#JOTW It's Electric... and Blue! - Electric Blue Topaz stories

[jordyonbass]

Hi Acinom,

Thanks for the kind words, this week and it's events have been a bit rough - not just my personal ones but what's happened in Paris as well. I'm kinda just wanting it to stop and things go back to the normal boring drudgery where firemen rescuing kittens in a tree is front page news.

I've been trying to think of what shapes I want for the big chunk, a couple big asschers like Doug Menadue did were my first thought but I'm not sure I'd get as much back as I would for another shape.

I'm probably going to get the work done on the rough early next year, with the holiday season coming closer and wild summer weather on it's way I'm picking I'll be very very busy with emergencies at work and very very broke with the pressies I have to buy

New cutters, once they get past cutting marbles, often buy blue topaz and Quartz, as the rough is pretty cheap, especially in the lighter colors. The problem is, these two stone can often be the more difficult stones to polish. The extra time to work on a topaz, vs the low selling price often makes it not really viable to cut, unless you work with very large stones, but then the problems of polishing are even more magnified. Light blue topaz often sells for less than $10 per carat cut, so you really need to cut a large stone to make any sense in cutting the material. If you are going to cut topaz, then go for the London Blue or the Electric blue colors, as the selling price on these is higher.
Quartz is the same thing, it can be problematic to polish, and while deep colors can go for $30 to $60 per cut, stones under 2 or 3 cuts makes no sense. Unless of course you are cutting for the fun of it.

You hit the nail on the head - I'm basically learning at the moment and doing it for the fun of it which is why I bought the topaz. Doesn't hurt me too badly if I completely destroy the rough compared to sapphire or something more expensive

 

[PrecisionGem]

Just don't get frustrated polishing it. You will find the garnet polishes much easier. Contact me if you have any questions or need some help.

 

[jordyonbass]

Just don't get frustrated polishing it. You will find the garnet polishes much easier. Contact me if you have any questions or need some help.

I have been advised of that so my plan is to start with the Garnets when I am doing the faceting course and then move onto the Topaz, I can be a little impatient at times so I'll have to really take my time doing it. The people who will be teaching me are mostly hobbyists so if I have any questions that either they or my gem-mentor can't answer then I will definitely come your way for advice.

Thanks for the kind offer!

 

[picante27]

I am excited to join the electric blue topaz club I was gifted a 3.1 ct JD topaz by my generous friend for my upcoming birthday! All I have is one glamour shot since it is still in transit at the moment.

 

[Acinom]

I am excited to join the electric blue topaz club I was gifted a 3.1 ct JD topaz by my generous friend for my upcoming birthday! All I have is one glamour shot since it is still in transit at the moment.

It's gorgeous Picante Welcome to the Electric Blue club!
Do you know what the dimensions are? And do you have any plans for a setting for this beauty?

 

[picante27]

Thank you Acinom
My friend has not told me the dimensions yet. I am thinking of setting it in a ring, but can't decide if I want to keep it cheap-ish and try to find a pre-loved setting , or if I want to go all out and do something custom that would involve tapered french cuts and beautiful double claw prongs

 

[Acinom]

Oooh... Claw prongs and french cuts
Whatever you decide for the setting, it will look great.

What a sweet gift from your friend!

 

[Niel]

It came! One of two gems that came today. One was a letdown and is going back. This exceeded my expectations and will be popped into a pendant and worn forever lol. First pic is the best representation of color, but my phone is black and makes the stone look like it gets dark, which it doesn't, so the second photo is here to show size and cut quality.

Eta the third one which is also accurate and less phone interference

 

[lovedogs]

It came! One of two gems that came today. One was a letdown and is going back. This exceeded my expectations and will be popped into a pendant and worn forever lol. First pic is the best representation of color, but my phone is black and makes the stone look like it gets dark, which it doesn't, so the second photo is here to show size and cut quality.

Eta the third one which is also accurate and less phone interference

oooooh Niel it's gorgeous! So bright and electric! Can't wait to see it in a pendant!

 

[Acinom]

Niel!! What a gorgeous and electric piece of stone. Beautiful cut and colour
Looking forward to see it in a pendant.

 

[apacherose]

Niel, what a gorgeous gem!

 

[picante27]

Here's some pictures of my electric blue topaz. I haven't decided how I'm going to set it yet. Originally thought it would be a ring, now I'm leaning toward necklace. It is 8.22 x 5.89 and 3.11 ct. I really love the bright vivid blue!

 

[Acinom]

What a popping and amazing blue picante
It will look fabulous in a pendant as well as a ring. Congrats and thanks for sharing your real life pics.

 

[Acinom]

Rothchild55's topaz by Doug Menadue. Follow her setting journey here: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/electric-blue-topaz-ring-design.221625/#post-4010069#p4010069']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/electric-blue-topaz-ring-design.221625/#post-4010069#p4010069[/URL]

 

[Acinom]

Niel's electric blue pendant.

 

[Niel]

Niel's electric blue pendant.

Just to keep me honest, that's a zircon

 

[Acinom]

Niel's electric blue pendant.

Just to keep me honest, that's a zircon

Aha!!! An electric blue zircon
It's a gorgeous pendant Niel and thank you for correcting me
Any ideas on how you will set your electric blue trillion?

 

[Niel]

Niel's electric blue pendant.

Just to keep me honest, that's a zircon

Aha!!! An electric blue zircon
It's a gorgeous pendant Niel and thank you for correcting me
Any ideas on how you will set your electric blue trillion?

Possibly a simple prong head,or a basket. I'm a cheap SOB so I want to see how much it will be. I'm sending it to diamond zone along with my mom's marquise.

 

[picante27]

That's a gorgeous necklace! Niel, do you have any more pictures of it?

 

[Niel]

That's a gorgeous necklace! Niel, do you have any more pictures of it?

Not good ones. I'll try to get some in the next day or two

 

[Acinom]

Any Electric Blue updates?

My ring has arrived from the States and I have been wearing it for almost a week now and I love the vibrant blue. I had not seen the stone prior to seeing the complete set and I am thrilled. Victor Canera made the setting.

 

[picante27]

Your new ring is stunning Acinom! I'm in the process of designing a setting for my topaz right now, and seeing how vibrant and lovely your ring turned out is making me excited to get mine finished!

 

[Niel]

Your new ring is stunning Acinom! I'm in the process of designing a setting for my topaz right now, and seeing how vibrant and lovely your ring turned out is making me excited to get mine finished!

how are you setting it?

 

[picante27]

Your new ring is stunning Acinom! I'm in the process of designing a setting for my topaz right now, and seeing how vibrant and lovely your ring turned out is making me excited to get mine finished!

how are you setting it?

It is going to be a split shank in white gold with double claw prongs. I'm waiting on the first round of CADs from DK. I love how this GLJW setting sort of flows, but I want the split to be wider and opened up more. I think I'll do a euro shank so it won't spin too much.

How is your necklace design coming along?

 

[Niel]

Your new ring is stunning Acinom! I'm in the process of designing a setting for my topaz right now, and seeing how vibrant and lovely your ring turned out is making me excited to get mine finished!

how are you setting it?

It is going to be a split shank in white gold with double claw prongs. I'm waiting on the first round of CADs from DK. I love how this GLJW setting sort of flows, but I want the split to be wider and opened up more. I think I'll do a euro shank so it won't spin too much.

How is your necklace design coming along?

Thanks for asking. I just bought a chain for it, and I'm waiting on updated cads. They should look like this just without squiggles. The chain is 2mm 18" rounded box chain

 

[picante27]

Niel, are you going to do a different design in the bezel, or will it be solid metal? Will it slide on the chain? The topaz is such a cool shape, it's going to be very striking. I love that you're doing yellow gold, such a nice contrast to the blue. I was tempted to do yellow, but white metals are my comfort zone...I really should branch out!

 

[Niel]

Niel, are you going to do a different design in the bezel, or will it be solid metal? Will it slide on the chain? The topaz is such a cool shape, it's going to be very striking. I love that you're doing yellow gold, such a nice contrast to the blue. I was tempted to do yellow, but white metals are my comfort zone...I really should branch out!

It'll just be empty space there, I can't think of a shape I want there badly enough. And yes it'll be sliding. You can see in the bottom right there's a circle for the chain to fit through. Fits uo to a 3mm apparently, but I didn't have the funds for that. However, I found a very reasonably priced chain for it!

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

Any Electric Blue updates?

My ring has arrived from the States and I have been wearing it for almost a week now and I love the vibrant blue. I had not seen the stone prior to seeing the complete set and I am thrilled. Victor Canera made the setting.

I soooo love this ring. I especially love that the shank is plain.

 

[picante27]

Here is the design for my topaz ring by DK. It's sized to wear on my middle finger since the stone is pretty big. I am going back and forth on making the split shank wider at the top, I can't decide.
Any thoughts? I'm terrible at visualizing CADs!

 

[Niel]

If you want it to look like the GL one I think the gap on the twist is just a tad to wide.

It looks great either way