Which setting for my PoH?

[sera]

I apologize this is long and complicated, but I'm having a hard time deciding. Though I have narrowed down my list tremendously, part of my problem is that there are certain design aspects that I love but can't decide which should be in my ering, wband, or a RHR as they can't all go into one ring.

The ering setting is for my .99ct Princess of Hearts (5.6mm square) and my ring size is a 7.

What I love:
Delicate, feminine, thin bands, not too many geometric hard edges- there needs to be some softness and flow.
Leon Mege 3-sided pave... gotta have it somehow.
Full eternity... gotta have it somewhere
Ritani single shared prong band
Pink diamonds in rose gold
Yellow diamonds in yellow gold accents (I do have some yellow gold so a small accent might look nice)
Stacking rings

Concerns:
If I stack, will it just look like too much.
If I stack, should the ering be on the top of the stack or the middle?
It would be cheaper in the long run to have two white diamond bands on the outside of the stack and change the center band so when I want a different one, I only have to buy one for the middle of the stack rather than two bands for the outermost of the stack.
I might get tired of a halo.
I might get DSS.
My cut cornered square PoH might be too undefined in a halo and thus lost.
Without a halo, the ring may have too many harsh edges (unless the Ritani is with it).

I imagine the easiest thing to do is just decide on a Leon set and leave the Ritani and the stacking for the RH, but I would still like some color in the ering.

Hopefully the poll will work. I will post some pics for reference though none of them are exactly what I want... some are just to give an idea, some are very close but for some minor changes.

 

[sera]

Ritani Single-shared-prong

 

[sera]

Tapered baguettes something like Fran Fine''s leon

 

[sera]

A softened halo... just imagine small step cut traps on either side, no airline. Perhaps a bezel or more of a clipped corner halo to follow the shape of my PoH.

 

[sera]

Something like CaliCushion''s but with step cut traps rather than half moons.

 

[sera]

Love this, but not so sure about it. I thought there was a slight possibility with the bezel rounds the Ritani might go well with it (but most likely not).

 

[sera]

I''m really thinking that with a 3-stone Leon and wband, they would be thin enough to sometimes stack with a pink band or the Ritani or whatever. Though, I know it isn''t advised (the center stackable ring would not be 3-sided).

Or... I just leave that for a RHR.

I tried this on and unexpectedly fell in love with the pink diamonds.

 

[Diamond*Dana]

Date: 12/7/2007 1:37:53 AM
Author: sera
Tapered baguettes something like Fran Fine''s leon

I like this one

 

[mrssalvo]

gosh sera, you''ve got some great options so I can see why it''s so hard to narrow it down. I guess I''d vote to halo your stone in the same shape so you don''t loose what is untique and special about it. I''d worry that adding the sides, with or without halo''s will cause your center to get lost in the big picture of the ring. i guess you might look at it this way which I''ve heard Lynn b say from time to time. do you want folks to see your stone, or the whole ring. If you want the focus on the stone, keeping it simple IMO really does that. If you''re into the whole effect, go for as much bling as you can. I do like the ritani single prong but not sure about stacking it with a Leon pave..i think I''d save that for a RHR project in the future. Just my .02...can''t wait to see what you decide though b/c all of your choices are beautiful.

 

[sera]

Date: 12/7/2007 12:28:21 PM
Author: mrssalvo
gosh sera, you've got some great options so I can see why it's so hard to narrow it down. I guess I'd vote to halo your stone in the same shape so you don't loose what is untique and special about it. I'd worry that adding the sides, with or without halo's will cause your center to get lost in the big picture of the ring. i guess you might look at it this way which I've heard Lynn b say from time to time. do you want folks to see your stone, or the whole ring. If you want the focus on the stone, keeping it simple IMO really does that. If you're into the whole effect, go for as much bling as you can. I do like the ritani single prong but not sure about stacking it with a Leon pave..i think I'd save that for a RHR project in the future. Just my .02...can't wait to see what you decide though b/c all of your choices are beautiful.

Well, for myself I'm not really lovin' a solitaire or something that really gives that impression... so I don't want all the focus on just the stone. I love the whole bling effect. I just don't want the setting to cause it to look like a round or cushion (not that there's anything wrong with those stones, it's just not what my stone is) and I don't want a near-equal-size three-stone ring (I would want the sidestones noticeably smaller, noticeably not the full length of the center, and just a bit wider than the thin band. Since my stone is 5.6mm, if I want step cut traps that are noticeably smaller, I think I would need a halo to make the center "bigger.").

I will tell you the two that I am leaning towards (I just didn't want to sway the vote lol... but I can't even see any votes)... Ritani as a RHR, the tapered baguette ering like Fran Fine's or a halo with non-halo step trap sides... like how this Natalie K ring is (but with the softer Leon halo ring)... the traps on the outside of the halo... wider than the band but noticeably smaller than the center.

 

[mrssalvo]

I think the look you are leaning towards would be wonderful for you. it''s combines all the elements that are important to you and with a Leon touch would be just beautiful.

 

[NeverEndingUpgrade]

I wish I could help. I am in the same boat as you are. I do love that pink diamond/rose gold ring tucked under the two white gold/white diamond ring. Do you know who designed it? It has a unique look, yet is still simple and elegant.

Another thing I love is Sheldon Speyer''s bands. He has some beuts with French cut sapphires and diamonds. Yummy! You can see why I am having such a hard time. I like too much!!!!

 

[Kay]

I would do a setting like Fran Fine''s for your e-ring. I love that ring!

I also really like the alternating white and pink eternity rings. I think you should get stacking rings for your right hand. I''d get two white diamond and platinum (or white gold) 1- or 2-sided pave for the outer rings, then you can mix and match 1-sided pave or prong set rings in the center. I would definitely get a pink diamond and pink gold ring for the center as my first pick. Then you can add more fun picks later, like yellow diamonds in yellow gold, sapphires or aquas in white metal, etc.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I adore Fran Fine''s ring, but I believe it is around 3 carats. I just don''t think you''ll get the same effect with a 1 ct. stone. I would definitely put a halo on it. I like Gypsy''s delicate halo by Ocean, and Maytal Hannah also does nice halo rings. I love Leon''s rings, but he does not recommend his 3 sided pave to be worn next to another pave ring. So I would not do that. I''d make it pave on the top only if I went that route (if you want a wedding band).

Here''s a pretty style by Beverley K, too, which could be made by any of the above.

 

[samii]

I''ve tried on the 3 ring Simon G with the rose gold and pink diamonds as the centre band and thought it was truly beautiful and unique. Would have been my second choice after my ring

 

[sera]

Date: 12/7/2007 9:36:13 PM
Author: NeverEndingUpgrade
I wish I could help. I am in the same boat as you are. I do love that pink diamond/rose gold ring tucked under the two white gold/white diamond ring. Do you know who designed it? It has a unique look, yet is still simple and elegant.


Another thing I love is Sheldon Speyer''s bands. He has some beuts with French cut sapphires and diamonds. Yummy! You can see why I am having such a hard time. I like too much!!!!

The pink and white diamond ring is by Simon G. There are actually a few Simon G. rings with pink diamonds... and the color is this beautiful blush pink with tons of sparkle. And I love French cuts and sapphires and ooooh man it is difficult to choose! That is why I love stacking rings... because then I can have the different colors and cuts while not getting tired of one thing.

 

[sera]

Date: 12/7/2007 10:29:42 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
I adore Fran Fine's ring, but I believe it is around 3 carats. I just don't think you'll get the same effect with a 1 ct. stone. I would definitely put a halo on it. I like Gypsy's delicate halo by Ocean, and Maytal Hannah also does nice halo rings. I love Leon's rings, but he does not recommend his 3 sided pave to be worn next to another pave ring. So I would not do that. I'd make it pave on the top only if I went that route (if you want a wedding band).


Here's a pretty style by Beverley K, too, which could be made by any of the above.

I know it won't be the same effect and I'm ok with that. I've seen a lot of 1ct centers with baguette sides to know I like the look... so when I'm looking at Leon's pics I just try to imagine it with what proportions my ring would have. I do love the look of a halo... but I'm not sure I will down the road (at least for my ering since I will be wearing it every day). I'm just really reluctant even though I love them. I know Leon doesn't recommend his rings be worn together, but I believe he has done some adjustments on sets so that they could be worn together (although still not recommended).

I have that Beverly K photo saved as well. I like it but there are no soft edges... it's very geometric which isn't me (apart from loving my square diamond and Asschers... go figure lol). I have not seen any Beverly Ks in person. I think mrssalvo mentioned seeing a band and was pleased with the quality/look of it? I would really love to see this one in person.

About 3 hours ago I was decided on the baguette sides. Now...

 

[rainydaze]

Date: 12/8/2007 2:41:37 AM
Author: sera

About 3 hours ago I was decided on the baguette sides. Now...

heehee... i cannot tell you how many times i told my DH ''i know what i want! i want ''x''!'' and he would just laugh at me!

. hang in there, you will figure it out, and enjoy the process in the meantime despite its frustrations!

here are a few notes from my experience - i picked up a couple of similarities between my thoughts about what to get and what you are comtemplating so i offer this in case it helps you with any of your decisions. best of luck with your journey!!

take one: i chose a ritani three stone for my 1ct princess that had two very small side stones, about 18-20 points each. it was very frustrating finding a setting for square stones that was feminine and had flow - this was crucial to me as well - and i finally found that in this setting. boy did the three-stone make my diamond look HUGE! the first day i had it, i kept asking my DH if he had secretly replaced it (he hadn''t). and boy did it SPARKLE. i don''t know if it was the sidestones adding to the center stones performance, the less obtrusive prongs, or if it was because there was more light getting in all over the place (compared to my original solitaire setting), or what, but it was ALIVE. this setting didn''t work out for design and detail issues, so on to...

take two: this time i chose a bezeled halo setting by eli jewels. in this case it does make my stone look smaller in some lighting. otherwise it looks about the same size, never larger. but the overall effect of the ring is big and WOW. i personally love bezels and didn''t care for the diamond sitting high up above the halo, but i might recommend it to you if you care that your stone looks larger. i also worried that i would tire of the halo look or that it would become dated, and sometimes i do freak out about this now that i have it, but then i look down and it''s like ''oh, that''s darn pretty. i LOVE it. no worries!'' you said ''...so I don''t want all the focus on just the stone. I love the whole bling effect.'' THIS style of ring definitely accomplishes that!

part of me does wish just a tiny bit that the three stone had worked out, or that i had gone with leon for a three stone with trap sides, as it is so classic and the effect of three amazing stones is something to behold. however, i also LOVE the look i ended up with. i think i could just be happy with several different things, so in the end the advice many gave me that no matter what i chose i couldn''t go wrong was right on. i also left the full eternity (which i covet as well) to the wband.

 

[Gypsy]

Just saw that you want a whole BLING tastic fiesta. OK. So here's my opinion

I cannot ignore the amazing enlarging optical effects of a halo and your stone is 5.5... SO:

I would think your PoH would look amazing in a halo that really set it off. What I like about mine is that there is a contrast between the pave and the step cuts and then the plain shank-- even without a bezel there is definition there. I think with yours I would bezel the diamond in a pave halo for definition since all of them would be brilliant cuts. If you aren't set of flush fit, I'd do the bubbles side view (depending on budget as well) like Rina's cushion. Swoon! That is one of my favorite side views of all time on a ring!

Also, I would ask Leon his opinion on how to best set off your lovely and unique stone-- with sides stones and a halo. Without any input from you to lead him (including budget), and see what he comes up with. Then after that, steer him in terms of tweaking his idea and making it work with your budget. He's very talented and has a great eye, I'd let that work for me. I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU DECIDE ON THOUGH!!!

Have you seen Mary Aliana's pink halo by Diamonds by Lauren? I think it's octagonal and it's got the diamond bezel set... but the halo edges are rounded and fluid, which I love. ANd the side view is lovely.

 

[sera]

Thanks rainydaze and Gypsy... (I love both of your new settings!!!)

rainy: From pictures I think I would not want my stone set high off the halo... but how that looks IRL, IDK. I'm not worried about making my stone look bigger, but I wouldn't want it to look smaller. My stone (imho) is really unique (both because of the shape but also because as us PSers know we have above average rings) and I don't want to lose the uniqueness. I know I do not want it it appear in any way like a 3-stone princess- a co-worker has one and it's just not what I want. I know all the choices I have are great, I just don't want to decide on one and then think, "I should have gone with x."

Gypsy: I do think if I go with a halo I would want the bezel for that definition, and I like the sharp, clean lines it would give providing I have some curve and flow around it. I do think it would look amazing... I'm just not sure why I am so reluctant to go this route. I'm not overly worried about going with something trendy- if I was I would stick with a solitaire- anything might later be something that has the feel "Oh yeah, I remember when those were really popular." I would prefer something more unique. I expect anything I get might not be what I would choose 10 yrs down the line and that's ok, I just don't want to completely regret something about the ring. I couldn't find a pic of Rina's.

Thanks for the help... it's helping me obsess.

I should mention that I tried on a Simon G. (I know I have posted this ring here before but just can't find it. I'll have to re-attach it here). My FI did not like it on me... he said it looked too big. I love the ring and in person it is very delicate and feminine, but it is rather large on my finger. Although I do have a size 7 finger, my hands/fingers do not look big IRL so I really can't go with a substantial ring, and this ring is about at the limit in size.

 

[sera]

I did find my thread regarding adjustments Leon made for wearing a set:

Date: 10/6/2007 12:10:11 PM
Author: swingirl
This is a photo of gingerBcookie's ring. I believe Leon made the milgrain raised so the stones wouldn't rub. There is a thread called Leon Mege where everyone who has a ring from Leon has posted a picture. If you haven't already looked at it check it out.

Dang, I love that setting!

 

[sera]

Another

worthy ring that might work for my stone is something the like lovey''s (one of my all-time faves!)