Thank you guys, it means a lot to hear from the experts! I am so so in love with this stone, and she will be my big project of the year. Going to explore all my options before putting her in a permanant home.
The other stuff will get their own thread once I get a chance to take more pics. Got myself a little skittles collections and i want more! The reason I haven't posted anything before is because i feel like i'm in the minors trying to keep up with the big boys. Colored stones can be pretty intimidating!
I am so happy for you! I, too, bought some things from Dana, very nice stones, much better than in his photos and the only reason I am not posting them is that I am afraid of spoiling the impression by my cr.py photography. Dana's has a nice, very gentlemanly style of communication.
I have come back so many times to look at the pictures...I have no really good suggestions on what to do with it, but cannot wait to see what you come up with.
The solitaire look will have the shank gradually widening up as it approaches the garnet, to balance the size so it doesn't look like a spaceship. Sort of like this but with rounds in the shank: http://www.artofplatinum.com/portfolio/details.php?image_id=505
It will be made for my middle finger so my mom can wear it as well. luckily her ring finger is the same as my middle finger! and if i get fat in the future, i wont have to size it up...
I feel like the orange/yellow/pinks kind of gets lost in my skin tone since I have a yellowish tint. a really thin halo breaks up the blending and sort of allows the orange to come out more. is that weird?
Today is a hazy day so no good pics. I'll try tomorrow if it's sunny.
Ditto with everyone else; your new spessartite looks to be of finer quality than the round in the ring as it maintains the same orange colour (no browning out or turning yellow) under various lighting conditions.
Yeah I would go with a ring! The color is really something else! Being I'm darker (and I look great in orange! ) I would do a solitaire because its certainly big and bold enough to stand on its own. But if you're worried about color clashing with your skin, a thin halo would work well to break it up IMO.
While I agree with everyone that it is a beautiful stone, I think it is just way too big for your hands; my hands, on the other hand, happen to be just right...
It is truely a gorgeous stone and will look lovely. It seems to me you can't go wrong either way, with or without a halo.
And your other rings are gorgeous, particularly the sapphire - good job!
Who is in the background jealously guarding your gems?
Minous, that is Forte, my ball of fur. He likes to get into everything and wanted a piece of the action. or he just wanted to eat my gems. either way, he aint gettin it!
Don't have anything original to add, ForteKitty. Just wanted to say what a GORGEOUS stone you have! That purchase was really meant to be. It kind of reminds me of Arjunajane's luck in finding that beautiful diamond on ebay.
It looks very pretty on your hand and I can't wait to see it set!
If you're careful with your jewelry, I would do a ring. Spessartites and other garnets are prone to chipping. Otherwise it would make for a magnificent pendant. I'm so very impressed with this gem, I can't tell you how much!!