Hmmmm. Need your opinions on what to do with my star sapphires.

[geckodani]

So. I inherited a set of star sapphire jewelry from my Grammy. In the same debacle involving my first e-ring reset, I had the earrings and ring redone. With horrible results in the case of the ring, and mediocre ones in the case of the earrings.

So. I now have a pendant I love, but with a broken clasp. A loose star sapphire and a pair of earrings that stick out too far to be comfortable.

Now, I won''t be able to do this for a while, but I''m trying to decide what route to take as far as resetting them into pieces I will actually wear. You know me, a millenium of research must now begin.

The pendant I like. And I think I want to try to tie everything in to it''s design. I''ll post a pic in a second.

My first priority is the earrings, since I think they are the pieces I will wear the most often.

Here they are in their original form, along with the original ring:

They were clip ons that hung from the underside of the ear.

Now, despite my reservations, the original idiot jeweler just stuck a post on the back of the existing setting, and now I have the earrings pictured below. Which stick out SO FAR from my ear that they are just not practical to wear every day.

I am thinking that simple thin bezels would be the way to go. Or I could see if I can get the current settings shaved down on the back, to make them smaller, so that they still tie in to the pendant.

Here''s the whole set as they are now.

 

[geckodani]

So.... the earrings. What do you think? Small bezels? Or stick with the 4 prong thought to mimick the pendant?

 

[geckodani]

As for the ring.... I''m seriously considering saving up for a million years and having James Meyer do something along these lines, but without the milgrain, and with the curl on the right mimicking the curve of the pendant.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 12/9/2008 10:24:38 AM
Author: geckodani
As for the ring.... I''m seriously considering saving up for a million years and having James Meyer do something along these lines, but without the milgrain, and with the curl on the right mimicking the curve of the pendant.

Ohhhh purty!!!! I would do this with a bezel w/ milgrain for the earrings. YUMMY!

 

[geckodani]

Date: 12/9/2008 10:39:09 AM
Author: neatfreak

Date: 12/9/2008 10:24:38 AM
Author: geckodani
As for the ring.... I''m seriously considering saving up for a million years and having James Meyer do something along these lines, but without the milgrain, and with the curl on the right mimicking the curve of the pendant.

Ohhhh purty!!!! I would do this with a bezel w/ milgrain for the earrings. YUMMY!

Do you think it would tie into the pendant still if I did that? Or should I redo the pendant?

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 12/9/2008 10:44:12 AM
Author: geckodani

Date: 12/9/2008 10:39:09 AM

Author: neatfreak

Date: 12/9/2008 10:24:38 AM

Author: geckodani

As for the ring.... I''m seriously considering saving up for a million years and having James Meyer do something along these lines, but without the milgrain, and with the curl on the right mimicking the curve of the pendant.

Ohhhh purty!!!! I would do this with a bezel w/ milgrain for the earrings. YUMMY!

Do you think it would tie into the pendant still if I did that? Or should I redo the pendant?

Hmmmm....If you can I would probably redo the pendant to compliment the bezels a bit more. But I don''t think it''s a necessity right away.

 

[mercoledi]

Oh man, that ring would be lovely! It would still be similar to the pendant, but not matchy-matchy. Maybe add some milgrain to tie it all together. Great stars!

 

[geckodani]

I don't wear necklaces as often as earrings and rings, so the pendant could wait for a face lift.

Hmmm.

Okay, so, thin bezeled earrings. I'm undecided on the milgrain.

Save for a millenium or see if my local guy (not the same horrible one) can duplicate something similar for me. Then figure out the pendant.

 

[T L]

Are they natural or synthetic star sapphires? Just asking because sometimes that factors into the price of what you may want to pay for setting them. . . although I''m sure they''re priceless heirlooms to you.

 

[geckodani]

Date: 12/9/2008 8:24:19 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
Are they natural or synthetic star sapphires? Just asking because sometimes that factors into the price of what you may want to pay for setting them. . . although I''m sure they''re priceless heirlooms to you.

I honestly have no idea, LOL. Is there a way I could find out, short of having them appraised?

 

[T L]

Typically if the stars are pinpoint needle fine and super perfect, and the background color is extremely even, they might be. However, you might want to take it to a gemologist to make sure. Synthetic star sapphires have been around for ages.

 

[geckodani]

They probably are synthetic.

Which is okay by me! Hmm though. I wonder if one of the etsy designers might be a better choice to have work on them? In silver? The pendant is white gold.... which is why I wanted to stick with WG. But.... Money is way, way tight, and I''d rather have them in silver that I''ll wear then sitting around in WG that doesn''t get worn.

 

[JaxBradGG]

I am 99.9 % sure those are synthetic but if they are heirlooms it doesnt matter right? You can tell because of the fine star, typical color, and shape. They look like "Linde" Synthetic star sapphires...

 

[geckodani]

Date: 12/10/2008 11:26:16 AM
Author: JaxBradGG
I am 99.9 % sure those are synthetic but if they are heirlooms it doesnt matter right? You can tell because of the fine star, typical color, and shape. They look like 'Linde' Synthetic star sapphires...

Yeah, it doesn't really matter to me at all.

I was completely fascinated by them as a child, which is why my Grammy left them to me.

I guess setting them in affordable silver wouldn't be a bad thing, right?

ETA: It is good to know though!

 

[geckodani]

I just read up on the Linde star sapphires, and I think you are correct. The timeline is right for when the stones were purchased.

 

[stepcutnut]

I think they are lovely and the ring design will look fabulous

 

[geckodani]

Thanks stepcutnut.

I''m perusing Etsy to look for folks that do bezels in WG.

 

[geckodani]

Hmmm. What about something like this, but with the curl on either side replaced with something like the swoop of the pendant? With a bezel in the center?

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 12/10/2008 2:28:19 PM
Author: geckodani
Hmmm. What about something like this, but with the curl on either side replaced with something like the swoop of the pendant? With a bezel in the center?

I think that would be really pretty gecko!

 

[geckodani]

Thanks neatfreak! I have no idea when I''m going to do this, but I love all the input and feedback.

 

[marcy]

Very pretty. I think they are Linde Star sapphires. Have fun designing your new pieces.

 

[Meowtown2]

Gecko, I love star sapphires in bezel settings! I think the earrings and the whole set are going to be just gorgeous!
I especially love the James Meyer setting you posted. Where did you find it?

I bought this ring in Florence a few years ago and really like the simple setting. I thought I''d share it in case you''re looking for more examples!

 

[geckodani]

Thanks Marcy! I will!

Date: 12/12/2008 9:03:25 AM
Author: Meowtown2
Gecko, I love star sapphires in bezel settings! I think the earrings and the whole set are going to be just gorgeous!
I especially love the James Meyer setting you posted. Where did you find it?

I bought this ring in Florence a few years ago and really like the simple setting. I thought I''d share it in case you''re looking for more examples!

Coatimundi''s gorgeous bezel is from James Meyer. Here is her thread.

I love that ring! Just lovely!

I still can''t decide how to proceed. I am leaning towards having them all set in silver, but I feel bad, since I received them set in white gold.

But if I wait until I can afford WG.... those babies are going to be sitting around for a looooong while.