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Princess Halo help!!!

laurenk

laurenk

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Nov 12, 2011
Messages
976
Last year I purchased a princess diamond and had it set in a cushion halo as I love the soft corners. I don't want a cushion centre stone as I'm a princess girl always. My question is, I feel my stone looks "plopped" in and whilst I do up mind an air line, I feel something Cad or hand forged would make my stone breathtaking. I've seen another lady Lemondrops show her gorgeous princess with cushion halo and i love it but I'm in Australia. Can anyone offer any insight, help, advice, thoughts on current setting.

Thanks so much
Lauren

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A halo isnt very common for a princess cut but if you want it you should put the halo closer to the princess and remove the princess from the bezel setting and prop it up with some prongs , I think with smaller stones for the halo it would look good..
 
I like it the way it is. I have seen other princess cuts put in cushion halos and they just dont look that good due to the square
corners on the princess and the rounded cushion corners. I think yours looks very nice. I understand it may not be the halo
you had in mind (less space between the stone and the halo) but I personally like it.
 
I also love my princess diamond! It was my 30th anniversary upgrade and a big change from the RB I had always worn and loved. I had it placed in a custom halo setting last spring (see avatar pic) and though I thought the setting was beautiful I just never completely felt at ease with it for some reason which I couldn't quite define. My original RB engagement ring was in a halo setting and I just loved it so I thought this would also be great. At the end of the day I recently decided to reset my princess (2.03 ct) into a solitaire trellis setting with pave on the trellis(for extra sparkle) and I couldn't be happier. Try on many different types of settings. Really take your time and don't just limit yourself to cushion halos, although they are beautiful! I do think your ring is lovely as is though the curved airline does contrast with the straight lines of a princess cut. if something doesn't feel quite right trust your instincts. I wish you all the best!
 
I don't know what your options are living in Australia - Lemondrops reset was done by Steven Kirsch. Victor Canera, Leon Mege and ERD are other options, but then we're talking time, expense etc. I can't think of a PS'er off the top of my head who lives in Australia and had a custom setting done in the states, hopefully someone will chime in to explain further what's involved. Another option is having a new setting made locally - because you're right, to get that seamless look, the setting has to be made to the exact specifications of your diamond.

I guess it boils down to how much energy, time, and expense you want to put into this - and would a setting like Lemondrops make you that much happier with your ring? I guess you have to weigh the pros and cons for yourself - I personally think your ring looks lovely as is. Sometimes I think being on PS can make a person a bit nit-picky lol. But on the other hand if your setting is really bothering you, I suppose you should explore other options.
 
treasurehunter|1401879017|3686220 said:
A halo isnt very common for a princess cut but if you want it you should put the halo closer to the princess and remove the princess from the bezel setting and prop it up with some prongs , I think with smaller stones for the halo it would look good..
Click to expand...

I think you have a beautiful princess stone and your ring setting gives you awesome finger coverage! I also have a princess cut with a soft corner halo myself, and I would consider my ring like what Treasurehunter is talking about, (Treasurehunter can correct me if I'm wrong!) and so therefore if you were completely set on doing a change then yes I would for sure do what Treasurehunter said... Here are pics of mine for reference...

Finger size 5.5, 1.15 carat center stone (G color),*my setting was a Peter Lam 18k white gold setting (factory setting, not a custom one) and it was made to take a .75ct-1 ct. center stone. I had bought the stone separately and the jeweler didn't think it would work because it was too big for it he said, but was able to make it work and I love the result. I think there would have been a little too much space for my liking had my center stone been smaller, when I look down at it straight on I barely notice space between the stone and halo so I am glad it was a "tight fit".

So I guess if you were going to have something custom made, and you wanted to not see too much space let them know that... I don't think I would have been as happy with mine if I actually had the recommended sizes in there. So in short (after the long explanation!) I agree with Treasurehunter if you are definitely wanting to change it up prop it up with prongs and do smaller diamonds to make your and bonus it will make your already huge center look even bigger :)... Good luck in your search!

**My ring desperately needs to be re-rhodium dipped though so the ring and prongs are not as white as they should be!**

sideviewprongs.jpg

frontring2.jpg

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sideviewprongs2.jpg
 
Thank you so much for all your opinions and pics! Your ring is gorgeous jillianfl!!! I do sometimes feel at PS makes me question my ring from time to time.

I had a quite from Steven for $4,500! I certainly can't justify that expense and I'm sourcing some other quotes in Australia so I can either consider it or forget it hehe.

Do smaller melee actually make the centre stone appear larger? I actually don't mind the airline so much as I don't like seeing the bezel or whatever the stone is surrounded by.

How hard would it be to change just this basket to prongs? I can't imagine how it would look or work.
 
Thank you and you're not alone it makes me question mine, too, lol, and my plans for another ring too haha.... I went back and looked at yours again, I think your side stones are just right, since your center appears to be bigger than mine, too :) The may be able to change out just the claws for the V-prongs that pop it up, but make sure you can see what it would look like before you go through with it! There may be a larger amount of space since your setting looks larger due to the larger stone... If you are going to do anything make sure you love it first!

The V-prongs like I have on mine, I like that they protect the edges of the stone and I think they look good since my stone is sitting up so high (I don't think they would look right if my stone was set in deep though, so it works for the style I have), but they definitely protect it since I knock it around all the time, and I like that they visually soften the corners of my princess so it visually blends with the soft corners of the halo setting more.

I was told by a local jeweler here (in Florida) that they could do things like that if I found a setting I liked and the head was the wrong size (for another stone I have) they could swap it out. I would ask how the strength would be on it if you go that route, but I really like yours, maybe all they have to do is just add those V-prongs instead, that should be easy (but then again, I'm not a jeweler!) But go to any local jeweler who specializes in fine jewelry... Show them picture examples of what you want to to verify that they can even achieve what you want... Also I like to find out if they can do the work same day, and I definitely would not use someone who says they will mail it out, choose someone who does it on site :) Good luck whatever you choose to do, you have a beautiful ring either way!
 
jillianfl|1401970243|3686937 said:
Thank you and you're not alone it makes me question mine, too, lol, and my plans for another ring too haha.... I went back and looked at yours again, I think your side stones are just right, since your center appears to be bigger than mine, too :) The may be able to change out just the claws for the V-prongs that pop it up, but make sure you can see what it would look like before you go through with it! There may be a larger amount of space since your setting looks larger due to the larger stone... If you are going to do anything make sure you love it first!

The V-prongs like I have on mine, I like that they protect the edges of the stone and I think they look good since my stone is sitting up so high (I don't think they would look right if my stone was set in deep though, so it works for the style I have), but they definitely protect it since I knock it around all the time, and I like that they visually soften the corners of my princess so it visually blends with the soft corners of the halo setting more.

I was told by a local jeweler here (in Florida) that they could do things like that if I found a setting I liked and the head was the wrong size (for another stone I have) they could swap it out. I would ask how the strength would be on it if you go that route, but I really like yours, maybe all they have to do is just add those V-prongs instead, that should be easy (but then again, I'm not a jeweler!) But go to any local jeweler who specializes in fine jewelry... Show them picture examples of what you want to to verify that they can even achieve what you want... Also I like to find out if they can do the work same day, and I definitely would not use someone who says they will mail it out, choose someone who does it on site :) Good luck whatever you choose to do, you have a beautiful ring either way!
Click to expand...


Thanks so much! I think I'll dig up lots of pics and visit a few reputable jewellers to see what is achievable. My centre is 1.55 G si1 and I saw another thread where the melee were changed to smaller and it mAde the centre stone look so much bigger - seems strange.

I'll keep you posted!!
 
Just trying to get some further help if anyone's so inclined.

If I simply wanted to remove the basket my princess sits in and retain the airline would this be hard? Would it require an entire remake or some simple handy work? What about "shaving" the visible metal surrounding my princess so as to retain it but make it thinner?

I think I'm scared that if I reset it so I have a flush halo the centre diamond and overall ring will look and or feel smaller than my current setting..... I've seen some halo resets which really makes the centre stone look bigger.

My current halo had 1 pointers (is that the correct term?) 0.01c each. I don't think id go smaller would I? Would bigger be too big?

My centre is 6.37 x 6.24mm. Not sure if there's magic formula for melee vs centre diamond size?

Next question is: is there a better style of pavè I should be looking at? I love the look of Steven Kirsch's pricness halo he did and I think it's mushroom pavè?

And finally: single or double claw prongs? I love claw prongs and have single currently.

That all being said I may end up buying the round and baguette kate beckinsale eternity band and sticking with what I've got.....

I wish I had a crystal ball!

Thank you a million!
 
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