Looking for help with heart shaped emeralds

[tafe]

Hi All,

I feel awkward just signing up an asking for assistance out of nowhere, but this site was recommenced to me - I hope you don't mind!

First off, I know nothing about gemstones. I have a cursory knowledge of the 3 C's from reading about diamonds and engagement rings but that's about as far as I've gone. If I'm truly honest, once I've bought the ring I'm looking for I'll probably never read about gemstones again!

That being said, if I buy an engagement ring once in my life, I'd like to do it on an informed basis and do the best job I can!

My future bride has rather eclectic taste, and is not into "traditional" jewelry so much. I know that she likes this ring:

http://www.metalcouture.com/index.php/metal-couture/rings/stone-heart-and-roses-ring.html

It's different, but it's very much "her". It's not expensive by engagement ring standards (which suits me!) But I know she loves green, so I was thinking of putting some money into an emerald which I could have the jeweler put in place of the zirconia

Something like this? http://www.gemsny.com/loose-emerald/0.91-Carat-Heart-Emerald-E10036AH/

Are there any considerations I''m overlooking? Things I need to be cautious of? Recommendations you could give? Any advice based on what you've read greatly appreciated.

 

[LoversKites]

Will she be wearing her e-ring daily? If so, emerald is too brittle to hold up to daily wear.

If not, are you 100% sure she isn't expecting the ring you linked? If she is then perhaps surprises are not a good idea, if you know what I mean.

I don't know anything about gemsny. Since emeralds are so invasively and commonly treated I'd go with a different vendor I already trust and opt for a lab report brief stating treatment status. The particular emerald you linked seems windowed and is not very saturated. You can do better!

 

[tafe]

OK Cheers this is helpful stuff... I did not know that emeralds were fragile.

In terms of expectations, she's not expecting anything in particular at this stage. I know it's a risk but happy to back myself when it comes to her taste!

 

[LoversKites]

OK Cheers this is helpful stuff... I did not know that emeralds were fragile.

In terms of expectations, she's not expecting anything in particular at this stage. I know it's a risk but happy to back myself when it comes to her taste!

I found a nice heart shaped emerald with potential which I will post if the durability thing ends up not being an issue.

 

[SparkliesLuver]

Here's one to consider, providing durability isn't an issue.

http://www.embassyemeralds.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=576

0.32 cts
4.92mm x 4.50mm
Cedar Oil
$640.00

 

[LoversKites]

Here's one to consider, providing durability isn't an issue.

http://www.embassyemeralds.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=576

0.32 cts
4.92mm x 4.50mm
Cedar Oil
$640.00

That is the one I had my eye on

 

[chrono]

That's a lovely option. I think if set very low, possibly bezeled and worn with care (not 24/7), it should hold up fairly well as an e-ring stone.

 

[SparkliesLuver]

That is the one I had my eye on

Sorry, LK. Guess good minds think alike tho, right?

 

[LoversKites]

That is the one I had my eye on

Sorry, LK. Guess good minds think alike tho, right?

There is no reason apologize, it doesn't matter at all, I was just worried about lurkers. And yes, great minds!

 

[LoversKites]

That's a lovely option. I think if set very low, possibly bezeled and worn with care (not 24/7), it should hold up fairly well as an e-ring stone.

That is good news for OP.

 

[chrono]

I wrote that because smaller stones are less apt to be knocked about, and hence lesser risk of getting damaged.

 

[tafe]

That is a great looking stone! I'm worried it might be too small though?

I'm wondering if an emerald even close to the required size might be cost prohibitive? What are your thoughts on Peridot as a substitute??

 

[pregcurious]

It may be possible to source a black diamond in the shape of a heart and have someone custom make the rose setting for you. I looked at Leibish for you, and they currently do not have any black diamonds in the shape of a heart, but you could ask them or Diamonds by Lauren about it. I have not worked with either vendor before, but both specialize in colored diamonds.

David Klass made this rose band for someone on another forum. I just had a ring made with David and can recommend him.

 

[agingsparkle]

If you think she'll be fairly gentle with it (taking it off before housekeeping or sports, etc) there are some nice green tourmalines in the 10mm range of the black heart ring. Here's one http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?799863178..

If you think she might be harder on her ring, spinel is a great choice although not often green. Would she consider purple http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?-386440863 or blue http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?-1801084766
An interesting point is that if she likes the black faux stone, she might like a very dark blue (that most of us would consider too dark) which means they're much lower price than a lighter, "flashier" blue. http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?768527763

Good luck! Let us know what you come up with!

 

[pregcurious]

Oh, I just remembered, you can also get a black spinel, which is very sparkly, custom cut for you by Doug Menadue. Spinels are an 8 on the Mohs hardness scale (which is relative to scratching, not breaking due to impact), below diamond (10) and corundum/sapphire/ruby (9). As an 8, you still need to be careful with it, but it's more durable than emerald. Emerald is a 7.5-8 on the Mohs hardness scale, but because of the natural inclusions it has, it is prone to breaking from an impact:

http://www.bespoke-gems.com/SacredGeometrics_MainFoyer.php
He has many reviews here on PS.

 

[lilmosun]

What about a tsavorite?

 

[LoversKites]

What about a tsavorite?

Here is a nice one but it is also smaller than what OP might desire (6.4x6.9), and large tsavs are expensive: http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?-1564423832

 

[LoversKites]

Oh, I just remembered, you can also get a black spinel, which is very sparkly, custom cut for you by Doug Menadue. Spinels are an 8 on the Mohs hardness scale (which is relative to scratching, not breaking due to impact), below diamond (10) and corundum/sapphire/ruby (9). As an 8, you still need to be careful with it, but it's more durable than emerald. Emerald is a 7.5-8 on the Mohs hardness scale, but because of the natural inclusions it has, it is prone to breaking from an impact:

http://www.bespoke-gems.com/SacredGeometrics_MainFoyer.php
He has many reviews here on PS.

That is a great idea.

 

[chrono]

I did not realize you need a 10 mm stone. Unfortunately, the only green stone that can hold up to daily wear in that size would be sapphire. An emerald or tsavorite will be cost prohibitive in that size. A peridot isn't but it will be yellow green (olive) and will not wear well (facet abrasion and chip).

 

[tafe]

You guys are great

I emailed the jeweler to see if he could work with a smaller stone... 10mm is pretty big. I think something smaller would be more elegant too.

I had a look around for green Saphires as you mentioned they are nice and hard and saw this
[url=http://www.gemrockauctions.co...tions/sapphire/sapphire-gemstones/item-389363[/url]

Thoughts?

 

[tafe]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/371116662913

This is the right size...

 

[pregcurious]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/371116662913

This is the right size...

This is a very dark stone, is not saturated green, and is yellowish (olive). I will looking nothing like the emerald that you wanted originally.

 

[pregcurious]

You guys are great

I emailed the jeweler to see if he could work with a smaller stone... 10mm is pretty big. I think something smaller would be more elegant too.

I had a look around for green Saphires as you mentioned they are nice and hard and saw this
[url=http://www.gemrockauctions.co...tions/sapphire/sapphire-gemstones/item-389363[/url]

Thoughts?

This stone has color zoning issues (color is not evenly distributed) and will not sparkle because it has too much silk (fine inclusions).

 

[tafe]

Would you mind explaining more about not being saturated green and yellowish?

Here is the non ebay listing http://www.njgems.com/njs0106/njs0106.htm

Besides being a completely different green to the original post, do you have any other thoughts on it?

 

[LoversKites]

Would you mind explaining more about not being saturated green and yellowish?

Here is the non ebay listing http://www.njgems.com/njs0106/njs0106.htm

Besides being a completely different green to the original post, do you have any other thoughts on it?

I suspect that that one be overly dark IRL, maybe looking black in some lighting. It isn't saturated meaning it doesn't have a strong, vivid green colour (rather it's tone is dark, which is easy to confuse with saturation) and it has a yellow modifier, making it oviley in appearance. Put the tsavorite or emerald images shown above next to an image of the sapphire. You will notice it is a more drab, dark colour. Some might like it but since it isn't 'considered' good, it is important to tell you so you can make an informed decision.

Green sapphires unfortunately rarely look particularly good.

 

[pregcurious]

To understand saturation (and tone), there is a thread that is stickied at the top of this forum. It is called "New to coloured gemstone buying? Read this first!" In the very first post, it explains tone and saturation, using tanzanite (bluish-purple) as an example. You can imagine the color chart for any color (like green).

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-to-coloured-gemstone-buying-read-this-first.174284/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-to-coloured-gemstone-buying-read-this-first.174284/[/URL]

In terms of green, green can be yellowish or bluish. This is just small chart to illustrate this. Do you see how the greens on the right are yellowish, and the greens on the left are bluish? With emerald, a bluish green is considered trade ideal.

The last stone you posted also has a lot of brown in it. Please see the post "New to coloured gemstone buying? Read this first!" explaining brown and grey in a stones.

You should find what out kind of green your girlfriend might like, and if she even wants a green ring. She chose black, and that is clearly a neutral color.

 

[dk168]

Would you mind explaining more about not being saturated green and yellowish?

Here is the non ebay listing http://www.njgems.com/njs0106/njs0106.htm

Besides being a completely different green to the original post, do you have any other thoughts on it?

The colour of the stone listed does not thrill me, being too dark and too brown; however, each to their own.

DK

 

[tafe]

Thanks guys, and sorry - I know newbies who brush over stickies are probably pretty annoying