MY FIRST POST! GARNET RING DESIGN

[hepburnsgem]

Hi you fabulous Pricescopers, you!

I'm a long time reader, first time caller. Ha. I really love this board and respect your knowledge and expertise. Okay, here goes... Gulp-You know so much about stones this is sort of intimidating! Anyhoo, I want to design my first ring for myself and I know I want it to be a Toi et Moi design. I'm already married and have a wedding ring that I'm not really crazy about so this is my do-over of a wedding ring/ anniversary present/just because ring/mother's ring etc. all rolled into one. I love the sparkle of diamonds but don't really want one for numerous reasons I don't want to get into right now.


I also *think* I want North- West facing stones in rose gold. I don't want a halo setting, but like some sort of decoration around the prong. Finally, I'd like one stone to be Umbalite, the other to be a Gray Spinel or at least, I think that is what I want.

So, basically the shape of this:
http://www.veschetti.it/ImmaginiProdotti/PUfs4q_ves69257.jpg


with the thin, rose gold, pave band like Lauren B's very cool rs-63 design.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpHRsTmT5e0

My questions are these:

Which lapidary do you think I should use? Is there one that you believe cuts the best Garnet? If I were to buy the garnet on Ebay (or Etsy) is there a retailer that you'd suggest? Do you know of anyone In the LA area I could use to build this ring or anyone you trust/suggest online?

What do you think is a reasonable amount to spend on a rhodolite? I'd like a gem with some fire, sparkle and character if that makes any sense.

What size garnet and spinel do you think would look good on a larger size hand? I wear a 7 and a 1/2 ring.

Finally, do you know of any lapidaries/jewelers that do lay a way plans? I want to create and pay for this ring by myself over the next few months and i'm a full time mom. I'm looking to give this to myself as a "surprise" gift for Christmas. Hey- I've been a good wife for 8 years, I DESERVE this.

I hope this isn't too much of a tall order. Thanks for listening!

 

[chroman]

Is this something you intend to wear everyday? If so, a garnet might not be the greatest choice since its not as hard as spinel or sapphire, and could get damaged with everyday activities.

 

[hepburnsgem]

I'd probably not wear it everyday- i'm thinking of this ring more as a special occasion/ every few days ring.
I like Garnet since it's my birthstone and I think I like the pairing of a rhodolite with a grey spinel after seeing FrekeChild's GORGEOUS ring. Do you think the Garnet would be okay in the setting that I'm thinking of or am I being naive and the garnet needs more protection?

Another question I have: how did you decide what stone size looks good on your hand? I'm thinking of getting a "stand in ring" with the approximate stone size I'm looking at to help me figure it out...?

I hope these questions aren't annoying since I'm a newbie. I can't believe I've lived 35 years and am just finding out that Garnets come in different colors!! I feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of oz when everything goes technicolor. Lol.

I appreciate the response! Thanks so much Chroman!

 

[evergreen]

Hi, Hepburn! I think this is a very sweet idea. The way I see it, you can either make it a very wearable, robust, every-day ring with an inexpensive garnet (the spinel will be able to take day-to-day wear), accepting that over the years the garnet will get some facet abrasion, or an occasional-wear, out-to-dinner sort of ring with the slender pave band you envision. My mom has worn a bezel-set sterling rhodolite garnet nearly every day for the last, oh, decade -- and, sure, the facet junctions are worn, but she doesn't care because it's not a precious sort of ring, just something that she likes to wear & enjoy & fits into her life.

That said, it sounds like you're going for the occasional-wear date-night ring, especially if you are thinking suuuuuuper narrow pave band like the video! If you want to explore stone sizes, the most economical way to do it is with tiny cut-out circles of paper taped to your finger. I'd guess 6x8mm would give you the look you're going for on a 7.5 finger (based on the inspiration ring which is very dramatic!). Don't completely get your heart set on a pave band as narrow as your inspiration video, though... in a 7.5, with two big stones hanging off of it, and suspecting that you aren't planning on a masterful handforged $4000-esque setting, almost-metal-free pave is asking for headaches if you ever plan to open a door, grasp a wine glass, etc. while wearing the ring.

I love the combination of grey with rose gold. I have a grey spinel out being set in 14k RG right now, so maybe I'm biased. Could you post some examples of garnet colors that you like? You say you're looking for a rhodolite/almandine, but that's such a potentially huge range of reds, pinks & purples, not to mention the other colors one can find in garnet (still your birthstone!)!


(from http://www.gia.edu/garnet-quality-factor)

There has been some recent enthusiasm over purple garnets ([URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/purple-garnets-show-and-tell.216395/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/purple-garnets-show-and-tell.216395/[/URL]) and Mahenge garnets ([URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/mahenge-garnets.223898/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/mahenge-garnets.223898/[/URL]) on this forum, too.

 

[PrecisionGem]

I always think the hardness thing is over stated. I wear an Apple Watch every day, have worn it from the time I get up until I go to bed, for 17 months now, and not a mark on it.
The screen is a hardness of 7, just like a garnet. I would think a watch is a bigger target to get scratched than a much smaller stone in a ring.

 

[chroman]

+1 to figuring out what sort of color range you are interested in. I assume you want something that leans a little purple/magenta, as opposed to something thats more red or orange leaning?

Also, keep in mind that garnets in this color range can shift color (some dramatically) under different lighting. I would love to see a garnet series photo like that GIA (but with more!) under different lights - that would be a good refernce.. But anyhow..

Finding both a garnet and a spinel that you love may be hard enough - but getting them in exactly the same size and shape is *really* challenging.

 

[Bron357]

Hi,what a lovely design idea. I'll only suggest that when looking at gems, check their mm measurements as different gems equate to a different carat weight for size. I'm a size 8 myself and for good finger coverage I'd go with 8mm X 6mm. A more petite ring 6mm X 4mm and for a statement ring 10mmx 8mm. My colour choices would be purple with red, purple with blue, orange with red, blue with green. Stones I'd consider garnets in their various colours, citrine, amythest, spinel and zircon. Get some textas and start drawing the ring design with various colours - enjoy your search and design process.

 

[chroman]

its not a gray spinel, but how about a very pale morganite?
https://www.etsy.com/listing/474804275/morganite-from-madagascar-no-heat-oval?ref=shop_home_active_3

 

[Nsmike]

Jeffery Davies is currently cutting umbalites and usually has gray spinels. I would contact him and see if he might have something matching http://jefferydavies.com/