Leon Mege pendant: 8 single claws or millegrained bezel?

[cookies]

I am having Leon Mege set my 18mm concave cut rose quartz into a pendant (with attached chain). He sent me a detailed sketch, and we discussed why certain things should be in certain way. Our phone conversations went pretty well, and he was polite and patient all the time.

Leon and I have agreed on the design of the side/back of the setting, and also have agreed on having no halo. He thinks the stone is already very attractive in the front, so it doesn't really need a halo to bring the focus to the stone. But, since the side of the stone is not as attractive (lots of concave grooves), we are going to have quite some filigree/wire work on the side to sort of hide the concave grooves.

Everything sounds pretty good so far. Here comes the problem. I had always been a prong person until I got my tourmaline bezel ring from James Meyer. The bezel is so spectacular that I got converted and ruined forever. I really wanted a very thin millegrained bezel in the pendant when I first contacted Leon. Then during our discussion, Leon suggested 8 single-claw prongs would be very nice and secure too.

Oh my... 8 prongs sound very pretty! But I still love bezels... Which one? I asked Leon. He said, "I am a prong guy, but in your case, there is no right or wrong. Think about it over the weekend... It will be a nice entertainment."

What would you do if it were your pendant? Here is the link to my stone:
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-rh-rubellite-and-rose-quartz.153594/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-rh-rubellite-and-rose-quartz.153594/[/URL]

 

[MissGotRocks]

Re: Help: very thin millegrained bezel, or 8 single-claw pro

I feel like your heart is telling you to go with the bezel so that's where my vote goes as well! His prongs are very light and delicate and I'm sure they would be beautiful but I too love a bezel pendant!

 

[MissStepcut]

Re: Help: very thin millegrained bezel, or 8 single-claw pro

If I were paying the LM premium, I'd want those famous LM prongs. You can get nicely executed bezels lots of places.

 

[cookies]

Leon's quote is actually not much higher than Ocean Pearlman's, and his work is handmade vs. cast. He said a large amount of the cost will actually go toward the fancy filligree/wire work. He also said just because you have xxx dollars to spend doesn't mean you have to spend it all.

I am guessing bezel will probably cost a bit more than claws, but that is not a concern. Anyway, I thought really hard last night and today about these two options. They are both great and I shouldn't go wrong with either, but I just cannot make up my mind yet. I know I could think over this for several more days...wish I could do two pendants, one with claws, and the other with bezel.

 

[Gypsy]

The rose quartz is already a busy cut. I would bezel it. The prongs will just add more elements that would, in this case, detract from the center stone's pattern. I would want to highlight that, not compete with it.

 

[sphenequeen]

Bezel.

 

[zoebartlett]

Bezel!

 

[mrssalvo]

bezel

 

[cookies]

Bezel seems to be the winner.

Gypsy, I never thought from that perspective, but it makes a lot of sense. I will do bezel. After all that's what I wanted initially.

Thanks to all who responded!