Considering possible compositions for spinel riing.

[VapidLapid]

Simple and quite small. the central stone is 7.62mm long and 3.5 wide. depth i think was 2.97mm. it is a delicate but strong (contradictory I know) purple lavender step cut. I haav set at the sides 2 .10 point octahedron pale yellow diamonds uncut from Siberia. I envision a band of Electrum 50/50 (my own alloy 50% 24k gold & 50% 999fine silver). THe band is round in cross section, thin at base and slightly thickening as it gets around to the top. Mount for spinel would be set into the band not on top of it and the octahedrons quasi-gypsied into the band on either side.

 

[VapidLapid]

 

[VapidLapid]

 

[VapidLapid]

 

[VapidLapid]

 

[FrekeChild]

I have a spinel very similar in color and shape to that!

Gorgeous concept! I love it!

 

[VapidLapid]

thanks Freke, I should first apologize for the filth in my pics, I have a pug a table saw a router table and a drill press all in a nyc loft. gave up on the clean and orderly thing a while ago (20 years). Also worth mentioning is the spinel is pure Expertly cut by the most excellent Peter Torroca. Somewhow it is simultaneously delicate and deeply colored.

 

[VapidLapid]

I guess I am wavering on the sidestones. sometimes i think they are perfect in size and shape and thet their uncut state id a fine counter foil to the precision in the spinel''s cutting. Other times I see them as hokey. The electrum metal will be a PALE Yellow with a hint of green which I think contrasts well with the purple of the spine and the octahedron.

 

[VapidLapid]

Also I am much more likely to go east west all the time and this looks north south to me now, though I suppose I could east west it and have the diamonds make the whole thing look like a division sign!

 

[FrekeChild]

Lol! I knew that one looked familiar! I'd been eying it since he posted it!

I love the diamonds....

ETA: I'd stick with N/S, but E/W could be awesome too...

 

[VapidLapid]

Yes, I am inclined to agree. the east west division sign motif may work better in another piece with another, perhaps larger, longer stone. I do like the idea of the side stones then being centered in front of, and behind the main.

 

[Barrett]

i like the rough diamond idea..gives balance to the piece..rough and cut..i like unusual things like that..shows creativity and uniqueness..cool idea!

 

[Michael_E]

I think that you ought to come up with some way for the uncut diamonds to be captive by their ends and yet free to rotate. Sitting in cutouts and high enough off the finger, it''d be neat to give ''em a spin every once in a while, kind of like rolling the dice, (easy to clean as well).

 

[chrono]

Totally unique and different yet I have the feeling it will look very nice once completed.

 

[T L]

I have really nothing much to add except that I appreciate your individuality and the way you try to incorporate mother nature's work (rough gems) into jewelry. those octahedrons are beautiful, and when you do set them, please let us know if you had a jeweler do it. I would be very interested. Nice spinel too. What would be cool is if you could find a perfect octahedron spinel since they also grow that way, and did a three stone.

 

[VapidLapid]

Thank you all so much for your ideas and your support. You gave me the confidence today to order 1 1/2 oz 24k gold to start work. I will alloy it myself since I want it not to contain any copper. TL it would be great to get a hold on some gemmy spinel octahedrons. I remember Burmarubies.com had some great eyecandy of a huge necklace, bracelet and others all made with matched sets of spinel hedrons - hundreds of them. They also showed a range of beautiful colors in perfect crystals too. Has anyone bought from them?? I never had the courage to try.
Michael I like the idea of the spinning stone. I once saw a cut diamond in a ring that was mounted so it could move around freely while somehow being captive in its setting. I dont remember the designer but it was at Stuart Moore in NY. I also saw a Spirit Sun diamond there; they are way cooler in person!
The little octahedrons seem to me a natural for melee. 2.5 mm .10 carat, so I compared them when I got home. I looked at the melee Afrigagems offers. The closest size and shape were the Asschers which were around $100. each. These were about $25 each. Though that is not my design criterion it was interesting to note.

 

[PumpkinPie]

very interesting idea! I can''t wait to see what you end up with