Colored stone engagament ring?

[shertz1981]

Hi! I''m a longtime lurker in this subforum and thrilled I finally have something to post over here.

My boyfriend and I are looking for rings, and I''m considering having a colored gemstone instead of a diamond. Maybe. I am the most indecisive person on the face of the planet.

The thing is, of all the colored stones, my absolute favorite is the rhodolite garnet, especially when it''s got that deep rose color. But since I''d plan to wear my ring every day, I don''t think the hardness of that stone would be sufficient ... is there any other kind of stone that gives the same kind of color, but is more durable for everyday wear?

Thanks so much!

 

[ma re]

Could you post a photo of the color that you have in mind, cause eventhough most folks here know what a rhodolite looks like, different people could imagine the color you describe differently, so a photo would be best. Spinel could (maybe) come in that color, but I can''t say until I see what you mean. Even pink sapphires/rubies can look similar to rhodolites, and those colors in sapphires/rubies cost much less than those which are considered ideal (bright shades).

 

[chrono]

You can wear a rhodolite garnet everyday with certain conditions:
1. Remove the ring once you are home and when doing housework, going to the gym and other “rough” activities
2. Put it in a more protective setting like AJ’s James Meyer bezel

I know of at least 2 other PSers who have garnets as their e-rings but take good care of it like the above. One is Movie Zombie and the other is Pandora.

 

[Nomsdeplume]

If you really want something, get it! It has to be something you absolutely love, and if it''s a garnet, so be it! Just be careful.
Tanzanite is a really popular choice for engagement rings here, and those have to be treated even more carefully. I''ve even seen opal engagement rings, and after years of (careful) everyday wear they still look great.
Just don''t do housework, gym, gardening or go swimming with it.

 

[PrecisionGem]

I think most stones are scratched by other jewelry with diamonds or other harder stones. A garnet is pretty hard, with a hardness of 7. I can''t think of anything at a gym that is that hard. Steel, gold, glass, gym mats, etc can not scratch the stone. Dumping in your jewelry box with other hard stones can. Chipping is another thing, but then diamonds chip too.

My wife wore a tourmaline for years, 24/7, and there was never a scratch on it.

You may chip the stone, but actually you could drag your garnet down the sidewalk, and it wouldn''t be scratched. Most gem stones are pretty darn hard, and there isn''t much out there that can scratch them. Gold is pretty soft, and the settings I would think would get all dented, scratched etc. long before the stone would.

 

[T L]

Date: 8/13/2009 9:36:23 AM
Author: PrecisionGem
I think most stones are scratched by other jewelry with diamonds or other harder stones. A garnet is pretty hard, with a hardness of 7. I can't think of anything at a gym that is that hard. Steel, gold, glass, gym mats, etc can not scratch the stone. Dumping in your jewelry box with other hard stones can. Chipping is another thing, but then diamonds chip too.

My wife wore a tourmaline for years, 24/7, and there was never a scratch on it.

You may chip the stone, but actually you could drag your garnet down the sidewalk, and it wouldn't be scratched. Most gem stones are pretty darn hard, and there isn't much out there that can scratch them. Gold is pretty soft, and the settings I would think would get all dented, scratched etc. long before the stone would.

That's true, but I have one tourmaline that I bought several years ago, when I just started seriously getting into the hobby, and I wasn't careful with it. It has two huge chips.

Diamonds are easily chipped as well. My mother has three huge chips on her diamond, but then again, she wore it 24/7 and to do everything in. I don't ever recommend wearing a ring 24/7.

There are deep rose colored spinels, which are pretty hard and durable stones. I would highly recommend one for an ering. Check out some of the recommended vendors.

 

[shertz1981]

This is not the greatest picture, but I do like this kind of color/color in the light .. something with a rosy red color. (You''d never know I was a writer, LOL)

My biggest concern is that, even though I''d be careful, I am a ginormous klutz -- I''ve banged most of my nice pieces of jewelry without even meaning to!

 

[ma re]

Yup, spinels can be found in such a color, but sapphires could be pretty expensive (in such a shade), especially untreated ones. I haven''t really seen rubies in color close to that, but then, I''m no expert.

P. S. CZ''s are often the cause of scratches on gemstones, as there are only a few harder than them. BTW, some kinds of glass, ceramics and hardened steel can reach 7 (or more) on the moh''s scale, according to some online sources.

 

[kas baby]

everybody has, as always, made great suggstions and given wonderful information-- I continue to learn more each time I read a thread.

I LOVE he color you picked out!!! It has such a rich, romantic feel to it

and I agree with Kribbie-- If it were me in your shoes, I think I would go with the garnet- if its a garnet you desire- then go for it!! personally I think it wold look great in a yellow gold bezel

here is two examples of very lovely garnet engagement rings...
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/wishful-no-more.86108/

and jus to show you, here is a sapphire that is kinda the color... high price tag, but dreamy color! http://www.webgraphicsengineering.com/Gemstones/detail.cfm?zNum=5665

 

[shertz1981]

*plunk*

Kas, I think my jaw just hit the floor on that rose sapphire. I would totally snatch it up, Gollum-precious-style, if we could afford it! Love the matching e-rings, too -- that''s one of the cutest "we''re engaged" pictures I''ve ever seen!!!

You all are so helpful -- thank you so much!

 

[kas baby]

Date: 8/13/2009 10:26:53 AM
Author: shertz1981
*plunk*

Kas, I think my jaw just hit the floor on that rose sapphire. I would totally snatch it up, Gollum-precious-style, if we could afford it! Love the matching e-rings, too -- that's one of the cutest 'we're engaged' pictures I've ever seen!!!

You all are so helpful -- thank you so much!

LOL!! I totally agree!

my preeeeciousssssss......

I'm sure you'll find something incredibly drool worthy for your e-ring- whether its a colored stone or not! I'll be cheering for you!

ETA: there are two on this website that made me think of you: 878, and 860 http://www.precisiongem.com/html/html/Garnet_Red.html

 

[shertz1981]

878!!!

This forum makes me loopy.

I think the only solution is to have one of everything

 

[chrono]

Yes, a spinel and sapphire will fit the bill, but a spinel will also be far less expensive. Still, if you find a garnet with the right colour, I would not dismiss it as an engagement ring stone.

 

[kas baby]

Date: 8/13/2009 12:13:36 PM
Author: shertz1981
878!!!

This forum makes me loopy.

I think the only solution is to have one of everything

haha! its an expensive hobby! but soooo preeeety!! I like preeeties

(I vote for the 878

... but I don''t know what kind of setting you''re looking for... maybe people with a cut like this will chime in

)

 

[shertz1981]

This caught my eye, too (and I''m e-mailing all these stones to my boyfriend, LOL)

http://www.cherrypicked.com/Gallery/Score.aspx?ItemID=1745

Woooooow. But ... what is zoning? It''s the only rated characteristic with which I lack familiarity

 

[Kismet]

It''s when the color shows up in bands rather than solidly across the stone. The attached picture is from Peter Torraca''s flickr site and shows really obvious zoning. Presumably the higher the number on Cherrypicked the lower the noticeable zoning.

 

[ma re]

This rating should mean that it has virtually no zoning, and that''s a good thing (for a rhodolite). Zoning is a term used to describe existance of areas in a stone that are not all the same color, so the stone can look kind of striped or dotted. Like if you would take a nicely colored stone, get an eraser and make a part of it much paler than the rest

Something like THIS.

 

[shertz1981]

Good to know. This is much more fun than doing work

 

[kas baby]

Date: 8/13/2009 2:33:14 PM
Author: shertz1981
Good to know. This is much more fun than doing work

want to know what can be really fun?? picking out the setting

have you thought of anything yet? hmm? I love going through the eye candy thread for inspiration

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/colored-stone-e-rings-eyecandy.29435/

 

[chrono]

Date: 8/13/2009 2:33:14 PM
Author: shertz1981
Good to know. This is much more fun than doing work

I don''t blame you. Look at gemstones is very addictive.

 

[shertz1981]

As for settings, I think a split shank halo with melee on the band would be gorgeous and BLINGTASTIC

Any suggestions for where to look for rose sapphires?? Now that I know this option exists ...