Should I Add Milgrain?

[chrono]

I can''t quite decide if milgraining the bezel will add to the look of the ring or detract from it. The ring already has some very fine milgrain by the pave''d diamonds down both sides of the ring. In fact, the milgrain is so fine that you can''t even see it in this picture. Therefore, although I''d like to milgrain the bezel, this bezel is quite large and milgraining it might make it look odd. What do you think?

Photoshop anyone?

 

[ecf8503]

Chrono! Where ya been? Have I missed the update on this project or is the the first look at it?

It looks lovely in the pic - do you have it yet or is it still at Quest? Why the bezel? Would it not work with the prongs???

What does Quest say about the milgrain? Are they advising it?

It looks beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[chrono]

Hello ECF!

This project has taken quite a bit longer than expected with Quest''s workload. Yes, the ring is still with Hap/Pete.

I originally requested the bezel to protect the thin girdle of old stone, especially since reading about MrsSalvo''s chipped OEC. I didn''t want the same thing to happen to this puppy! Well, Hap said it could not be done because the seat was too small. Then we talked about setting the diamond lower and widening the prongs to protect as much of the girdle as possible. Well, the prongs have to be rebuilt since it was in bad shape.

Lo and behold, 2 to 3 weeks later, I found out he managed to bezel it! Quest did advise against milgraining the bezel. They think it would look out of place but is leaving the final decision to me. So, what should I do? Sure looks different from the original prongs, doesn''t it? But I like it. This way, I don''t have to worry too much about banging my hand around.

 

[SoonIHope]

Chrono, what a gorgeous and unique ring!!

I personally would not go milgrain...I think the current style is very sleek yet antique-y, and the milgrain would mess up the balance somehow. I can''t quite explain what I''m feeling...but I feel that the emphasis would be too much on the bezel if there were milgrain there, whereas now, your eye is equally captivated by your center stone and the sidestones. Does that make any sense? I''d love to see a photoshopped version if someone could do that though, because I will admit I can''t quite picture how it would really look! It''ll be gorgeous whichever way you choose though!!

 

[windowshopper]

actually i think the smooth bezel looks strange against the intricate sides...............definitely milgrain imo AND its a dead on top shot.............closer up and from the side would help

 

[KristyDarling]

The ring is gorgeous! I wish we could get a closer-up, more detailed shot of the ring. That would help a lot.

 

[chrono]

Here''s another picture althought it is still very difficult to see the details. Hope it helps.

 

[windowshopper]

you know its very unusual--lovely, special..............i cant decide --it looked a lot "starker" from the top view...............

 

[Dee*Jay]

Another vote for milgraining. But if you did that would you want to milgrain the chris-cross lines bewteen the diamonds down the sides too?

 

[windowshopper]

i think i have a good comparison and why you maybe should leave it: you know how a beautiful old painting will have an elaborate frame and then a gold "filet" --which is that smooth gilded little piece running against the picture between the frame......? i think it needs the smoothness of the bezel to make a vusual break between the sides and the diamond............yikes a mouthful

 

[chrono]

Here is the ring as it was orignally before Quest modified it. The milgrain on the side diamonds should be clearer.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Oops -- sorry! I couldn''t see the sides that clearly before.

 

[glitterata]

It looks absolutely heavenly as it is now! Don''t milgrain it!

Just my opinion.

 

[pebbles]

Another vote for the miligrain, especially since it is between the melee on the sides.

Your stone looks beautiful in the setting!

 

[FireGoddess]

I vote in favor of milgraining the bezel. I too think it looks somewhat ''stark'' for lack of a better term, from the top...more modern...but that''s not actually the style of the ring, as seen by the shank. I vote for milgraining the bezel!

 

[Scintillating]

I vote to milgrain the sides but not the bezel.
We need Val to photoshop some options. Is she around today?

Scintillating...

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 5/1/2006 12:42:36 PM
Author: Scintillating
I vote to milgrain the sides but not the bezel.
We need Val to photoshop some options. Is she around today?

Scintillating...

Ditto. Ana are you here?? I''d love to see how it would look with milgraining.

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 5/1/2006 12:42:36 PM
Author: Scintillating
I vote to milgrain the sides but not the bezel.

I do believe the sides are already milgrained.

 

[LizzieC]

It''s gorgeous! I love the bezel as-is. No milgrain!

 

[AndyRosse]

It''s a hard decision, which means probably either way would be fine, but I am inclined to say no milgraining. At the very least, see the ring in person and wear it for a bit before you decide to milgrain the bezel IMO.

 

[KristyDarling]

Hmm, tough call. I''m inclined to say milgrain it, but the milgrain on the sides is on metal that is much thinner than the metal around the center stone. So would it be like *bigger* milgrain around the bezel, and would that make it look odd? I don''t know if you guys think this is a bizarre idea, but maybe it''d be enough to just have the bezel polished to a brushed or soft matte finish without milgraining it. That way it won''t look so stark (i.e .the shiny bezel won''t contrast too much with the side milgrain) and will still allow the center stone to shine. Just one idea.

 

[chrono]

It looks like 7 for a plain bezel and 3 for the milgrain. Quest did say that right now, the center stone stands out. If I add the milgrain, the OEC will not pop as much. I am still undecided. Your comments have been helpful. I hope someone can photoshop the picture. It is pretty hard for me to imagine such things.

 

[decodelighted]

Didn''t SOMEONE on here recently get one edge, either the inside or the outside edge milgrained?

I think it was a Quest project too!! If you did just the outside rim, but left the inside (touching stone) rim clean it might give the illusion that the stone is as big as the outside rim.

Just a thought!

 

[blueroses]

Honestly, I'm torn!! It is SUCH a beautiful ring, and usually I'd be so gung-ho on the milgrain....but recently I've found myself drawn to just the slightest bit sleeker design.

(Like when I go to peruse the jewelry case every time I go to costco: now that the 4.5ct SE is gone I have to drool over other things....and the one I always go back to is NOT one of the pave halos---granted, they're not even close the lovely ones we see here---but rather a very sleek bezeled RB with shared prong band.)

SO anyway, I think either would be lovely and the milgrain would certainly match the antique style, but if quest is reluctant to do it, is that for the safety of the stone?

 

[chrono]

Deco,
I think Princess V had it done. I looked at her detailed pictures but didn't see the milgrain on the inside bezel.

She did have some milgain around the melee (halo).

Blueroses,
Quest advised againt the milgain, not because of safety issues, but they think it will detract from the look. They think it will be an overkill.

 

[SoonIHope]

I think if Quest is advising no milgrain...bow to their superior judgement! They have seen a lot more rings than any of us most likely and can probably visualize it better than we can. And anyway, if you DON''T get it done, live with it a while and decide you want it milgrained after all - that''s easy to do! But if you get it milgrained and then think it''s too much...that''s a lot harder to fix. Just my thoughts!

 

[decodelighted]

Date: 5/1/2006 5:22:48 PM
Author: albicocca
But if you get it milgrained and then think it''s too much...that''s a lot harder to fix.

That''s an EXCELLENT point!!

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 5/1/2006 5:18:11 PM
Author: Chrono
Blueroses,
Quest advised againt the milgain, not because of safety issues, but they think it will detract from the look. They think it will be an overkill.

Maybe wear it and see how it looks on the hand...and then if you really don''t like the plain bezel, have it milgrained later?

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 5/1/2006 5:26:42 PM
Author: FireGoddess

Date: 5/1/2006 5:18:11 PM
Author: Chrono
Blueroses,
Quest advised againt the milgain, not because of safety issues, but they think it will detract from the look. They think it will be an overkill.

Maybe wear it and see how it looks on the hand...and then if you really don''t like the plain bezel, have it milgrained later?

Ditto. You can always add it later.

 

[mrssalvo]

WOW Chrono it looks gorgeous. i agree with those who said to wait and see what you think of it in person before moving ahead. I would probably seriously consider Quest''s opinion and at least have a looksie before making such a change. Then if you''re not entirely happy with how it looks you can always send it back and have them add the milgrain. Your stone is fabulous too.