Pinctada Maculata (Pipi) Pearls

Proposal from the jeweler already in hand.
 

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The design, in its elegance, remains an open canvas.

Jeweler's concept is to build upon the pearl's gold with YG and yellow sapphires. I prefer the contrast of white metal and white diamonds making the gold of the pearl even more intense by contrast.

Bi-color seems to be the ultimate choice. The band could be white gold with channel-set yellow sapphires. The center could be YG with bezeled white diamonds. Or vice versa. Or YG with Yellow sapphires and WG with diamonds. OR?

I've bored the jeweler with myriad questions about pearl setting, seeking maximum exposure for the pearl with adequate security. He has assured me that this design provides optimum surface exposure.

It also is a design that could be worn with ease.

All comments are welcome!
 
First the ring is really the packaging which will allow the pearl to be worn as a piece of jewellery.The design you have been presented with is a very traditional style. Having the ring in yellow gold will do nothing to show off the pearl in my opinion. The ring should be in white gold or platinum with golden colored sapphires up both sides leading to the pearl on the top . Try and get side stones that are as close in color as possible to the pearl. The size of the pearl and the golden color on white metal will draw the eye to the pearl (hard to miss). The golden colored side stones in contrasting white metal will give more visual interest and draw the eye to look at the whole ring not just the top. You can have the top of the ring in yellow gold but the reflection of the color of the pearl in the white gold will make the top look yellow gold colored anyway.
DFrey
 
DFrey, I'm extremely grateful for your suggestions, my tendencies all. Re traditional, can anyone suggest something riskier that would serve the pearl and not the jeweler (examples welcome!)?

Also, we are looking at a pinky finger signet ring vs. fourth finger. Any consideration other than ring size/metal weight? As a non-ring wearer I am unaware of the possible ramifications.
 
Steve, see below a more challenging design (imagine it the other way around - white gold, yellow or brown diamants and a golden pearl). This is of course the fourth finger version. This belongs to my jewelrer Marcel, he is good in risky designs.

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Olga: Thanks! A bit eery as among my original suggestions to the jeweler was a concave, reflective platform for the pearl. Nice to see this, and it is indeed a beautiful design. I will forward it for comment and possible inspiration. Adapting this concept to a man's ring seems unlikely, however, due to the required width.
 
Wendy, shows that was your 1000th post. Seems like an occasion for some sort of celebration?
 
Hiti Tangata ('The Family')
Man's Gold/Diamond/Sapphire/Natural Pearl Ring​

This post is bittersweet, as this acquisition will probably complete our collection of poe pipi. This once-in-a-generation pearl, thought no longer possible, has been set very faithfully to the design provided above. Not in hand as yet, these photos come directly from the jeweler's bench today.

18KYG with WG top, 10 white diamonds and 4 golden sapphires chosen to match the pearl. Rounded ring edges for a comfort fit.

As I've expressed to our good friend Ben Bergman in Rarotonga, this ring will oblige occasional wear on the formal circuit, putting on hold for the time being life as a no-account beachcomber on Aitutaki…
 

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