Setting ideas for a Mahenge

[Jereni]

I scooped this up on an Intergem visit (Prima Gems again) and never posted it because I took it immediately to Quest to be set. 6 months later it is not set, but I'll get back to that after the pics.

It is a sleepy, at least 3ct stone but I have no idea where the receipt is to give exact weight and dimensions. Radiant-ish cut, almost square but not quite. I got it for a steal because it has inclusions but the stone has so much personality I don't even mind them

On the hand...


In the shade...


Closer up...

 

[Jereni]

More...because I was having fun.

Next to my wedding band & stacker


More in the sun. I'm somewhat impressed by how this stone stands up to bright sunlight.

 

[Jereni]

Finally, a few in the box.

In this pic, the lid is on over it... it looks more salmon-y than it does in real life.


This pic is blurry, but it's almost an EXACT match to the real color of the stone (when its in the shade)

 

[Jereni]

And now for the background... my first thought with setting this was to do a trapezoid on either side, possibly brilliant-cut traps. Being a PS-er of course, proportions are very important to me, and I stressed that to Quest. Well, that was back in like April, and when I went in the other day to ask them about my tourmaline project, I asked for this stone back...since they had not contacted me in months about how the search was going.

Basically they said they looked for 3 months and just couldn't find any traps that were the right size...everything was either too short or too long. I was dubious, but at any rate I took the stone back because clearly they are not finding a way to get this done.

Since I have it back though, I wanted to get you CS-ers' thoughts because maybe I was going the wrong direction to begin with. Would you do side traps with this stone? What other kinds of settings might be a good idea? I'm thinking it's too big to halo...

Thanks for any feedback.


Edited for spelling

 

[distracts]

Gosh, that's impressive!!

Would it hold up alright to bezeling (both lightwise and integrity-wise)? Because I think a sleek bezel solitaire would really make it pop. With a stone that color I'm inclined to keep the setting simple... and it's big enough so it'll really stand out. Traps were my other thought, but with the sleepiness and whatever other inclusions, I'm not sure setting it next to super-clear step cuts is really the way to go.

If doing a pendant I think you could jazz it up a little more. My first thought was a halo, but my second thought was a diamond with a kind of swirled metal suspension of the spinel hanging from it. That's not a good description, really.

 

[VapidLapid]

three slender baguettes of diminishing size on each size

 

[NKOTB]

LOVE the stone!!! (not to be tacky, I say this mostly as a PS, you'd probably-never-part-with-that-stone-kinda-way, but DIBS if you ever do change your mind on it! LOL)

I think a halo would look great, but if you're not into it, then traps would also look nice. What size were you thinking? What size is your finger? The funny things is, that traps could spread further than a halo? But I think if you're mind is set on traps, then just because they couldn't find some, doesn't mean they're not out there, and you should keep looking.

 

[minousbijoux]

I'm 100% with you on the traps. There is something about the stone that says simple modern elegance to me. So I say traps over a halo (sorry NKOTB).

 

[FrekeChild]

That is GORGEOUS. What about the baguette idea? What's your budget?

 

[JewelFreak]

Gorgeous color! Easy to see why you couldn't resist it. Baguettes were my first thought too. It's big enough that traps the right size could cover too much area. Bezeling it is another choice, but if it were mine, I'd hesitate to cut out light to that beauty. Agree with you that a halo isn't what this one wants -- but something more minimal that lets it take the spotlight.

--- Laurie

 

[chrono]

One baguette on each side set NS because you don't have much room (the spinel is already fairly large) and the step cut will not out-sparkle the spinel. You can also do trilliants but this shape doesn't seem to appeal to many people.

 

[Jereni]

Thanks so much for the feedback so far! I have to head into back-to-back meetings today but will respond in more detail in a few hours.

 

[dk168]

I would have opted for a halo myself, or a 3-stone with two square step cuts, or a 5-stone with rectangular baguettes set North-South, with the outer stones being the shortest.

However, I have a weakness for old-fashion diamond ballerina settings with squareish emerald cut coloured stones, especially for emeralds.

DK

 

[OTL]

I've noticed that an awful lot of times, only the blurry photos can show the true color of a stone. it's very interesting
That's a beautiful silky Mahenge spinel, well done Jereni!

 

[FrekeChild]

Or maybe smaller emerald sides?

 

[Jereni]

Ok, back from work.

distracts, that's a good idea about a straight bezel - that had not even occurred to me. I went and searched for radiant stones bezel set...mostly found them on DBL...and for some reason, I'm not sure why, but I'm not the biggest fan of the look. Thanks so much for the suggestion, though!

Vapid, I also had not thought of baguettes, thank you! Based on some of the responses, I am now wondering if there would be enough space for three.

NKOTB, ha! Well I will definitely let you know if I ever sell it, but I doubt it... It's kinda my favorite stone. Yeah, you raise a good point about the traps going out wider than a halo. But I think I kinda want to stay away for a legacy look with this stone and go more modern.

 

[Jereni]

minous, thanks, yeah I was originally dreaming of a ring like this. It's a PS-ers:



But given everyone's comments, I am wondering if it's unlikely that I'd find traps that were skinny enough.

 

[Jereni]

Freke, JF, and Chrono, thanks for your thoughts - I am more and more starting to like the baguette idea!

Chrono, were you thinking of something like this? Although not multiple on each side?

 

[wordie89]

It's such a pretty color and kind of slept. Nice size. Look forward to seeing final result; lord of good suggestions. Would you consider affiliate seeing with a little nice metal work? Color is just so nice.

 

[chrono]

I think you should be able to imagine the correct colours quite easily since your spinel is also a square step cut. The proportions look great in the ring below and I thought of it as soon as I saw your spinel pictures.

 

[pregcurious]

Man, Leon Mege makes such beautiful things.

 

[T L]

If you want something besides diamonds, I like the pink and green Leon ring, and Jaimeen might have tsavorite pairs the correct dimension for that stone in perhaps trillions, or rectangular cuts. Diamonds would be easier to find though.

 

[Jereni]

The proportions look great in the ring below and I thought of it as soon as I saw your spinel pictures.

Aieeee, that's PERFECT!!! I love it!

So this raises another good question which I've been meaning to ask for awhile. Let's say you wanted a setting vendor with really, really good and delicate prong work (claw prongs), who's also really good at picking side stones with good proportions, and has access to a good inventory of them. And is not Leon Mege.

Which vendor would you recommend? Victor Camera? DBL? BGD?

 

[FrekeChild]

What is the budget?

 

[Jereni]

I was thinking I could get it done for 2k, but I have no idea what baguettes cost. So I could save a little longer if that's not realistic.

 

[pregcurious]

I think baguettes would look good because they're more subdued than brilliant cuts.

 

[minousbijoux]

minous, thanks, yeah I was originally dreaming of a ring like this. It's a PS-ers:



But given everyone's comments, I am wondering if it's unlikely that I'd find traps that were skinny enough.

Love!!

 

[chrono]

Hand forged or cast/CAD? I'm not sure $2K is enough for something handforged (and includes the price of the baguettes).

 

[Jereni]

Hand forged or cast/CAD? I'm not sure $2K is enough for something handforged (and includes the price of the baguettes).

I'm fine with CAD as long as the setting is well made and has delicate prongs. How much would you estimate for hand forged?

 

[chrono]

Probably $2K just for the platinum setting alone (no diamonds) if handforged. I was quoted $2K for a cast platinum setting with side baguettes by Whiteflash (when they used to accept outside stones) prior to the metal price hike.

DBL - it seems to be hit and miss. Sometimes the workmanship is WOW and sometimes it leaves me shaking my head in a bad way.
BGD - has always been the most expensive vendor when I am getting quotes, hence I've never done any projects with them.
ERD - good cast setting but phone calls seem to be their preferred communication method. Can be hit or miss too since they use different benches. Some are GOOD and some aren't so.
IDJ - great for those on a budget. I cannot vouch for the quality since I have not worked with them.