Colored Gemstone Pendants for Bridal Party

[Clairitek]

It took me a long time to figure out what to get my bridal party who happen to be a pretty diverse group of women with very different styles. Since I spend a good amount of my free internet time on PS I decided to try and figure out some sort of affordable custom sterling silver project to present to them at my rehearsal dinner.

I came across a sliding bezel pendant somewhere on PS and started researching Etsy vendors. I put out an alchemy request and a day later had 6 different people bidding. I worked out a pretty good deal (IMO) on the metal work and chains but then I had the issue of getting stones in time for my wedding.

This is where our dear FrekeChild comes in. She went to her local loose gemstone store and purchased 5 beautiful stones in my budget and shipped them off to me. I already had a little oval spess that I wanted to use for my friend who LOOOOOOVES orange.

So here is the final product! They turned out exactly how I wanted. I really hope my bridal party appreciates how much thought and planning went into them. Knowing my girls, I think they will.

The stones in the pendants are a swiss blue topaz, london blue topaz, peridot, spess garnet, chrysoberyl, and amethyst.

This is a vendor photo. They were made by DanielMJewelry on Etsy.

 

[Clairitek]

Wow that''s a lot of blank space. Don''t know what happened there.

I love me a handful of pendants!

 

[Clairitek]

The stones before being sent off to the jeweler. Along with their friend.

 

[Clairitek]

The obligatory ''lay them in the cracks between your fingers'' shot.

 

[Clairitek]

Aaaaand another.

 

[Clairitek]

Almost done! Another pretty pile of stones.

 

[Clairitek]

Macro of the little spess I found on eBay.

 

[Clairitek]

I didn''t know what a chrysoberyl looked like so Freke told me to imagine Mountain Dew. I''d say that is a pretty accurate description! I love how it seems to glow from within.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Claritek - that is an awesome idea! How gorgeous are those little stones! Any neck shots?

 

[Nomsdeplume]

What an awesome idea! They are beautiful.

 

[D&T]

Oh my goodness, absolutely gorgeous, I''m bezeling one of my peridot into a slider, thanks for posting the info. They are absolutely adorable.

 

[shimmer]

Wow, I love them! How sweet and thoughtful of you

They remind me of sparkly yummy jolly ranchers! What sizes are the stones?


Yay for Freke too

 

[packrat]

Those are gorgeous! What lucky bridesmaids! I need to go have a looksee at his etsy shop!

 

[Clairitek]

Date: 6/11/2009 3:38:18 PM
Author: shimmer
Wow, I love them! How sweet and thoughtful of you

They remind me of sparkly yummy jolly ranchers! What sizes are the stones?

Yay for Freke too

The dimensions on the stones:
7 mm round london blue topaz
7x9 mm oval swiss blue topaz
6 mm round chrysoberyl
7x9 mm oval amethyst
6x8 mm oval peridot
6x4 mm (best guess) oval spessartite garnet

And I agree- Yay for Freke! This could have been disastrous with me purchasing all of my stones from eBay. Who knows how long I would be waiting for my stones to be shipped. Freke had them to me in less than a week from our first conversation about them.

 

[cellentani]

Wow - I''d wear a hideous taffeta dress for one of those! But given your obvious good taste, I''m sure you''re bridesmaids will be beautiful. They''re all gorgeous, but I really love the spess!!

 

[shimmer]

Thanks Claire! They are the perfect sizes too, I particularly love the topaz''s and amethyst.

 

[Kismet]

Those are so pretty! Lucky bridesmaids!

 

[MonkeyPie]

Oh these are SO beautiful! I love them! My favorites are the spess and london. Lucky bridesmaids you have!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

They turned out great!

I was actually considering doing something like that for some girls in my family, do you mind my asking how much they were?

 

[Selkie]

Those are wonderful! What a thoughtful idea for gifts. Did you pick colors specifically for each girl?

 

[cinnamon013]

So awesome! This is my new favorite thread!

 

[Fly Girl]

Love these!

I love simple settings that let the color of the stone be the star. Well done, and best wishes on your wedding!

 

[packrat]

I can''t find that seller on etsy-anyone have a link for a search challenged gal such as myself?

 

[DiaDiva]

Wow! They are so pretty. Like a handful of candy!!!! Your BMs are going to adore them.

 

[icekid]

What a lovely gift to your friends! They are beautiful.

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Omg what awesome gifts!!!!!!!!!

 

[Arcadian]

Those are really adorable!

-A

 

[Clairitek]

Date: 6/11/2009 4:45:26 PM
Author: MakingTheGrade
They turned out great!

I was actually considering doing something like that for some girls in my family, do you mind my asking how much they were?

Nope, not at all! The stones cost me $60 total. You can probably expect to pay anywhere from $12-$20 for the rolo chains (those are 1.5 mm) but there are some deals on eBay for chains if you take the time to look. The metal work cost me $25 per pendant.

 

[Clairitek]

Date: 6/11/2009 4:47:10 PM
Author: Selkie
Those are wonderful! What a thoughtful idea for gifts. Did you pick colors specifically for each girl?

Yes and no. I have a friend with an August birthstone so she will get the peridot stone. Another bridesmaid love orange so the spess is for her. I am going to give the chrysoberyl to another bridesmaid who is a little more offbeat. I am not sure who will get the blues and purple yet though.

 

[Clairitek]

Date: 6/11/2009 6:20:24 PM
Author: packrat
I can''t find that seller on etsy-anyone have a link for a search challenged gal such as myself?

Link to Daniel M Jewelry