welcome back atlantys....... I can't help with any mock ups as I am somehwhat computer challenged, but hopefully clg will see this thread and give you a hand.
How exciting that your going to get your ER made! this is a beautiful stone! I'm sure you'll love anything D makes for you. I'm currently on my 3rd DBL ring. I check out all the new stuff coming on to the forum almost daily. It's my eye candy too.

Thank you, clgwli! I hope it won't be difficult. Even one of your 5-minute PS ones would be great, just to give me some sort of idea. You're a star.

sasquay, thanks for the welcome back. I'm sure the ring will be wonderful, and the eye candy on this site just keeps getting better and better. That's the 'problem'! Speaking of which, I absolutely love those really pointy claw prongs that the new factory is doing. I really like the new directions that DBL is going in. I can see that I'm going to be spoilt after looking at all the DBL jewellery this year. Who can compete?

For the record I personally prefer plain sides on my shanks so I think even if you keep in the milgrain like I did it would look so lovely.  I only prefer plain sides because I don't like to worry about the ring rubbing up on others and I am a bit tough on rings.

I do so love this style though and think it would look awesome with your stone!!!

Oh clgwli, it's absolutely perfect! Thank you so much. That makes it so much clearer. And I actually really like that look. I think the simplicity suits the spirit of the ring, and it's very elegant. I'll get DF to look at it as soon as possible. I'm sure he'll love it.

I'm not sure if the diamonds on the head area are in the plan or not. I think the top 'row' is part of the halo so maybe they'll be in, but I'm not sure about the bottom one. Where is the 'Yoohoo David' sign when you need it?

(Tip: the Yoo-Hoo sign is )

Awesome work Squig!

I'd say we'd need to use mockup2- which does look very nice!

Isn't it easier to do that in real life too? 

Thanks for the offer, Squig (may I call you that?). If you'd like to and have the time, that would be great, but really the pictures you've given me already are so good that I think I have a pretty good idea of how it would look with just the top row.

I'm undecided - as usual! What do you all (with so much more experience than me in this area) think? Would it look better with no diamonds on the side at all (mockup2), or with just the top row, as an extension of the halo?

Thanks so much for all the help, Squiggly.

I think we both agree that we prefer mockup2. I'll confirm finally with him later, and then we'll give David the go-ahead. Yay!

for what it's worth, i like the diamonds on the side, but really, either way.... i don't think you can go wrong.

great work squigs!!

Yummy stone, Atlantys.  Grats again, and what a lovely choice in settings!   

Squigs, you're a marvel with that software!

Thanks, ah2bqat. I really love it too. As David says, it's dark enough, yet light enough.


Me neither. And as soon as we've come to an agreement on where we're keeping the milgrain and the merits of having diamonds on the side of the halo on the side view - the one visible in the mockups - and none on the halo in the "head on" view - if you turn the ring 45 degrees - (which is what I'm plumping for - one of my favourite things about R3347 was the way the metal was a real design feature, not just a place to put the diamonds), THEN we'll be able to give the go-ahead. 

But I assume a detailed think about every aspect of the ring design is not as alien to those of you on the forum than 'normal people'?
 

Thanks for that, ah2bqat. I've heard of the saga of little BLOOO (of course, she's a legend around here), but I've never tracked down the original thread, and I'm so glad you pointed it out to me. Exquisite diamonds, plus the odd cat and wedding dress thrown in! I thoroughly enjoyed the read, and your rings are real beauties.

Well then, if you guys like giving opinions on jewellery design, then I'm more than happy to ask for them.

Squig, I know you like the plain mockup2 version, but I've been thinking, and one thing I really like is the contrast between the metal and the diamonds, and I think that having the diamonds in the top 'first row' would be the continuation of a theme.

Specifically because one thing I really liked about R3347 was, as I said, the way the metal was such a feature. Here's a picture of what I mean: the 'plain band' of the side of the halo on the side of the ring is such a beautiful contrast to the diamonds on the shank, and what I'd like to do is keep that, and have one fewer diamond in the pave on the shank.

And then the 'face' - side? - of the ring will (if I get my way ) have the opposite: no diamonds on the shank, but diamonds on the side of the halo.
 
The picture should explain what I mean. It's a screen-shot of a video, so it might not be great quality, but the arrows point to where I mean.

And then the other thing we're considering is whether or not to keep the milgrain on the shank, at the 'neck' (I don't know what you're really supposed to call where the head joins the shank). I like the division: I think it adds to the beautiful sweeping lines of the ring, and that something would be lost if it was just smooth, but I don't know how I feel about milgrain without pave.

So, what do you guys think? Any and all opinions are much appreciated.