Help me find a stone!

[Sarahblue]

Hi, I am looking for a stone for a replacement e-ring. I really like spinels, sapphires, and chrysoberyl. I prefer ovals, cushions or any kind of step cuts. I would really love something with a fantastic or really interesting cut. My budget is about 1k for the stone but the cheaper the better.

 

[JewelFreak]

What size stone are you looking for, if you have a preference? It doesn't sound like you're replacing a stone in an exisiting setting, right? Is any treatment of sapphires acceptable & if so, what sort? You've got a good range of colors in those stones -- are there any you prefer in sapphires or spinels?

 

[Sarahblue]

I am flexible on the size, if it is smaller I can put it in a halo setting, but I like solitaires as well. The setting will be new, I am going to find a stone first and then see what type of setting suits it. I think a 8x6 or 9x7 oval or similar size in another shape would be ideal but anything down to a 6mm would be ok. Heated is fine for sapphires. I like alot of different colors, I just want it to be a nice stone. I like blue (not blue green), silver, lavender (but not amethyst color purple) bright pink, very pale pink, light green, light yellow.

 

[Sarahblue]

Oh and I don't really like the color of most pink sapphires although I do like pink stones. I love peach sapphires though.

 

[chrono]

That's still a large range. How dark or light do you like it to be? Richly saturated or barely there colour or where in-between?

Blue
Sapphire are quite pricey and if you don't mind some gray, blue spinel is affordable. No chrysoberyl

Silver
Spinel takes the cake here but the nice ones are rounds. I would not go for anything less than precision cut.

Lavender
Sapphire and spinel are awesome with this colour

Bright and pale pink
Sapphire will be pricey and if pale, will fit your budget. The same with spinel as the bright ones are more expensive these days.

Green and yellow
Sapphires do green poorly and spinel even worse. Chrysoberyl fits both well.

 

[JewelFreak]

If a Montana sapphire appeals to you, Jerry at Gem Art has a nice one in your budget, 6.1 mm, http://www.gemartservices.com/for-sale.html


Check Gemfix too -- he has some sapphires and a number of spinels that might be what you want. Didn't go nuts for the chrysos, though. http://www.gemfix.com

There are probably others at the vendors listed on the sticky at the top of this forum: https://www.pricescope.com/forum/co...ead-with-respected-cs-vendors-t169561-90.html

If you have any questions, just ask.

 

[Sarahblue]

I think I am focusing my search on a silver or bluish lavender spinel or sapphire. Here are a few that the color appealed to me but I am not sure how good they are. I have never bought a loose stone before so I am having trouble visualizing how they will look set vs. in the pictures. I have seen some pretty blue to purple color change sapphires that I like also but I am nervous about buying one that looks too dark.

http://www.litnon.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=9096

http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?570721747

http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?-1126762818

http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?-768583442

http://loupetroop.com/listings/loose-stones-colored-gemstone/lavender-blue-umba-sapphire

http://odysseygem.com/Gem_Shop/product_info.php?products_id=1812

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-07ct-Gorgeous-Oval-Cut-Natural-Light-Blue-Spinel-/251349387682?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a859749a2#ht_3646wt_962

http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?-739202614

http://diamondbistro.com/category/234/Spinel/listings/35959/Charcoal-Gray-Ceylon-Spinel-186-ct-Cushion.html

 

[GregS]

My vote goes to the Gene Loupetroop stone, hands down. It reminded me of this stone on Multicolour's website, a stone that I think is very nice albeit more purple than you are looking for.

 

[chrono]

My intepretation of what I see might be different from yours.

http://www.litnon.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=9096
Looks quite dark and greyish. Smalll window which is likely to be negligible. Not a good candidate for a bezel setting.

http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?570721747
MC's code lists it as grayish blue so I think it will not look as satuated as pictured. A small window and I don't know if the inclusions will bother you.

http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?-1126762818
I am so partial to this colour it's not even funny. Minor cut issues which most people deem as acceptable. I would too if the colour is as pretty as shown.

http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?-768583442
Stronger purple component but no less pretty. I like this colour a lot too and will overlook the minor cut issues. Don't know if it is eye clean enough for you.

http://loupetroop.com/listings/loose-stones-colored-gemstone/lavender-blue-umba-sapphire
Such a pretty stone; I would verify that it is eye clean. Unfortunately, all sales are final, so you have to consider this.

http://odysseygem.com/Gem_Shop/product_info.php?products_id=1812
Gray and flat topped; it does not appeal to me at all. I prefer a higher crowned stone for various reasons, not just aesthetics.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-07ct-Gorgeous-Oval-Cut-Natural-Light-Blue-Spinel-/251349387682?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a859749a2#ht_3646wt_962
The inclusions and green specks distract from my viewing pleasure.

http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?-739202614
I'm not sure if the lightening of colour at the edges is colour zoning or just the normal shorter light path effect. Note that it is listed as slightly included to the eye.

http://diamondbistro.com/category/234/Spinel/listings/35959/Charcoal-Gray-Ceylon-Spinel-186-ct-Cushion.html
I prefer grey spinels to be lighter in tone, almost a shimmery bright silver instead of a darker charcoal. The lighter ones will show more sparkle.

 

[JewelFreak]

I'm with Greg about the Gene Flanigan sapphire on LT. I've looked at that a few times myself but I'm on the track of something else. Good to ask whether the bit of sugar in it affects its performance since you can't return it, but I kind of doubt it's a problem. Very nice hue, even throughout, & the cutting is good too.

I like the blue one Chrono mentioned, except the lightening around the edges gives me some doubts, unless they can send you more pics. Still go for the lavender one more. The gray spinel looks lifeless to me & the others, meh.

--- Laurie

 

[Sarahblue]

I got some additional pictures of the lavender sapphire and it looks beautiful but when I looked this morning it was on hold.

 

[chrono]

I'm sorry about the sapphire; things move very quickly once pointed out on PS.

 

[Sarahblue]

I guess I will have to be faster next time. There were some Winza sapphires on another thread that I thought were a beautiful color.

http://www.clearcutgems.com/sapphire.html

Do any of those look good? If they are a non standard shape is that a problem when setting them?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrwF4tsAFKE&feature=youtu.be

Any thoughts on this spinel? Is it too dark?

 

[chrono]

Love the first one because of the lavender hue and strong saturation. It is a standard cushion shape which will fit a calibrated setting, aka easy to set.
The second one will fit into a standard oval setting. Too purple for me but that's just a personal colour preference.
Third one is not as well saturated as the first but will fit a standard 8 x 6 cushion setting.
The fourth will fit a standard round setting; I'm not hot about this one because the saturation is too light (a bit greenish and grayish).
The last one has better saturation than the oval (second) but is smaller. It should fit a standard cushion setting.

The video spinel look darkish in tone and shows a fair amount of extinction. Perhaps it looks better in person but I'm not a risk taker when it comes to international purchases.

 

[JewelFreak]

If you like blue & lavender, the first one on the Clearcut site is very nice. I've come close to snagging that myself, except I'm saving my $$ for a tsavorite & not in the market for a sapphire. It's worth asking about at least!

--- Laurie

 

[Sarahblue]

That one is my favorite of the bunch too, but it is a little over my budget right now. Maybe I should save up a little more and get something a little nicer.

 

[sonyachancs]

there is a lovely gunmental spinel on jeffrey davies' pinterest that has a great size (close to your specs), and is REALLY cheap - it'd make a really interesting e-ring!

as well a hot-pink sapphire, if that's right up your alley. I love this selection of stones, and they go for good prices too and he was completely communicative and lovely throughout my constant questions!

http://www.pinterest.com/jeffdaviesgems/boards/

 

[Deactivated member 42515]

Jeff's gray spinel is too dark. I don't think it's what you are looking for.

 

[sonyachancs]

but jeff's hot pink sapphire (is that what you mean by bright pink) might work! it's a decent size too (and I think might be lovely in yg)..

 

[Sarahblue]

The pink sapphire is very pretty, but not quite the color I am looking for. For a pink stone I prefer the color of pink spinels or morganite color pinks. I guess more of a peachy or pale pink?

 

[Niel]

http://www.thegemtrader.com/Jul13PSapphirePage.htm

purple oval (the page says 900+ but the listing before says 860, also, id ask if he if hes flexible on price, no harm ins asking.)

heres a pale pink

http://www.thegemtrader.com/Dec%2008%20Sapphire%20Page.htm

 

[Sarahblue]

That purple sapphire is really pretty! I also liked the lighter blue matched pair and the matched pair of spinels. Too bad I don't need a pair.

 

[GregS]

The purple Sapphire may have extinction/bow tie issues.

 

[Sarahblue]

The purple Sapphire may have extinction/bow tie issues.

What should I be looking for to avoid those problems? I think I understand the window concept enough and can see large/medium ones at least but after that I am a bit lost.

 

[chrono]

See the areas circled in red and notice that they are extremely dark and covers a good bit of the stone? Those could potentially be extinct areas but we won't know for sure until the stone is seen in person.

 

[Sarahblue]

See the areas circled in red and notice that they are extremely dark and covers a good bit of the stone? Those could potentially be extinct areas but we won't know for sure until the stone is seen in person.

Thanks! Is that usually because of the cutting or is it inherent in the stone?

 

[minousbijoux]

There are certain shapes that lend themselves to these kind of extinction/bowtie issues and ovals unfortunately lead the pack. Also, rectangular shaped stones, which get the shadowing effect, when half the stone appears bright and the other seems turned off, if that makes sense.

Sarah, you seem to be attracted to so many colors - have you thought about going to a gem show such as Intergem where you can see and play with many different kinds of stones?

 

[chrono]

Sometimes it is due to the cut, the stone or both. In this case, I think it is most likely to be the cut.

 

[Sarahblue]

There are certain shapes that lend themselves to these kind of extinction/bowtie issues and ovals unfortunately lead the pack. Also, rectangular shaped stones, which get the shadowing effect, when half the stone appears bright and the other seems turned off, if that makes sense.

Sarah, you seem to be attracted to so many colors - have you thought about going to a gem show such as Intergem where you can see and play with many different kinds of stones?

That's good to know. I know that oval diamonds often have bowtie issues but I wasn't sure if it was the same with colored stones. I LOVE oval diamonds. My original e-ring is an oval sapphire and it is very dark and probably really poorly cut also but we were on a pretty small budget then and I found it on ebay. Next year will be our five year anniversary so I want to get started on a new ring. I'm looking for the stone now and then that will give me time to save up for the setting. I wear just a band most of the time since I work i healthcare so a nice necklace could make a good anniversary present also.

That's a great idea about the gem show, I am sort of all over the place with what I want. Do you know of any in the Boston area?

 

[minousbijoux]

I'm pretty sure that Intergem has shows there - maybe in Marlboro (Gah! I'm originally from Boston but been gone so long I'm forgetting how to spell, lol!)? Also there is another group that does gem shows too. I think its called the Gem Faire, spelled just like that? Google those and you should find places close by you.