Help me expand my collection (on a budget)!!

[Kelli]

Hi guys! This is one of those "help me find…" threads, and since I don't have much at this point it shouldn't be too hard. I'm having tons of fun shopping for and buying and setting colored stones since I started last summer. So far I have some garnets (Rhodolite, Umbalite, Spess, and Mali), two Afghan tourmalines (pink and blue-green), an amethyst, and a topaz. I'm seeing a pattern in my purchases though and I'd like to go for something different this time, so I thought I'd ask you nice folks for ideas. Maybe a bright pastel shade, like a peach or lavender spinel? Or a great looking aqua, or a nice grassy green anything?? As long as I don't already have one I'm game. I think my only other requirement is a precision cut- coming over from the diamond side has left that impression on me! Any ideas welcome, and thank you!

Oh, and unfortunately the financial limits… So far I haven't spent much over $1K on a stone and would prefer to keep it that way, though some of my favorites have been WELL under that. The lower the price tag, the better

I promise to post pics of whatever I buy. Thanks again for any and all ideas!

 

[Niel]

Me and my broken record.... Chrysoberyl??

 

[Kelli]

I'd love one! Not sure what to look for in a good one though.

 

[Niel]

I'd love one! Not sure what to look for in a good one though.

I like the ones with a chartreuse color.

 

[Snowyrin]

I suggest a red spinel. That will extent your credit limit once and for all. I'm jus kidding!

Seriously, I think there should be a rich just red stone in every collectors' collection.

 

[Niel]

I suggest a red spinel. That will extent your credit limit once and for all. I'm jus kidding!

Seriously, I think there should be a rich just red stone in every collectors' collection.

Agreed. But she has stones that color. Her colors in that kind of color range. I think a green might be a nice addition

 

[blingbunny10]

Hmmm - how about a bright Windex blue zircon? Or a nice green sphene? Both are relatively inexpensive (They are softer stones.... But so beautiful!).

 

[Kelli]

Thanks guys. I'd love a red spinel too, or anything pure red really, but my budget doesn't allow for anything of even decent size. Plus I do have a red ring already that I truly love, pure red or not. I've looked at some zircons, but would prefer something untreated if possible, only because I have that topaz in the electric blue color. Pictures of any great stones are totally welcome. The ones in the "somebody's gotta buy this stone" thread are usually way out of budget.

 

[Niel]

This is just one Chryso on AJS i like, they have a lot, from a mintier color to a chartreuse, untreated, large, and in budget.

http://www.ajsgem.com/chrysoberyl/chrysoberyls/chrysoberyl-2.05-carats.html

 

[chrono]

Malaya garnet does a beautiful yet inexpensive peachy colour.

 

[Starzin]

Did you check out the peach sapphire I posted in "somebody's Gotta..."?

Yes, it might benefit from a pavillion recut at some stage but it's a lovely colour if the video is anything to go by and really hard to find at this price (just sneaks in under your budget).

 

[marymm]

How 'bout:

BB Chrysoberyl Supernova - $230 http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=139&idproduct=4192
GemFix Aqua # 549 - $980 - http://www.gemfix.com/aquamarine.html
GemRite Imperial Garnet - $500 - http://www.gemrite.com/collections/gems/products/imperial-garnet-2-40-cts
John Dyer neon Tourmaline - $788 - http://johndyergems.com/catalog_pages/gemstone-Tourmaline3013.html

I can't get through to Richard Homer's gallery of stones right now or I'd try to link a concave-cut Peridot I recall seeing there...

And both DiamondBistro and LoupeTroop often have listings for precision-cut loose gemstones for very reasonable prices - definitely worth checking out semi-regularly, especially if you're on a budget - though keep in mind unlike PS vendors, on these secondary-market sites sales are usually final, with no returns/exchanges.

 

[Kelli]

Thanks for the responses everyone. As for the AJS chrysoberyls… I see plenty that I like as far as color goes and the prices are definitely workable. I have to admit though, that I'm not a fan of ovals and I'm spoiled by the awesome cuts of stones I already have. I'm sure I'm missing out on some great material because I'm being a precision cut snob, but I also don't want to buy stones that don't jump right out at me from the beginning. I feel kind of the same way about the peachy sapphire, and I went through a lengthy recut with my engagement ring diamond. It was totally worth it, but I don't have the patience to go through it again. Oh the waiting!!!

I've seen the beautiful peachy color that Chrono speaks of in Malaya, but I haven't seen any available lately. Everything looks darker and kind of rusty (which is a-ok with me), but I've already got stones like that.

marymm, thanks for posting so many links! I've honestly been drooling over that aqua forever now, but I can't convince myself I want to spend that much. I know I'll be sad if and when it sells, but it still seems like a lot. The imperial garnet looks awesome, but I'm worried it will just look pink most of the time and I have plenty of pink already. I keep visiting the links though…

 

[deskjockey]

Well, other than joining the itty-bitty demantoid club (which I highly recommend) what about a peach zircon? Or even a precious topaz (though I think they're hard to find in the right size and color). Barry has a beautiful looking golden topaz oval on his site - over your price range, but maybe something to think about?

Litnon has this one, which I love except it's too big for me:
http://litnon.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=9839

Or is the gold/brown too similar to the spess?

Or maybe a seafoam or pastel pink tourmaline?

http://www.gemfix.com/images/stones/tourmaline_green_blue/tourmaline_gb_850.jpg
http://www.gemfix.com/images/stones/tourmaline_red_pink/tourmaline_rp_1072_A.jpg (reeeeeeally pastel. heh)

(also, just because I think it's cool:
http://litnon.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=9839)

 

[Kelli]

Thanks. I wanted a sea foam (actually it was more minty) tourmaline from there, but it sold. If I remember correctly, I think that one is heated, which I wanted to avoid. And my first stone from gem fix was a light pink tourmaline so although the one you posted is pretty I haven't felt the need for another. I'd lean toward an itty bitty demantoid before choosing a topaz, though the cut on that one is REALLY cool! There's a demantoid from litnon I've been considering, and Jeff Davies has a few too that I know aren't top color but they're in line with my budget and I think they're pretty. Just nothing yet that made me think I HAVE to have it NOW. So I guess I'm waiting until something new jumps out at me or one of these grows on me.