Re-set of cushion. Need opinions

[mindchanger]

I am contemplating re-setting my cushion (upgrade) into a new setting. It is currently in a tapered baguette platinum setting but I just don''t love it in this setting. (Originally held a round)

I really wanted a rectangular diamond and looked long and hard at ECs but was worried about the sparkle factor after having a round. I never fell in love with radiants and just kind stumbled into this very rectangular cushion (8.30x6.17) and decided that was it!
Despite my setting being a "classic", I feel the hard edges of the step cut, baguettes conflict with the soft edges of the cushion. (I also have a matching taper-straight-taper baguette platinum band. Both ring and band are thin - about 2.5 mm)


Most of these forums seem to cover side stones for more traditional l/w ratios for cushions. (I have seen some elongated ones on DBL site) so I''m struggling with the right look. I love the halos I see on this site but don''t love them when I see them in person. I love the idea of half moons - elongated ones that kind of extend the curve. Like you may see on an oval/half moon combo. ) However, I''ve never seen the half moons in person - other than loose at my jewelers.

Since this crowd seems to think a lot about these things, I''d love your opinion. Halo? Half moons? Traps?

Secondly, any ideas on what to do with the band and original settings. Ever seen any unique pendants or bands with just baguettes. The hard part is 4 are tapered and 1 is straight. Or is this just a futile execise?

I am not planning on having a wedding band. My real wedding band is a plain, platinum band that I cherish and wear all the time on my right hand. The baguette band was just an "extra"

I will post a picture of my current ring if someone can tell me how. I tried the image icon to no avail.

 

[mindchanger]

here is a picture

 

[mrssalvo]

albicocca has a cushion that is shaped almost like yours.

You can check out her thread here

She has a Vera Wang setting

 

[moon river]

What about a split shank with pave diamonds? BTW I do love your ring the way it is now though.

 

[mrssalvo]

I think Cushions look gorgeous in simple pave settings or cushion 3 stones. I agree that the bagettes are too heavy and straight to flow with the curves of the cushion. As for the old setting, you could put a CZ in it and just keep it for sentimental reasons, at least that''s what I''d do.

 

[mrssalvo]

Portia has one of my all time favorite settings for a cushion.

you can see more pics here

sideview

 

[mrssalvo]

there is also this one from Winfield''s

Diamond channel set cathedral. This elegant ring includes channel set diamonds - approximately .36 ct depending on finger size, lovely claw prongs and impeccable beauty! Shown here set with a 3 ct cushion. Pricing is for ring in platinum in size 4-7.5 and includes channel set diamonds. Center stone additional. Also available in 14 karat white or yellow gold at $895 and 18 karat gold at $995. Platinum pricing subject to change based on market conditions. Creation time - 3 weeks. "

 

[mrssalvo]

can you tell I''ve looking at cushion settings

moonriver, something like this Danhov from Jamesallen.com

 

[moon river]

You read my mind Mrs S.

 

[mrssalvo]

just in case you hate pave, here is moremoremore''s 3 stone cushion beauty

 

[marvel]

How about something like this? More pictures can be found here.

Edited to add: That is MrsS lovely hand modeling for us

 

[moon river]

UMMM Marvel, Danial K.....Yummy.

 

[mrssalvo]

hehe marvel..how in the world could I miss that one

and seeing those pics again is making the waiting soooo much harder

 

[marvel]

Date: 5/2/2006 4:15:14 PM
Author: mrssalvo
hehe marvel..how in the world could I miss that one

I was wondering the same thing. That stone is just screaming "put me in a split shank!"

 

[fatafelice]

Okay, I looked in here to see if I could offer some advice (and to see the cushion, of course!) and now I am just majorly re-thinking the halo that I was planning for my cushion!

Bad, bad, bad....

Seriously, though, I agree that the baguettes are not quite the right look for a cushion. I really like the idea of a splitshank or Albi''s setting for that stone. Though there is a pic of a celebrity ring around here with a cushion and heart sides that looked neat...let me see if I can find it.

Would you rather have side stones? Do you like pave? All important considerations!

 

[mindchanger]

Ok, boy you guys are great (and quick!)

A few comments...

I do like the Daniel K split shank - the shape of that cushion also seems elongated to me but I was leaning against a band and just getting one significant piece that could stand on its own. However, I am always open to changing my mind.

I like pave - once I saw "bead set" and I really liked it? Dumb question but is that a type of pave?

The side stone thought was to make it really stand out on its own without the need for bands etc. (For example, I like the three stone cushion but can''t put myself through finding three, extremely rectangular stones. Forget it!)

I REALLY like the look of ovals with half moons. I saw the Leon Mege one posted somewhere around here and LOVED IT. Simple and can stand on its own.

At the end of the day, I feel the baguette ring and band is too busy and detracts from the stone. So simple is the key.

One more question, someone commented "That stone is just screaming "put me in a split shank!" -- why do you feel this way? What makes it ideal for that?

 

[KristyDarling]

I love your half-moon sidestones idea.

As for what to do with your baguette setting, I say save it for a rainy day (aka a beautiful sapphire).

 

[fatafelice]

IMHO, I think that sidestones detract from and obscure the lovely shape of a cushion. That''s why I like halos, myself; they emphasize the shape.

I like Albi''s setting for the same reason -- the prongs draw attention to the fact that it is a rectangle and not an oval, but the sides are still open to showcase the stone. A split shank on such an elongated cushion would have the same effect and be very dramatic. It would define the corners but draw attention to the center by making it appear to "float" in between. Probably not a ring you could wear with a band, but worth the sacrifice, IMO!

 

[windowshopper]

half moons!

 

[SoonIHope]

Thanks for posting me, Mrs S & for the compliments Fata!!

Mindchanger - I obviously loooove your cushion!

I would go with either, ahem, something like mine

or Wink''s, or a split shank myself! I think MMM''s is the only cushion with sidestones that I''ve loved, but I agree that finding two more matching cushions sounds like a bit of a pain! Do you have pictures of a cushion with half moons? It sounds like it could be nice, but based on all the cushions I''ve seen so far, I think I would rather go with a simple thin pave band, either single or split shank. But whatever you do, I''m sure it''ll be gorgeous!!!

And I would totally put a sapphire into your baguette setting...mmmm...

 

[mrssalvo]

I agree that i''m not sure I''d like the half moons next to the cushion but i''ve never seen it so it''s hard to say for sure.

Here''s a michael beaudry but the halo breaks up the cushion/halfmoons.

 

[KristyDarling]

These are mostly pics of colored sidestones with cushions, but you can get an overall idea of the shapes.

http://diamondsbylauren.com/Window_RingsCushion.shtml

 

[FireGoddess]

My vote''s for halo with thin or split shank - your cushion has such a nice, elongated shape I think the halo would really emphasize that. While I don''t think half moons would look bad, I think they might detract from the center stone? Hard to say without a good example.

 

[mrssalvo]

good link Kristy.

here''s one that might give and idea..i wish I had photoshop so I could color the stone white

 

[FireGoddess]

Even without coloring the sides white, it''s swaying me even more towards the halo side. I do like the ring, but maybe I am biased in my choice.

 

[marvel]

Date: 5/2/2006 4:36:51 PM
Author: mindchanger
Ok, boy you guys are great (and quick!)

A few comments...

I do like the Daniel K split shank - the shape of that cushion also seems elongated to me but I was leaning against a band and just getting one significant piece that could stand on its own. However, I am always open to changing my mind.

I like pave - once I saw 'bead set' and I really liked it? Dumb question but is that a type of pave?

The side stone thought was to make it really stand out on its own without the need for bands etc. (For example, I like the three stone cushion but can't put myself through finding three, extremely rectangular stones. Forget it!)

I REALLY like the look of ovals with half moons. I saw the Leon Mege one posted somewhere around here and LOVED IT. Simple and can stand on its own.

At the end of the day, I feel the baguette ring and band is too busy and detracts from the stone. So simple is the key.

One more question, someone commented 'That stone is just screaming 'put me in a split shank!' -- why do you feel this way? What makes it ideal for that?

Hi Mindchanger, It could be just my personal taste, but I noticed other posters suggested a split shank too. The split shank would really set that stone off nicely. I think side stones, like half mones, might take away from the shape of the cushion. The Daniel K split shank could definately stand on it's own without another band. Just my humble opinion. Hope that answered your question.

 

[fatafelice]

I think that ring is gorgeous, but I also think that the colored side stones set off the center and emphasize the shape by providing contrast. Diamond sides would "blend" more with the center.

 

[KristyDarling]

Well, it seems like many are against the idea of half moon sides but in case you still want to see what one looks like (with diamond half moons!), check out http://www.dreamofdiamonds.com/detail.aspx?ID=89837&v=F00060061P . Sorry I couldn''t attach the picture directly, sometimes my Mac is a big pain in the butt!

Personally, I love the "blended diamonds" look (for obvious reasons, hehe) but some people do not. As much as I love a plain solitaire or one with pave, there''s nothing like across-the-finger blingage!

 

[fatafelice]

Here is an old thread from when MMM was deciding about sidestones for her cushion-- some good pics in there.

 

[moon river]

I like the idea of a split shank because the cusion is more ''elongated'' than ''squared'' and would look great with the split shank. The setting seems more for longer stones for me and seems to make the stone appear larger.