Cardinal Point Setting
March 29th, 2019 by James L. Sweaney, CGA, FGA. GG
Introducing the Cardinal Point Setting, a new concept in ring design. Rather than having prongs positioned at the traditional spots at the corners, we’ve set the stone with the prongs at cardinal points of the compass, North, West, South and East. This has several benefits. The open design is clean and modern, yet with a flavor of the Art Deco period. It allows you to clean the back of the stone more easily. The cardinal point prongs will protect the stone from the wear and tear of everyday life. We think this design really shows off the stone because you see its color and shape more clearly.
This ring (stock # I-28817) features a beautiful 3.86 carat oval Aquamarine. This is a vintage gemstone acquired in a group of estate pieces we purchased. Its superb blue color is referred to in the gem trade as “Santa Maria.” The mine at Santa Maria de Itabira, a town in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, produced some of the best quality Aquamarine the world has seen. Natural inclusions give this Aquamarine a pleasantly soft look. Sadly, this mine isn’t producing any more.
We’ve cast this ring in 14K rose gold– the warm coppery color of this gold alloy is a perfect complement to the cool blue of the aqua. We’ve added a touch of hand engraving along the underbezel– a subtle touch just for you!
Look for more Cardinal Point Settings in the future. If you own a gemstone you’d like to be wearing or have a special gem you’ve been wishing for, consider this new style– it’s great for most shapes, especially oval, marquise, round, and emerald cuts. Our custom design department is ready, willing and able to help you find the perfect gem and design the ring of your dreams!
Tags: Aquamarine, Art Deco, cardinal point setting, Custom Jewelry, rose gold, Santa Maria