Received my Whiteflash CAD Images

[MaxPow3r]

I received my Whiteflash CAD images today and right now I''m not quite sure what to think. My biggest concern right now is the ring looks bulky, however in the email it states:

"Please note that these are pre-casting simulations which appear bulky and unfinished, particularly the prongs. This is because rings are cast with extra material which allows proper refinement to the final product.

CAD Notes:
- All CAD images will appear a bit bulky compared to your finished ring. This extra material is needed by the jewelers, and it will be either filed down or polished away.
- Some edges may appear very sharp on the CAD images. When the ring is polished, these sharp edges will be softer.
- The bezel that the center stone is set into, will look tall and thick in the CAD images. This will be filed down nd shaped to appear like the bezel in the Ritani ring when the center stone is set in the finished ring."

So I don''t know if I should really be worried or not. The shank tapers from 3mm to 2mm, but I''m a little worried 3mm is too big for a 4.75 size ring, should I go down to 2.8mm? What are your thoughts on the design? Comments? Suggestions? I''m going to attach my inspiration image as well.

 

[MaxPow3r]

Another shot

 

[MaxPow3r]

My inspiration ring:

 

[purrfectpear]

It's true that CAD's always look a little bulky. That said, I think the difference between your inspiration ring and the CAD appears to be the pave part of the shank as it goes up to the halo as a "cathedral" shank. Your inspiration "curves upward". The CAD appears to be missing the curve and juts upward?

Also, and this is strictly my personal taste, I'm not keen on the "square" pave halo. I would keep the inner bezel square to hold the princess, but would consider clipping the corners on the pave halo. The right angles on the halo are a little severe for me.

Also, yes I would go with a thinner shank.

 

[TravelingGal]

Also, WF will not copy exactly. The trouble with having an inspiration ring is that it is just that...an inspiration. But yes, the final ring will appear less bulky than the CADs.

 

[JSM]

If it''s okay to say so, I think the stones on the halo could stand to be a teeny bit smaller - it will make the whole design look a bit more delicate in my opinion.

 

[MaxPow3r]

I received my revised CAD images. I went with smaller diamonds around the halo and changed the widest part of the shank to 2.8mm. I also revised the way the shank meets the halo. I think it looks a lot better, however I''m still having a hard time picturing it rounded. I know CAD''s are bulky, but I''m having a hard time seeing past that. What do you guys think? I''m still kind of tempted to go with the Ritani pictured above.

 

[MaxPow3r]

Another shot.

 

[NeverEndingUpgrade]

Max, just out of curiosity, why did you not go with the Ritani to start with? Sorry if you answered that in other posts, I am just getting in on this.

 

[dockman3]

Date: 8/29/2008 3:44:42 PM
Author: NeverEndingUpgrade
Max, just out of curiosity, why did you not go with the Ritani to start with? Sorry if you answered that in other posts, I am just getting in on this.

I was just thinking the same thing. Unless there was something little you wanted to change from the Ritani, you''ll never create anything as good as what they do. I loved the Soctt Kay that I ended up getting but looked around to see if I could get something close, but nothing was ever quite as good as the true Scott Kay. The same will probably be true for this. If that''s the ring you really want and you are just doing custom to try to get it cheaper, IMO, its better to just bite the bullet and get the real thing rather than a custom job that is going to be close, but not the same.

 

[decodelighted]

Ritani. Do the Ritani. How much $$ is this saving, if any?

 

[MaxPow3r]

I don''t know why I didn''t just stick to my original plan in the beginning and go with the Ritani. I thought maybe I could come up with something more unique for my girlfriend, but the more I look at the Ritani the more I''m stuck on that. I think I''m going to pay the little extra and get what I really like (and know my soon to be fiance likes).

 

[decodelighted]

Date: 8/29/2008 4:09:02 PM
Author: MaxPow3r
I thought maybe I could come up with something more unique for my girlfriend, but the more I look at the Ritani the more I''m stuck on that.

Not sure how Ritani works but I wonder if you could ask them to put a special stone on the *inside* of the ring ... like a tiny diamond or two, or a birthgemstone or something. Inset into the band with an inscription or something -- so hers had the "only one like it in the world" feeling, but all the benefits of the tried & true DESIGN. Just an idea ...

 

[bgray]

an honest opinion if you want it? the ring is stunning but the halo should have clipped corners. they are too sharp -it looks very hard and angular. clipping the corners would soften the halo while retaining the interesting geometry of the design

 

[cara]

I really like the WF versions - both of them. Yes the second looks a little softer and would be a stunning ring. And with the square halo - I also like softened halos but with a princess no problem emphasizing the square part from me.

But the advice is generally to buy the original if you like everything about it, rather than try to get an exact custom replica. So your decision is a good one! Though I am sorry not to get to see pics of the WF version in the flesh later, so to speak!

 

[jstarfireb]

I like the WF version with the thinner band (second version). I love the slightly concave way the shoulders sweep up, as opposed to the convexity of the first one. I think it would be nice if instead of making it an exact replica of the Ritani setting, you changed some little details...for example, the person who suggested clipping the outside corners of the halo had a great idea! Very slightly clipped corners would really soften the look a lot (this may require removing the diamond at each corner or putting a slightly smaller one in). I would also consider narrowing the band even further, with smaller diamonds in the shank. Another touch would be to make the pave 3-sided, so there would be rows of "surprise" diamonds coming up to meet the halo on the profile views.

Sure, you can still go with the Ritani, but I adore custom work and love having a ring that is truly unique!

 

[arjunajane]

I''m 110% in agreement to go with the second WF one, but clip the corners of the halo. That way, you have your inspiration ring but its still an original.
Personally, I would be worried about damaging those square corners in day to day wear..

And this way, you don''t flush the money you''ve spent on the CADS.

 

[MaxPow3r]

What do you guys mean by clipping the corners, do you have any pics? I guess one thing I don''t like is the huge open space under the diamond, any suggestions on what I could do under there?

 

[Ellen]

This is what is meant by clipped corners. Though, with a Princess, I''m not so sure how it would work aesthetically....I''ll try to find such a setting with a Princess.

 

[Ellen]

Here's one, though not a great shot, no head on. I do like this look, it does soften things.

I had another setting bookmarked, but it must not have taken. The corners weren't clipped per se, but ever so slightly rounded, looked sort of clipped but not really. If I ever find it I'll post it.

 

[MaxPow3r]

What about something like this? Does it look odd with rounded corners and a square bezel?

 

[Ellen]

Actually, the setting I had bookmarked and couldn''t find was quite like that. I thought it was pretty.

If you''re not sure, you might take that one, and the smaller one I found and do a poll. Sometimes that''s the best way to get a bunch of opinions.

 

[jstarfireb]

Yes, those rounded corners are really nice! The one Ellen posted with the octagonal halo is also great. I''m not sure what you mean by a huge space under the diamond; there needs to be clearance for the culet so it doesn''t rub against the inner band. You could just ask them to set it as low as possible, or perhaps even to recess the culet into the inner band just a bit (provided that would be safe!).

 

[cara]

That's really nice! I like it. Of course I liked the other versions LOL but this one is softer on the halo. My personal preference would be for a thin thin bezel around the center stone, which you could just ask WF about how they think this bezel will look on the real ring. ie, is this going to be a very subtle bezel that just looks prominent in the CAD, or is this bezel designed to be more substantial, and could be softened by redoing the CAD yet again. If you share my preference for a subtle bezel.

But... One advantage to a more conspicuous bezel is that it emphasizes the princess shape better, if you were concerned about keeping it looking square while softening the shape of the halo. That would argue against asking about bezel thickness.

 

[MaxPow3r]

Here''s the updated CAD''s, what do you think?

 

[MaxPow3r]

... another.

 

[astraea]

I'm jumping in here myself but I just wanted to say I love the revised CAD with the rounded edges. It looks really good. Much more softer and elegant than before. And like others have said, the customization adds a special element.

It looks a lot more "finished".

 

[ImpatientOne]

Date: 9/11/2008 8:45:15 PM
Author: astraea
I''m jumping in here myself but I just wanted to say I love the revised CAD with the rounded edges. It looks really good. Much more softer and elegant than before. And like others have said, the customization adds a special element.

It looks a lot more ''finished''.

I agree! That is MUCH better!

 

[MaxPow3r]

I''m really digging the new CAD''s, but I feel maybe there''s something still not quite right about it. Maybe it''s because I can''t see the completed, rounded, and polished ring, but I''m a little nervous on how it''s going to turn out. It''s MUCH softer than before, but it''s still rather rough which is probably due to the CAD. Any suggestions or am I just insane?

 

[ribbit]

Date: 9/12/2008 9:44:48 AM
Author: MaxPow3r
I''m really digging the new CAD''s, but I feel maybe there''s something still not quite right about it. Maybe it''s because I can''t see the completed, rounded, and polished ring, but I''m a little nervous on how it''s going to turn out. It''s MUCH softer than before, but it''s still rather rough which is probably due to the CAD. Any suggestions or am I just insane?

I''ve never done the custom via CAD thing myself, but I''ve looked at plenty CAD vs final product posts here. The CAD always seems to look clunky/coarse compared to the final product.