Kalynna
Rough_Rock
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2022
- Messages
- 60
I believe I finally have a piece worth starting a thread about! I was browsing eBay and found a unique vintage 18k gold sapphire cocktail ring. I loved the style, and I was intrigued by the center sapphire, which looked to be a good velvet blue. The seller said they were "pretty sure" the sapphire was real, but had no information on it So I pulled the trigger anyway, fully intending to return if it didn't work. Here's the seller photo:
Once in hand, I was amazed at the heft of the piece and how the halo stones GLOWED! They seriously look like little light bulbs in certain lights. However, I couldn't see any inclusions in the center sapphire and figured it was either lab made or another synthetic. Plus the style of the ring left it completely dead.
I took it to my jeweler, who is usually pretty "meh" about the stuff I drag in for him to look at, but he was seriously impressed by the workmanship of the ring. He said that it was reminiscent of early-to-mid century VcA and Tiffany quality, plus the prong tips are actually platinum. He thinks the sapphire is lab-made, which is a bummer, but I had already made up my mind that I would keep it and repurpose the setting.
I thought I'd go through my to-be-set stones to find something else to put in it, but instead, I impulse-bought a diamond that my jeweler suggested He thought that a warm champagne diamond would look nice, and as soon as he pulled it out, I was in love. It's VVS, C2, and at .99 ct, I could afford it! We went forward in swapping the stones out. Here's the original sapphire in daylight and the finished product:
It's hard to capture the warmth and fire of the diamond - it seems to photograph a bit grey, but it's a lot more "champagne" IRL.
Now for the question! My jeweler also suggested replacing the halo stones (which also appear to be lab sapphires) with something green like tsavorites. If I do it, I would keep these stones and use them for another project. I'll probably keep it as-is for the short run since I've been investing in a lot of projects lately (eek!), but I wanted to get your all of your thoughts and suggestions on the halo stones!
Once in hand, I was amazed at the heft of the piece and how the halo stones GLOWED! They seriously look like little light bulbs in certain lights. However, I couldn't see any inclusions in the center sapphire and figured it was either lab made or another synthetic. Plus the style of the ring left it completely dead.
I took it to my jeweler, who is usually pretty "meh" about the stuff I drag in for him to look at, but he was seriously impressed by the workmanship of the ring. He said that it was reminiscent of early-to-mid century VcA and Tiffany quality, plus the prong tips are actually platinum. He thinks the sapphire is lab-made, which is a bummer, but I had already made up my mind that I would keep it and repurpose the setting.
I thought I'd go through my to-be-set stones to find something else to put in it, but instead, I impulse-bought a diamond that my jeweler suggested He thought that a warm champagne diamond would look nice, and as soon as he pulled it out, I was in love. It's VVS, C2, and at .99 ct, I could afford it! We went forward in swapping the stones out. Here's the original sapphire in daylight and the finished product:
It's hard to capture the warmth and fire of the diamond - it seems to photograph a bit grey, but it's a lot more "champagne" IRL.
Now for the question! My jeweler also suggested replacing the halo stones (which also appear to be lab sapphires) with something green like tsavorites. If I do it, I would keep these stones and use them for another project. I'll probably keep it as-is for the short run since I've been investing in a lot of projects lately (eek!), but I wanted to get your all of your thoughts and suggestions on the halo stones!