Setting Designer Opinions - Ricardo Basta and others

[Brentski]

This is the guy posting. I know nothing about e-rings and wedding bands other than the obsessive googling and reading of posts here. We are going through the Catholic annulment process before marrying, so I have lots of time to get this right. LOL Here's what I have so far:

1. Really like Brian Gavin diamonds and will probably get diamonds from him. It's all about the sparkle and bling baby!!! However, I find his settings kinda clunky and not terribly exciting.

So I have these questions:

I'm showing pics to the special lady to get her ideas as she really wants something I select (oh great!!) and I'm torn between the simple and classy round cut with pave setting. In that case I would go with someone like Victor Canera or Leon or Maytal Hannah as they all have beautiful work and settings. However, I really want something that is unique and really says this is my love and what she means to me. Consequently I've been looking at some other designers but can't find much more than a few posts on PS. I really like the originality and craftsmanship of Ricardo Basta in LA. This ring looks like something I could start with that would allow a round diamond, pave diamonds set in unique ways and maybe even some colored diamonds.

http://www.ricardobasta.com/engagement/milenaring

So questions:

1. Any real experience with Ricardo Basta, particularly where he designs or enhances a current design?
2. What in the world is everyone doing for bands? I don't like the bands that completely match but feel this ring would be hard to have something with?
3. I also like Taffin's work and really like this band that looks like man's band.

http://www.taffin.com/#!gallery/c199t

Could I get away with a Basta platinum ring with clear diamonds and maybe a small pink thrown in next to thin band that had darkened gold with sets of three white diamonds? Kinda a statement of out of the dark comes light? Anyway here's how I describe my gf:

Words to describe:

Elegant/Classy/a Mom
Artful
Spiritual
Likes things in 3
Unique
Loving

Design Quality

Not Clunky
More flowing….doesn’t have to be perfectly symmetrical.
Want the center diamond noticeable and not hidden/want to see the sparkle.
Not modern art or futuristic but not totally antique vintage either.
Something that looks like it is part of her soul.

I love the quote by Ricardo Basta ring:

"I don't want lukewarm love. I want it to burn my lips and engulf my soul."

Sorry for long post, any comments appreciated!!! : )

Brentski

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I gotta tell you, I appreciate your wanting something special for her, but your ideas are kind of coming from male taste and I don't really like the rings you linked at all, to be honest. However, your idea of getting a ring from someone like Victor or Maytal is excellent! Please let it be simple and elegant like her rather than something that is so stylized that it will be out of style maybe from the start???

Elegant and classy suggestions:

https://www.victorcanera.com/rings/engagement/the-trueste-with-pave

https://www.victorcanera.com/rings/engagement/emerald-and-tapered-baguette-trilogy

https://www.victorcanera.com/rings/engagement/the-collette-with-open-profile

https://www.victorcanera.com/rings/engagement/the-sophia-solitaire-with-canera-eruopean-round

https://www.victorcanera.com/rings/engagement/the-azi-round-trilogy-with-tapered-baguettes

Matal's site is slow loading so I am not going to add links. But most everything Victor and Maytal do is elegant and classy AND timeless. Please stick with that idea because almost any woman would be more than thrilled to have a ring from either of them!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

One more suggestion for classy, elegant, and with artistic qualities...CVB Inspired Design in CA.

https://www.facebook.com/cvbinspired

 

[Zizzy]

Great advice from Diamondseeker2006. A lot of men, very sweetly, overthink the desgn and personalisation. I don't mean you shouldn't give it a lot of thought, but unless you are professional jewellery designer, you are unlikely to do a better job of creating a beautiful ring that will delight her for the rest of her life than one of the designers recommended here.
I don't know what floats your boat, but my fiancé likes sports cars and fancies a Porsche 911. Now if I was going to buy him one, I'd surreptitiously find out his preferences as to interior trim and paint and wheel options and get as close as I could. I wouldnt think "He's a lifelong Rovers fan so I'll get a spray shop to paint it red and white with the club crest on the doors and I'll replace the knob on the gear stick with a chrome rugby ball. I'll get the seats monogrammed with our initials and the date of our wedding day etc. It may sound like a ridiculous comparison but honestly both on the Internet and in real life, I've seen some rings that have had thought and money lavished on them but are not a success from a design point of view. Your girlfriend, like a good friend of mine, might make sure her fiance never knows the ring isn't what she would have chosen, but I'm sure you want her to have something that really makes he heart sing, and not just because of the thought behind it.
Classic is almost always a better choice than unique, because if you think of the most unique styles from the 1970s or 80's, they haven't stood the test of time and most people today would think they are hideous. She will be hopefully be wearing your ring in 2050 and beyond.
Nobody wants to piss on your bonfire (as we say in Britain) but focussing your energy on detective work to find out your gfs preferences and matching them to an existing ring, is a safer bet than giving free reign to your creative impulses.

 

[CorazonOro]

Have you seen Mark Morrell's work? It's beautiful and it sounds like it could fit the bill based on the description of your lovely lady. Other PSers have used him and were happy with his work.

http://markmorrell.weebly.com/mwm-custom-projects.html

 

[Brentski]

Very good advice!!! In fact, I noticed my gf not too excited about my unique choices!! LOL Here's the deal.....her ex was so cheap, she had to buy her own wedding ring over 20 years ago and could not afford a ring with a diamond. Now a more mature woman, she wants a rock!!! Not a huge rock but a diamond and something that looks like a diamond ring. And I love her very much and want a beautiful diamond ring for her. SO here are some new questions.

What is the difference between Victor and Leon. I really like Leon pave work but read on here he can be difficult. I have no problem with difficult if that is the only hangup some have. Victor's quality looks exceptional!! Others on my short list from looking at web sites and reading posts here are:

Victor C
Leon M
Scott Kay
Mark Morrell
Maytal Hannah
Riccardo Basta

She definitely wants a round diamond (BG signature diamond) and no halo but something with diamonds on pave and on band. Maybe that's it, just lots of great diamonds on classy rings?

 

[canuk-gal]

Very good advice!!! In fact, I noticed my gf not too excited about my unique choices!! LOL Here's the deal.....her ex was so cheap, she had to buy her own wedding ring over 20 years ago and could not afford a ring with a diamond. Now a more mature woman, she wants a rock!!! Not a huge rock but a diamond and something that looks like a diamond ring. And I love her very much and want a beautiful diamond ring for her. SO here are some new questions.

What is the difference between Victor and Leon. I really like Leon pave work but read on here he can be difficult. I have no problem with difficult if that is the only hangup some have. Victor's quality looks exceptional!! Others on my short list from looking at web sites and reading posts here are:

Victor C
Leon M
Scott Kay
Mark Morrell
Maytal Hannah
Riccardo Basta

She definitely wants a round diamond (BG signature diamond) and no halo but something with diamonds on pave and on band. Maybe that's it, just lots of great diamonds on classy rings?

This is a long (short) list! Each of these designers have many options for inspiration--hence, perhaps you need to shorten the list a little more. You can do that by asking your intended to send you links to rings she likes.

Also has she tried on many rings, IRL? I ask this (always) because what looks good online might not work on her hand. Even metal color is deceiving.

cheers--Sharon

 

[Mayk]

I enjoyed working with Victor. First class all the way, timely helpful! My ring was complete a week earlier than promised. I purchased the Evelyn Solitaire.

If you do a search you will find numerous examples from Victor and the other names on your list like Leon, Maytal and Mark M.

Here's one of the VC threads.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/post-your-victor-canera-beauties-here.175281/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/post-your-victor-canera-beauties-here.175281/[/URL]

 

[Zizzy]

I love the Victor Canera work I've seen on here. Leon also does exquisite work but sounds a little scarier than Victor. If I was going for pave, then my dream ring would the Victor Canera Evelyn with flush stems and a 3 carat AGS ideal cut beauty at the centre. But I digress...

 

[lioness]

Speaking as a woman in her 40's who's about to get married for the second time, if she is a mature woman who was not happy with her first wedding ring, I'm sure that she has very definite ideas about what she wants this time around. I suggest going shopping together. Pour through the websites together. Spend a weekend trying on rings at jewelry stores. Where do you live? Is there a Diamond District there?

I can't agree enough with Zizzy and Diamondseeker. You're overthinking it, and overdesigning it. The Ricardo Basta is not attractive. Just let her decide, and order from VC. However, you're getting the ring from BGD. Did she like any of their settings?

 

[Travelgal]

When you said she likes things in 3's, I immediately thought of a 3 row pave or a simple solitaire with a cartier trinity ring as the wedding band. You can also buy the center diamond, put it in a reasonably priced solitaire setting and pick out the setting together.

https://leonmege.com/index.php/portfolio/engagement/413-moissanite-engagement-ring-detail

http://www.cartier.us/collections/jewelry/collections/trinity-de-cartier/b4052700-trinity-de-cartier-ring

You can also go with a three stone ring. They are timeless and classy.

 

[arkieb1]

If you go with a setting from Victor price his diamonds as well they are going to be virtually the same as Brian Gavin (same outstanding cut) and if you buy both he gives a bit of a discount.

I think what you are looking for maybe is a double halo with either yellow pave or pink pave in one halo and white diamond pave in the other halo.

Otherwise go for a single pave halo and go for something elegant and classically beautiful that you know she will love and be happy to wear rather than what is your taste. While you have picked out rings about that are unique & appeal to you, they probably are not to most women's tastes..

 

[Brentski]

Ok, I get it.....Men are from Mars? LOL Thanks.......it is very good advice!!!

I'm going to start anew as I'm guessing gf uncomfortable telling me my choices not that great. Her eyes lit up when I said the ladies on PS said it's all about classy, timeless and the rock!!

We live in Seattle area so going to look and try on rings for taste. I do like idea of pave and maybe the 3 row pave from any one of LM, VC or MH. One question...this may be a stupid question but the wedding band thing is bugging me. If you get pave band and pave e-ring do they rub and damage one another or does designer account for that? Also does everyone wear e-ring and band together? Keep in mind I'm been a bachelor boy for many many years and wear no jewelry myself.

 

[Mayk]

My VC Evelyn with my spacer.

I ordered on Etsy but you can have made at the same time if you would like.

My wedding band was not by VC . My VC was a reset for me.

 

[lioness]

You're in Seattle? Stop by Sholdt! http://sholdtdesign.com/

 

[Mrs2Ouch]

I just want to say that I got a Brian Gavin ring and diamond a month ago. The setting was so much prettier and more detailed in life than I thought. I was going to go with this one http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/lace-18k-rose-gold-5934r18-1 , but since I dress in jeans, saddles and tank tops nearly all year long I thought it was too fancy for me. I went with the fishtail pave thinking it would be nice and simple for a pave but it is so nice and detailed. BGDs picture do no justice for his rings. I am very happy with my choice, it matches me with just a little more "oomph" for nights out.
good luck with your search!

 

[Mrs2Ouch]

About your question regarding the wedding band and engagement rings together. She doesn't have to wear them together. I have heard of ladies not doing that and I felt relieved because my plan was not to since I am so darn thin I think it would look bulky.

 

[Zizzy]

Wedding band: Many of Victor's designs can be ordered with flush stems, which enables the wedding band to fit flush with the engagement ring. There will be some contact and rubbing over time, but it's not irremediable. Some women solder them together to avoid this altogether. I won't be doing that myself as I want to retain the option of wearing the wedding band alone but that's me, your gf might prefer it.

I'm sure other designers can offer wedding band solutions too.

 

[heididdl]

I gotta tell you, I appreciate your wanting something special for her, but your ideas are kind of coming from male taste and I don't really like the rings you linked at all, to be honest. However, your idea of getting a ring from someone like Victor or Maytal is excellent! Please let it be simple and elegant like her rather than something that is so stylized that it will be out of style maybe from the start???

Elegant and classy suggestions:

https://www.victorcanera.com/rings/engagement/the-trueste-with-pave

https://www.victorcanera.com/rings/engagement/emerald-and-tapered-baguette-trilogy

https://www.victorcanera.com/rings/engagement/the-collette-with-open-profile

https://www.victorcanera.com/rings/engagement/the-sophia-solitaire-with-canera-eruopean-round

https://www.victorcanera.com/rings/engagement/the-azi-round-trilogy-with-tapered-baguettes

Matal's site is slow loading so I am not going to add links. But most everything Victor and Maytal do is elegant and classy AND timeless. Please stick with that idea because almost any woman would be more than thrilled to have a ring from either of them!

DITTO my thoughts exactly.

 

[Chihuahua6]

Speaking as a woman in her 40's who's about to get married for the second time, if she is a mature woman who was not happy with her first wedding ring, I'm sure that she has very definite ideas about what she wants this time around. I suggest going shopping together. Pour through the websites together. Spend a weekend trying on rings at jewelry stores. Where do you live? Is there a Diamond District there?

I can't agree enough with Zizzy and Diamondseeker. You're overthinking it, and overdesigning it. The Ricardo Basta is not attractive. Just let her decide, and order from VC. However, you're getting the ring from BGD. Did she like any of their settings?

YES! As another woman going on second marriage I can not agree more with Lioness!

I decided to custom design my own ring by combining features of different rings that I liked. For instance, I liked the head of one ring but wanted the shank to be made wider. I also added surprise diamonds to it. I designed the whole thing but left the placement of surprise diamonds for my bf to decide to add an element of surprise when he presents the ring. The idea that he chose something makes it more sentimental to me. Brian Gavin will be making this ring. I heard his rings are top notch quality and the customer service is the best. I can't wait! The price is the same or less than most designer rings out there and it is completely custom made just for me. What could be better?