Is diamond set too high in solitaire pendant basket?

[Gemstonesrock]

Hi everyone, I just got pics back regarding a new diamond solitaire pendant I’m having made. It’s ready to ship but my gut says the diamond is set too high (the culet is positioned halfway between the top wire and bottom wire of the basket. The whole basket setting looks quite tall. Is it normal for the diamond’s girdle to be this far above the top basket wire? I had envisioned the culet would be positioned just above the bottom wire. I sent in my previous solitaire setting and asked for it to be copied for this new diamond. I wish I had taken pictures of it. I don’t remember the old diamond sitting this high. @diamondseeker2006 suggested I post here to get some honest feedback. What do you think ?

 

[Rons Wolfe]

It looked crooked, too high on one side.

 

[Starfacet Jewelry]

It almost looks like the basket is a bit too small for the stone making it sit too high. And yes, it looks crooked as @Rons Wolfe said, at least from the angle of the photograph.

 

[m-2-b]

My WF 4 corners diamond pendant setting is definitely set lower than yours. You can see my old thread for more pics.

 

[dk168]

I am not an expert, however, the overall height of the pendant is too high for me.

DK

 

[diamondseeker2006]

This setting design has the diamond sitting higher. I have had the same issue with studs and had to have a special order for lower basket designs before. I doubt they can really set the stones lower in this particular setting. I agree that it is higher than I'd want.

 

[Rons Wolfe]

I'm with the others on the height, too, I think it would roll over too easily.

 

[lissyflo]

I'm with the others on the height, too, I think it would roll over too easily.

Yes, this. The lower set to your chest the stone is, the less it should roll and flip. The base looks nice and wide which should mitigate that to a degree I guess. The aesthetic side comes down to personal preference.

Have you raised your concern? Was your previous stone a very different size? Maybe they copied the proportions from your old setting but the gap you’re seeing in absolute terms is bigger and therefore more noticeable with this stone?

 

[Big Fat Facets]

i think the diamond is set too high. the basket appears too small for the stone. the diamond appears off set.
a larger basket is needed to accommodate the diamond with the culet touching the base of the basket.
that's how i'd set it

 

[headlight]

It almost looks like the basket is a bit too small for the stone making it sit too high. And yes, it looks crooked as @Rons Wolfe said, at least from the angle of the photograph.

I agree - my first thought was that the mounting is meant to hold a smaller stone.

 

[Gemstonesrock]

It almost looks like the basket is a bit too small for the stone making it sit too high. And yes, it looks crooked as @Rons Wolfe said, at least from the angle of the photograph.

Thanks @Rons Wolfe and @Kathy@DrG for mentioning the tilt in the way the diamond is sitting! I thought I had imagined that. I mentioned this to Wink at High Performance Diamonds (they are setting this gorgeous 1.3 H SI1 CBI and he was mortified. He agreed it's tilted and must be reset.

 

[Gemstonesrock]

@lissyflo my previous solitaire held a .83 ct (6mm) diamond and the new diamond is 1.3 ct (7mm) CBI. I don't think the size is causing the difference?

 

[Gemstonesrock]

@m-2-b, @dk168, @ diamondseeker2006, @headlight, @ Big Fat Facets

Thanks so much for your feedback. I didn't really want to raise my concerns with the vendor (High Performance Diamonds) until I had gotten some additional unbiased opinions. The reason is I've had problems with all three of my recently commissioned jewelry pieces which were completed with three different highly reputable vendors (HPD, Maytal Hannah, and IDJ), and I was starting to wonder if the problem is me! I have had to ask myself if I am a difficult customer? After some reflection, I have to say I don't think I'm unclear or fickle. I'm thinking that the issues I've experienced are due to production challenges related to the pandemic. Anyone else find it's been more difficult having their jewelry made lately?

I will say that all the aforementioned vendors have all been wonderful, not at all defensive, and happy to fix the issues when I've shared my concerns.

I talked with Layla and Wink today and both were extremely apologetic about my disappointment in the solitaire pendant setting. I know they want to make me happy with this new solitaire. They came up with a solution to set the diamond in a new setting (see below) that barely tapers from the top wire to the bottom wire so that the stone can be set as low as possible. Crossed fingers! I'll post when it's done!

 

[Big Fat Facets]

@Gemstonesrock

are you able to, please, kindly, elaborate upon ... "issues ive experienced are due to production challenges related to the pandemic"...??

i am about to embark on a custom project. i would love to understand better some of the challenges, you've experienced, commissioning custom jewelry, during these times

thanks so much!

 

[Gemstonesrock]

@Gemstonesrock

are you able to, please, kindly, elaborate upon ... "issues ive experienced are due to production challenges related to the pandemic"...??

i am about to embark on a custom project. i would love to understand better some of the challenges, you've experienced, commissioning custom jewelry, during these times

thanks so much!

@Big Fat Facets I can share with you my perception from my recent personal experiences. I commenced several projects early and mid-summer, which was soon after non-essential businesses were allowed to start re-opening.

Getting all of my pieces from start to finish has been much slower than pre-COVID. This summer several jewelers I spoke with were not fully open at their pre-COVID capacity (re: sales, admin, and bench staff). Yekutiel of IDJ located in NYC told me that they work with a number of independent benches to produce their jewelry but that only some of the benches were open. With IDJ, I had commissioned a diamond bangle at the end of July. It took two months and was just sent to me on Oct 2nd. We had a few hiccups including the price going up $600 after I had already received my quote and confirmed the project. That was very frustrating. Yekutiel explained that the bench that quoted my project did not initially realize the specs were for a solid (not hollowed out on the inside) bangle -even though that detail was clearly in the production notes. They therefore needed to increase the price. Yekutiel also told me that for my stringent quality requirements, he was only comfortable using this particular bench, which was a more expensive one, because they would do the best work of the benches that were open at the time. I got an initial CAD from Jonna within days of my starting the project but then it took almost a month to get the bench jeweler's final CAD. I almost didn't catch a few mistakes in the final CAD: the diamonds were supposed to have shared prongs, with scalloped out sides and the CAD showed the diamonds set in a traditional 4 prong style. The clasp design was not right either. Fortunately everything was caught before casting and the final bangle really is beautiful.

The COVID challenges are totally understandable, but I do think the long delays can potentially allow details of projects to get "lost" or forgotten along the way. FYI most of my communication regarding these recent projects was by phone call. If you commence a project now, I would make sure to follow up your agreed-upon project details in writing (email) and don't feel bad about following up regularly. I don't like to come off as a micro-manager and don't tend to check in on my projects. But I will now follow both of my suggestions more regularly. After all, jewelry is not a small expense and I'm sure the jewelers would prefer not having to re-make projects that we are disappointed with.

I commenced this solitaire pendant project in mid-May, which is going to be my wedding gift from my fiance. At that time, my sweetie ordered a "future" CBI through Layla from High Performance Diamonds. At the end of June the CBI was still delayed in cutting/production. I was also told that as of the end of June, AGS had only finally graded 1 batch of CBI's that were cut before the pandemic. Because my August wedding got cancelled by COVID concerns, I did not feel the need to pressure HPD to complete my solitaire project quickly. Anyway, I am guessing that some of my notes from my May order may have been forgotten with so much time elapsing. I should have checked in.

Regarding my Maytal three-stone ruby and diamond ring, she was very communicative and attentive in designing my ring. I was very happy with the side stones we selected and her final ring design. It took 3 weeks to produce the ring after I approved her sketch. My hiccup happened in her bench jeweler's interpretation of her finalized sketch. She says she gives her jewelry some creative room in the production of the pieces. When she showed me photos of the initial ring, I actually cried because it looked quite clunky. The diamond halo around the ruby was set with traditional pave instead of micropave as agreed upon and the half moon side stones did not angle down gently. Instead the three stones sat very high and in a straight bar across the finger. The ring honestly did not look like the delicate and elegant work Maytal is known for. She immediately and without hesitation offered to remake it, but I was a little surprised she showed me the initial ring. Maytal told me she only works with one bench. I did get the feeling they were VERY busy with orders, perhaps pent up demand from the shut-down. I saw her post a lot of engagement rings on her Instagram page around the time of my ruby ring order. I think her bench jeweler may have been rushing through my project. Well, version two took another month to make, but it is perfect and totally matches her final sketch and my expectations. Hope this helps! What are you having made?

 

[Big Fat Facets]

@Gemstonesrock

i just wanted to thank you so very very much in taking the time to elaborate! i really appreciate it.

i can completely understand how you feel in each of those situations. it sounds like you've had, quite, a fruitful jewelry year!

i personally, find custom pieces quite stressful. which is why i tend to "buy out of the case" so to speak. how you managed 3 in a year, with 3 different businesses, during a global health pandemic, is just ... amazing!!

thank you again, for your thoughtful thoroughness!