So, a lot has happened in the past 2.5 months; I moved to Ohio and began my grad school classes (YAY!), while Mark had emergency surgery (not too serious, phew) and recuperated and then got to work on his other projects to meet his clients' deadlines. We emailed again last week, and I got updated CAD images from Mark, where I had asked him to tweak the crown a bit to be more bowl-shaped at the long ends. The images are in grayscale to make seeing the difference easier.
First, the before. Then, the after. The difference is in the curvature of the prongs and the amount of space between the stone and the metal at those ends. Very slight change.
Anyway, today, he emailed me the cost of the project, and I expect we will send him the remainder of the total sometime in mid-July. Soooo excited!
Fabulous. Your patience astounds me - but the ring will certainly be worth the wait!!!
Haha! That so-called patience is due to the workload of my classes; there's a lot of studying in grad school!
And I've been thinking: if Mark starts work on the ring mid-July, he'll be done at the end of August/beginning of September. Depending on how soon BF will be able to visit me (350 miles apart ), we'll most likely be engaged before the year ends.
BF and I will write the check and send it together on the 28th (when I go back to MD for my one-week break between semesters), along with a handwritten thank-you note to Mark for all of the helpfulness and patience he had with us (read: me). It's our first time buying any jewelry above $150, so it's a pretty big deal to us that he was so wonderful to work with and made the experience enjoyable.
Wow that is a beauty!!!! Just love the way the side stones contrast with the emerald! And the gold/green combo is luscious! Pleases post handshots as soon as you get it. Very excited for you!!
Really, really happening! Oh, I've been waiting to see your ring come together for a LONG time (not as long as you I'm sure!), and so weird to "hear" from you on the update as I was just thinking about your ring today!
Thanks, everyone! I'm really waiting with bated breath for this to finally come to life.
I asked Mark last week to send me updates throughout his progress. He sent me an email back on the 5th, saying he will let me know how the project's coming along. No update since then, yet, but I'll definitely keep you all posted.
I'm doubly impatient since I'm waiting on my own ring too, lol!
I almost want to see this baby more though... almost!
+1...waiting is hard work!! This baby is going to be so out of the box, extraordinary!! Can't wait!
I REALLY can't wait to see it, especially my emerald again. I remember it sparkled so wonderfully in the sun, and I'm sure this setting will really show it off. It's just been so long since I've seen it... so I've resorted to Google Image searching for pictures of emeralds every night in the meantime to hold me over. :P
Anyway, still no update from Mark; he's pretty busy this season, though, so I don't blame him. We'll have the rest of the cost paid in the coming few weeks, and BF said he'll be proposing as soon as the ring's appraised and we have the opportunity to see each other again. DEFINITELY before the end of the year. Ah! So excited!!
The remainder of the ring's cost will be sent out Friday this coming week. We wanted to wait on doing that to make sure we had our school stuff paid first for the new semester. : )
Mark still has not emailed me back to update me on the ring's progress. I'm assuming he's still busy with other projects (all of September has a wedding happening each day, he said, so he's probably working on getting those wedding rings out in time). Which is fine by us; although I'm really anxious to see the ring, I don't want to make Mark rush anything, whether it's our ring or someone else's.
Anyway, I'M SO EXCITED!! It's finally going to come to an end soon. 2+ years of planning out what kind of ring I'd like, getting a custom-cut emerald, selecting a jewelry maker and design, planning and modifying CAD images, saving up money, etc... Oy, it's *about time.* :P
Also, BF was kind enough to offer to describe to me how he's going to propose. It's so simple and sweet, and you'll get to hear that story sometime in September or October, depending on how far Mark is in the ring's making--BF said he plans to propose as soon as he gets the ring back from the appraiser.
#778410 - 09/13/1202:05 AMRe: Update on My Mark Morrell BTD Emerald Ring!
[Re: Emanuela]
BeMyValentine
Omniscient
Registered: 04/23/09
Posts: 2938
Loc: London, UK
Finally some real pics LOL!!!!!!! I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE it.
It looks like a gold bonzai tree in the first pic hehe. It's making me think I really like gold that isn't finished off to a high shine...hmm...coggles turning...
ZOMG SO PRETTY!!!!!! Wow, I can't believe how beautiful it is, even un-polished and with no stones yet! Definitely worth the time waiting, this ring is going to be KILLER!
#779417 - 09/16/1209:13 AMRe: Update on My Mark Morrell BTD Emerald Ring!
[Re: Emanuela]
borismom
The Millenium Star
Registered: 09/19/04
Posts: 7336
Loc: South of the border
Wow, even in that rough state, the setting and the gold look amazing!
I have never seen a casting where the sprue goes through the center of the ring like that. Most castings only have the sprue make contact at the bottom, but this makes so much sense for getting the tiny details in the bottom of the basket and the prongs just right...
Oh, I had no idea there was actually reasoning for the sprue to be that way... I've never seen castings like this before, either, but then again, I've never had much experience with jewelry-making. It's all really new to me so far.
Hopefully I'll have more pictures for everyone this week. Fingers crossed that I get a picture of at least the sidestones set into the crown.
If that's the natural next step, I mean. I'm guessing this is the order of steps: 1) Casting made 2) Sidestones set 3) Center stone set 4) Sculpting of heart prongs 5) Polishing 6) Steam-cleaning
#779461 - 09/16/1212:48 PMRe: Update on My Mark Morrell BTD Emerald Ring!
[Re: Emanuela]
borismom
The Millenium Star
Registered: 09/19/04
Posts: 7336
Loc: South of the border
I think they have to refine the casting first, pre-polish it then set the stones and then final polish. You can't set stones in a rough casting as there is too much refining and polishing still needed, so stones would likely get damaged. The setting has to be smooth and finished for setting, then it gets a final polish.
Also I'm not a jeweler, but I did took metalsmithing classes and had some pieces cast. If the sprue is thin or far away from detail, there may be a risk that when pouring metal, that the really small and fine details might not come out, so the spue this way makes sense in that a big amount of metal still reaches the basket and prongs just fine. Whatever gold that is cut off gets recycled anyway.
So I emailed Mark to ask for an update, and his daughter, Kacie, replied with "Mark wanted me to let you know that work is continuing on your ring."
That's so vague.
I guess he's too busy to reply in detail/take and send pictures... Ugh, I'm getting anxious here! It's been two months since we sent him the first half of the ring's cost and one month since the final half was sent. Hopefully it'll be ready by the end of this month... : /
Waiting is the suckiest part, no doubt about it! I (think) 6-8 weeks is the "normal" turn around time, but yeah, it would be nice if they could be a little more specific.
Just think, once you have it on your finger though, it'll be like you never waited at all. =)
Did you ask her to ask him for an idea of how much longer it will take? That doesn't seem like an unreasonable request.
What MissCassie said about once you have it, it won't seem like you waited for it at all..is totally true! I had a very long wait for my double halo to be done - 10 months and I love it so much that the wait seems like it never happened.
Did you ask her to ask him for an idea of how much longer it will take? That doesn't seem like an unreasonable request.
That's the thing, though. I asked him when we sent the first half how long he expects it would take to make the ring, and he told me generally six weeks. I don't know if he meant that time frame from when he received the first half or the second half... : /
I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask again, though. Just don't want to seem like I'm rushing him and his genius mastery of jewelry-making. :P
My LM ring took a month longer than he said. I completely understand how much you want to see the ring - but with these guys it's a sellers market - I think!
I got a reply! He'll try to finish the ring by October 18th for arrival to us on Oct. 19th. After that, we're not sure what the plan is. BF can't decide if he wants to get it appraised first and propose sometime in November (when work allows for his absence) or propose the weekend that he has the ring and get it appraised another time when I'm back in MD, like in mid-December.
Honestly, it doesn't really matter to me. It's just nice to know that end of the making of this ring is in sight.
Ooh, and if Mark isn't able to take glamour shots of the ring before he sends it out (either because he wants to rush it off to us or he doesn't have a planned photo session this week), BF insisted that he send me at least one picture of the ring in its box for me to post here in this thread. So stay tuned; picture(s) will be here in the VERY near future, one way or another!
Another update from Mark: he confirmed the FedEx Hold location with me today, and he will definitely be sending the ring out tomorrow after the final finishing touches for arrival on Friday. Less than 48 hours till I'll have pictures!!
*subscribes* Saturday, does that mean we'll have pictures Saturday?! I can plan my trip to the roller coaster park around when you think you'll be getting your ring in!
Edit: This a perfectly normal and sane reaction for ANY person.... >.>
Even so-it's amazing. It just takes my breath away.
How are you feeling about it?
Uh... Still getting used to the size of the stone. And the weight is incredible. I've never had a ring with this much gold or carat weight! The fact that the emerald sits so high means that the ring often falls to the side with gravity on my finger, so I end up with the awesome celebrity look where the center stone's just so darn heavy that it's never perfectly centered on my hand!
Congrats, Emanuela! This has been a long wait for you, and I'm so very happy for you that you finally have this baby on your hand and your boyfriend upgraded to fiance. The ring is gorgeous -- and huge! Ha! ENJOY every millimeter of it!
Oh my goodness!!! I love it, even more than I thought I would!!! It is stunning and perfect and looks freakin' amazing! Congratulations on getting engaged, AND on such a stunningly fabulous ring.
_________________________
Joseph Schubach Jewelers
oh, and finger size and oval size please?? and shank width?? I need to know it all!!!
D'oh! I knew I forgot something!
Size 5.5 (but it feels a lot more like a size 6...). Oval is my C-grade (more like B, though) 5.36-carat Avarra emerald (dimensions: 10 mm x 15 mm x 6.5 mm). Shank is 3 mm wide at the bottom and tapers up to 2 mm at the base of the crown.
Honestly, this weekend, I've been going back and forth on whether I love the size of this ring or whether I should've gone a lot smaller on the emerald, but then I come here and remember that as long as I love this ring, it doesn't matter what someone else might say or think about it. I'm going to wear the heck out of this ring!
Now every time I look at it, I think "It's big... but it's such a kick@$$ ring! "
#788716 - 10/21/1204:56 PMRe: Update on My Mark Morrell BTD Emerald Ring!
[Re: Emanuela]
RedRocks
Connoisseur
Registered: 01/22/11
Posts: 1255
Loc: Virginia
Beautiful ring! I love the look but I will admit I was a tiny bit stunned when I saw the top of the ring. Somehow I thought the stone was a marquise cut (obviously confused with another ring). I love ovals! Did I mention Beautiful ring ~Red
Even so-it's amazing. It just takes my breath away.
How are you feeling about it?
Uh... Still getting used to the size of the stone. And the weight is incredible. I've never had a ring with this much gold or carat weight! The fact that the emerald sits so high means that the ring often falls to the side with gravity on my finger, so I end up with the awesome celebrity look where the center stone's just so darn heavy that it's never perfectly centered on my hand!
I LOVE the celebrity my-stone-is-so-huge-it-falls-to-the-side-look!! WOW!! It's gorgeous!! I'm dying over here!! I have a special place in my heart for colored stones and this one is TDF!! Congratulations on your engagement!!
It's just.... the kind of beautiful thing that brings a glow to your heart and a tear to your eye. What an exquisite, stunning piece. Congratulations on the proposal and the ring. May you wear it in health and happiness!
WOW!!!!!!!!!!! I was waiting to see the final outcome of your ring and came across this tonight. I'm in awe! That is one BE-YOO-TI-FUL ring. I know you will wear it in good health.
That is so beautiful!!!!! Just wondering, are MWM's 18k setting less $ than his platinum ones? I really love the torchiere setting but it is a tab bit out of my price range...and I prefer 18k yellow or rose--I wonder if he works with RG??
That is so beautiful!!!!! Just wondering, are MWM's 18k setting less $ than his platinum ones? I really love the torchiere setting but it is a tab bit out of my price range...and I prefer 18k yellow or rose--I wonder if he works with RG??
Honestly, that's what I was hoping for, and my ring still cost a substantial amount of money (at least to us average folk), but then again, Mark had to plan around a larger stone. I never asked him how much it would cost to make this design in platinum, as I don't really care for that metal. I'm sure he'd be able to answer your question, though, of how platinum and 18kt yellow gold generally compare from him cost-wise. : )
What an amazing, gorgeous and unique ring!!!!! I love and adore it! It turned out just stunning. I love the size of your oval. I think in just a few days, it will feel totally normal to you and not large at all. And like you said, as long as you love it, no one else matters because you are the one wearing it!! Congratulations!!
Thanks, everyone, for your kind words!! After seeing our families and hearing everyone's thoughts after ogling my ring (on the forum and in person), I've gotten more and more confident about how much I absolutely love this ring. Today, I even caught myself using my left hand more around people just to show off its beauty!
Can't wait to figure out my wedding set now. How can I possibly make my whole set even more over-the-top gorgeous than my e-ring already is?!
#790074 - 10/27/1201:33 PMRe: Update on My Mark Morrell BTD Emerald Ring!
[Re: Windblownhair]
e.taylor
The Black Orlov
Registered: 03/15/09
Posts: 4190
I will give the "advice" I give all the time. I'd go with a plain band-18k yellow, with the same width and height as the shank on your ring. That would be the wedding band.
If you wanted to bling it out that could be done with anniversary bands, wedding gift from the groom, special occasions etc. but I really highly endorse the idea of a simple band that you can always wear in any situation as the REAL wedding band. Plus (I seem to recall you're in medicine?) you can generally always wear a plain band. Prongs can start to be a problem, and blingy bands can get gross fast with hand washing.
windblownhair: I was thinking of bling, honestly. I want my wedding ring to pop, too, because my wedding ring will ultimately be the main symbol of my love and commitment, as I see it.
e.taylor: I was going to have Mark make a curved-ish plain band, anyway, that I could use both as a spacer and as a stand-alone wedding band at the hospital. While I'm home or out and about, I'd have my e-ring, the spacer, and my wedding ring--the full set.
This is, so far, my inspiration for going this route:
I will give the "advice" I give all the time. I'd go with a plain band-18k yellow, with the same width and height as the shank on your ring. That would be the wedding band.
If you wanted to bling it out that could be done with anniversary bands, wedding gift from the groom, special occasions etc. but I really highly endorse the idea of a simple band that you can always wear in any situation as the REAL wedding band. Plus (I seem to recall you're in medicine?) you can generally always wear a plain band. Prongs can start to be a problem, and blingy bands can get gross fast with hand washing.
+1 on this. And most importantly, I just want to say how stunning, breathtaking and beautiful,unique and all other descriptions that come to mind for your ring. The combination you selected of the stone, setting and gold are perfect and I love the size! Congratulation on the engagement and many ,many happy wishes for you both!
_________________________
Good Health is all that matters, but great Bling can't hurt!
It's. GORGEOUS. It looks so natural on your hand. The size is amazing and who cares what anyone else thinks? That ring is a work of art! I can't wait to see your completed wedding set.
I was also thinking of a sort of swirl-type eternity ring like this in YG: , using the fluid lines of the crown in my e-ring. I'm really fond of this look, too.
#791502 - 11/03/1212:50 PMRe: Update on My Mark Morrell BTD Emerald Ring!
[Re: Emanuela]
MissKK
Omniscient
Registered: 09/29/10
Posts: 2990
Loc: Snohomish, Washington
HOLY COWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Look what happens when I'm Mia! Gorgeous simply gorgeous!!! Congratulations on your engagement! The ring is perfection absolute perfection! Good things come to those who wait!
_________________________
I'm not always right, but I'm never wrong!
A warning to people in general, by the way: this ring is dangerous. Just yesterday, it distracted me for a good five minutes straight during an exam. Fortunately, we had 2 hours to answer 34 multiple-choice questions, but man, that's quite the distracting power it has...
#791569 - 11/03/1209:35 PMRe: Update on My Mark Morrell BTD Emerald Ring!
[Re: Emanuela]
2blingornot
Afficionado
Registered: 06/22/12
Posts: 544
Loc: California
WOW!!! Your ring is positively stunning! And congratulations on your engagement. I also like the swirl type eternity ring you posted and think they would look great together.
#791753 - 11/04/1208:56 PMRe: Update on My Mark Morrell BTD Emerald Ring!
[Re: Emanuela]
Saphira
Ashaholic
Registered: 11/09/11
Posts: 228
Loc: New Jersey/ Montreal
That ring is absolutely fabulous. I love that it has the artisan qualities and craftsmanship of a ring that will be passed down through generations. That is definitely the kind of jewelry I'm sure many of us here on the board aspire to have, whether it's a diamond, Asha, Moissanite, regular CZ or created gemstone ring like yours. I'm sure in 50 years from now that ring will still take people's breath away, and your own, each and every time you look at it. And that's good jewelry!
For everyone's indulgence, I took a picture of my ring with a stacking eternity ring that I sometimes wear on my middle finger on my right hand, hence the disproportionate sizes between the rings in the picture. I'm just not a fan of the look...
I emailed Mark today about doing the swirl-type eternity ring as my wedding ring, and he thought it was "a great choice for a wedder." Yay.
And come Thanksgiving when FI has time from work and classes, we'll send Mark a rough drawing of what he would like his wedding ring with own honker of an emerald to look like. So far, we're looking at having our wedding rings in our hands by the end of January.
Thanks for the compliments, flashfrenzy and Olivejuice!
To all, I have to say, after wearing this ring every day for over a month now, it really feels so natural on my hand, like it's a part of me. I can't imagine wearing any other e-ring; I'm so thrilled with it! No rude comments will ever take me down from my flying on Cloud 9.
I only wish that everyone on this Forum will also one day (if you haven't already) experience the same feeling with your own special jewelry piece(s).
Mark has finished designing my wedding ring with the following image, but instead of 12 diamonds shown in the photo, it'll be 6 diamonds and 6 Chatham emeralds alternating in the band. And we came across a GORGEOUS (and quite elaborate) ring from Gemvara that will work perfectly for FI's style and taste, so he chose to scrap the previous ring idea in favor of this one, pictured below as well. We're both pretty happy with how everything's turning out.
), we'll most likely be engaged before the year ends. 
.jpg "Emanuela Progress- casting_021s (640x522).jpg")
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