Advice on custom sapphire engagement ring

[Try2benice]

Hi Everyone,

I hope this type of post of allowed because I am totally overwhelmed and need some advice!

A few months ago my bf and I started talking about engagement rings so I went to some stores in the mall and was disappointed, then I tried local jewelers and still something was lacking. I searched online and found a ring I am in love with and I want something that looks very similar but with my own touches and with a colored sapphire instead of a diamond. Here is the inspiration ring http://www.cmstatic1.com/33591/c/radiant-378ctw-canary-yellow-diamond-ring--UDUzNC0zMzU5MS4xNDEzNjk=.jpg..

I brought the above picture to a custom jeweler and they said oh we don't have anything like it and showed me 20 things that did not look similar at all I ended up at an estate/rare gemstone shop where I was shown some nice stones but the prices were a little off. I saw prices on the stone packets, but was told those are not the prices, and he wasn't sure of the prices

Which brings me to this forum!

I know I like cushion cut, I know I like halo and I fell in love with that three band design. I absolutely do not want something that sits very high so I am looking for advice on types of settings that sit low. I inquired about bezzle settings and the jeweler said it isn't done on cushion cuts. I also inquired as to what they mix with their white gold aka I don't want nickle but I like the white gold that is mixed with palladium as I have very sensitive skin. They only told me " WELL ALL WHITE GOLD HAS TO BE DIPPED" They are totally unhelpful!

I also am hoping to have a natural, untreated sapphire as the center stone. I would like something that is a light peach/brown, yellow/brown, cinnamon color or a very white with a tint of blue like icy blue I have been looking online through some of the places posted here and I see brilliant colors but the cuts seem meh, or I can see the flaws, or its in a cut that I don't love.

So everyone how do I go about finding a stone? I am in Florida, USA
What settings would work best for someone who is always seeming to catch on things, or bump things?
Realistically how much am I looking at for a colored sapphire in the 1-2 Ct (or ~ I still don't understand how this works) size range.
And how much am I looking at for a custom design similar to the one I have posted with a diamond halo, as well as at least 2 of the 3 bands with sparkles or perhaps carved?

Hopefully I don't seem nuts I just need help on how to make my vision a reality!

 

[Niel]

Well what's your budget? First off? That would help as custom settings can range greatly in price.

Also no white gold doesnt have to be dipped and you can bezel anything your heart desires!

 

[deskjockey]

when you said peach/brown I thought this:

http://www.torraca.net/projects/sap813/

(you can see some inclusions and things, but it's a very magnified picture and interesting color. *grin*)

As far as setting, it would just be a matter of finding someone to make it for you, which I know the folks here can definitely help with.

 

[Try2benice]

I am hoping to be somewhere between 6k-8k

 

[Try2benice]

when you said peach/brown I thought this:

http://www.torraca.net/projects/sap813/

(you can see some inclusions and things, but it's a very magnified picture and interesting color. *grin*)

As far as setting, it would just be a matter of finding someone to make it for you, which I know the folks here can definitely help with.

That is very close to a color I would like! I love the brown tones!

 

[deskjockey]

Also an icy blue one:

http://www.gemfix.com/images/stones/sapphire_montana/sapphire_montana_441_A.jpg

(gemfix.com, montana sapphire 441)

I really like that peachy-ish one from the torraca site though. OK, carry on. I think for your budget it's doable, for certain

Also, I think for the type of setting you're interested, you might want to check with this person:
https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/LaurieSarahDesigns (not vouching, I have no idea how they are to work with, but I've seen stuff there similar to your inspiration photo)

 

[Niel]

I am hoping to be somewhere between 6k-8k

That's a nice budget. And it has to be a sapphire?

 

[Try2benice]

That's a nice budget. And it has to be a sapphire?

I originally wanted smokey quartz because I love the deep brown but its not good enough for daily wear. Then I fell in love with shades of imperial topaz but I feel like sapphire has a good daily wear/color/price balance.

 

[Niel]

That's a nice budget. And it has to be a sapphire?

I originally wanted smokey quartz because I love the deep brown but its not good enough for daily wear. Then I fell in love with shades of imperial topaz but I feel like sapphire has a good daily wear/color/price balance.

I'm the resident chrysoberyl lobiest so I just have to put a plug in for those. They can come in a lovely golden color, are suitable for everyday wear, and extremely affordable and I love the spakle.

 

[Niel]

That's a nice budget. And it has to be a sapphire?

I originally wanted smokey quartz because I love the deep brown but its not good enough for daily wear. Then I fell in love with shades of imperial topaz but I feel like sapphire has a good daily wear/color/price balance.

I'm the resident chrysoberyl lobiest so I just have to put a plug in for those. They can come in a lovely golden color, are suitable for everyday wear, and extremely affordable and I love the spakle.

You could go more brown/golden but this is a nice one, and would sort of fall in the yellow/brown Category.

 

[Deactivated member 42515]

Minou! Are you around to help?

Minou is our resident CS professional.

 

[Niel]

Lobbyist. Pretty sure lobiest isn't a word.

Yea yea, I'm a bully, we've heard it before.

 

[Deactivated member 42515]

Lobbyist. Pretty sure lobiest isn't a word.

Yea yea, I'm a bully, we've heard it before.

Yea, hello. I know. I edited my comment because I felt bad but you're fast.

 

[Try2benice]

Much too yellow. But thank you for the input! It has to be that just right mix of slightly yellow/orange to have those notes of chocolate brown lol. Are there places in Florida with loose sapphires of all colors that I can look at?

 

[Niel]

Much too yellow. But thank you for the input! It has to be that just right mix of slightly yellow/orange to have those notes of chocolate brown lol. Are there places in Florida with loose sapphires of all colors that I can look at?

Hmm I'm not sure! I know people say gem shows are a good idea to get a sense of what you like. Had you ever looked at brown diamonds? You could get a fair size even in diamond too, as diamonds that are brown pretty low in popularity, which is nice

I can't wait to see this the idea sounds lovely! Would you do mixed metal like the original or all white?

 

[Niel]

Its a shame this isn't more "cushiony" I wonder if the halo/prong placement could make it cushiony

 

[Try2benice]

I think it depends on the color stone. If It needs a bit of gold then I will keep it, but if not I think all white would be nice too. I guess I wanted to stay away from any type of diamond due to the price.

 

[Try2benice]

Its a shame this isn't more "cushiony" I wonder if the halo/prong placement could make it cushiony

oooo pretty surrounded with diamonds this could look like champagne and bubbles. mmmm Stupid oval.

 

[Niel]

Its a shame this isn't more "cushiony" I wonder if the halo/prong placement could make it cushiony

oooo pretty surrounded with diamonds this could look like champagne and bubbles. mmmm Stupid oval.

Honestly some well placed prongs and a cushiony halo can trick the eye lol.

 

[Niel]

Yeah diamonds are expensive but the color your aiming for isn't too much. Here's a 1.6 ct at 5k, and just loom at that color

So it is doable. But a sapphire would be killer too.

I think you can totally get away with all white gold if that's what you prefer.

 

[Try2benice]

5k for a stone and only 2-3k for a custom setting with halo and channel set or pave frosting? Any setting experts that can tell me how much I would be looking at for the setting I posed as inspiration? I guess I need to know my budget for the sapphire? This is hard

 

[Niel]

5k for a stone and only 2-3k for a custom setting with halo and channel set or pave frosting? Any setting experts that can tell me how much I would be looking at for the setting I posed as inspiration? I guess I need to know my budget for the sapphire? This is hard

Settings can vary a lot. You may not even need custom, or you could go with A bench that doesn't charge that much like David klass. Or you could go hand forged and end up paying 8k, it all varies on quality and what you're looking for.

 

[Try2benice]

I don't mind this color http://www.gemfix.com/images/stones/sapphire_pink/sapphire_pink_460.jpg

 

[Niel]

I don't mind this color http://www.gemfix.com/images/stones/sapphire_pink/sapphire_pink_460.jpg

Pretty, but I'd want you to feel better than "not minding " kwim?
This one is a bit more pink but has that " champagne " feel to it



Eta: Oh boo its heated. These are just stones that iny head fit your criteria, besides shape of course. But do you have like a dream color? These are just ideas

 

[velouriaL]

I would also DEFINITELY look into spinel. It's often less expensive than sapphire, is just as durable, and can sparklier. It comes in the shades you mentioned. It's usually untreated.

Julia B on Etsy could do the setting and has a nice selection of custom cut gems. I've learned the hard way that sometimes it can save you a lot of heart ache to buy the setting and the stone as a package and to deal only with someone who knows how to set colored gems.

Gemcal has a few spinels that are described as cinnamon and "walnut" (still don't know what that means, but it looks pretty to my eyes. Unfortunately, none that are left are cushion.

Mastercutgems has a lot of spinels. You might see if there's anything you like in his upcoming sale. IMO, his photo often do not do his stones full justice. You can search on the forum to see picture comparison and review. He has nice stuff at good prices, I think. Not a cushion, but I am really drawn to this one:
http://www.mastercutgems.com/preview.php?cat=250&id=7376

I have no idea what this might look like in person, but it sounds like it could be cool for someone who appreciates brown:
http://www.thegemtrader.com/Aug%2010%20ASapphire%20Page.htm

If you don't mind brown, you might like this one. I think it looks like it could be REALLY cool, especially in the video:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/454441418621991546/

I like that Peter Toracca one, too, a lot.

I also don't like diamonds, but I do like brown diamonds. I bet DBL could hook it up:
http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/categories/diamond-rings#colors=diamond_color_brown&intensity=&shapes=&carat-min=&carat-max=&price-min=1&price-max=8001&cat_id=199&ring_types=&page=1

 

[Try2benice]

I thought my dream color was brown, then I had to go sit with a rare gem expert who showed me so many pretty things. I want something that I will feel good about every day. So bright color are out. I think a champagne color would go well with almost everything but I didn't want to rule out the brownish or peachy, ice blue colors because I am not seeing "my stone" anywhere if that makes sense? I was never that person who knew what they wanted in their head for years so I am starting basically at zero and nailing things down as I see them. I can't even find when there will be a gem show locally I just want to see them in person haha. I ALMOST wish I didn't care and could just say I want something plain and simple but that wouldn't represent me very well hahah. Maybe I am asking too much from a ring

 

[FrekeChild]

Nope. You're not. It'll just take some time to figure out what you want is all. Do you have a pinterest account? I like to go there and do searches to see what kinds of things pop up, and then when I pin stuff, I can go back and see trends. You already know exactly what you want for a setting - the stone is always the hard part anyway, but people can go back and forth forever on settings because the sky is the limit.

 

[chrono]

I get the feeling that you still aren't sure what colour you want. At this point, I would try to see and "play" with actual gems of varying colours to narrow down your choices. What looks good on paper may not wow you in person (due to luster, brilliance, refractive index, etc).

 

[Try2benice]

I get the feeling that you still aren't sure what colour you want. At this point, I would try to see and "play" with actual gems of varying colours to narrow down your choices.

I would love to do that! But I can't find any place that has a selection of more than 1-2 stones. Where can I go to touch and see them? I live in Fl, USA I have not been able to find a single article about a gem show in the are or a colored stone specialist. Maybe I am not googling the right things? I think this would help me I just don't know where do go. Advice is appreciated.

 

[FrekeChild]

Have you tried looking at gemstone videos on youtube?

ETA: As far as looking at stones, I don't really know that it's necessary for your situation right now. Few gemstones are going to be workable for every day wear, so you're limited by that. You really need to figure out what color you want and then go from there.