Paraiba... paraiba... what have I done?!

[Crystal_Dreams]

Let me preface this by saying I've never been much of a coloured stone girl.

This all ended when I purchased a pretty light seafoamy green emerald from CVB (still waiting for it to be finished in its custom setting!). From then on, I would browse the coloured stones forum... hoping to learn a little bit more here and there, mostly about emeralds as I bought mine unseen (I know.. potential for disaster there but I trust Caysie and it wasn't ridiculously expensive)!

THEN I started seeing all these threads about Paraibas... I'm sure you all know how it goes. One moment I had only heard of them in passing... the next, I'm TRAWLING through pricescope for every thread I can come across!!

So when Yvonne recently listed her new stones, I jumped. This is majorly stretching my budget and it won't be set for a LONG while... plus I have it on a short layaway... but I've just paid the deposit on my very own paraiba!!!

It's pretty included... but seems glowy from the photos and I do love that colour!! Hopefully it will be what I'm looking for when it finally makes it into my hands!!

Here's one of Yvonne's photos:




Thoughts on the stone?

 

[elle_71125]

Ooh, ooh...is that the 2.5ct one? I wanted that so bad but my budget said no (stupid budget). I'll admit that I'm feeling some jealousy.

It's more included but it seems like anything less than a car is more included now anyways. I actually like the inclusions. I think it lends itself to the glow. It's all about the color anyway right?

I hope you love it. Welcome to the club!

 

[Acinom]

Congrats!!! And welcome to the Paraiba club! Your stone seems to have a mesmerizing colour and glow

 

[i_love_diamonds]

i love it. paraiba tourmaline has been my favorite for years now. i wish i could own one.

 

[chatoyancy]

Yay!! Congratulations! It's a lovely and glowy!

 

[Crystal_Dreams]

Elle, yes this is the 2.5ct one!! I think I saw you posted it on the someone's got to buy this thread.... I umm'd and ahh'd given the cost but no one else snapped it up and the colour just seemed to speak to me compared to the others she had listed...

Here's hoping it glows in person!!

 

[littledebbie81]

Elle, yes this is the 2.5ct one!! I think I saw you posted it on the someone's got to buy this thread.... I umm'd and ahh'd given the cost but no one else snapped it up and the colour just seemed to speak to me compared to the others she had listed...

Here's hoping it glows in person!!

Have you received it yet? Looking forward to seeing pics!!

 

[Crystal_Dreams]

Not yet!! Still paying off my layaway so it will be awhile.... Just saw the new one that Yvonne has up on her page. I'm almost tempted to ask if I am able to swap the one I have on layaway for it- it's a heck of a lot cheaper!! But it's smaller too... so many decisions... I guess it will be hard to size up in the future if I want a bigger stone...

 

[theredspinel]

Not yet!! Still paying off my layaway so it will be awhile.... Just saw the new one that Yvonne has up on her page. I'm almost tempted to ask if I am able to swap the one I have on layaway for it- it's a heck of a lot cheaper!! But it's smaller too... so many decisions... I guess it will be hard to size up in the future if I want a bigger stone...

If you can comfortably afford it with the layaway I'd say stick to the bigger one. A) it's bigger and b) I think it looks a bit nicer too?

I have to get smart about my gem purchases (after seeing Elle' s family picture)! And save up properly so I can get bigger then meelee sizes!

 

[Crystal_Dreams]

Thank you I think your reply helped me make up my mind and when I looked again, her new paraiba had already been snapped up!!

Once I pay off my layaway I will have to save up to set it... but have already approached Alistair Kelsey (inspired by Acinom's gorgeous zircon trilogy ring in his elegance setting- I hope that's ok!!) about getting something of a similar style made up

 

[Acinom]

Thank you I think your reply helped me make up my mind and when I looked again, her new paraiba had already been snapped up!!

Once I pay off my layaway I will have to save up to set it... but have already approached Alistair Kelsey (inspired by Acinom's gorgeous zircon trilogy ring in his elegance setting- I hope that's ok!!) about getting something of a similar style made up

Naturally that is ok!! It's Alistairs design anyway and I would be honoured. Alistair is a dream to work with and I would love to here your experiences once you start working with him.

 

[Crystal_Dreams]

I have been meaning to try him out for some time, given I'm from Australia so he's semi 'local' to me

Your gorgeous zircon ring absolutely decided it though. He kindly fixed one of my JbG bangles free of charge after I accidently caught it on my bag while wearing it and forcefully swung my arm forward, bending it WAAAYY out of shape (who knew my arm swing was so strong?!) so I have been waiting for the right project to come up to send to him- I've had OEC projects and duchess cut projects but none of those were ever quite right... I believe setting this paraiba may be the one for him!!! It's certainly going to be one of the more costly stones in my little collection so I think his hand forged setting may do nicely!!

May I ask how you like his work for your ring Acinom?

This will be my first ever 3-stone ring (again, been meaning to get one for awhile but the stars never quite aligned for the stones I bought and projects I intended) and I am HUGELY excited!! How fragile is tourmaline? Do I have to baby it once it's set?

 

[missy]

WOW, gorgeous!!!!!!

 

[Acinom]

The 3 stone ring is very well made by Alistair @Crystal_Dreams.
I love the way he folds metal like its a piece of delicate fabric. The ring is classic and very well made, with a specific touch.

I am less hard on my hands then I used to be and my rings look like new (or would that be because I have way to many rings). I am extra careful with my Paraibas and green tourmaline because they are so precious to be. So I pick the days on which I wear these as I never take my rings off during the day.

 

[mochiko42]

Thank you I think your reply helped me make up my mind and when I looked again, her new paraiba had already been snapped up!!

Once I pay off my layaway I will have to save up to set it... but have already approached Alistair Kelsey (inspired by Acinom's gorgeous zircon trilogy ring in his elegance setting- I hope that's ok!!) about getting something of a similar style made up

CD, just to let you know that the smaller oval paraiba is back up on Yvonne's page.