Okay, so I still have not heard back from Mark Morrell, but I'm taking this time to my advantage, deciding if what I said I wanted is THE design I should get.

What I'm trying to figure out is how I can minimize the window effect in my emerald. I love my emerald, but the fact is that it has a large window, and I've read that the right setting can minimize this effect, which is what I'd like to go for. The current design that we've agreed on is here but with a bezel instead of prongs. So it's a woven crown with openings for light.

Now, I'm contemplating doing away with the weave style and just going for a totally-encapsulating bezel, where only the top of the stone is exposed to light. Would this make a visible difference in the window effect?

If you have experience with having to minimize windows in gemstones (even CZ/diamond/moissanite) in settings, I'd really like to hear from you. Both designs appeal to me, so deciding which setting I prefer is not an issue; I just want my emerald to be shown off as best as possible, and in my eyes, that's going to be with as unnoticeable a window as possible.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

I would ask Mark if he knows when you are able to get ahold of him. I personally don't know but hope someone here can help as well.

Well, I'd like some advice from others on this before I approach him about it. I've changed the design many times already, and I want to be certain about changing it again before I ask him about it.

My guess is that it'll be better with a completely enclosed basket; that way the stuff underneath won't be showing, like the color of my skin (between the holes in the weave)...

Or, I could keep the setting design as is and have the emerald recut instead. The problem there is that I don't know anyone that would be able to do this well, and I don't want to lose too much of the stone in the recutting process.

Your emerald is a BTD emerald right? Why is there a window? I thought they were meant to be well cut?

do you still have your stone? Can you take any head on pictures of it? I'd be able to help you out more if you could gimme some pics

Conversely, I would be worried about completely enclosing an emerald. They are already not very brilliant, so I would be very concerned about causing the stone to be very dark. I also think that the gorgeous lightness of MM's pieces come from the weaved basket - it would seem like a waste to just have him do a plain bezel.

HI Emanuela,

I'm sorry you are having trouble nailing down a ring for your gorgeous emerald! I want you to know that my emerald is also quite translucent as it is an asscher cut. I set it in a ring with a gold twist basket that can be seen straight thru the stone! I didn't realize it was going to be so bad until after it was set, lol! yes, i was kicking myself for not setting it in a bezel. You most certainly should set it in a full bezel or a half bezel. i still love it though, but will switch it out in the future. Not sure how picky you are about designs, but maybe you can do a scalloped design along the edge of the bezel around the stone or something along those lines? Keep that lovely shank in the current CAD, though. It is lovely!

bmv, it's not badly cut, it's because the stone is clean without any or many (don't know her grade of emerald) imperfections, and it doesn't reflect light the same as a diamond/asha/cz, etc. of the same cut, so there isn't an opportunity to trick the eye with the light bouncing off of facets.

btw, I wouldn't worry about enclosing the emerald...that is usually how they are set.

I didn't say that it was badly cut, that was BeMyValentine.

Also, are emeralds really usually set with a full enclosed bezel? I don't think so. The only stone that's "usually" set that way that I can think of is a yellow diamond, which is usually put in a gold cut to enhance color.

I asked for more pics because what I saw in the pics was a tilt window not an actual window but I could be wrong

BeMyValentine, what pics are you referring to?

Emanuala, I just went and scrutinized my ring and I do not see my finger thru the stone. But mine is a deeper cut than an oval. The only time I really notice the metal thru my stone is when photographed with a flash or in bright sunlight. In regular indoor lighting it was barely noticeable. There are many ways to fashion a bezel and I'm certain if you addressed your concerns with Mark he will have options for you.

If I see something that looks like it might work (or something like it, I'll link to it for you.