The Colored Stone Trinity

[Indylady]

Rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. Show me your personal collections, your heirlooms, your all-time favorites, your wishlists, show me what makes your heart sing! Rubies, emeralds, and sapphires only. Historical gems welcome as well.

A few links that I have enjoyed...

Ruby Connoisseurship by Richard Hughes
Passion Fruit: A Lover''s Guide to Sapphire by Richard Hughes
Emeralds, a Passionate Guide by Ronald Ringsrud/Review by Richard Wise

 

[Indylady]

Here are two carved emeralds from the Mogul Empire...

 

[AmberGretchen]

Date: 1/1/2010 5:47:37 PM
Author: IndyLady
Here are two carved emeralds from the Mogul Empire...

OMG those are AMAZING

 

[MakingTheGrade]

If I ever won the lottery...

 

[haagen_dazs]

Date: 1/1/2010 8:44:40 PM
Author: MakingTheGrade
If I ever won the lottery...

woooweeeeeeeeeee

 

[Burberrygirl]

Date: 1/1/2010 5:47:37 PM
Author: IndyLady
Here are two carved emeralds from the Mogul Empire...

Wow, they are stunning! I have one emerald ring, hopefully my next big gem purchase will be a sapphire or a ruby.

 

[chrono]

Date: 1/1/2010 5:47:37 PM
Author: IndyLady
Here are two carved emeralds from the Mogul Empire...

Holy Smokes!

The colour and the detail blows me away.

 

[Indylady]

Very pretty MTG!

Are there any "gem engravers" out there anymore? Has anyone seen this done in a modern piece? I can''t even begin to imagine how that must glow!

 

[Fly Girl]

Date: 1/2/2010 10:21:56 AM
Author: IndyLady
Very pretty MTG!

Are there any ''gem engravers'' out there anymore? Has anyone seen this done in a modern piece? I can''t even begin to imagine how that must glow!

Yes, of course. I recently attended a roundtable with Sherris Cottier Shank and her work is stunning. Link There are other master gemstone carvers around. I did ask Sherris why she didn''t have more rubies or emeralds to view, and she said the problem is the materials are too expensive to work as carvings. But, I''m sure if you found an awesome piece of emerald rough and wanted her to carve it, you could probably work out a deal.

 

[Indylady]

Flygirl to the rescue! Thank you so much for the link. I am really intrigued by gemstone carvings, its a shame I don''t see them more often.

Also, a ruby that Gailey posted a few weeks ago, cut by Roger Dery.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Wow those emeralds are really cool!

 

[ma re]

Chalk emerald - picture worth a thousand words.

 

[Edward Bristol]

I''d like to add this 2.x Mogok ruby. Image in normal day light. No photoshop.

(sold already, so there is no conflict with the rules I hope)

 

[serenitydiamonds]

Date: 1/3/2010 3:02:31 AM
Author: ma re
Chalk emerald - picture worth a thousand words.

What a delicious emerald!



--Joshua

 

[Indylady]

The Chalk Emerald is somewhere near the ballpark of 37 carats, right Mr. Ma Re?

Someone on Jewlery has got a thread about a visit to the Smithsonion and has a load of wonderful pictures.

Ed, lovely ruby! It seems that very few vendors are carrying rubies these days, sadly. I wonder also if fewer consumers are interested in rubies. Its imperative to be careful when purchasing rubies as so many are filled, but not impossible to find a quality ruby. There are certainly far fewer threads on rubies here on Pricescope than spinels, garnets, and tourmalines. Apart from the fact that fine rubies are costly, any guesses as to why?

 

[ma re]

Date: 1/4/2010 11:12:49 AM
Author: IndyLady
The Chalk Emerald is somewhere near the ballpark of 37 carats, right Mr. Ma Re?

37.82 according to http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/, and it was even bigger originally.

 

[Indylady]

Amazing! Ma Re, which is your favorite of the three, ruby, sapphire, or emerald? Cost and all other practical factors aside.

 

[SB621]

I love these big emerald earrrings- these would be my "If I won the lottery earrings!"

 

[SB621]

As for sapphires I really love the late Diana, Princess of Wales pearl and blue sapphire choker.

 

[Arcadian]

Date: 1/2/2010 4:02:01 PM
Author: IndyLady
Flygirl to the rescue! Thank you so much for the link. I am really intrigued by gemstone carvings, its a shame I don''t see them more often.

Also, a ruby that Gailey posted a few weeks ago, cut by Roger Dery.

now THATS some kind of ruby!


-A

 

[Indylady]

Sarah- Those earrings are amazing! They are reportedly 115ctw. As for Princess Diana''s choker, it is gorgeous. I wonder if they are natural or cultured pearls.

Arcadian, that is exactly what I said what I saw Gailey''s post! Hehe.

 

[ma re]

Date: 1/4/2010 8:44:34 PM
Author: IndyLady
Amazing! Ma Re, which is your favorite of the three, ruby, sapphire, or emerald? Cost and all other practical factors aside.

If I''d be buying for myself (and if I could actually afford a nice piece of any of those) I''d go for an emerald. I know it''s more fragile and often treated, but I prefer colors I can coordinate with many other colors. And since I''m a guy, who wears a lot of neutrals, has green(ish) eyes and brown hair (well, brown is what''s left of it), green would be most wearable for me. I also don''t wear much blue, and a striking (poke-you-in-the-eye) red would be a bit over the top for my taste - but I like seeing it on others. Of course, I do find either of those gemstones beautiful in their own way.

P. S. Those boulders Angie wore are one piece of emerald jewellery I can''t fully understand; not only are they probably uncomfortable, but also look almost fake to me due to a combination of design simplicity and large size. Definately not something I would do with emeralds of that size.

 

[serenitydiamonds]

Date: 1/1/2010 2:54:02 PM
Author:IndyLady
Rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. Show me your personal collections, your heirlooms, your all-time favorites, your wishlists, show me what makes your heart sing! Rubies, emeralds, and sapphires only. Historical gems welcome as well.


A few links that I have enjoyed...


Ruby Connoisseurship by Richard Hughes

Passion Fruit: A Lover''s Guide to Sapphire by Richard Hughes

Emeralds, a Passionate Guide by Ronald Ringsrud/Review by Richard Wise

Emeralds, a Passionate Guide is a fabulous book, I recommend that all Emerald lovers (and haters te he he) read it

--Joshua

 

[serenitydiamonds]

Date: 1/5/2010 4:00:09 AM
Author: ma re

Date: 1/4/2010 8:44:34 PM

Author: IndyLady

Amazing! Ma Re, which is your favorite of the three, ruby, sapphire, or emerald? Cost and all other practical factors aside.

If I''d be buying for myself (and if I could actually afford a nice piece of any of those) I''d go for an emerald. I know it''s more fragile and often treated, but I prefer colors I can coordinate with many other colors. And since I''m a guy, who wears a lot of neutrals, has green(ish) eyes and brown hair (well, brown is what''s left of it), green would be most wearable for me. I also don''t wear much blue, and a striking (poke-you-in-the-eye) red would be a bit over the top for my taste - but I like seeing it on others. Of course, I do find either of those gemstones beautiful in their own way.


P. S. Those boulders Angie wore are one piece of emerald jewellery I can''t fully understand; not only are they probably uncomfortable, but also look almost fake to me due to a combination of design simplicity and large size. Definately not something I would do with emeralds of that size.

I would like to wear emeralds too but I don''t think my wife would go for it.... lol.

--Joshua

 

[Kim Bruun]

Date: 1/5/2010 7:49:12 AM
Author: serenitydiamonds

I would like to wear emeralds too but I don''t think my wife would go for it.... lol.

--Joshua

I have a gold pendant with a small, rich green tsavorite - hung from a leather cord. I think it works because it is very simple and has some weight.

Now, there are certain types of jewelry that are bound to look excentric on a guy, but I refuse to let the fact that I am a guy limit me to big, chunky gold rings with onyx - I like colored stones more than anything, and I intend to wear them!

Now, as for the big three...

I own a small, loose Colombian emerald, which is rather beautiful - the colour is light, but rich enough, and the stone is eye clean. I also have a sapphire set in a ring, which was worn by my grandmother. It shows signs of wear...

I always thought the Hixon Ruby was gorgeous:

 

[ma re]

Date: 1/5/2010 11:36:54 AM
Author: Kim Bruun

I always thought the Hixon Ruby was gorgeous

Couldn't agree more (and on the part about onyx rings too).

 

[Edward Bristol]

Date: 1/4/2010 11:12:49 AM
Author: IndyLady
Ed, lovely ruby! It seems that very few vendors are carrying rubies these days, sadly. I wonder also if fewer consumers are interested in rubies. Its imperative to be careful when purchasing rubies as so many are filled, but not impossible to find a quality ruby. There are certainly far fewer threads on rubies here on Pricescope than spinels, garnets, and tourmalines. Apart from the fact that fine rubies are costly, any guesses as to why?

Even for a professional, clean and natural rubies are quite an honor to work with.

As a private collector you need deep pockets, time and devotion to become a ruby specialist. Hence it is no wonder that only few people gather expertise and can contribute.

If you cruise the very best jewelry shops in London or Paris you will not see many natural rubies, may-be two or three, but they will be prohibitive expensive from a collectors point of view and yet only middle class.

Even in Bangkok you will need to know people to get the real stuff. The normal dealers there will not have any untreated rubies in stock at all. I would not go so far as to say ruby is a sellers market (the high prices maintain a balance) but it is in rubies where I have the most unfulfilled requests and hunts.

Many want a brilliant, round 1.x carat natural neon-red clean ruby, but there are not enough to go around at any given time, even if the budget is there.

 

[serenitydiamonds]

Date: 1/5/2010 11:36:54 AM
Author: Kim Bruun

Date: 1/5/2010 7:49:12 AM

Author: serenitydiamonds


I would like to wear emeralds too but I don''t think my wife would go for it.... lol.


--Joshua

I have a gold pendant with a small, rich green tsavorite - hung from a leather cord. I think it works because it is very simple and has some weight.


Now, there are certain types of jewelry that are bound to look excentric on a guy, but I refuse to let the fact that I am a guy limit me to big, chunky gold rings with onyx - I like colored stones more than anything, and I intend to wear them!


Now, as for the big three...


I own a small, loose Colombian emerald, which is rather beautiful - the colour is light, but rich enough, and the stone is eye clean. I also have a sapphire set in a ring, which was worn by my grandmother. It shows signs of wear...


I always thought the Hixon Ruby was gorgeous:

Man, on big Onyx rings for me either.... lol...

 

[Indylady]

Date: 1/5/2010 4:00:09 AM
Author: ma re

Date: 1/4/2010 8:44:34 PM

Author: IndyLady

Amazing! Ma Re, which is your favorite of the three, ruby, sapphire, or emerald? Cost and all other practical factors aside.

If I''d be buying for myself (and if I could actually afford a nice piece of any of those) I''d go for an emerald. I know it''s more fragile and often treated, but I prefer colors I can coordinate with many other colors. And since I''m a guy, who wears a lot of neutrals, has green(ish) eyes and brown hair (well, brown is what''s left of it), green would be most wearable for me. I also don''t wear much blue, and a striking (poke-you-in-the-eye) red would be a bit over the top for my taste - but I like seeing it on others. Of course, I do find either of those gemstones beautiful in their own way.


P. S. Those boulders Angie wore are one piece of emerald jewellery I can''t fully understand; not only are they probably uncomfortable, but also look almost fake to me due to a combination of design simplicity and large size. Definately not something I would do with emeralds of that size.

I always enjoy reading your posts Ma Re! I love the understated glow of emeralds, and think emeralds lend themselves to elegant pieces.

I agree completely about Angelina''s earrings. I think would be far more impressive with some sort of diamond accent or gold structural element. I wonder if they''re treated...their reported cost is about $2.5 million, so perhaps not?

 

[ma re]

Thanks IndyLady, it''s nice to hear someone appreciates my ramblings...

About boulders - a simple gold bezel would make them so much more stunning (at least I guess it would), but it would most probably make them even heavier and more uncomfortable. I guess they''d be better for a bracelet, necklace, brooch, pendant etc., but I guess they would be as...shocking that way. Those are probably one of the most photographed Oscar jewellery pieces ever.