"What design style are you interested in?"

This is the Lei è Engagement Ring Journal.

Discover how to maximise your budget, decode the diamond industry, and ensure a smooth consultation experience.

Bespoke Consultation Series,
…what you’ll need know at each stage.

Here is the roadmap;

1. Are you looking for a gemstone or diamond?

2. What type of stone are you after?

3. What colour gemstone or diamond?

4. What cut (shape) for the stone?

5. What design style are you interested in?

6. What is your budget range?

QUESTION FIVE

“What design style are you interested in?”

There are some fundamentals that should be known prior, which I am going to run you through.

However, this stage is primarily an organic process, in which I mean, once we source the right stone in the appropriate cut/shape, then it becomes an exercise of trial and, well not error but, a back and fourth until we nail the look.

This is the unique nature of our style of jewellery. There is no plug and play.

There is no recipe.

It is case by case and a matter of balancing the right centre stone, with the appropriate accent stones and cluster orientation.

Well, ‘scuse me for not acknowledging the solitaire designs. There are some subtle nuances to the setting style, prongs and shank detail. However, for the most part, solitaire's are quite a straightforward process.

Let me give you the top line basics. As brief as you could mutter in one breath…

1. Solitaire - single stone design.

2. Two stone - two stones, generally similar sized, often referred to as Toi Et Moi.

3. Trilogy - three stone design, one larger central focus and two accent stones to support it.

4. Five stone - five stones in the design, similar style to the trilogy, with two additional stones that will generally taper down from the centre stone.

5. Irregular cluster - freeform cut stone with a cluster offset to one side.

6. Symmetrical cluster - centre stone as the focal point with a cluster of small stones.

7. Asymmetrical cluster - centre stone as the focal point with an offset/asymmetrical cluster of small stones.

For us, the trilogy and irregular clusters make up about 80% of our bespoke orders.

Things to consider;

• The centre stone will be the main dictator of the entire process. If you secure an amazing large gemstone that requires the majority of your budget, you’ll likely stay with a solitaire or a trilogy that just has two small supporting stones. However, if you are more focused on having an overall bold unique piece, we may look to scale back on the centre stone and build out the accent stones.
  

• We start with a general path that you are looking at meandering down. You don’t need to know the exact design style, however let’s establish the look and feel. Single stone, three or five stones, something unique… A quick scroll through her saved posts on Instagram or Pinterest will give us all you need to know.
  

• Finer elements such as setting styles, prongs and shank profile will be exclusively on us to educate you on. You will have either come in with very staunch directions on these specifics, or we’ll suggest the best approach.
  

• The gold colour is often up for debate. It’s a rare(ish) case in which we’d recommend going with white or rose gold, however it can be a reasonable option. Situations when I feel it can suit;
  

• When using a peach or pink tourmaline/sapphire. Then rose gold is often the best call.
  

• White gold can be a nice touch with a deep blue or dark parti sapphire. When the rest of the design has a cluster of white diamonds, it can really lift that central focus - the sapphire. Blues will naturally go very well with white gold, however I would avoid any more colours on the design. Yellow gold I believe to be a better host for 3-4 colours, however if we are going white gold, lets use white diamonds only OR white and blue only.
  

• Two tone; white and yellow. This is a great option if you’ve chosen a white diamond that may be towards the warmer range and you’d like it to feel a bit ‘whiter’. Then you can go with a yellow gold band and white gold setting. Which will mean the metal in which the diamond is sitting on, will be white and therefore the light it pulls in won’t have any yellow refraction.

We have a massive breakdown on ways to make your budget work for you, these emails will be sent out next and you must have a read through these. A lot of really great tips.

Stay weirdly close…

Next post, will be tackling;

What is your budget range?