help with setting suggestions...

[Christina...]

marymm Packrat is right, it's a singlestone setting. I couldn't find one exactly like it on their site, but I'm absolutely sure that they can still make it. And I've had no luck at all trying to locate one just like it through another vendor.


Yssie Do you think that the grymera could be done with two wires and 4 prongs? Would that eliminate the 'goo' problem? I thought that it would make the cross bars appear less bulky too? And since you're here, I'm going to be needing some help with alloys!! I want a very soft rose gold. I don't want pink, but I don't want copper either, something more peachy. And I want 18k. I know absolutely nothing about alloys, and since you're the reining queen of that department.....

Oh, and the pears are a really nice idea..DH will like that I think.

 

[marymm]

Thank you Packrat and Christina!

 

[yssie]

Yssie Do you think that the grymera could be done with two wires and 4 prongs? Would that eliminate the 'goo' problem? I thought that it would make the cross bars appear less bulky too? And since you're here, I'm going to be needing some help with alloys!! I want a very soft rose gold. I don't want pink, but I don't want copper either, something more peachy. And I want 18k. I know absolutely nothing about alloys, and since you're the reining queen of that department.....

Oh, and the pears are a really nice idea..DH will like that I think.

Do you mean two wires next to each other? The issue is the empty space between the adjacent wires - this is one of the reasons I said no when VC wanted to make my ring a tri-wire. You could fill the space in with metal I suppose, or use wire that's square in cross-section instead of round...




Unfortunately I don't know anything about rose gold, but maybe Haven will see this

 

[Christina...]

Yssie Do you think that the grymera could be done with two wires and 4 prongs? Would that eliminate the 'goo' problem? I thought that it would make the cross bars appear less bulky too? And since you're here, I'm going to be needing some help with alloys!! I want a very soft rose gold. I don't want pink, but I don't want copper either, something more peachy. And I want 18k. I know absolutely nothing about alloys, and since you're the reining queen of that department.....

Oh, and the pears are a really nice idea..DH will like that I think.

Do you mean two wires next to each other? The issue is the empty space between the adjacent wires - this is one of the reasons I said no when VC wanted to make my ring a tri-wire. You could fill the space in with metal I suppose, or use wire that's square in cross-section instead of round...




Unfortunately I don't know anything about rose gold, but maybe Haven will see this

I guess I was thinking of completely eliminating the middle wire and having the other two stacked on top of each other with no space between, so there would be no prongs set at 3 and 9 o'clock but the two existing wires would form the four remaining prongs. Does that make any sense? Maybe it would look to much like a split shank, and I don't want that..

Aahhhh, it's Haven I need to track down! I'll start a new thread once I get the setting nailed down.

 

[Kim N]

Christina, as I have setting phobia myself, I won't be any help here, but I love all the settings you've posted as inspiration and can't wait to see what you end up with!

 

[Christina...]

Thanks so much Kim! I feel like I'm starting to get a better idea...or at least I'm able to eliminate some ideas, and narrowing down the list is a big help.

Did you ever get you OEC? I think I remember you were searching for a big one!

 

[Kim N]

Sadly no. I'm being patient as I search for a deal!

I love your idea of doing a more modern version of surfgirl's, or a gapless version of the grymera. Those are both so beautiful. And I think the grymera especially would look stunning in rg.

 

[Christina...]

Sadly no. I'm being patient as I search for a deal!

I love your idea of doing a more modern version of surfgirl's, or a gapless version of the grymera. Those are both so beautiful. And I think the grymera especially would look stunning in rg.

I will keep my fingers crossed for you. I was secretly cheering you on for that honkin' 4 ct (I think). Although, I think that sometimes a diamond can just be too big. I think you really need to consider lifestyle. I would look ridiculous washing clothes and attending basketball games with a huge bauble dripping off my finger. But, I think they look fabu on other people. Some days I really really want to be the other people!

Thanks for the input! I think that we are leaning toward some type of modified version of grymera too. I think it might be time to contact Victor and see what he has to say about some of our ideas, and if they are even doable. When I think long term and practical, I think that we should do something timeless but with personality and I really like grymera for that, and I really love the idea of a diamond wedding band to glam things up a bit.

 

[Christina...]

Ok, so, I just heard back from VC, and while he's away and won't be back until early next week, his initial thoughts are that my stone won't work with the grymera. He says that it's a design that works better with a larger center, and he's having some trouble trying to envision it with an added halo. However he thinks that the emilya would work with well and we could possibly to some work in the gallery to make it more unique but was concerned about not having a lot of canvas room to work with.

So, while this isn't exactly what I wanted to hear it is helpful, at least I can now start eliminating some of my ideas and that helps narrow the field a bit. I was worried that it may have been premature to contact anyone since we don't plan on starting production immediately but I think that maybe it wan't such a bad idea, especially if we are sent back to the drawing board.

I'm still waiting to hear back from RDG on their insight, I also haven't sent any inspiration pics. I'm sort of thinking that if Mike feels that he might be interested in the project, that I may just give most of the creative control over to him. It's apparent that I lack the creativity to be of any help anyway.

So, in the mean time I'd love to hear any suggestions that any of you may have, or an insight into the whole process. You've all been super helpful so far. Many many thanks!!!

 

[Mike R]

Ok, so, I just heard back from VC, and while he's away and won't be back until early next week, his initial thoughts are that my stone won't work with the grymera. He says that it's a design that works better with a larger center, and he's having some trouble trying to envision it with an added halo. However he thinks that the emilya would work with well and we could possibly to some work in the gallery to make it more unique but was concerned about not having a lot of canvas room to work with.

So, while this isn't exactly what I wanted to hear it is helpful, at least I can now start eliminating some of my ideas and that helps narrow the field a bit. I was worried that it may have been premature to contact anyone since we don't plan on starting production immediately but I think that maybe it wan't such a bad idea, especially if we are sent back to the drawing board.

I'm still waiting to hear back from RDG on their insight, I also haven't sent any inspiration pics. I'm sort of thinking that if Mike feels that he might be interested in the project, that I may just give most of the creative control over to him. It's apparent that I lack the creativity to be of any help anyway.

So, in the mean time I'd love to hear any suggestions that any of you may have, or an insight into the whole process. You've all been super helpful so far. Many many thanks!!!

Hi Christina, are you saying here that your waiting to hear back from me? I haven't had an email from you, if you have sent me something you might want to resend it.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Christina, you've picked some really amazing settings, and gotten some great advice from everyone who's posted. I absolutely love the look of cushion halos with round centers, and think the Emilya - with the gallery ornamentation you're wanting - would be unbelievable!

As others have said, I've also recently been amazed at the finger coverage capacities of 3-stones, and think the ones you and Gypsy posted are to die for

Good luck deciding on a look; it's clearly something many PSers (myself included) have struggled with. But, whatever you choose, it's clear you're going to end up with a stellar ring, and I can't wait to see it!

 

[Christina...]

Ok, so, I just heard back from VC, and while he's away and won't be back until early next week, his initial thoughts are that my stone won't work with the grymera. He says that it's a design that works better with a larger center, and he's having some trouble trying to envision it with an added halo. However he thinks that the emilya would work with well and we could possibly to some work in the gallery to make it more unique but was concerned about not having a lot of canvas room to work with.

So, while this isn't exactly what I wanted to hear it is helpful, at least I can now start eliminating some of my ideas and that helps narrow the field a bit. I was worried that it may have been premature to contact anyone since we don't plan on starting production immediately but I think that maybe it wan't such a bad idea, especially if we are sent back to the drawing board.

I'm still waiting to hear back from RDG on their insight, I also haven't sent any inspiration pics. I'm sort of thinking that if Mike feels that he might be interested in the project, that I may just give most of the creative control over to him. It's apparent that I lack the creativity to be of any help anyway.

So, in the mean time I'd love to hear any suggestions that any of you may have, or an insight into the whole process. You've all been super helpful so far. Many many thanks!!!

Hi Christina, are you saying here that your waiting to hear back from me? I haven't had an email from you, if you have sent me something you might want to resend it.

I sent an email yesterday. I wasn't surprised that I hadn't heard back because I thought that you were away for a few days. I'm so happy that you saw my thread and were able to let me know! I'll get another one right out to you! Thanks Mike!

 

[Christina...]

Thanks so much snicklefritz! It's exciting and nerve racking and the same time. But it feels great knowing that I have the best support system around at my fingertips! PSers are awesome and have the best attention to detail. And I feel lucky to have access to so many masters of the craft, if definitely puts us ahead of the game. I'm dying to be able to post something in SMTB as amazing as all the other posters here! Thanks so much for your support! Have you found your marquise yet? I've been keeping an eye out for your SMTB thread!!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Christina, I have finally had time to read through your whole thread, and I will say that even though I like most of the ring designs posted on this thread, my preference still is either the classic solitaire with diamond band or the three stone ring. Why? Because both are timeless and beautiful and will never go out of style! I do like halos for smaller stones to give them a size boost, but your diamond doesn't really need a halo. Side stones would give you the extra finger coverage and I think .5 on each side would be enough. On the other hand, you probably know that my daughter has the Vatche Caroline with a diamond wedding band, and I am certain that will still be beautiful 50 years from now. Halos like VC or MR do will also be timeless, but I urge you to think about your own lifestyle and location and decide if that is really for you. A solitaire or three stone is slightly less blingy than a halo, at least to me.

My next ring project may be an AVR 3-stone, and I wanted to say that I don't think the bands have to be so wide. It is all in how the heads are designed, just like with a solitaire. I may do rose gold shank and platinum heads. If you did that, you could wear either a thin shimmery diamond wedding band with it or a plain engraved band like Yssie has...or both!

(Oh, and I hope your hubby will give you the okay on whatever YOU love the most. Most men simply do not have the same taste as we do, and you know well that our tastes have been influenced greatly by the millions of hours we have spent on PS! And this ring needs to be something that you really love even if it isn't his favorite. Just like my husband has preferences on the watch he wears and I don't try to overrule him on his preferences for that because he knows what he likes best on himself!)

 

[Christina...]

I'm so happy that you chimed in DS, and a bit dissappointed when I had heard from you. I know that we had a conversation similar to this earlier in the year, and I appreciated all your insight. I've always felt that you have impeccable taste, and all of your pieces are timeless, and that's important to me as well.

Mike and I have had a chance to connect now, and he has read this thread, and a long email of elements that I really like and some that I don't, and an idea of what I want to accomplish in the long run, delicate, feminine, timeless, and most of all something that represent me and my lifestyle.

I'm glad that you mentioned lifestyle and location. I think that we have similar feelings about how our circles can impact our decisions as far as size and style. I initially wanted a much larger stone but was uncomfortable with the fact that I already had a larger stone than most of my friends and that the area I lived in tended to be much more conservative. I don't feel that I've gone over the top by any means with the 1.2 and feel now that I may have even been able to go a bit larger without bringing unwanted attention, however that said, I do feel that there are a couple of people that either disapprove or are a tad envious, I can't decide which. I know that so many PSers feel that it should be about what I want and not how other people feel about what I want, but I do tend to shy away from the spotlight, so I feel a bit conflicted about having the desire to own a large beautiful piece and still trying to fly under the radar with my social circles, if that makes any sense.

I typically have a go to pair of diamond studs, a pendent and my ering, and a RHR, that's the extent of my collection and I wear them daily and almost never switch them up. I'm a stay at home mom and very much live the lifestyle. We have date night, weekend getaways and the typical yearly vacations, but our life is very much ordinary, but for some reason I really truly want an extraordinary ring.

I'm sort of relieved that you mentioned that you think a halo done by MR would also be timeless, because it seems that it may be the direction we are headed. He said that we should have another conversation before he begins sketches, but after re-reading our emails back and forth, I realized that most of the elements that were important to me actually worked best with a halo or required one. So the process of this thread and my emails with MR have been super helpful. Already I can tell that he will be amazing to work with. He has encouraged a strong open line of communication and assured me that my endless questions and random thoughts aren't bothersome. I also love that he has made me feel that my ideas are interesting and that he feels it's a concept that he would really enjoy working with us on. He really does have a way making you and your project feel super special and I really like that, because for me, being my first custom piece, it is special and he seems to get that. He also didn't laugh and my budget, so I will always adore him for that!

As far as DH, your right, I've said over and over again that I lack the creativity to envision the final piece, but he doesn't even know where to begin. He admits this freely though, which is a huge help. It is important to me that we both love the ring, but because he openly admits that it's difficult for him to envision something, he does often concede to my wishes and trust my judgement. I imagine that it's much like how I will feel with Mike, although I may not have a clear picture of something he may try to convey to me, I know that I will have enough faith in him and his craftsmanship to allow him control of the process. In fact it's very tempting just to mail him my diamond and a few inspiration pics and let him go with it, but alas I'm too much of a control freak for that.

So I've rambled on and on now, sorry. I'm super happy that you chimed in, like I said I have a lot of respect for your thoughts, as well as many others here. There truly isn't another place that I could get the honest insight of so many people and know that they really have your best interest in mind. It's so refreshing to have a sounding board of people that know and have gone through exactly what I'm going through right now and appreciate just how nerve racking it is. Thanks DS!

 

[packrat]

I'm si glad you've found a direction to head! Excited to watch this unfold!

 

[Enerchi]

Christina, this is the fun part, isn't it? Planning, thinking, fantasizing... ah... "happy place"! One thing you said somewhere in this string, really struck a chord with me - wanting a classic look. When I was (BRIEFLY!) considering having mine remade exactly as it was by the B&M store, you're post was at that time and it hit me --- nope, BGD and the classic look of a simple, timeless 3 stone. Anyhow, there will be an "AHA!" moment and you'll just know you've found your perfect setting.

Sounds like you have found an answer to your soul searching and the idea of working with Mike sounds AMAZING!!! I'm going to really enjoy following that journey, if that's what you decide to do. Good luck in all of this

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Christina, you are a sweetheart! We were at Disney World for a week and then and all this week I have been playing catch up on everything and I had to make time to read every post in this thread so I could see where you were rather than just chiming in with limited information! We are so much alike regarding lifestyle and feelings about not wanting to be overly blinged-out! I am older than you but very much the same as far as casual lifestyle and friends with smaller diamonds goes. Just because I could afford a 2 ct diamond doesn't mean I feel comfortable with it. It is easier for me to have two smaller rings than one large one!

Anyway, Mike should know by now that I think he is WONDERFUL , so I can't tell you how excited I am for you that he may get to make your ring!!! And I am excited that he will work with regular people like us!

So YAY!!!! I cannot WAIT to see some of Mike's ideas and find out how this process can work from so far away!!!

 

[Christina...]

packrat Thanks so much! Isn't Mike fantastic! I'm very excited at the prospect of working with him. Just think, in the not so distant future we may both be wearing a piece of his art! I'm going to request the water color as well. I already have a perfect spot picked out for it. Sort of like a baby book and baby picture of our bling! What could be more perfect?! I sort of held back on an important element of the ring because I wasn't so sure that it would work, but Mike has assured me that it will work perfectly, so, so far that has sealed the deal for us! I'm getting so very excited now!

enerchi I'm so beyond happy that your ring crisis unfolded in a satisfactory manner! I hate that he had to make you feel guilty along the way though. I'm not sure that some vendor (outside of PS maybe) have any idea of the attachment that we feel for our erings and just the thought of having to make changes, even if they are necessary once, can be a very emotional experience for us. For us it isn't just a retail item, it represents so much more than that, and we are naked in their absence. It's so hard to explain and I had wine for dinner, so maybe this isn't even coherent. But I'm super happy that my thread was helpful and that your excited to be moving on with BGD. I'm positive that they will make you happy. I wanted you to know too, that a suggestion that you made may be making it's way into my final design!

DS I love Disney. My family all lives in Palm Beach so we go down often to visit, and of course have to make our rounds to all the theme parks. There is something so amazing and nostalgic about Disney. I hope that you had an incredible time!

Mike is great. I really love how he has made me feel that this project is interesting and incorporates some of his favorite details. And the fact that he is easily able to do things that others have voiced a concern or inability to do, just makes me feel that much more confident in him. The distance makes me a bit nervous and we haven't discussed that yet. I have no idea what all that may entail as far as shipping back and forth, or any special duties and taxes etc. But as far as the project itself being done so far away, I suppose it really isn't much different than if I shipped my stone to VC in California. It would be great to be local to the designer but that just isn't an option for me.

I'm so excited and I can't wait for sketches to share with everyone. I worry about lurkers sometimes and how they often pick up and run with certain elements of a design and I want to keep some of the more interesting aspects under wraps right now, but I am splitting inside to tell you all about them!! Soon enough I suppose, first thing is first and that's getting everything in place. It's a fall project so we have lots of time!

 

[Gypsy]

You are going the EXACT right thing if you want something heartstopping and unique. I can't wait to see what comes out of this collaboration!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Ohh, lucky you to have family in Palm Beach! We did have a great time, thanks! I can't remember if you have said your state before but I seem to think it may be the southeast like me, is that right?

So glad you are getting the expert help you need! It is good you are not in a rush and can take your time getting it exactly the way you want!

 

[Christina...]

Thanks Gypsy and DS! I haven't seen a design of his that I haven't loved, so how can I go wrong right?!

DS: I live in Maine.It's gorgeous, but it's hard being so far away from my family. It's super nice to have a place to go when the snow gets too deep though! I can't wait to see how your AVC project turns out. I know that you've had it in mind for awhile now. Have you started collecting stones?

 

[alene]

Christina, I'm so excited that you're now moving along with your reset project! It sounds like you're in terrific hands with Mike and I can't wait to see the process and the results of your collaboration! I'm also (selfishly) very excited to hear that you're leaning towards a halo only because I've been thorugh the same process and ended up heading in the same direction.

 

[boxy]

Hey Christina,
Here's a link to a setting that took my breath away. http://www.23rdstreetjewelers.com/aCatItem.aspx.. Had I not decided to stick with my original setting look, I would have been all over this one!!! Love the halo, plus all the detail work that crowns the "mother stone." It's beautiful from all angles. Let me know how things turn out. : )

 

[Christina...]

alene I just logged on and took at quick glance at the threads, and I thought that I saw one of yours asking about halo angels?? I'll have to check it out. I'm happy that you've found a direction. Now the fun part begins!! Yah! I'm a bit jealous that your ring will be finished before mine even goes into production! I'm looking forward to following your journey, and I'm sure that I will find it very helpful as I begin mine. And, just think, your going to be an expert by the time I get going, so you better be prepared to do some hand holding for me!!


boxyWow! 23rd street is awesome! I took a look not so long ago when Tgal posted her new three stone! They did an amazingly beautiful job on her ring, and I would love to be able to work with them someday.....maybe for a new RHR! I got to tell you though, I really think that you made a great choice with your new setting. I love how it looks like a modern twist to classic! Did you ever decide on the surprise diamonds? I think that you were contemplating them weren't you? I can't wait to see how it all comes together! And thanks so much for having an interest in my re-make! It's awesome how supporter PSer are of each other!

 

[armywife13]

I can't wait to see what you and Mike come up with! I have no doubt it will be stunning and a true piece of art.

 

[Shannie]

I love all the settings you are thinking about. It is so hard to make a choice, maybe get one of each? I think we would all vote for that. Looking forward to see what you come up with.

 

[boxy]

Hi Christina,
Yes, I did decide on the surprise diamonds. I'm so excited! I just posted tonight, the most recent and final CAD of my ring -with the help of a PSer : ) . Now it's the waiting game. I know you'll have fun designing your setting. Please do share what you come up with. Can't wait to see it!