top of the donut should be equal to the height of the shoulder or higher I would lift the entire donut up to be higher than the shoulder. Blue circle.



Here's a picture showing the preferred placement of the diamond bar in the gallery suggested by PP. It should land immediately below the diamond's girdle.


What about if the prongs had some swoops?

 

[rubyjim]

Thank you so much rockysalamander!
Wow. Those are all great suggestions! Just what I need.
I do believe she’s doing 1.9 for the shank.
The cushion is 7.87x 7.33. I posted a pic above.
Ok I’m going to ask her to raise that upper band, and remove diamonds from the doughnut adjust where the shank and head of the doughnut meet.
I love the idea of lowering the height of the stone to shorten the prongs and widen the setting!
Oh... what do you think of the 8 prongs???
I thought about swoops or something but I’m not sure about that yet!
Thank you sooooo much!! This is so so helpful!!!

 

[eapj]

I’m just a jewelry lover and not at all an expert but I don’t care for the 8 prongs. I feel the cushion shape gets lost and the whole thing looks more round. How about two small prongs on each corner?

But I love the design you’ve chosen for the ring. Very pretty! And beautiful stone!

 

[rockysalamander]

Personally, in a cushion, I'd rather double prongs or prong in bezel. I thing 8 prongs equally spaced around the perimeter on a cushion makes it look round. I like emphasizing the cushioniness.

4, double prongs


You could also do something like this with is 6 prongs. But, I'd place the 4-corner prongs on the rounded edges of the "corners" as in yellow... This give you a very straight looking gallery but the reverse arches are lovely.





https://www.langantiques.com/3-14-carat-antique-cushion-cut-diamond-solitaire.html

 

[rockysalamander]

4-prongs. I like the tabby nature as it makes the cushion more cushiony.


Just throwing out ideas...ignore what does not work!

 

[rubyjim]

Whoa!!!!! I love those reverse arches!!!! I told her I Love the idea of the gallery (is that the gallery?) looking like a little bird cage somehow!! That does! And the 6 prongs!!
I looove tabs but maybe that’s a bit more modern looking.
Ok now I just have to relate this to her. Is it ok if I use some of your pics?
Thank you

 

[rockysalamander]

Whoa!!!!! I love those reverse arches!!!! I told her I Love the idea of the gallery (is that the gallery?) looking like a little bird cage somehow!! That does! And the 6 prongs!!
I looove tabs but maybe that’s a bit more modern looking.
Ok now I just have to relate this to her. Is it ok if I use some of your pics?
Thank you

Pictures speak a thousand words! They are all from online, so use away. As you are going through this design, make sure to think about a wedding band. Not the details, but will you want a curved/custom band or hoping for a straight band? If a straight band is important, as it was to me, then you'll even have a gap (which some love) or you need to have a "clear" area under the gallery details where a band can sit. This can be a full shank (yellow highlight). I wanted a straight band because I often only wear that when at work. I often don't wear my reset ering.



If a straight band is desirable, then just shift the details upward to create a space for a band to fit. It will mean adding a donut below the gallery (as in your example) or tapering the bottom of the gallery. It will take some fiddling and would make that reverse archs less clear at the vertical bars would be more sucked in at the bottom.

This CVB Inspired ring, which has a similar shaped gallery as the reverse arches, shows that you'd need a shaped band well. But, that is actually quite common in antique rings. Nobody wore both a ering and wedding band -- traditionally. You wore the ering for the engagement and then only on special occasions after the wedding. Women just work a wedding band for daily use well into the early 1900s.


This LoveAffairDiamonds design shows the donut with decorative topper. Still needs a shaped band and you can see that it can be stacked with staright bands if you like a gap.

In antique rings, you'll see tab, pointy tab, dots, rounded prongs, pointy prongs...you name it. So, go with what looks pretty to you.

Just make sure your final design will allow you to get brushes in contact with the diamond to keep it clean. Many use inter-dental tool for this. With a wide semi-open gallery, you'll want it open on the bottom.

 

[rockysalamander]

Hey there! Any updates?

 

[ohsomethingshiny]

I am in the camp of double claw prongs on the corners instead of 8 evenly spaced prongs (which makes the stone look round). Here is mine, just as another example, which is a close to square cut cushion with double claw prongs.

 

[rubyjim]

Hi!!! Thank you for asking, I'm still struggling and so frustrated. I've decided to nix the 8 prongs for sure. Now we are just working on finalizing the design because I keep vacillating.
I am just so pleased to be working with Erica, she has the patience of Job. She's probably working on a million projects, I'm sure mine isn't one of the higher. And she graciously attends to my every indecision.
The best part is that now I'm becoming obsessed and already thinking about what my next project will be...... maybe a sapphire, maybe a square emerald, maybe an OEC. For crying out loud.
Thank you for checking in I will definitely update soon!!!!

 

[rockysalamander]

I think there is a point in every custom project where you are frustrated and ready to cry. Hang in there! We are here if you need help or support.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Just wanted to add that I favor the prongs in the 4 corners in a cushion unless it’s really huge. I have an idea of what your inspiration ring is, but that stone is over 5 cts and can handle the 8 prongs. Also, I like where the basket bars are on that ring and don’t necessarily think you need to raise them. The stone needs to be lowered a bit with a slightly larger doughnut as others have said. You can still wear a straight band with it because the doughnut can be small and the prongs can curve up and outward.

You’re in good hands with Erica, it’s just hard to nail down a design sometime when you haven’t seen a finished example.

 

[rubyjim]

Aw thank you rockysalamander that is so sweet! I've been out of town finally back on PS and now just waiting for a revised CAD.
Oh diamondseeker, whenever I see you avatar your stone literally takes my breath away