Wavering on setting for EC... halo or traps?

[Emeraldsaremyfavorite]

Ok, many of you have followed my journey and I’m wavering a little bit on the setting, I can’t believe it! I didn’t go up much in size as far as my new EC so I want to make sure I get enough finger coverage. I have absolutely always loved the trapezoid with pave band setting, but would a micro pave halo with micro pave bands give me more bling? Or is the halo over done and shadow how beautiful the emerald cut is? Attached is the trapezoid setting, the halo setting, and a solitaire setting that I would add to a halo. I need some votes and opinions please, thanks advance! I want to get this right!!

 

[Matthews1127]

I’m going to jump in, and give you my heart-felt feelings about everything! lol!
I’m not a fan of halos with step cuts....
HOWEVER, I have a sweet spot for very delicate, micropave halos around HONKING EC’s.
Unless the proportions between the EC & the side stones is perfect, the sides tend to distract from the center, causing “confusion”; it’s like a traffic jam, or a 3 ring circus: which do I pay attention to, first?
I think YOUR honker will look A-MAZE-BALLS in a delicate halo, with micropave, and delicate micropave bands for extra bling. Full coverage and sophistication all wrapped up on one pretty finger.

 

[scarsmum]

Have you considered the Lisa Vanderpump route if you really want to emphasise size and also the emerald cut? She wears a 20carat emerald with a bezel and a channel set pave around that. The bezel really highlights the emerald cut and then the pave adds size and depth. It looks a bit like this but there’s plenty of google images of the real thing -




My concern with just pave is that it could detract from the qualities of the emerald cut and look a little muddled.

 

[Matthews1127]

Have you considered the Lisa Vanderpump route if you really want to emphasise size and also the emerald cut? She wears a 20carat emerald with a bezel and a channel set pave around that. The bezel really highlights the emerald cut and then the pave adds size and depth. It looks a bit like this but there’s plenty of google images of the real thing -




My concern with just pave is that it could detract from the qualities of the emerald cut and look a little muddled.

I prefer airlines....
That would really accentuate the center attraction!

 

[scarsmum]

Well I did kind of mean it when I posted this one a while ago -

 

[scarsmum]

I posted too soon. Here’s my original idea and then the actual Lisa V ring

 

[Emeraldsaremyfavorite]

I worry too about distracting from the true beauty of a geometric EC. I just don’t want to look down at my new ring and say.:: oh this looks like my last one!! I would do a very micro pave halo and then rose gold bands. But my personal feeling is sometimes halos are confusing... you wonder, is that stone big or just the halo doing that? Maybe I should ask David to make me another mold or he might get so annoyed!! I think if I would have jumped to over 4ct I would have been on the traps.

 

[Emeraldsaremyfavorite]

I posted too soon. Here’s my original idea and then the actual Lisa V ring

I’ve seen Lisa’s... huge and not my lifestyle!! But she can rock it. What do you mean about “airlines?”

 

[Matthews1127]

I’ve seen Lisa’s... huge and not my lifestyle!! But she can rock it. What do you mean about “airlines?”

Space between center stone & halo, like the VC, pictured above.

 

[ac117]

I'd say go for your dream setting that you've been wanting all this time!! The one with the traps!! I don't know if you'll be happy with a halo and still want the other setting down the line.

 

[scarsmum]

But my personal feeling is sometimes halos are confusing... you wonder, is that stone big or just the halo doing that?

That’s what I mean by muddled - and that is why to consider a channel, for the clean lines.

 

[Emeraldsaremyfavorite]

That’s what I mean by muddled - and that is why to consider a channel, for the clean lines.

Yes, see what you mean. So hard when I think both designs are equally beautiful in different in different ways.

 

[quicksilver]

I think the first picture where the center stone has a large difference between the melee can make the center look sort of dead...It also tends to look a bit costume-y as well but only after a certain size. (Im a avid halo girl by the way)
If you're lucky enough to have such a beautiful emerald cut stone, I think having traps boosts the "classy elegant rich lady" vibe

 

[Emeraldsaremyfavorite]

I think the first picture where the center stone has a large difference between the melee can make the center look sort of dead...It also tends to look a bit costume-y as well but only after a certain size. (Im a avid halo girl by the way)
If you're lucky enough to have such a beautiful emerald cut stone, I think having traps boosts the "classy elegant rich lady" vibe

I love this reply!!

 

[Emeraldsaremyfavorite]

And I absolutely love Jean a Dousset as many of you know, but I think his halo with an emerald cut really gets muddled.

 

[tyty333]

I love emeralds with pave halos. Something about the contrast of the steps with the contrast of the pave is really appealing.
Will it provide you with more bling? I'm not sure I can say. It will have a bigger presence due to the halo but a different look.
This belongs to PSer xsouzie. Its a DK setting. I also like pave split shanks on emerald cuts if you want a
different look, however it might make it harder to wear bands with.



This belongs to asscher girl. It has quite a lot of presence.

 

[BlingDreams]

I love halos. And I love emeralds with micro halos (like your first photo); I think it really makes the center stone pop when there's such a difference between center stone size and melee size as well as the difference between step-cuts and traditional cuts.

To me, adding traps to the setting could possible take away the spotlight from your emerald cut. You'd need to go with smaller traps to avoid that "one run-on diamond" look that can happen with that design. For example, I think this would be a good ratio to achieve the look you want:



In the end though it's a personal choice and from what you've written above you seem to sing the praises of traps and have lots of hesitation for the halo, so it sounds like you're really more of a traps girl at heart. One thing though... if you do traps, I'd recommend a plain shank. Any pave in it would really just be too busy (imo) and take away from the ring as a whole.

 

[Octo2005]

I love a well executed halo, but I think I prefer the traps for an Emerald cut. There is just something so classic and timeless about a large EC with small traps on the side. I do agree with @ILikeShiny, that if the side stones are to big it losses it's zing. My sweet spot is actually side stones that are even smaller.

 

[unsettled]

the emerald with traps looks so classy to me. But I also love an emerald with a bead set halo and some milgrain!

 

[Emeraldsaremyfavorite]

@tyty333 love both those rings... seeing them makes it so difficult!
@ILikeShiny completely agree on smaller traps. My avatar ring had traps about the size of the one you posted and I still felt they took away from the center. Will post an old pic. That’s why I’m really trying to nail down David on how small we should make them. My old traps were 6.2 x 4.8. We are thinking of cutting them down to 4.5 x 3.5... small enough and tapered enough? Eva’s ring, my inspiration are definitely smaller.

I have seen very few ECs EVER in person! When I do and they are in a solitaire my heart sings because the geometric shape really stands out. Halo provides the bling and delicate look, which I love, but I feel like the real shape of an EC gets a bit lost... it’s like what shape diamond do you have? Lol. Of course PSers would know immediately but not the everyday person.

Can’t thank this group enough... this drives my husband absolutely batty


Eva’s small traps

My old setting and traps

 

[Emeraldsaremyfavorite]

the emerald with traps looks so classy to me. But I also love an emerald with a bead set halo and some milgrain!

Well that doesn’t help... lol... me too!

 

[Matthews1127]

Well that doesn’t help... lol... me too!

I like the idea of something new & different for you....but you have to love it.

 

[Emeraldsaremyfavorite]

Again... for those who are good with CADS, my EC is 10.47 x 8.04. Traps we are currently thinking of are 4.5 by 3.5

 

[Emeraldsaremyfavorite]

I like the idea of something new & different for you....but you have to love it.

That’s my real struggle.... will I feel like I’m looking at my old ring? It was beautiful but I have waited 8 months for something new!!!

 

[Matthews1127]

Again... for those who are good with CADS, my EC is 10.47 x 8.04. Traps we are currently thinking of are 4.5 by 3.5

@rockysalamander

 

[lambskin]

Traps traps traps

 

[quicksilver]

I dont know your personal aesthetic but I also find emerald cuts with traps and bullets absolutely classy as f***. You're worried that getting a ring with traps again might be too similar to your current ring but I also believe slight angle differences an/or changes in proportions can make or break a look- you could peg me as a halo lover but partial to halos when the ratio between stone and halo is a large as possible. Otherwise, halos do nothing for me. So maybe a slight decrease in traps or traps with steeper angles might take you from loving your ring to finding the ring.
For me, I LOVE the look of the traps when there is a noticeable slant in the traps.
Here's Dani's


and this 5 stone...


if money weren't a deciding factor in my life and I could afford a ring like this, I'd never have a wandering eye...

 

[Matthews1127]

I dont know your personal aesthetic but I also find emerald cuts with traps and bullets absolutely classy as f***. You're worried that getting a ring with traps again might be too similar to your current ring but I also believe slight angle differences an/or changes in proportions can make or break a look- you could peg me as a halo lover but partial to halos when the ratio between stone and halo is a large as possible. Otherwise, halos do nothing for me. So maybe a slight decrease in traps or traps with steeper angles might take you from loving your ring to finding the ring.
For me, I LOVE the look of the traps when there is a noticeable slant in the traps.
Here's Dani's


and this 5 stone...


if money weren't a deciding factor in my life and I could afford a ring like this, I'd never have a wandering eye...

This is what I mean, when I say “proportions are perfect”. Otherwise, it looks like a blob, with no variation, and no clear separation.

 

[Emeraldsaremyfavorite]

I have seen this 3 stone before and LOVE it!! That is why am trying to get the traps just perfect in the CAD, but I am having trouble as I have no idea how to really read them. I was thinking of doing a five stone setting with the bullets, however with a size 4 finger, a 3.56 carat emerald cut and the traps I don’t think it will even show up on my finger or I will have room, thoughts? You can see my old setting for reference, there is hardly any room for anything after the traps. Again, if anyone has some insight on trap size please let me know!!

 

[Bron357]

This is mine. I designed the ring all by myself. I like Art Deco style and wanted a “flat ring” I’m clumsy and wanted great finger coverage (I’m a size .
My centre is 4.35 carat and the two sides are .35 each. The small diamonds are 2 or 3 mm each (can’t remember) and the sides are .30 carat. Love these.