- Joined
- Apr 26, 2007
- Messages
- 8,087
I have a gorgeous new Van Craeynest 812 solitaire in YG. It's estate, and the extant head is suited for a .25 stone, give or take. I'm hoping to pop an AVC, or the VVVVVVVSBF diamond of my dreams in there for my anniversary in the fall (which I imagine will necessitate changing out the head) but in the meantime, I'd like to enjoy it with every ounce of my being, so I want to set something into it and wear it without fear of drawing blood from my loved ones. Only thing is, given that I hadn't been planning any big purchases right at present ... I need to do this on a BUDGET, yo.
So I ransacked my collection for any-and-everything that might potentially fit: came up with one alexandrite, two sapphires, two gre--eeen stones, three rubies, four calling birds and fi-ive golden rings, and a par-tridge in a ... wait, never mind, only the first half of the sentence was true, but you get what I mean.
*From the top, left-to-right:
- Emerald-cut alexandrite, about 4.7x3.2mm
- round brilliant sapphire, about 4.1mm, and cabochon sapphire, about 4mm even
- round green tourmaline, about 3.7mm, and emerald-cut emerald, about 5.5x3mm
- oval ruby cabochon, 4.2x3.7, round brilliant ruby, 3.6mm, and oval ruby cabochon, 4.6x3.7mm
The rounds all fit the prongs, though at varying depths, but in this setting I honestly won't mind having a 3mm stone in the slightest, so long as it's the *right* 3mm stone. The oval fits with a little adjustment: the two elongated emerald cuts would require some work, but I'm curious to hear what they have to say about the degree of labor to adapt the head, because quality-wise, the one at the top is a rather good alexandrite and the one on the right hand side in the third row is an excellent emerald, and if it wouldn't be too much work to make them fit, I'd be massively tempted. Rubies are all, according to the guy who sold them to me, unheated and untreated, and as he, a) cut them, and, b) was basically the closest thing I had to an uncle growing up, I believe him.
Soooooo ... what do you guys say? Which would you choose? I'm off to see the local Van Craeynest-carrying jeweler bright and early tomorrow morning, so if you want to throw your opinion out there, do it tonight and earn my eternal gratitude!
So I ransacked my collection for any-and-everything that might potentially fit: came up with one alexandrite, two sapphires, two gre--eeen stones, three rubies, four calling birds and fi-ive golden rings, and a par-tridge in a ... wait, never mind, only the first half of the sentence was true, but you get what I mean.
*From the top, left-to-right:
- Emerald-cut alexandrite, about 4.7x3.2mm
- round brilliant sapphire, about 4.1mm, and cabochon sapphire, about 4mm even
- round green tourmaline, about 3.7mm, and emerald-cut emerald, about 5.5x3mm
- oval ruby cabochon, 4.2x3.7, round brilliant ruby, 3.6mm, and oval ruby cabochon, 4.6x3.7mm
The rounds all fit the prongs, though at varying depths, but in this setting I honestly won't mind having a 3mm stone in the slightest, so long as it's the *right* 3mm stone. The oval fits with a little adjustment: the two elongated emerald cuts would require some work, but I'm curious to hear what they have to say about the degree of labor to adapt the head, because quality-wise, the one at the top is a rather good alexandrite and the one on the right hand side in the third row is an excellent emerald, and if it wouldn't be too much work to make them fit, I'd be massively tempted. Rubies are all, according to the guy who sold them to me, unheated and untreated, and as he, a) cut them, and, b) was basically the closest thing I had to an uncle growing up, I believe him.
Soooooo ... what do you guys say? Which would you choose? I'm off to see the local Van Craeynest-carrying jeweler bright and early tomorrow morning, so if you want to throw your opinion out there, do it tonight and earn my eternal gratitude!
I also love the green tourmaline but the red ruby would be my first choice. They all look lovely though! Nice dilemma to have. 
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