A Few Tsavorite Questions...

[AllieK315]

Hi! I'm pretty new on here, and I'm doing some looking for my engagement ring.

I definently want a gemstone...We're on a budget, and I'm having a hard time finding conflict-free diamonds in our range.

I think Tsavorite garnets are simply beautiful, but I have a couple of questions.

First, are Tsavorite garnets tough enough for everyday wear? I don't have a job that includes any hard labor, and I don't have any hobbies that would include knocking a ring around.

Secondly, what kind of settings are best for a tsavorite?

Does anyone have an experience with lapi gems? I found them online, and they have some nice looking stones, like this one...

http://www.lapigems.com/gemstonedetails.asp?id=1808

And also, if anyone has any pictures of a tsavorite ring, especially one with pave diamonds, could they please share?

Thank you very much!

http://http://www.lapigems.com/gemstonedetails.asp?id=1808

 

[Lee Little]

Hi ,
Tsavorite is a good choice for everyday wear. Most any setting will work for it as it is not fragile especially if it is fairly clean looking. I like partial bezels or at least 6 prongs as they hold well and show the stone off nicely. A full bezel will be the most durable but hides the stone more and it sounds like you don''t lay block for a living so it would be overkill. Best regards, Lee

 

[neatfreak]

Not to discourage you away from a Tsav, but most PS vendors have conflict free stones, regardless of size. Try giving Whiteflash or Mark at Engagement Rings Direct a call if you're really wanting a diamond.

If you run a search in the box (above right) for tsav's or gemstone websites, you will get a whole list of them. Wink at Winfields has sourced some really beautiful stones recently, so you could try giving him a call. But remember that a really great Tsav might actually cost MORE than a diamond.


ETA: Here is a website that many PSers have bought from and they have good prices. They also have a large selection of tsav's right now.

http://www.ajsgems.com/catalog/tsavorite%20garnet.aspx

 

[Pandora II]

I have a Tsavorite e-ring and intend to wear it everyday.

However, I do not sleep, shower, do housework, gardening or anything even minorly stressful with my hands without taking it off first.

Regarding settings - basically whatever you want.

Wink sourced my tsavorite for me, and is now doing another.

Good ones don''t come cheap, so it depends how picky you are (I am very, very picky about every detail and wanted top cut/colour etc) and what size stone you want. I could have got a decent sized diamond for the cost of mine.

 

[movie zombie]

Date: 11/27/2007 1:40:59 PM
Author: Pandora II
I have a Tsavorite e-ring and intend to wear it everyday.

However, I do not sleep, shower, do housework, gardening or anything even minorly stressful with my hands without taking it off first.

Regarding settings - basically whatever you want.

Wink sourced my tsavorite for me, and is now doing another.

Good ones don''t come cheap, so it depends how picky you are (I am very, very picky about every detail and wanted top cut/colour etc) and what size stone you want. I could have got a decent sized diamond for the cost of mine.

this is so very very very very very true! there is tsavorite for every budget..... but do a lot research about what makes a quality tsavorite and then make whatever compromise is necessary. also, color stones aren''t calibrated like diamonds and can present setting problems unless you source the stone and have a custom setting made or have the person doing the setting source the stone. also, tsavorite is only 7-7.5 on the moh''s scale which means it really isn''t suitable for 24/7 wear. of course, you can protect it a bit depending how you decide to set it.

look around this website: www.palagems.com and you''ll see some quality tsavorite....and prices to match. but until you see the really good stuff, i think its hard to determine what tradeoffs you''re willing to make. under the collectors corner at pala is the following:

Weight: 3.45 carats
Size: 7.4 x 6.3 x 4.8 mm
Cut: Cushion
Enhancements: None
Price: $6,900 total
Ask for inventory #9492

not everyone can afford a super quality diamond....same goes for color stones. we all make adjustments based on our $$$ and our needs.

good luck!

movie zombie

 

[Pandora II]

That is a gorgeous pair of stones - and this one is nice too:

Weight: 1.31 carats
Size: 7.83 x 5.73 x 3.83 mm
Cut: Oval
Enhancements: None
Price: $2,227 total


I have a suspicion that Wink got mine from Pala.

 

[dasnoop8]

Date: 11/27/2007 2:06:40 PM
Author: Pandora II
That is a gorgeous pair of stones - and this one is nice too:

Weight: 1.31 carats
Size: 7.83 x 5.73 x 3.83 mm
Cut: Oval
Enhancements: None
Price: $2,227 total


I have a suspicion that Wink got mine from Pala.

Wow
that is a beautiful tsavorite but I have neve heard of a tsavorite costing so much in a one carat size. All the beauties I''ve seen are in the 300-800 per carat range-and the 800 per carat are just as nice????? Gem pricing can be confusing

 

[~*Alexis*~]

Fay Cullen has a green stone that is beautiful...

Take a look...

http://www.faycullen.com/engagement_rings/800/efc501r9dd.html

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 11/27/2007 2:18:07 PM
Author: dasnoop8
Wow
that is a beautiful tsavorite but I have neve heard of a tsavorite costing so much in a one carat size. All the beauties I've seen are in the 300-800 per carat range-and the 800 per carat are just as nice????? Gem pricing can be confusing

Let's just say that you get what you pay for.

As Movie Zombie and I have pointed out above, diamonds are not the most expensive stones.

Tsavorite is 200 times rarer than emerald and only 2% of stones are over a carat. Then find one in top colour, almost no inclusions and a great cut and you are getting into tiny percentages.

Vendors aren't stupid - you won't get a tsavorite of the quality of that one for $800 except by sheer fluke from someone who doesn't know what they have got.

The one below was over $5k

 

[colormyworld]

Wow
that is a beautiful tsavorite but I have neve heard of a tsavorite costing so much in a one carat size. All the beauties I''ve seen are in the 300-800 per carat range-and the 800 per carat are just as nice????? Gem pricing can be confusing

I agree with the above statement. Just because you pay more for a stone does not always mean you are getting a better stone. The more times a stone changes hands before it gets to the end user, the more the cost will be.

As an example, this tsavorite weighs 2.74 cts and is 9.35x7.4x4.55mm It is pure green with a 6 tone and 5 saturation and is very clean, just a small fingerprint inclusion that you need a loupe to see.. Cost was 1800 dollars.

If you are willing to learn about gemstones and search, search search, You can save big time.