Pear Dilemma

[bettymac]

Hi, I''ve been reading the posts on Pricescope for a few months now and have learned so much from everyone on this forum. I was hoping to get your opionions about what I should do with a very nice 2 carat pear shaped diamond that I inherited from my mother.

Here is my dilimma. Soon after I inherited the stone (and I knew NOTHING about jewelry back then, I''m just learning now through mistakes and reading this forum), I had it set in a Simon G. setting that was very pretty, but very wrong for a pear shaped diamond. The stone sat very high and looked like it was flying out of the setting. It was just wrong, so I had the pear reset into a simple pendant. The problem is I rarely wear it because it''s quite a large stone for me and it just seems showy for everyday wear.

I would like to wear the pear often because it was my Mom''s and I was very close to her. I''ve thought about having it set back into a simple solitaire ring, however I have a nice wedding set that I received recently for my 25th wedding anniversary. I''m not sure how my I would feel about switching rings like that, however I sort of feel like the pear diamond deserves to be in some sort of a ring as opposed to a pendant, as it is very nice stone, 2 carat, VVS2, F color. It just seems like such a waste that I am not wearing it at all.

Can anyone offer me their advice on how I should have this pear set? If I keep it as a pendant, I''m thinking of having it put into a champagne setting. If I have a ring made for it, I''m not sure what style would be best. Something simple I think, maybe something I can wear on my right hand. Which way would I wear it more? That is something I''ve been thinking about for a while. Thank you for any advice you can give me.

 

[Ellen]

Hi betty,

I would make it into a RHR if it were me, so I could see it more. I think you''d probably wear the ring more than the necklace.

Here''s a thread with lots of pear rings, hopefully you can get an idea from here. Your stone sounds lovely!

 

[rainydaze]

sounds like a lovely diamond! i agree, you should be wearing and enjoying it! if it were me, i would set it into the setting below (danhov, from jamesallen.com) and wear it on my right hand.

 

[bettymac]

Thank you so much for your responses. I think you are right that I would wear the stone more if it were put into a ring. I am going to check out all the ideas on the "pear" thread and I LOVE that setting from James Allen. It is beautiful! I promise to post pictures once I have it reset. Thanks again for your help.

 

[bettymac]

P.S. Has anyone ever seen a pear set horizontally in a bypass setting? It''s an idea I''ve had in my mind, but I''ve never seen an example of it. I''m not sure it would work with a stone that is not symetrical. The James Allen setting is gorgeous, I may pursue having it set in a similar setting.

 

[Nicrez]

Date: 8/23/2007 1:04:48 PM
Author: bettymac
P.S. Has anyone ever seen a pear set horizontally in a bypass setting? It''s an idea I''ve had in my mind, but I''ve never seen an example of it. I''m not sure it would work with a stone that is not symetrical. The James Allen setting is gorgeous, I may pursue having it set in a similar setting.

I would be afraid that setting a stone that size east to west can cause damage at the tip if not in a good bezel setting. Personally, I would have thought the pendant was more wearable in a stone that size than as a RHR, but if you are a ring person, then go for that.

Can you post pictures of looks you like? Modern and bezel in my opinion would be a lovely way to tone down the size and make it more wearable. But to dress it up i would go with an antique pave-ed look.

 

[FireGoddess]

This is a Mark Morell setting e/w with a pear, the cad and the ring. I think it''s Widget''s but I''m not sure.

 

[FireGoddess]

Unfortunately the pic is just low res...I tried to shrink but it's still pixilated. The cad gives you a more detailed look though.

I'd also love to see a pic of your stone!!!

 

[bettymac]

Wow, thank you all so much for your advice. I have a lot to think about. It was so interesting to see those pictures of the horizontally set pear. I''ve never seen one set that way before. I also never thought much about ensuring the tip of the pear be as protected as possible. As you can see, I am really a novice at this.

I will try putting pictures up tonight or tomorrow morning of the pear shaped stone. I''m on my way today to help my son move back up to college in Los Angeles. I''m really going to miss him!

 

[bettymac]

Here are a couple of pictures of the pear shaped diamond.

 

[bettymac]

One more.

 

[Ellen]

Betty, your pear is just beautiful!

 

[shminbabe]

Date: 8/25/2007 2:58:43 AM
Author: bettymac
One more.

Betty,

I have to say I love the pendant. The pear shape is really nice there and while it''s a 2 ct. stone, I don''t thing it''s too big - I''d wear it every day with no worries! I really love the simple setting and smooth chain its on. You can always make the ring and I do live the Danhov setting a lot. But I think I''m partial to your necklace!

Did your mom recently pass? My mom did. Three months ago. I inherited a 5 stone anniversary ring and I like to wear to often too. I''ll probably reset it but for now it''s in the setting she choose happily last October so I like wearing it b/c it was still "new" to her when she died. My sister inherited her 1 ct. round brilliant diamond.

Enjoy your mom''s beautiful stone.

Jeannie

 

[risingsun]

Date: 8/25/2007 9:35:36 AM
Author: shminbabe

Date: 8/25/2007 2:58:43 AM
Author: bettymac
One more.

Betty,

I have to say I love the pendant. The pear shape is really nice there and while it's a 2 ct. stone, I don't thing it's too big - I'd wear it every day with no worries! I really love the simple setting and smooth chain its on. You can always make the ring and I do live the Danhov setting a lot. But I think I'm partial to your necklace!

I agree! I think it makes a lovely pendant and doesn't look too showy. I believe that you can wear a larger stone on a pendant, because there is more visual space in that area...I think it would look larger on your finger than on your neck. If it were mine, I would feel comfortable wearing it every day

Either way...enjoy!!

 

[Jenn5504]

That pear is GORGEOUS, you absolutely must wear that baby ALL the time. I know I would!!!!!!!!! It is lovely as a pendant, very very pretty, but boy oh boy would it make a killer ring!!!!!! I am in LOVE with the setting rainydaze posted!

It would pack more punch in a ring IMO. Dang I have a longing for a gorgeous pear like that.......always have.....

 

[bettymac]

Hi Everyone,

I can''t thank you enough for your responses. I am going to see my jeweler next week to show him the Danhov setting and also to ask him about the possibility of putting the stone in a simple bypass setting. As much as I like the diamond in a pendant, with the type of work I do, I just don''t feel comfortable wearing it around my neck everyday. I think I would be more likely to wear it more often on my finger and, to be honest, I''ve always felt a little guilty for changing my Mom''s ring into a pendant. She was so proud of her ring, it was considered pretty unusual in her day to have a pear shaped stone. My Dad gave it to her on their 25th anniversary.

My Mom passed away many years ago, but it doesn''t seem like it. I think about her everyday and still miss her like crazy. She was a really great person, the kindest person ever.

Thanks again to everyone for helping. I promise to post pictures once I finally make up my mind!

 

[:)]

Hi BettyMac! While I also love the Danhov setting, I have to say that I don''t think it is going to be what you are looking for based on your post. I have been to Danhov and loved trying on their beautiful rings, but those halo settings that they have make the stones look absolutely enormous. I am afraid that if you already think it is on the larger size for your taste/comfort, then putting it in that setting will make you extremely uncomfortable to wear it (on the opposite end if someone is looking to add real estate to their stone, this may be the setting for them!). I tried on that exact setting except for a RB (along with several other settings) and they really added an enormous girth to the stones. HTH

 

[bettymac]

I think you are right about the surrounding diamonds making the stone look larger. That is not what I want, but I LOVE that Danhov setting! Since I''m looking for something simple and elegant, I was thinking of showing my jeweler the Danhov setting and getting his opinion on how it would look without the halo, and other diamonds. That setting is such a nice shape to hold the pear. I also want to ask him how a pear would look in a simple bypass setting.

My wedding set is a little blingy (husband picked it out, I absolutely love it, but don''t wear it while I''m working), I thought perhaps if the pear was set in a simple setting, with no surrounding diamonds, I could wear it at least a few times per week, and possibly even at work. Right now with the stone in a pendant, I only wear it occasionally when we go out to dinner or to a party.

 

[FireGoddess]

Your pear looks beautiful. And so GORGEOUS as a pendant.

I hope you like the Danhov setting, but I also agree with the poster that told you it is going to make your stone look HUGE. Even more huge than it already is.

I gotta say, I love it as a pendant!!! Not that I wouldn''t love the ring too, but it''s going to be ostentatious compared to what it looks like now...fair warning!!

 

[sera]

I would love it as a pendant with a halo around it (I love that look in firegoddess' ring!).

ETA: With a stone that size, if I were going with a ring I would go with a simple platinum band by Leon Mege... or MAYBE with a pave band.

 

[bettymac]

Wow, now you''ve really got me thinking. I have to say that it was FireGoddess'' ring that first got me thinking about putting my pear back into a ring. I LOVE everything about her ring, but I was afraid that setting mine into something so beautiful might "compete" with my wedding set. I don''t want my husband to think I''m looking to "upgrade" the set he just gave me and I really just want to wear the pear as often as possible.

Now that Sera has shown me the Leon Mege halo pendant, I''m torn again between a ring and a pendant. Wow, that is SO pretty and incorprates what I love about FireGoddess'' ring. I''m getting lured by the beauty of the Leon pendant. Should I give up on the idea that I should be wearing my Mom''s stone more often, or go with something really stunning that will be worn only on special occasions? (I am a retired teacher who is starting a second career in interior design, I often do "staging" jobs which can mean a lot of hard, physical labor moving furniture, etc.)

I think I''m back to square on with my decision, but it''s a fun one to ponder.

Thanks for the showing me some awesome choices!

 

[FireGoddess]

What size is your wedding set center stone? I think your pear is beautiful and it's meant to be worn, not sit in a box! So I'd do whatever would make me wear it all the time.

I think a ring would look gorgeous (duh, I'm biased) but in a 2 ct size and with the split shank it will have PRESENCE. As in, HELLO WORLD, LOOK AT ME!!! 99% of the time that's what you want. But depending on how your wedding set looks, it could very well compete.

That is a gorgeous pendant....I really like it (again, duh).

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Your pear is devine. How about using a colored stone in the halo? Sapphires comes in a lovely range of colors........yellows might look fab.....but then there is pink...oh and blue is always a nice option....

cheers--Sharon

 

[Fly Girl]

Gosh. I love the pendant as it is. I''d go ahead and wear it as a necklace for every day, and not just on special occasions. Wear it on the job. The chain looks fairly short so it shouldn''t be hitting anything as you move about. And, you are much more able to wear it as a necklace than as a ring at work. Just clean it daily so it sparkles.

Two ct. is substantial for a diamond, but in the necklace world, it is really quite small.

It would make a great ring, too, but I doubt that you would wear it more often.

 

[bettymac]

I wore my pear pendant out to dinner last night and was reminded how much I love wearing it. My upgraded 25th wedding anniversary ring is 1.76 carat RB set in a Precision set half eternity band, with matching wedding ring. Wearing the pear last night around my neck, I felt like it was not competing in any way with my wedding set, but was complementing it!

So for today, I''ve decided to keep the pear in a pendant, but will likley have a new pendant setting made either with a halo or in a simple champagne setting.

It''s funny how things happen. I wore my original .33 carat RB in a simple setting for twenty-five years, now I have two very pretty stones to work with. Maybe THAT''S why I can''t seem to make up my mind. I''m such a novice about jewelry, but my interest has grown leaps and bounds over the last year. That is why I love this forum!

 

[FireGoddess]

If you were in my field of vision at a restaurant wearing that pendant, you''d definitely be wondering whether I was lesbian or not, cuz I would have been staring at your decolletage. Enviously, I might add.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 8/29/2007 7:49:19 PM
Author: FireGoddess
If you were in my field of vision at a restaurant wearing that pendant, you''d definitely be wondering whether I was lesbian or not, cuz I would have been staring at your decolletage. Enviously, I might add.

Well Betty, whatever you do, come back and show us please!

 

[bettymac]

Lol. FireGoddess, you are hilarious!

Thanks everyone for listening, and for all your suggestions. I promise to post pictures as soon as I have the pear "remodel" completed.

 

[Circe]

Your pendant is beautiful - as are the sentiments attached to it. One possible compromise solution (which should work with a reset or without) ... have you thought of purchasing either an adjustable chain, or simply a longer chain to alternate with your usual one? I have a few pieces that I love that don''t always necessarily look right with what I''m wearing, but on a 24'''' chain, all anyone can see is the thin gleam of metal ... and I''ve still got the talismanic aspect (as well as the option of pulling the pendant out to fiddle with should the mood strike). Whatever you decide, I''m sure we''ll love to see!