Seeking opinions about potential new 5 stone AVR project!

[pancake]

So...I got engaged last Feb, married in May, and that was meant to be "it" for diamonds for a while. I have tided myself over by finding diamonds for my MIL, have lived vicariously by reading everyone's threads on PS and drooling over the pictures...

...but it is not enough! I must find more bling for ME ME ME!!!

I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts about this evil plan I have hatched (well, evil to the husband!):

I think I would like a 5 stone RHR.
I am obsessed with GOG's August Vintage Rounds - I love the AVCs, but the rounds just GRAB me mercilessly.
GOG has evidently started cutting small AVRs, down to about 0.25ct (~4mm diameter).
I could buy a pair now and have them put in temp settings to wear as studs.
I could then gather more over time until I have 5.
I could then send the whole lot to Leon or BGD and have them make me my dream 5 stone ring.

Thoughts? I think I would have to gather the stones over about a year (realistically we can probably afford it now but we are looking at buying a house and I want to approach this in a fairly circumspect/"fiscally responsible" way...and it needs to be acceptable to my husband! Call it amassing diamonds by stealth.).

My questions:

1. In stones this size for a 5 stone ring (and indeed as interim earrings), would the AVR's character look significantly different from RBs, enough to make the price premium worthwhile?

2. My right ringfinger is a size 5; would a 1.25tcw 5-stone ring look gross? My definition of gross is basically bounded by my fear of having a ring where the diamonds go past the edges of my finger and the ring looks significantly wider than my finger from the top view. Do not want the ring to look gratuitous. Not keen on the "how much bling can I squeeze onto this width of finger" look.

Opinions and feedback greatly appreciated!

 

[oranges]

Re: Seeking opinions about potential new 5 stone AVR project

Pancake, an AV Round 5 stone ring sounds absolutely gorgeous! Maybe you should acquire the stones at the same time and have GOG match them for you. I would be scared to buy 5 stones at random times that I haven't seen side by side. So maybe stones now, setting later? As for your questions:
1. I think that the premium would be worth it if you really prefer chunkier flashes--I don't think that the faceting would be super apparent from a distance.
2. I don't think that a 1.25 ctw 5 stone will look gross-- it'll be blissfully blingy.

 

[stone-cold11]

Re: Seeking opinions about potential new 5 stone AVR project

2) Depends. On how high you want to set it and what kind of ring design you are going for as you can change the coverage by changing the origin and radius of curvature of the stones, regardless of the ring size (to a certain extent). Also possible is a graduated stone design.

 

[pancake]

Re: Seeking opinions about potential new 5 stone AVR project

Oranges - I think there is enough similarity between individual AVRs for it not to be a concern if I acquire them at different times, provided the colour is the same. I'm thinking of going G-H colour, VS clarity.

Stonecold - I understand what you are saying re radius of curvature etc. I am assuming that if the stones are set in more of a curve then they are less likely to spread out across the top of my finger? I would be keen to get a low profile setting as well. I am not keen on 5-stone rings where the size is graduated - to me it looks a bit dated and stylised, just my personal preference.

 

[stone-cold11]

Re: Seeking opinions about potential new 5 stone AVR project



For example, this is a rough CAD on a 5 stones, (stones are near tolk, craftedbyinfinity, proportions that I used by my ring design) same curvature as the ring, girdle of the stone is about 10.5mm above the center of the ring, at a 23 degree spacing. The ring size is 5, 16mm diameter, 2mm wide and 1.5mm thick.

 

[yennyfire]

Re: Seeking opinions about potential new 5 stone AVR project

Stone, you're amazing! So much easier to see what something will look like as opposed to trying to see it in your minds eye....

Pancake, looks like it will be a lovely ring to me!

 

[pancake]

Re: Seeking opinions about potential new 5 stone AVR project

Thanks, Stone - what was the diameter of each stone?

 

[stone-cold11]

Re: Seeking opinions about potential new 5 stone AVR project

I set them to 4mm.

 

[rosetta]

Re: Seeking opinions about potential new 5 stone AVR project

Oh great, now you've given me even more ideas pancake!

I think it's a marvellous idea actually, and amassing the stones gradually would be no problem as they are cut to such exacting standards.

 

[blueiris]

Re: Seeking opinions about potential new 5 stone AVR project

I was thinking of doing exactly this for a five-stone ring, and I had the same question about whether it would be worth the extra cost of the AVRs. I'd want to see enough difference between "regular rounds" and the AVRs to make it worth it. My (uneducated) concern is that in this small size the difference wouldn't be significant enough.

I'd also want bigger AVRs than GOG is offering right now. I tried on a five-stone ring with .34 stones and that was a good size for me (6 - 6.25 finger size). It was enough coverage that it looked good but not so much that stones extended past my finger. I'm with you on not caring for that look.

I'm new to the AV world (and the world of "vintage cut" diamonds), so if this is a dumb question, that's why. Are AVRs similar to OECs in cut?

 

[stone-cold11]

Re: Seeking opinions about potential new 5 stone AVR project

Are AVRs similar to OECs in cut?

Not necessary, as OEC has a rather large variation in cut proportions and symmetry.

 

[lknvrb4]

Re: Seeking opinions about potential new 5 stone AVR project

I've been tossing this exact same idea around in my head. I love to AVR and thought a five stone would be cool. For fun this weekend I tried on a 2.75 five stone on my 5.5 finger and it was so big it looked fake.

 

[blueiris]

Re: Seeking opinions about potential new 5 stone AVR project

Are AVRs similar to OECs in cut?

Not necessary, as OEC has a rather large variation in cut proportions and symmetry.

Thanks, Stone. Do you think the differences in cut proportions and symmetry also apply to OECs that are cut today (as opposed to actual vintage OECs), or are newly cut OECs cut more precisely, with less variation, like AVRs? (Sorry if this is a little bit of a threadjack.)

Also, I'm curious if you (or anyone else) have an opinion on whether one could see any/much difference between an AVR and a "regular" round in these smaller sizes (.25 - .35 ct.). Hmmm ... maybe Jon could make a video of two .25 AVRs side by side with two .25 H & A stones.

 

[stone-cold11]

Re: Seeking opinions about potential new 5 stone AVR project

Thanks, Stone. Do you think the differences in cut proportions and symmetry also apply to OECs that are cut today (as opposed to actual vintage OECs), or are newly cut OECs cut more precisely, with less variation, like AVRs? (Sorry if this is a little bit of a threadjack.)

Since there is not cut grading for OEC, I would say variation is much greater if there is a market out there for modern cut OEC.

 

[pancake]

Re: Seeking opinions about potential new 5 stone AVR project

Stonecold - thanks for those basic CADs, that is pretty much the size, proportion and curvature that I'm looking at!

Can anyone link (or does anyone have a bookmark) to previous threads on 5 stone rings? I'm having trouble with this search function and Google only turned up one thread when I searched last night! Just wanting to get an idea for tcw and finger size.

I will definitely ask Jon to make a comparison video when I'm ready - probably looking at purchasing the first pair in the next 6 weeks.

 

[blueiris]

Re: Seeking opinions about potential new 5 stone AVR project

Here's one I bookmarked a few months ago:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-5-stone-ring-thread.134007/

 

[pancake]

Re: Seeking opinions about potential new 5 stone AVR project

Thanks blueiris!

I am making slow progress - today I went around a few B&M jewellers to try on 5-stone rings in order to work out roughly what size stones I wanted. I found that ~1.5tcw was super-blingy and awesome, but definitely overwhelmed the EC solitaire and delicate eternities on my other hand and looked a bit too ostentatious for my lifestyle/where I live and work (think Aussies are generally quite a bit less blingy than ladies Stateside!). Husband and I both really love my wedding set, and I don't want it to be upstaged! So I think ~1.25tcw is going to be about right - 4mm stones gave me good finger coverage without looking too chunky, whilst still being substantial enough to look good alone.

And definitely found the RBs too busy-looking for my liking, looks like the AVRs will be it!

 

[rosetta]

Re: Seeking opinions about potential new 5 stone AVR project

i think small AVRs will be supercool!

i may steal your idea, if you don't mind. I live in the UK, so no crossed paths.

but not any time soon, my new ring is not even made yet (waiting on CADs...)

 

[pancake]

Re: Seeking opinions about potential new 5 stone AVR project

Rosetta - it would be cool to have a trans-continental ring twin! That said, I am some way away from it too...no idea how long it will take me!

 

[swingirl]

Re: Seeking opinions about potential new 5 stone AVR project

I am also planning a 5 stone. I am collecting the stones as they come around and as I can afford them. I check my vendor's website often for the size and specs I am collecting. So far I have 3 and am taking my time to find the last 2. It is so much easier to spread out the cost that way. For now I don't need to have them set. I am content to keep them sitting in their little envelopes waiting for their last siblings to arrive. Mine are just plain rounds but GOG's AVRs would be beautiful!! I wonder if Jon has a video that compares the AVRs to RBs so you could see the difference at that size.