My mom''s TDF new ring

[Elmorton]

There will be a "few" photos in this thread, I promise

Right before Christmas of 2007, I dragged my mom to a Richard Homer gemstone round table held at a jeweler''s store in my hometown. My mom absolutely fell in love with a gorgeous baby pink tourmaline, similar to the one below (and I''m super sorry but I don''t have the stats...I want to say her stone comes in right around 6 cts, but I''m not sure - it''s a big girl, for sure!).

 

[Elmorton]

Sooo, next step was finding someone to set it. Of course, like any PSer, I started sending her crazy links to work that had been done here, but she really wanted to work with a B&M store. I''d moved away at this point, but I really love my local jeweler''s work (James Revell), so while she was visiting, she brought her stone with her.

We ran around like kids in a candy store looking at different settings and possibilities - Sarah, who we worked with at Revell''s was so, so patient with us. While Mom had toyed with the thought of doing a pendant or bracelet (the stone is kinda big...) she really wanted a ring so she could look at it whenever she wants (a popular PS sentiment!). Her wedding set is yg, but she loved the rose gold rings in the store, and decided to bezel the stone in wg.

Here''s a few of the first CADs:

 

[Elmorton]

Mom wasn''t really a fan of these - she wanted a much more delicate look. But you can definitely see the elements that she''d asked for - two tone, fluid lines, and she wanted an interesting, but simple gallery.

 

[Elmorton]

This is the last CAD I have...I really wish I still had the second set saved to the computer, but I can''t find them (must be on my other computer?), anyway, they were wonderful in addressing all the changes she wanted made (which you''ll see in the next set of photos).

 

[Sizzle]

JH Revell in Bettendorf IA?

 

[Elmorton]

On to the wax - the biggest concern mom had was how high it would sit - and it does sit high.

 

[Elmorton]

You can see how different the design is between the first render and the wax...before the second CAD, I took in a bunch of PS photos, esp. Lauren the Partier''s and Neatfreak''s beautiful bezel rings for examples of the more delicate look that Mom was going for (yay, yay for PS!!!).

 

[Elmorton]

Here''s one with the stone in the ring

 

[Elmorton]

Another

 

[Elmorton]

Yupp, Sizzle! James and his staff are absolutely fantastic.

 

[Elmorton]

Here''s the last of the wax photos -

 

[Elmorton]

Annnnnnd, finally the finished product! I just had a few minutes to drop in today, but I snapped some quick pictures to send to Mom before she comes in a week or so to pick it up.

 

[Elmorton]

On my chubby fingers (I think it will look much prettier on her hand) -

 

[Elmorton]

Last shot - thanks for looking and reading!

 

[Elmorton]

....hmmm....maybe just one more, a little closer up...

 

[Deelight]

WOW that is beautiful it is utterly messmerizing with all those pretty flower like facets

, congrats to your mum.

 

[joflier]

What an awesome stone!!!!! Holy cow! Lucky mom!

 

[Kaleigh]

Oh it''s sooooo pretty, yay for your Mom!!!!

 

[mochi]

WOW!!

I love it.

 

[Elmorton]

Deelight, Joflier, Kaleigh, and Mochi, thanks for your compliments!!

I hate to say this, because it''s sortof trite around here....but the stone is actually much prettier IRL!!

 

[jstarfireb]

Wow, it''s gorgeous!

 

[Skippy123]

Elmorton, awww, I bet your mom is over the moon; what a gorgeous ring

Fabulous!!!

love the stone!

 

[princessplease]

Lovely!!!! Absolutely lovely!

 

[Beaglemom]

Now how cool is that. I love it! I bet your mom will too.

 

[Fly Girl]

Beautiful, beautiful stone and a great ring! I bet your mom will be thrilled when she gets it!

 

[onvacation]

Drats, I knew I should have gone to the Richard Homer roundtable! If only I wasn''t out of town then.

Your mother''s new ring looks faaaahbulous! Can''t wait to see her hand shots. What a yummy baby pink. Mmmmm...

 

[LaurenThePartier]

What a stunning, stunning ring! I love it!

 

[softly softly]

That is one stunning ring. Congratulations to your mother!!! And I think it also looks quite lovely on your hand.

 

[bling addict]

That''s such a cool ring! The setting really shows off the shape of the stone!

 

[Elmorton]

Thank you jstar, Skippy, princess, beaglemom, flygirl, onvacation, and Lauren -

I can''t wait for my mom to see it - I think she''ll be really, really in love. This is the first piece of jewelry that she''s ever had made, and I only hope she had as much fun with the process as I did.

Onvacation - think of it as a blessing in disguise...I think it''s impossible to leave a round table empty handed! It was an amazing experience. Near the end, Richard passes around stones that he considers "better" than the ones he has in the Smithsonian. He and his wife are both truly lovely people, and you can tell that Richard loves to share his work, and even more, loves seeing all of our faces as we open up each of the little tissue packets containing his stones. Definitely go next time you have a chance!

Lauren, I''m glad you do!! I sent my mom practically every photo of your ring that I could find once she told me she wanted a bezel. As you know, I really admire your taste and I''m so glad you shared your ring here on PS - it made it a lot easier for me to communicate with my mom/communicate with the jeweler when my mom had photos in front of her that were similar to what she was describing.