Paging Niel for expert advice on five stone ring.

[livewithease]

Niel,

You helped plant the seed that I should look into a graduated five stone ring a while ago. I've been back and forth with the idea of graduated vs non graduated, using new diamonds vs OECs and have even considered just a three stone. I recently placed an order with BGD for a five stone u-prong band in platinum with all 5 x .30's H SI1 stones but I quickly realized what I really want is a graduated five stone because it's different than what I currently own and mimics the idea of a three stone which I've learned I like. I canceled my order today with BGD and discussed the following which I would totally appreciate your input on.

Center stone I have on hold is one of their signature blue stones in a .657 H SI1 (5.59 x 5.61 x 3.44mm). - http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.657-h-si1-round-diamond-ags-cbl-104069111019

Two middle stones I have on hold are .30 H SI1 (4.38 x 4.4 x 2.72mm)
For the two end stones BGD suggested also using .30's which I thought was an interesting idea. Clearly the alternative is using uncertified stones in either .24, .20 or .15. They suggested the .30's since because if would give me the ability to reuse or upgrade if I ever decided to upgrade the ring. I'd love to hear what you think about their suggestion. I haven't seen many rings like this and my gut is telling me to do end with .24 or .20. (I'm a size five)

For the setting there are two options on the table right now. The first option is there standard cross trellis 11 setting or the same setting as Hawaiianorangetree - [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/5-stone-graduated-trellis-from-bgd.170896/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/5-stone-graduated-trellis-from-bgd.170896/..[/URL].

My initial reaction is that I prefer the setting that Hawaiianorangetree has but I also recognize my stones are smaller and I'm not sure if the six prongs around the center stone will help to make the center stone appear larger or smaller. BG seems to think it will help make it look bigger. My other concern is that this is considered a custom setting and I can't return it which makes me incredibly nervous. Keep in mind this is not an engagement ring but a ring I want to wear daily instead of my engagement ring or on my right hand when I do wear my engagement ring.

I would appreciate your input on the stones and setting since I know you went through a similar decision and ended up with a beautiful ring that you love. Any advice you can provide would be super helpful.

Thanks you!!!!

 

[Niel]

Well first off I'm happy to help as best I can but o had a lot of help deciding on my ring, so I can't claim to be the expert, hopefully some of the others will chime in to help.

Also, yay! Exciting!

To their point about buying two sets of 30s to go with your centet- I totally get it in terms of upgrades, but I don't like it aesthetically. It's not really graduated if the two sets are the same size. Mine are 32 pointers and 15 pointers, and I think those give you a graduation that's noticeable. However, I'd have to see how noticeable the graduation is from the center to the first set. If it isn't as dramatic, then I might say 20 pointers.

What was the other setting besides the one you linked? I love that one, but I worry 2 things. Is it too engagement? And is it too much metal for a more petite set of stones.

 

[livewithease]

I was looking through some old threads and I think the end stones should be smaller and probably be something like 3.38 since the middle stones are about 4.38. The other option I saw was using pears as end stones which could be a nice alternative.

 

[livewithease]

The other setting is there standard five stone trellis 11 - http://m.briangavindiamonds.com/wedding-and-anniversary-bands/eternity-bands/five-stone-trellis-band-ii-platinum-5400p.. The good part about this setting is I can return it since it's not custom.

I like that setting but there's just something about the other setting I think I like better. My only hesitation is the prongs given my size stones.

I agree that the last set should be smaller so I'm thinking 5.59 x 4.3 x 3.3 would work. I took this from a previous post I saw between you and Yssie.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-wf-custom-tapered-eternity-ring.83245/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-wf-custom-tapered-eternity-ring.83245/[/URL]
I'd probably continue the curvy trellis design all the way around instead of switching to baskets but I imagine that's a stylistic preference..

top - 6/4/3mm
middle - 6/4.5/3.5mm (I like this best)
bottom - 6/4.5/3.75mm



Thank you for your help!!! I feel like I'm so close and I really want to get this ring just right especially if I can't return it.

 

[Niel]

The other setting is there standard five stone trellis 11 - http://m.briangavindiamonds.com/wedding-and-anniversary-bands/eternity-bands/five-stone-trellis-band-ii-platinum-5400p... The good part about this setting is I can return it since it's not custom.

I like that setting but there's just something about the other setting I think I like better. My only hesitation is the prongs given my size stones.

I agree that the last set should be smaller so I'm thinking 5.59 x 4.3 x 3.3 would work. I took this from a previous post I saw between you and Yssie.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-wf-custom-tapered-eternity-ring.83245/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-wf-custom-tapered-eternity-ring.83245/[/URL]
I'd probably continue the curvy trellis design all the way around instead of switching to baskets but I imagine that's a stylistic preference..

top - 6/4/3mm
middle - 6/4.5/3.5mm (I like this best)
bottom - 6/4.5/3.75mm



Thank you for your help!!! I feel like I'm so close and I really want to get this ring just right especially if I can't return it.

I are the middle was my favorite too, thays what I went with haha! But, I really don't hate the last one too, so if you went 15-20 pointers it'll be somewhere between the two

 

[livewithease]

Okay, that's what I was thinking as well. Plus it will save me a few bucks which certainly helps. Do you have any thoughts or preference on the two settings? I'm so torn and it's not like the price differs greatly to help with my decision.

 

[Niel]

I would think whichever sits lowest would be most comfortable, iclike the u prong, the Nightingale, and the trellis one you posted, I would think for comfort you'd want one that would keep the stones from sitting too high, particularly the ones that will be at the end and close to the gap in your fingers

 

[Unobuck19]

Hello! I went with a graduated 5 stone (still in process) hoping it is here soon! I did 0.6/0.4/0.4/0.3/0.3 in the Trellis 2 design but with the nightingale shank so I actually have a 7 stone ring

Can't wait to see pics of your ring- going to be beautiful!