need setting advice for a yellow diamond, Please~!

[qxq]

Hi, I have a 2.68ct fancy intense yellow diamond. Would like it set in a double halo ring.
the stone size is 8.20 x 7.13 x 4.91 mm.
I did some home work and learned yellow gold prongs are more preferred for yellow diamond.
Should I choose 18K or 14K yellow gold?18K seems more yellow look, which help the diamond look better. Will 18K too soft, not strong enough to hold the diamond for years?
This ring will not be a everyday ring, but I still wish it could last for years.

I am also struggling for the halo part, should I have the first halo use small yellow diamonds? Will that looks strange? Also will 18K yellow gold not durable enough for the halo?

I have attached some pics found on line

Please please share your thoughts!

 

[Gypsy]

Attach pics of the yellow diamond.

The hue, tone and cut of it will make a difference on how we tell you to set it (with a cup or without).

As for yellow gold, it is fine for parts of the setting. But the white metal should be platinum.

 

[qxq]

Thank you Gypsy
I have attached a pic for the stone. Its cushion cut FIY.
May I know why the white metal should be platinum ?

 

[Gypsy]

Very nice stone. Doesn't need a yellow gold cup.

It's going to be a REALLY big ring with a double halo. Are you the wearer or is this for someone else?


As for why platinum. Read my posts here: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/which-online-retailer-for-a-custom-setting.203660/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/which-online-retailer-for-a-custom-setting.203660/[/URL]


Your stone is large. Usually people do a yellow inner halo if they have a small stone they are trying to make look big. I would not do a yellow inside halo with your stone: http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m594/diamondsbylauren/2013_Diamond_Photos/12-2013/r5464-double-halo-ring-cushion-diamond-a.jpg


This is an interesting double halo: http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/aa/5f/14/aa5f140f0a96f883e40e2900b7a31db3.jpg


IF you have to have a double halo, stick to white IMO and let the stone be the star by itself (in platinum). http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m594/diamondsbylauren/2012_Diamond_Photos/05-12-diamond-photos/r4334-single-cut-diamond-d.jpg

You want the best quality pave you can get.
Here are the dealers I would consider.
Diamonds By Lauren has a handforged bench and they do nice pave. And they have a lot of experience with colored stones. http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/loose-yellow-diamond-202ct-fancy-intense-yellow-si1-cushion-cut-gia-stunning-stone-r5000 and http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/loose-yellow-diamond-206ct-u-v-si2-cushion-cut-gia-totally-eye-clean-r5800
Victor Canera: http://www.victorcanera.com/cathedral-shank-double-halo-solitaire
Steven Kirsch: http://www.stevenkirsch.com/engagement/halo/r0123.html and http://www.stevenkirsch.com/engagement/halo/r0155.html

You are looking at 5K-7K for a setting in handforged quality.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I would definitely do the inner halo with yellow diamonds and the outer halo with white diamonds if doing the double halo, but I would prefer one halo in white diamonds. Your ring maker can advise you on the best gold to use for the prongs on the yellow stone. I also would use platinum for the rest of the ring as pave is best done in platinum.

 

[Gypsy]

I disagree. I think having the inner halo yellow takes away from the diamond being the star. And, again, it's done most of the time to make a small stone look larger. And your stone is already large. And its a FIY. I would let that stone be the star without a yellow halo right next to it.

If you HAVE to have a bi-colored halo I would do one like the below instead, which lets the center stone be the star, and then the yellow halo becomes a design feature.

 

[pinkjewel]

I would also recommend either a white halo or if doing a double halo, using a white halo next to the diamond and a yellow halo on the outer halo. 18kt will be a richer yellow gold color and should be fine for durability.

 

[tyty333]

Just wanted to pop in and say pretty stone! Color is really vibrant.

 

[qxq]

WOW, that's a lot to learn!
Thank you so much !
I don't really have to have a bi-colored halo, guess the white halo will work, which might bring the attention to the center stone better.
Talked to a local jeweler, who suggest a Stuller double halo. I have attached the CAD images.
He suggested this one, with the prongs be made in 18k yellow gold.





The estimated price is about 3K-3.2K in platinum.

May I know how do you think about stuller setting? I guess this is not handforged.
Is there anybody work with them on double halo before? How are their work turned out?

I love Victor Canera's halo ring, and have seen lots on the forum. Their work is excellent. just over my budget.

 

[qxq]

This is a really interesting way! I haven't thought this design before. Thanks for sharing.

I disagree. I think having the inner halo yellow takes away from the diamond being the star. And, again, it's done most of the time to make a small stone look larger. And your stone is already large. And its a FIY. I would let that stone be the star without a yellow halo right next to it.

If you HAVE to have a bi-colored halo I would do one like the below instead, which lets the center stone be the star, and then the yellow halo becomes a design feature.

 

[qxq]

Thanks, I was thinking about 14K white gold for the white metal. Now,here really changing my mind. I think will do platinum

 

[cflutist]

I have a number of rings that are Stuller settings.
They are average, ok, not great, but not bad either.
Nowhere close to where the craftsmanship of VC or SK is.

Another option if the cost of platinum is an issue is to use Stuller's 14K X1 alloy, very white and
doesn't need rhodium plating (I have a number of these rings as well). Dancing Fire had a thread
about this just several days ago where I posted a comparison of Platinum / 14K X1 / 18K white gold.

Personally, your FIY is stunning and of a size that it would stand on its own without a halo.
For me, that would allow you to admire this beautiful diamond by itself in all its glory.

 

[Gypsy]

I agree. I think either no halo and white sidestone. OR a single halo is much lovlier.

Also Stuller's settings are ok. But ERD's CAD bench can run circles around them. And it won't cost too much more. You want a halo MADE for your stone's dimensions CUSTOM.

A double halo on an expensive fancy center stone isn't something you want to buy stock from Stuller.

 

[momhappy]

I chose 18K yellow gold for the basket & prongs for my intense yellow. I have a three-stone setting and the two side diamonds and shank are set in white gold.

 

[derbygal]

I love this look of all yellow, but I know it's not for everyone.

 

[cflutist]

I chose 18K yellow gold for the basket & prongs for my intense yellow. I have a three-stone setting and the two side diamonds and shank are set in white gold.

My Tiffany yellow is also mounted in 18K Yellow Gold.
Seems to match fine.

 

[makeable]

Beautiful stone! I can't wait to hear what you decide on for your setting.

 

[GeorgeStevens]

My taste is admittedly different from some folks here, but I'm a fan of letting large-size, high-quality, richly colored, well-cut stones stand on their own. They are rare and finely crafted pieces of nature - what more do you need? Unfortunately when one gilds the lily in jewelry it sometimes comes out looking like cheap costume jewelry. As a general rule, the smaller, less rare, lower quality, lesser-colored the stone, the more embellishment it can take. And vice versa. I'd go really simple on the setting - maybe a single halo of well-cut D/E/F stones with a simple setting and you're done. Adamantem quia ipsa loquitur.

 

[momhappy]

My taste is admittedly different from some folks here, but I'm a fan of letting large-size, high-quality, richly colored, well-cut stones stand on their own. They are rare and finely crafted pieces of nature - what more do you need? Unfortunately when one gilds the lily in jewelry it sometimes comes out looking like cheap costume jewelry. As a general rule, the smaller, less rare, lower quality, lesser-colored the stone, the more embellishment it can take. And vice versa. I'd go really simple on the setting - maybe a single halo of well-cut D/E/F stones with a simple setting and you're done. Adamantem quia ipsa loquitur.

I tend to agree. Simple is best when you have a gorgeous center stone. Why muck it up?

 

[cflutist]

My taste is admittedly different from some folks here, but I'm a fan of letting large-size, high-quality, richly colored, well-cut stones stand on their own. They are rare and finely crafted pieces of nature - what more do you need? Unfortunately when one gilds the lily in jewelry it sometimes comes out looking like cheap costume jewelry. As a general rule, the smaller, less rare, lower quality, lesser-colored the stone, the more embellishment it can take. And vice versa. I'd go really simple on the setting - maybe a single halo of well-cut D/E/F stones with a simple setting and you're done. Adamantem quia ipsa loquitur.

I tend to agree. Simple is best when you have a gorgeous center stone. Why muck it up?

I agree with both of you and that is what I posted above. That is one reason why most of my jewelry is rather plain.

At the other end of the spectrum was a Tiffany Soleste that I saw with a double halo and a .30 ct FIY. I had trouble seeing the center stone.

OP's diamond can easily stand on its own in all its glory.

 

[woofmama]

My taste is admittedly different from some folks here, but I'm a fan of letting large-size, high-quality, richly colored, well-cut stones stand on their own. They are rare and finely crafted pieces of nature - what more do you need? Unfortunately when one gilds the lily in jewelry it sometimes comes out looking like cheap costume jewelry. As a general rule, the smaller, less rare, lower quality, lesser-colored the stone, the more embellishment it can take. And vice versa. I'd go really simple on the setting - maybe a single halo of well-cut D/E/F stones with a simple setting and you're done. Adamantem quia ipsa loquitur.

I tend to agree. Simple is best when you have a gorgeous center stone. Why muck it up?

I agree with both of you and that is what I posted above. That is one reason why most of my jewelry is rather plain.

At the other end of the spectrum was a Tiffany Soleste that I saw with a double halo and a .30 ct FIY. I had trouble seeing the center stone.

OP's diamond can easily stand on its own in all its glory.

Count me in on this opinion as well. I think that stone with traps or bullets would be gorgeous and classic. Too much going on and it looks like something Liberace would wear. Ducking for cover now

 

[GeorgeStevens]

Yes, netiquete dictates that i should have credited you cflutist for saying so. And gypsy hints at the same too.

 

[woofmama]

Here's an example of a beautiful FLY diamond in a halo. The setting lets the diamond be the star. Hope Catmom doesn't mind me linking this: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-new-2-52-ct-ball-of-sunlight.71936/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-new-2-52-ct-ball-of-sunlight.71936/[/URL]

 

[qxq]

Thank you for sharing this post!!It is a beautiful ring!
I am starting giving up the double halo idea, maybe do a single white halo?

The reason I like double halo was because I went to Tiffany and tried on some yellow diamonds, most of them are double halo style. But I think most of the rings I put on were 1-1.5ct. Maybe that's the reason.

Now my question is should I have a cup under the stone?
I saw some yellow diamonds have yellow gold cup underneath, some don't, just the plain 4 prongs.

Does the cup help bring the color better, make it more vivid yellow looking?

Sorry for all the questions...still learing

 

[qxq]

I was must been blind !Sorry!
You said no cup at the first place!
Does the cup usually for yellow or light yellow?
For FIY, will a cup helps to make the color even better? I know, I am getting greedy

 

[cflutist]

Here is a thread with another FIY - but set in a 3-stone ring.

Classic and timeless imo. One of my all time favorite rings on PS.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/3-stone-fancy-intense-yellow-ec-ring.197162/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/3-stone-fancy-intense-yellow-ec-ring.197162/[/URL]

 

[qxq]

Thank you cflutist for sharing your thoughts.
I did find the thread with your pic of a comparison of Platinum / 14K X1 / 18K white gold. That was very helpful!

 

[qxq]

If use 18K yellow gold for prongs, is it necessary to have 8 prongs, 2 on each corner ? I saw some with 8 tiny prongs, looks cool too.
Does that hold the stone more secure?

 

[Gypsy]

Your stone is big so yes, double claw prongs would be ideal. BUT 99% of jewelers can't do them right. So you should go with a bench that can provide you with pictures of previous prong work they have done.

Victor, Steven, ERD and DBL can all do it. So if you go with one of them, it will be fine.