Please show me your tapered melee and low settings for large stones

[sweetpea&babycorn]

hello all! i just got engaged sunday night, and we''re already thinking of getting a new setting! (PS Record?)

in case the thread subject didn''t fully show up, it''s "please show me your tapered melee and low settings for large stones"

So, i have 2 problems right now. So where else to go for jewelry advice than right here!

1) my current ring is beautiful, but the head is set way too high to my liking and we''d like to get something lower. we went to a local jeweler to get ideas, and she seemed to be set on just one way to get the diamond to sit lower and get a wedding band to go flush against the ring. she showed me her engagement ring and it looked very safe and secure, but the profile looked WAY to structural for me. i''d like something a little more decorative but she said the only option would be to get what she did to her ring and do some kind of engraving on it. i''m convinced there are more ways to get a large diamond to sit lower on a ring. i have a large stone (2.09ct cushion brilliant) and it''s deep, so we have to somehow incorporate a design so that the head can sit low but high enough to have a wedding band sit flush.

2) we have two OMCs that we''d love to incorporate into the band for our custom setting. she suggested something like a tapered melee using OMCs all the way down. the problem is that i can''t visualize what this would look like with any type of stone. we also have to agree to actually have her do a custom design before seeing how any of it will look.

so if anyone has any images of 1) tapered melee bands with rounds AND/OR 2) a profile shot of how you got your large/deep diamond to sit lower please post them! i''m a little weary about going with this idea unless i can see it. i''ve done a search and couldn''t find anything.

sorry if this is asking too much in one thread, but thank you in advanced!

 

[LAG2010]

Congrats on getting engaged! I also was adamant about getting a low setting, so here are some profile pics of my ring. FYI, the stone is a round brilliant and is a little bit over 2.5 carats. The setting is Halo Pave Split Shank and is about .8 carats.

 

[LAG2010]

Another profile.

 

[EHR2009]

Date: 12/22/2009 2:26:50 PM
Author: LAG2010
Another profile.

ooooooooooo that is amazing!

 

[Luckyeshe]

Congrats on your engagement!!! I must have missed your thread in LIW! Can you post a pic of your current ring? Maybe there''s a way to lower the basket without hurting the integrity of your e-ring.

 

[LAG2010]

Date: 12/22/2009 2:29:20 PM
Author: EHR2009

Date: 12/22/2009 2:26:50 PM
Author: LAG2010
Another profile.

ooooooooooo that is amazing!

Thank you! I''ve had it since April, but it still feels so new to me.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

That is beautiful!

 

[sweetpea&babycorn]

LAG thanks for posting your photos!!! that is a beautiful ring! i would love to have something like that but without the split band.

i haven''t posted a thread on my engagement yet, i''m sorry! i''m working on getting some nice pictures of my current setting, but holiday preparations and work are keeping me busy! hopefuly i will have something for everyone tonight

i''m still seeing if i can find anything on PS with pictures of tapered melee and low settings.

a PSer (ambition) just posted a GoG vintage cushion with a Maytal Hannah setting and that''s the look i really want to go for. The custom jeweler is refusing on putting stones along the profile of the band but would be willing to add some delicate engraving and teeny tiny diamonds for some sparkle on the horizontal band of the prong head.

Luckyeshe - i would love to keep my current setting and change the head. but the jeweler absolutely hates my setting and i didn''t want to bring up the option of switching out the head for a lower one. she used a loupe to look at the setting and says it''s way to dainty for a big stone and that the diamonds on the band are barely held in place with tiny tiny amounts of metal. i was a little offended, because i trust the jeweler who sold us this setting, but i didn''t want to be rude to her. i love the band on my setting because it''s so delicate, and there''s barely any metal showing. plus the profile is pretty thin and i really think it makes my diamond pop out. her priority is to be able to get a wedding band to sit flush (even though i said nothing about wanting a wedding band to sit flush). personally i think she comes on really strong, esp when it comes to custom work, but my fiance loves her and getting a custom setting done from a local business is really important to him.

i''m actually really nervous about this process... the OMCs we''re using aren''t small (0.20cts) so i am a little scared that the band will be too thick, and i requested that a minimal amount of metal show on the ring. plus i''m not sure if the OMCs will even go well with my cushion, but i seems really important for my fiance to use these diamonds, and i''ve already made it clear to him that i am doing this for him. it''s not really what i want, but if it means that much to him to use the OMCs, then i gotta go with it. even the jeweler said initially that they two shapes wouldn''t go together, but then had this revelation of doing a tapered melee with the 2 OMCs next to the cushion followed by smaller OMCs down the band.

 

[Collee]

Congrats on the engagement! Can''t wait to see pics of the stone and setting. Curious to hear what others suggest and what decision you make about the setting.

 

[Resonance.Of.Life]

How about this?

 

[oddoneout]

Date: 12/23/2009 3:31:45 PM
Author: Resonance.Of.Life
How about this?

I think this is really nice.

 

[Collee]

Wanted to add that I hope you do not do business with the local jeweler you visited. IMO, it was very unprofessional and distasteful for her to so blatantly criticize your ering. To tell a potential customer, "i absolutely hate your ering" and then proceed to fault the workmanship is beyond inappropriate. I am so sorry that she treated you so poorly and I commend you on handling these comments so tactfully. If it were me, I would have replied with a sharp tongue and walked right out the door.

I know you mentioned that your FH loves the jeweler but there HAS to be other reputable jewelers in your area.

 

[Lenamama]

No WAY!!!! This is the place to do the asking! I got so much help from all the wonderful PS'rs!!! You should talk to Leon.... He did my ring and I wanted exactly what you are asking for....! I have a 3ct RB, it's set in platinum with .43ct melee! Good luck!

 

[lyra]

I think the issue you''ll have most trouble with is getting a wb to sit flush. Generally it''s a trade-off, lower setting=no flush wb. I have a very low set Beverley K setting, but had to have a custom band made to fit around the bottom of the basket. I think that''s the norm for very low set larger stones.

 

[sweetpea&babycorn]

Resonance - i found that picture too! i did some more searching on PS and found this website: www.wannabuyawatch.com which had some tapered melee''s that were right up my alley! great find!!

i''ve been soo moody over the past week, esp after talking to that seemingly awful jeweler. i feel bad because i put all my frustrations on him about it since he said he really liked her ideas, was willing to wait for a quote and sketches, etc. etc. etc. we talked after one particularly bad night and i just blurted out, "i really do not want to go to this jeweler." i told him all the reasons why i really did not get a good feeling from her, and he agreed a little after i explained myself. so we decided we will not go with her. i am so relieved, and poor fiance is relieved that i am not egging on him anymore

i''m really glad i came here first! i absolutely ADORE leon''s work, and getting a setting from him would be a dream! but i really want to respect my fiance''s wishes to stay local. on thursday i went to another jeweler closer to where i worked, and he was so much better to work with!!! they have actually made something that looks like exactly what we want. plus, they are a local jeweler, they only have 3 locations in Vermont and New Hampshire. he was very friendly, listened closely and with just a verbal description he pulled out exactly what we''re thinking about. His quote was also significantly lower than what we were expecting to pay

Please take a look and let me know what you think?! Linky to Custom Ring. In person this ring is beautiful! it wasn''t too chunky, the ring flowed beautifully, and he showed me that a wedding ring would sit flush which is a great plus. i''m almost sure we will go with them. plus, there is no tax in NH!

happy holidays all! thanks for your help!