Famed location/not location..

[Indylady]

Smaller stone with famed locality (and color to boot)

or

larger stone (non-famed locality and color that is less impressive)?


The smaller/nicer stone is small--5mm, and the larger one is 6.5. I do like small stones, but I already have a couple of rings in the 5mm range and I'd like a little more. The 5mm stone is really nice and does pack a punch, but..its just a little too small. Thoughts?

 

[Aoife]

If it were me, I'd probably wait and keep looking. If what you really want is a larger stone, why settle for one that doesn't have the color or the size you really want? YMMV

 

[LD]

Smaller stone with famed locality (and color to boot)

or

larger stone (non-famed locality and color that is less impressive)?


The smaller/nicer stone is small--5mm, and the larger one is 6.5. I do like small stones, but I already have a couple of rings in the 5mm range and I'd like a little more. The 5mm stone is really nice and does pack a punch, but..its just a little too small. Thoughts?

I'm afraid you've answered your own question. Why settle for second best?

 

[Fly Girl]

I've been in the same situation, and I have enough small stones for now, so I didn't purchase it. Unless you have a specific project in mind for it, I'd pass.

 

[Indylady]

Thank Aofie, LD, and Flygirl!

Aofie--I really do want a larger stone, but I do not see it happening for a stone from this locality (within my prices range that is). However, I am generally very much against settling. I'd much rather wait for something I really love than have a couple of somethings that I don't care much about.

LD--Very good point. I do prefer the smaller stone in all aspects except for size. (Don't you wish you could add a little Miracle Grow to these things?)

Fly Girl-- I feel the same way. I do love the smaller rings that I have, but I made up my mind a while ago to shoot for 6mm and up for my next piece. How did you set your smaller rings? I really love your semi-bezeled ruby, its one of my favorites. If I got the smaller one, I was thinking about a halo or a bezel to add a little size.

 

[LD]

Indy - a quick further thought ........ you know that colour is king in CS world so even though bigger, the second stone doesn't even have colour on its side. If you don't go for the smaller one then hold off and wait until you find one with size AND colour that you'll love.

 

[chrono]

Is pricing equal or pretty close? Is this something difficult to get? For me, no matter the decision, I’d probably turn down the second larger stone with lesser colour. If the stone is rare, then I might go for something smaller with superb colour, especially if as you say, the stones from this locality just do not come in the larger size you prefer.

 

[Fly Girl]

Thank Aofie, LD, and Flygirl!

Aofie--I really do want a larger stone, but I do not see it happening for a stone from this locality (within my prices range that is). However, I am generally very much against settling. I'd much rather wait for something I really love than have a couple of somethings that I don't care much about.

LD--Very good point. I do prefer the smaller stone in all aspects except for size. (Don't you wish you could add a little Miracle Grow to these things?)

Fly Girl-- I feel the same way. I do love the smaller rings that I have, but I made up my mind a while ago to shoot for 6mm and up for my next piece. How did you set your smaller rings? I really love your semi-bezeled ruby, its one of my favorites. If I got the smaller one, I was thinking about a halo or a bezel to add a little size.

I was looking at an exquisite 0.50 ct red Burmese spinel cushion at Intergem a while back. But I already have the .6 ct Burmese ruby ring you mentioned, and an unset 0.5 ct Jeff White pink sapphire/ruby. I decided I didn't need another tiny red stone. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with the Jeff White stone. I had been thinking of a custom bezel-set ring, but funds are fairly tight at the moment, so that project is on hold. It could be an accent stone in a pendant, but that ruby is so nice, it sort of takes over. Still, whenever I see a nice Winza ruby, or another red spinel, I have to hang onto my purse and slowly walk away. It's not easy.

 

[Liane]

Funny, I was just going through this same dilemma this morning. In my case it's just a straightforward matter of smaller/better color vs. larger/not-quite-so-awesome color, though, as both stones come from the same place.

I went with the smaller one, but did so because it was still large enough to suit my plans. If it were "a little too small," I probably would have passed and waited for something better.

 

[Indylady]

LD--I'm going for the smaller one! I do hope that one day I'll be able to find/afford a larger sample of this stone, but for now, I'll just have to enjoy what I can.

Chrono--The pricing is very close. It is something that is difficult to get. (Hehe, I feel like I am playing a game of charades!) The stone is somewhat rare, and has great color. I am not at all surprised that you would chose the one with better color. While gems from this locality do come in larger sizes, they are hard to find and would most likely be quite expensive too.

Fly Girl--I am in love with a red spinel at the moment. (It is not the stone that I am talking about in this thread though.) I keep peeking back at it.. Do you have a thread on your Jeff White ruby? I've tried searching but I can't seem to find it. I would love to see a picture.

Lanie--Do you have a thread on your new project? I'm going with the smaller one in this case; hopefully I won't regret going so small when I see it in person.

I'll share details on the stone once the deal is sealed! (aka, when the vendor responds to my email!)

 

[Liane]

No, no thread for my project, alas. I'm shamefully bad at photography and also a little more reticent about posting my stuff these days because I'm not 100% anonymous on PS (but, honestly, it's mostly because I can't take good pictures of anything to save my life). One of these days I'll have to figure out what kind of camera other people are using and get one for myself.

Can't wait to see the details on your stone!

 

[Fly Girl]

Fly Girl--I am in love with a red spinel at the moment. (It is not the stone that I am talking about in this thread though.) I keep peeking back at it.. Do you have a thread on your Jeff White ruby? I've tried searching but I can't seem to find it. I would love to see a picture.

I never did a thread on that ruby, but I did recently post a quick shot of it over in the Sea of Cortez thread (page 3) in the Pearls forum. Right now its main purpose in life seems to be to stop me from buying even more little red gemstones.

 

[Largosmom]

To me, location is important if your collection goals depend on it. If you are collecting to set into jewelry, or with a certain goal in mind for that stone where location is more important, then go with the stone from the origin you want. On the other hand, if color is the most important thing to you, then location really may not need a big importance. The amount of the investment may also be a factor...is this a stone you would want to have sent to a lab for an assessment of treatment or which is going into a more expensive piece of jewelry for which an appraisal may be needed, then it may be worth a bit more money for the location.

For me...color is the most important thing.

 

[LtlFirecracker]

I have both types of stones, and I wear my smaller stones that have great color much more often than my larger stones that don't pack the same punch.

I can't wait to see stone you bought!

 

[jstarfireb]

I'd get the smaller/nicer one. The color makes the difference, but the location doesn't mean anything to me.

 

[Arkteia]

Or, you can wait and save the $$ till something bigger from this location comes up. Unless it is very rare. (I love charades, and we are going to wait till you post the info, so my guess is... Russian demantoid?)

 

[klewis]

I'd probably go for the stone that has the combination of great colour and famed origin, unless I really wanted a larger stone, in which case I'd wait for a larger stone with great colour.

 

[ooo~Shiney!]

Hi Indy.... Boy, do I understand....
Go for the color and location.
I like small stones myself, if they pack a punch.....

 

[Indylady]

Liane--My photography is horrendous as well. I understand completely!

Fly Girl--Gorgeous ruby! Wowza. I like a lot of the other stones (chrysoberl, moonstone) you posted with your Sea of Cortez pearl as well!

Largo's Mom--I'd say color is really the most important thing to me. I do appreciate gems from certain locales, but it comes second. I have always wanted one of these from this locale, so that is nice.

Ltl--Ok, I'll spill. It's a Burmese ruby!! Its being shipped straight to the vendor that will set it, so..eek!

Jstar--Thank you! I do love your smaller gems (the alex comes to mind).

Crasru--I'll have to add demantoids to the list! Alas, this one is a ruby. I really love your cushion ruby from Gene. (My memory is excellent when it comes to the topic of rubies!)

Klewis--Thank you! I hope that I'll be able to find a bigger one within my budget someday.

O'Shiney--Thank you! Advice taken.

 

[chrono]

Congrats on the new Burmese ruby – yes, they do not come in large sizes unless from Mong Hsu (and that stuff is treated up the wazoo).

 

[LD]

Oooooo congrats! Now then ............. where are the photos?

 

[Fly Girl]

Awesome! We share a love of small red stones. Yes, a bigger Burmese ruby is on my wish list as well. Looking forward to your pictures of this small beauty.

 

[Arkteia]

You were asking about a pendant. Are you thinking about making a pendant with the ruby? Anyhow, even if not - Peter Lees has these auras, and they probably come in smaller sizes, too. Just browse it, the color outside the stone optically "enlarges" the size.

 

[ooo~Shiney!]

Oh my Goodness! A nice Ruby is something I wish for and dream about!
I can't wait to see how you have it set!!!!
I just know it will be gorgeous!!!!