Dear Namtan:

Which 1.29 studs?  I don't seem to be able to find them, but at 1.29 ct, they are almost the same size as the sapphire ring's side stones.  Are you wearing your hair long or short these days?  If short, go with the studs.  If long, go with the hoops.

Your pear idea would be divine!  That's a beautiful stone.  I'm going to attach setting ideas for it without a halo.

If the inclusion in the heart bothers you, you shouldn't make it into a ring.  The inclusion is always going to be at the back of your mind, so get something you love without reservation.  You could make the heart into a necklace like GL's, making the inclusion less noticeable, maybe with the .66 three stone brown ring.  If not, my advice is to go with one of your other options.

Good luck!

Mikla

Oh Namtam!!  You MUST go with the hoops as your earring choice!  They are just so much bling for your buch, so classic, and you can wear them with all of your jewelry, not just whichever ring you pick now.  You will love them!

As for the ring, either choice will be lovely.  My gut says the OMC, but have you been wishing for that pear a long, long time?  I think the OMC is classic and came out so beautifully.  It is my first choice, but it has to be what you are head over heels for.  If you have to close your eyes and pick a ring fast, which one do you grab?

Ooooo!  I love this game - especially when it's for my ER buddy! 

Trink gave you some really sound advice about imagining finding each of them in your jewelry box.  Wise lady that Trink, wise lady.

First off, I am absolutely 100% biased because I love the OMC/sapphire ring.  I think it's pretty gosh darn near perfect.  I love the shape of the OMC, the color of the sapphires, the platinum, the shape of the prongs.  Just everything.  As for the earrings, I think I would go with the hoops.  They're amazingly beautiful and versatile at the same time.  Plus, you don't seem in love with the sapphires, and it's never good to buy jewelry you don't love.  If you decide you do what to go with sapphire earrings, I would think about asking David if he could find a pair that are more what you dreamed of.

When I try to push away my love for the OMC to look at the pear objectively, I really do see what draws you to it.  You're right that it will likely give you a very nice size stone for the money, and I'm completely smitten with the chubby shape.  If you went this route you could design the ring the way you want it.  I would imagine it's always a little special to have a ring that you were involved in the design process for!

Have fun making your decisions!  Woo

I'm shouting out for the OMC ring - it really seemed to speak to you when you first saw it as a loose stone and as a finished piece. Plus, it's drop dead gorgeous.

The nice thing is that you can go sapphire or diamond for earrings and I must say, these hoops are sublime. I'm predicting a few CDIers will give in to that particular temptation over the coming months...

However, if you did decide sapphire studs (and they are very, very beautiful) how about seeing if they could have jackets made? Then you'd have the dress up or dress down options.

Jen

Nantam, no matter what you decide, you know you're going to love it!. 

My personal preference is for Option 2, too, mainly because the hoops seem to have grabbed you but not the sapphire studs.  Altho, one must credit Miz M for a very nice consideration of the jacket option.  I almost bought the emerald studs that come with jackets, but then decided to do Nicki's ring instead. So jackets or gizmos might be an option to take with the studs.

it is so much fun to shop with you. Nobody will understand my passion like you guys do  .

GL, If I close my eyes and pick the first ring, I will pick OMC.
But I'm not sure whether that because it is a finish product while the pear come loose.
Yes, I have love the pear for a long long time.
You are right, GL. OMC will be harder to find.

Annie, you still remember my yellow cushion! 

Jen, The OMC ring feels like love at first sight but I don't want to jump into conclusion too early. Actually I had so much fun during decision making process.


T, for used your jewelery box test many times. I have to admit the pear with some pink seem  to make me more excited when seeing it alongside everything else. I think due to it's impressive size and some pink.

I also try to think which one I will be able to wear more often.
The pear with pink diamond will look very sweet and feminine and the color will be very neutral means I can wear it in any color outfit.
The OMC will look chic and make a louder statement because I'm sure you can see that blue from far away.  Can I wear it with say red shirt carring green bag?

Hard decision, isn't it? I will expore a bit more on pear setting which will give it the same basis to compare with OMC.
Any more suggestion  on pear setting with some touch of pink?

Not to throw a proverbial monkey wrench into the process, or anything, but, I happen to think that a good pear can be hard to find... perhaps as difficult to nab as a great OMC. A large pear for the money is even more difficult to snag. Also, I saw the 1.44 pear BRIEFLY during one of my trips to David's office. Unfortunately, I only got a peek of the diamond as it sparkled still partially wrapped in its blue papers (David was trying desperately to figure out how to work the extraction device to get me OUT of his office!). However, for what it is worth, I remember the pear well. It was a lot of diamond face-up for the weight. So, even with only a partial viewing, I came away with, "big," "sparkly," and "memorable" for the 1.44 pear. I already knew that I liked the shape. It has always been on my "list."

But then, so has the OMC!

In my mind, the OMC with blue sapphires is a classic combination and not too uncommon (perhaps the OMC in this one makes it more unusual). Frankly, I wouldn't hesitate to wear this color combination with anything I own (but, I wear a lot that goes with blue). On the other hand, in my mind, the pear with pinks, might be a bit more unusual, and yes, probably more subtle color-wise.

How about shape... Namtam, if you are brutally honest, is there a shape that looks best on your hand? The elongated, plump pear? Or, the more band-style OMC and blues?

If you were only purchasing the center diamond (to save and set later, let's say), which would you want more... the OMC or the pear? If you had purchased the OMC loose, is this the setting choice you would have made?

Oh, and here's another thought (which of course you're free to ignore lol, just thinking out loud here...)

The OMC ring is already made up, as you pointed out. You could buy it and try it and if it didn't quite hit the spot, use the return policy. The pear on the other hand would be a custom project and might not be so easy to retun if you decided it wasn't the one. (David will confirm the details, as I say, just thinking out loud.)

I'd be tempted to take a hance on the OMC (can you tell I loooooove this ring?!) on that basis alone. You'll know as soon as you open the box if it's The One!

The pear in question.



This is tough. That's a nice shape pear.

But that ring with the sapphires is tugging at me. Finding a match like that in terms of shape and size is no small endeavor. But then you chose a fat pear, my favorite.

I think I'd go for the sapphires. But do understand that I want sapphires in a big way.

You could do the diamond jackets and have a sapphires in them. In other words, I'm not sure about which earrings. But that sapphire and diamond ring just works. I, too, saw the pear diamond in person. And it will not disappoint. T is right. it's a lot of diamond for its size. And it's a great shape.

Namtan, I don't think you'll regret any decision to be honest. And my answer is based partly on what I want right now. I promise to be jealous of whatever you choose.

Thanks for letting us play!

Oooooh. Now I see the pear again, I see why it's tough to decide. That's a beautiful diamond, such a lovely fat shape. I love my DBL pears, they are so special. The OMC and sapphire combo is still my favourite but this stone is delightful.

I'm with WM here - I'll be jealous (in a nice way) of whatever you get!

Jen

ETA  thanks Mikla!

Ah, I was assuming that the sapphire studs were round. Now I see them, I think it might be hard to get them to work with jackets. Although custom jackets might be possible in that shape I think they would be expensive. Round sapphire studs with jackets or gizmos would be perfect if you want diamonds in the earrings too. If that's what you pick, David will find them for you, I'm sure. Do you remember the sapphires he found for OMC's wife's earrings? They are awesome.

Always fun to be a small part of a new project! Namtan has great taste, I'm looking forward to seeing what she goes with in the end. BTW Namtan, I hope you realise that NOBODY will be offended at all if you go with something totally different to what we suggest - they really are just suggestions!

It's really good to know that other shapes of jackets can be done. I often think I'd like pink halos on my EC studs but then somedays I just love them as studs. There's the answer! Currently, I don't have enough paper to write out my wishlist...