Second round of CADs - Thoughts?

[trljjl03]

I just got my second set of CADs from BGD today and now I'm really excited/relieved. I think they look much better than the previous ones and I'm happy to see this rings start to come together. I sent some suggestions to Denise and included a scan of one of the original CADs that I printed off and drew on to try and show them what I was picturing. I added a second vine to make the curves on the edge more consistent/symmetrical. This was mostly incorporated in the new design as the thinner vine. I also tilted the leaves in so they won't catch on things. Overall, I think it looks pretty good but I think it could be made a little softer - more shape to the leaves and a more gradual transition from the stem to the leaves. I also asked for 4 prongs and that wasn't included, but I'll call them to make sure that gets added. I don't the diamond to get lost .

I should also add that, in the last thread, I mentioned that I was looking for a ring like the Flor Vida rings from Blue Nile but I forgot to specify that I didn't want the custom ring to be as fancy. My girlfriend thought it was a little to flashy (though that could really be because of the small pave diamonds). However, she did like the vine winding on top of a base ring (think of a vine raised out from a wall). Anyway, sorry for the confusion.

I would really appreciate your opinions on the following questions -

Do you think the diamond is set too high or does it just look that way because it's a large picture?

Do you see any other structural issues?

Do you think the smaller vine (the one the leaves grow off of) should have some detail or should it remain plain so the design isn't 'crowded'?

That's all I can think of for now. I'll post again if I think of anything else. Thanks in advance!

 

[Lovingwarmdiamonds]

I think it is a very creative design and a cool idea but to be totally honest - I think it is just really busy and kind of odd looking as it is now. I'm sorry and I really don't mean to burst your bubble! I DO love the idea of the leaf motif and many designers make beautiful rings w/ that concept incorporated. Would you be open to considering another designer?

James Meyer makes a beautiful leaf and vine style ring for example:

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-james-meyer-leaf-vine-for-valentines-day.107540/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-james-meyer-leaf-vine-for-valentines-day.107540/[/URL]

 

[AprilBaby]

Much prettier than the first cad. Very interesting design and certainly one of a kind!

 

[Niel]

In regards to how high the diamond sits I think It could sit lower. I like tones that sit lower though, so that might just be personal preference.

As for the safety of that stone in a 3 prong, I think Id like it better if you had 4 prongs, that top view shows a lot of metal sticking out on the side with 1 prong, where it doesnt seem like that much metal is showing on the 2 prong side.

 

[trljjl03]

I think part of it is that the leaves are turned too far in. I wanted them to overlap the vine a bit so that the points didn't get caught on everything but I think they went too far. I think it would look better if the were turned out again so that the tip of the leaf was at the edge of the vine. I also want to talk to Brian about the shape of the leaves. They look very symmetrical right now but I think a more natural shape would look better (maybe like the attached picture). Anyway, for now, I'd like to stick with this company since I already payed. I'm not against switching or anything but I thin things are headed in the right direction. Thanks for the link though!

I'll have to talk to Brian about the height of the diamond too. It looks like it might just be the picture but i definitely want to make sure. I agree about the prongs too. The singe prong on the bottom side makes it look bulkier and less stable. It would be better if it was the same as the other side.

 

[JulieN]

I like the leaves from the first round better. This one reminds me of Van Craeynest.

 

[tyty333]

I would leave the plain band plain to show contrast between the two bands and to keep it from getting too busy.
I'm not loving the top down view of the prongs because one of the leaves (prongs) appears to show from the top view while the
other two do not but I know that has to change anyway due to going to 4 prongs. It does seem like it could be more refined
overall.

Edit - I forgot to mention that the stone does look like its set to high for my taste.

 

[chrono]

The ring doesn't look as clunky as before but it still bugs me.
1. The diamond looks as though it is set at twice it's depth. It should be lower or it's going to get caught on everything and get banged around. The singular prong on the bottom should be shaped better. It looks fat and odd from the top view.
2. The leaves look...flat. Perhaps I'm asking too much but they don't look like leaves to me. The profile view, especially, looks knobby and very un-leaf like.
3. Are you all right if the wedding band cannot sit flush with this band?

 

[Niel]

My concern is that this type of setting creation doesnt lend itself to the soft and organic nature of your design.

Also, those leaves in the prong just seem so heavy for the delicate diamond. I am not going to go so far as to say you should change designers like some of the PP, but I think you may have to tweak your design to fit within the constraints of CAD designing method

One thing maybe I would suggest is making the leaves MORE prominent, but leaving them off the prong, similar to neatfreaks beautiful oval ring, as you can see it still obviously give off a floral vibe, but with larger more distinct design elements.

 

[yssie]

I'm having trouble understand what sort of aesthetic you're going for trljjj, based on the inspiration and two rounds of CADs and some of the changes you're talking about - they seem to conflict a bit?

As it is the design looks very modern and "stylized" to me - the bold chunkiness is part of the appeal. I *like* it, *if* that's the look you're going for. If that's the case I'd probably request that they thin out the whole thing a bit - thinner leaves (not less wide, but thinner/flatter), slightly less wide shank "vine base" - it's more than wide enough when you also consider the leaves. What I wouldn't do, though, is try to make the leaves/vines more realistic, or add more vines/leafstems or anything like that - the minimalist stylized look works best for this sort of design, I think.

I also wouldn't ask them to lower the centerstone too much - I would be concerned that without highlighting the centerstone it may look more like a band with a stone than a clear centerstone + setting, since the setting will stand out.


If you're looking for something dainty, delicate, or more "realistically organic" I agree with Chrono and nielseel - I think it's time to re-group, as these CADs are moving in a very different direction.

 

[Enerchi]

That is a very interesting ring! I like the 3 prongs to hold the diamond - cool! - and I like the vine/leaves on the band... but I'm kind of torn on the setting as a whole. It seems like it's getting lost in translation or veering off the path. Or - and this is what happened when I had my version 1.0 of my current 3 stone - I had way too much stuff going on in that previous setting!

Would you consider breaking this into 2 ideas - maybe set the diamond in the 3 prong (or whatever appeals to you) with some delicate floral draping, like the oval sides on neatfreaks ring above, and then have the wedding band as the leaves only portion? KWIM - take the 2 features and let each shine in their own way... does that make sense? I am just worried you might regret too much on one setting - I know I ended up not being happy with my ring (but it also took on an evil life of its own with a series of bad complications... )

 

[yssie]

That is a very interesting ring! I like the 3 prongs to hold the diamond - cool! - and I like the vine/leaves on the band... but I'm kind of torn on the setting as a whole. It seems like it's getting lost in translation or veering off the path. Or - and this is what happened when I had my version 1.0 of my current 3 stone - I had way too much stuff going on in that previous setting!

Would you consider breaking this into 2 ideas - maybe set the diamond in the 3 prong (or whatever appeals to you) with some delicate floral draping, like the oval sides on neatfreaks ring above, and then have the wedding band as the leaves only portion? KWIM - take the 2 features and let each shine in their own way... does that make sense? I am just worried you might regret too much on one setting - I know I ended up not being happy with my ring (but it also took on an evil life of its own with a series of bad complications... )

Like.

I'll take it one step further - perfectly plain, basic Ering (love the three prongs) with just a pair of leaf wraps if you must have something, and leaf band..

 

[Niel]

I second the idea of splitting the idea into two pieces; band and ering.

Personally I love the neatfreak's, very timeless but still very unique and floral. Also, splitting them up would let BGD create a ring that really emphasizes their talents, which I think the current design is not doing.

Then the band you can be hand made as a simple vine design. Then you have the best of both worlds

 

[Niel]

Im sure you had seen this seeing as you've been been looking though Blue Nile but I feel like this ring works in the leaf motif well, as they kind of bring your eyes to the stone so its the focal point of the piece

http://www.bluenile.com/levalia-pave-diamond-14k-white-gold-engagement-ring_25653

 

[04diamond<3]

That is a very interesting ring! I like the 3 prongs to hold the diamond - cool! - and I like the vine/leaves on the band... but I'm kind of torn on the setting as a whole. It seems like it's getting lost in translation or veering off the path. Or - and this is what happened when I had my version 1.0 of my current 3 stone - I had way too much stuff going on in that previous setting!

Would you consider breaking this into 2 ideas - maybe set the diamond in the 3 prong (or whatever appeals to you) with some delicate floral draping, like the oval sides on neatfreaks ring above, and then have the wedding band as the leaves only portion? KWIM - take the 2 features and let each shine in their own way... does that make sense? I am just worried you might regret too much on one setting - I know I ended up not being happy with my ring (but it also took on an evil life of its own with a series of bad complications... )

Like.

I'll take it one step further - perfectly plain, basic Ering (love the three prongs) with just a pair of leaf wraps if you must have something, and leaf band..

This is exactly what I thought when I first saw it. I'm also wondering if those leave don't stick out too much on the sides and will they rub your fingers wrong? If you're going for the delicate look, this definitely looks a bit too heavy/chunky. I hope they can make this everything you want! Good luck!

 

[rainydaze]

+3 (or 4?). The band part doesn't flow with the gallery prongs, and I'm finding it distracting. I feel like there should be some way to work it that so that the prongs seem to flow from the shank/vines... but I keep thinking that this would work really well as a band, letting the ering be more simplistic. I feel like that would allow the diamond to have some weight, and the band to have some weight, in a complimentary way (instead of competing for attention as I feel they do now, and throwing each other off).

If you are married to this idea, what about using a bezel or half-bezel instead of prongs? I feel like that would integrate better with the vine motif.

ETA: You could make the leaf that you see in the profile view come up to form half of a bezel, then do the same on the reverse side to for the other half of a half bezel!

 

[trljjl03]

I was gone all day yestereday so I didn't get a chance to respond. There are a lot of replies so I'll do my best to try to address everything.

Prongs - I'm not really worried about the look of the leaf on the side with 1 prong because I want 4 prongs to make sure the diamond is secure. Once the second prong is added on that side, it should look like the top side. Also, bezels are completely out. I really, really, don't like them - sorry.

Plain ERing + leaf wedding band idea - I had thought of this earlier but I don't think it's a great idea for my situation. I think my girlfriend would be pretty disappointed with a plain ring. The reason I eventually decided to go the custom route was because she likes unique and intricate rings and I couldn't find anything that was pre-made. Honestly, she probably would first notice the band and then the diamond.

Overall design - Like someone mentioned, I feel like my idea is getting lost at BGD (and here too but I haven't explained it as well here so that's 100% understandable). I described the overall feel of the ring I am looking for in my first emails with BGD but I feel like these may not have been shared with the designers. I am definitely looking for something delicate and natural looking. Modern is alright as long is it has character or details that set it apart from other standard rings. In fact, I'd like it to be somewhat modern so that it looks like it's a new ring and not something that was made for someone else 50 years ago. I understand the people who are saying that there may be too many ideas in one ring but if somehting is taken out, then it's not really a vine or 'nature-y' anymore.

I have a couple ideas to help move this back toward the original idea. First, the prongs really need to be fixed. I asked for 4 prongs before and after the first CADs and they are still only 3. Next, the leaves on the band really need to be thinned and reshaped to look more like real leaves. I sent them some pictures of leaves with better shape but, as far I can tell, nothing changed between the two sets of CADs. The leaves also need to be turned back out a bit. I think they got turned to far in after the first round of CADs. It should look better if the tip of the leaf was just at the edge of the vine. The lines in the vine are nice but I think they're a too deep. Same goes for the ones in the leaves. The connections between the leaves and the vines really need to be softened up too. Finally, unless the diamond they use in the CADs is very short, I think the diamond needs to come down a little bit. It looks alright in the last picture, but from the side, it looks way too high.

Other things - I do kind of like neatfreak's ring. That would probably be about as simple as I would go though and I would likely leave out the diamonds in the leaves. I'll keep that one in mind though.

My girlfriend and I have seen that one from Blue Nile. She liked it a little because of the leaf design but it wasn't her favorite. I don't remember exactly why, but I'd guess it was because the bottom half was very plain or because she thought the side diamonds made it too flashy.

Sorry for the long reply. I hope I'm not coming off as dismissive of other people's ideas. I really do appreciate your input. I just felt that I needed to re-explain my idea to get everyone on the same page. Thanks!

 

[Niel]

Im not sure you would have to go plain on the e-ring, and I know it sure sounds like your GF wouldnt want that. I guess more so would be the suggestion not to make the e-ring plain, but to make the Ering a leaf motif and the band a vine motif. Not to make the Ering plain. Sounds like she wants something unique and i appreciate that in a lady

But why I suggested neatfreaks was because the diamond is set low and the leaves bring your eye to the stone. You said you think her eye would go to the band first then the stone. Is that really what you want? I mean that makes sense in a wedding band because it IS a band, but you spent money on that nice center stone for a reason, you know?
I think the current design would have to have the stone set high to for it to show; and not compete with the setting.

And I agree with one of the PP that said the leave all the way around the band might be uncomfortable between her finger.

So she is really against the diamonds in the leaves? because i feel like the only way to have a realistic leaf is to go hand made, which is why I say diamonds and milgrain in the leaves. But I am just saying in terms of which design would lend itself best for CAD/cast, not whats best in terms of her exact style. Only you would know that.



Also i think you have to find pictures that show exactly what you want, or similar and add graphics (like arrows and text boxes) to them to show what you would change. I know you said you told them the general feeling you wanted, but seems like they arent seeing the same vision you are.


Youre a very sweet SO to be so dedicated to getting exactly what she wants


ETA: Also you have to remember she'll be wearing a wedding band with it too. you have to think what she would wear with it if you have everything in the Ering, sense she sounds like she wouldnt want a plain or pave band.

 

[pinkjewel]

Let me first say- I think it's wonderful that you are trying to do something so unique for your girlfriend. I really love delicate, organic rings,too. Recently I was talking with a jeweler about doing an organic design. She explained that it needed a different type of cad/cast system to do it properly. It is a much more expensive system as it needs higher heat,etc. She went into quite a bit of detail which I'm sorry I don't remember. I do remember that she said the special system cost several hundred thousand dollars!! They could design the piece as the did have the more complicated cad system, but it would need to be sent out to be cast as they didn't do enough organic type designs to justify the cost of the casting equipment needed for this type of design.

What I am wondering if BGD has the right type of cad/cast equipment that will get you what you want? Have they made ANYTHING like what you're looking for? If you wanted a beautiful watercolor landscape painting, would you go to a painter that specialized in doing portraits in oil?

There are benches that specialize in different things and I think you would get better results from someone that is used to making beautiful organic designs. Sorry- but, I just don't like the CADs you've gotten at all. I don't think any amount of tweaking of them is going to get the look you are wanting- IMHO.

 

[chrono]

There are benches that specialize in different things and I think you would get better results from someone that is used to making beautiful organic designs. Sorry- but, I just don't like the CADs you've gotten at all. I don't think any amount of tweaking of them is going to get the look you are wanting- IMHO.

Ditto to Pink Jewel's post. BGD does not specialize in a soft and flowing organic style settings and I'm concerned no matter how hard they try, they will be unable to achieve that softness you are looking for.

 

[audball]

I have to agree. I'm not sure BGD can deliver on your vision just because it's not their style.

This sounds like a job for Green Lake Jewelry. They have lots of organic designs and have completed many projects I've seen here on PS. They do custom as well, but here is a link to their organic style rings that may be of inspiration:
http://greenlakejewelry.com/gallery/gallery.aspx?

ETA: I wanted to add that I think it's wonderful that you are working so hard to create something unique for her! I hope you're able to see your vision come to fruition.

I'm most definitely NOT trying to play down BGD abilities. I adore their work and they even did the recut on my stone. They're great to work with. But I think what others have pointed out may be true -- this kind of design isn't their forte so it may just continue to be a headache. I'm not sure that CAD/cast can achieve the fluidity and daintiness of this design either. James Meyer was mentioned in style, but only does bezels and does not accept outside stones so he's not going to work for you more than for inspiration on shank design for the actual leaves. I really feel that Green Lake Jewelry can design what you're envisioning. This type of style is VERY much up their alley. Hope this helps!