Help with ERD CADs for my OEC!

[OECsareforLovers]

Hi all! I'm hoping you can all give me feedback on CADs for my ering upgrade. I posted about the stone here:
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/help-me-figure-out-if-this-is-an-oec-dude-or-a-gem.199446/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/help-me-figure-out-if-this-is-an-oec-dude-or-a-gem.199446/[/URL]

Since then I've bought the loose stone and had it appraised with GemLab, they said it had a lovely cut that's I color and SI1 (but eye-clean). It's tucked away in a safe deposit box otherwise I'd post more pics. It came in at 1.34 with these measurements:
6.84 x 7.11 x 4.29 mm
depth: 61.4%
Table: 47.8%
Crown height 18.1
Crown angle 35.1
Pav Depth 40.1
Pav Angle 41.3

On to the setting. I really wanted a setting that celebrated my old cut. Tacori-ish "vintage" settings just didn't do it for me and I had a hard time finding an antique setting that I liked and could accommodate my stone. First two are pics of my inspiration settings and then the CADS. The CADS do seem bulky, but my largest dislike is the gallery. I want a pretty gallery, but this doesn't do it for me. The setting will be hand engraved.

So, good people, what do your eagle eyes see? What alloy would you recommend (my wedding ring is a 18k yellow gold eternity band)? And any ideas for a different gallery?

Thank you!!!!

 

[OECsareforLovers]

More CADs

 

[Niel]

If you want a more attractive profile i would maybe take that perpendicular design aspect and curve it in a half circle around the shank, making diamonds all round the basket.

I would also want the shank thinner, maybe reduce the size of the melee?

 

[redwood66]

If you want it to be more like the inspiration ring then I agree with Niel that the shank should be slimmer. You seem to have room even if you keep the melee the same size. It is a lovely design!

 

[OECsareforLovers]

Thanks Niel and Redwood.

Niel, do you mean make the perpendicular part curved more like this Scott Kay setting?

Or this? http://www.scottkay.com/product/m1643r310ww/

 

[Niel]

Yes similar. But I wouldn't put it under the basket as they have, I'd leave it less angled and I would have it next to the basket, leaving the basket as it is now, with the curved detail hugging up against it, so to speak.

 

[redroze]

Agree with Niel. I'd wrap the pave around so it looks like a ribbon, kind of like Kelpie's ring.

https://www.pricescope.com/blog/jewel-week-unique-diamond-ring-leaf-motif

I have to say ERD's cads are very deceiving as the pave areas seem to have more gold around the melee than they will in the final ring. I'd give them a shank size to commit to - such as 1.8 or 2 mm.

 

[OECsareforLovers]

Gotcha. You all are so helpful! Kelpie's ring was also on my wishlist and I have spent more time than I like to admit lusting after the setting...but alas, my heart led me in a different direction.

Let me pick your brain on one more thing. The basket in the CADs looks too "modern" for me, any advice on how I can give it more visual interest while keeping the antique vibe?

 

[Niel]

Sure!

Have you considered fishtail prongs? I wonder if erd has ever done those.

I like how this basket looks. Particularly in the bottom left photo


http://loupetroop.com/listings/settings/sn-queen-setting-star-reduced-star

 

[redroze]

Fishtail prongs would look killer with an oec. Here's a basket I've always admired.

http://antiqueengagementrings.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=4961

Or two other ideas.

http://antiqueengagementrings.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=5240
http://antiqueengagementrings.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=4943

 

[Gypsy]

Here are my suggestions.

 

[Gypsy]

This is the profile I would suggest:

 

[Gypsy]

Alternate:

 

[OECsareforLovers]

Neil and Redroze: when I tried on setting with fishtail prongs I just wasn't a fan of them on my hand, but I do admire them in other's settings.

Gypsy: thanks so much for the advice. The profile of the second basket is really lovely, but maybe instead of melee I would just do engraving.

So it sounds like: (1) shank needs to be slimmer but still tapered, maybe 2mm at the smallest, (2) the perpendicular part on the shoulder needs to wrap around the shank and where the shank meets the wraps there needs to be an indent to accentuate the ribbon/wrap feature, (3) gallery needs to be reworked

 

[chrono]

You might want to drop the last melee from 4 melees to 3 melees on each side as per the original; that will help with the slimming taper effect.

 

[Gypsy]

You might want to drop the last melee from 4 melees to 3 melees on each side as per the original; that will help with the slimming taper effect.

Great observation! I totally agree!

 

[OECsareforLovers]

Good catch Chrono! Going down to 3 melee with also let me show off the hand engraving a bit more

 

[tweeter8177]

When I was reading that you were interested in engraving vs. melee on the basket, I immediately thought of Acinom's beauty! It has engraving with miligrain that you can see in the profile. Love the idea and I think it would blend in with your ring design. Look forward to seeing your finished ring! Here is her SMTB thread.

https://www.pricescope.com/communit...nd-reset-by-victor-canera-for-5-3-oec.193349/

 

[OECsareforLovers]

Holy cow Tweeter, you nailed it!!!! Thank you for posting. That's the perfect inspiration pic to send to ERD.

 

[Gypsy]

Additional issue is the CADS show a straight line taper. The original has a little bit of a concave curve.

 

[tweeter8177]

Holy cow Tweeter, you nailed it!!!! Thank you for posting. That's the perfect inspiration pic to send to ERD.

I am thrilled I could help out! Acinom's profile just stood out to me and I hope it works for you! I know ERD does the miligrain by hand but I am not sure on engraving. You may want to ask how they do it. I have been happy with my new ERD ring so I hope you are too!!

 

[redroze]

ERD does hand engraving too. They are engraving my ring.

 

[OECsareforLovers]

Hi all,
So we are on to round 2! Chris said that with the change to the ribbon element he would like to go down to single prongs. I tend to agree since the hope is still to have the basket engraved. First is the notes that I sent them, then the new CADs.

Thoughts? Thank you!!

 

[OECsareforLovers]

more CADs

 

[redroze]

Agree with the single prongs.,,I'd ask them to reflect that on the cads so there is no confusion. There are still 4 melee...should be 3. I like the diamond set higher, it looks more like your inspiration and showcases the diamond better. Setting it lower makes the ribbon pave look like a semi bezel. I'd reduce the shank to 1.8 mm to give it an even daintier look.

 

[MarionC]

I love how the wrap looks from the [circle] side where the milgrain comes to a squared point and there is a diamond in the point.
And all the other views too!

 

[OECsareforLovers]

Thanks Jimmi! I really love the ribbon element now as well.

Redroze: I agree that it needs to go back to being set higher and they need to get rid of that darn 4th diamond on the shank. Thanks for your input.

 

[Gypsy]

Additional issue is the CADS show a straight line taper. The original has a little bit of a concave curve.

This is what I'd add.

I agree with setting stone higher and losing the last stone.

 

[OECsareforLovers]

Thanks Gypsy. You're right, the should would look better with a little concave in the taper.

 

[Gypsy]

Thanks Gypsy. You're right, the should would look better with a little concave in the taper.