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Show me your cabochons & maybe help me find mine?

vintagelover229

Ideal_Rock
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I would really love to see everyone cabochons-I'm on the hunt (in an ideal world for a neon purple star sapphire) for a cab-and would love to see the colors that you guys are sporting in your collections. My budget is very limited-so on my hunt I have to remain pretty open minded. I have less than 1k to get a stone since I'll be having a James meyer inspired setting created for it (hopefully by David Klass but I have reached out to another artisan vendor that I'm praying I can work with) but I'd like to see what you guys have to help me narrow down my search. I want something no larger than 2 carats (I realize weight is hard on CS, especially cabs due to carrying their weight in the depth) and I'm not really interested in the light blue/silver star sapphires. A nice star ruby (or non-star) or sapphire would be something I would love to find since I'm super hard on my rings. The only ring James Meyer had in my budget (since its pre-made he prices things differently than if he sourced the stone and creates something from scratch) is this one-and while I do really like it and it is in my budget it just kind of appears like a run of the mill bezel set cab sapphire ring to me. It doesn't have his signature leaf or scrolls that I've grown to love-if it did I would have already been all over it :(
http://jamesmeyerjewelry.com/wordpress/1503-2/#.VnruCyWP87w

I'm hoping to create something in either yellow gold, unplated white gold or even rose gold depending on the stone I can find. I'm fairly open to size/treatments (although I would prefer none) and will go as small as .5 carat in order to get the color that I'm after. I really love the neon glow that paribas have but they are cost prohibitive as well as too soft for me (I'm super hard on my jewelery).

I've hunted all the recommended vendors and they don't have much in their inventory in the budget/size (I should note-for the right stone with that WOW color it doesn't have to be a cab-but for hunting purposes that's where my focus lies. If something really fab comes along and is the right price with that popping glow I'll happily give it a forever home on my finger).

I love the color of justin cutters wife's sapphire, I love neon purple and green but the green needs to be a nice rich and deep green so I'm open to that in spinel too. First choice would be a sapphire but I'm totally open to a spinel cab too. Would prefer it to be an oval, but that isn't a deal breaker.

I've enlisted the help of thegemstone project-so she's going to see what her sources have and I've also posted to the fine faceted gemstone market on facebook in hopes someone has something hiding in their stash that will work in my very modest budget. I'm so green with this and honestly-this will likely be my one and only. Adding funds isn't an option unless i feel like liquidating more of my jewelery which I really don't care to do since I wear most all of it at this point. So the more budget friendly the stone the better.

My order too tall ya think?
I'd love to see your pretty cabs as inspiration while hunting for my own. I'll post a couple of more rings that I like (I like the organic leaf style) as well as pictures of the 2 JM rings where my sketch came from in the next post. Thank so much for reading!

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859022_10207136616228292_4007537900545594733_o.jpg

1486-1.jpg

1928703_10207136617668328_2853973269221662628_n.jpg
 

vintagelover229

Ideal_Rock
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Here are the inspiration rings for reference

1457494_10207136615028262_6446828723447783291_n.jpg

1485-1.jpg

5347_10207136613868233_5934242629461747211_n.jpg

12391176_10207136612068188_1433657645923804172_n.jpg
 

urseberry

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Oct 27, 2007
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516
img_20151117_093949.jpg

The stone, a blue sapphire, was $90 + $10 shipping from Tan! 1.33 ct, 6.8 x 5.7 x 3.5 mm. Setting is 14K white gold by Stuller.
 

urseberry

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Oct 27, 2007
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I love cabochons. I just remembered that I have a tsavorite cabochon, also. This is a vendor photo, from Johannes Orstadius. This was also very inexpensive, under $500. 7mm x 6.5mm, 1.91 ct.

tsav-cab.jpg
 

vintagelover229

Ideal_Rock
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Those are both gorgeous! I especially love the sapphire. Your giving me hope that I can actually find something I love on a budget! Thank you for sharing-I posted in the FB group and one vendor showed me a 3 carat star ruby that I loved (too big though) that was 5k. I lol'ed bc well, that's over double my entire budget for the entire project!

Is Tan the ebay guy? Do you have a link? Can't hurt to shoot another email out-not expecting too many replies since it's the holidays but that's okay. I don't need to make any decisions until the end of Jan. at the earliest since that's when my bypass ring gets shipped out. Sad day that will be but hopefully by then I'll have found my stone and gotten quotes back from the 2 vendors I am getting setting quotes from.
 

urseberry

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vintagelover229

Ideal_Rock
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Your stuller setting made me curious so I went and did a quick search-if I can't find a stone I like that's in budget to have a custom setting and fall in love with more not as budget friendly it looks like I have a few stock options that may work.

http://www.stuller.com/products/121026/?groupId=5154

http://www.stuller.com/products/7186/?groupId=36583

http://www.stuller.com/products/7029/?groupId=34840

http://www.stuller.com/products/7049/?groupId=35200

Thanks for the link, maybe he has something hiding not listed yet :) Can't hurt to ask!
 

Michael_E

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If I had a low budget and wanted nice star I'd buy an existing stone that had issues and have it re-cut. This stone from Simply Sapphires looks lumpy and striped with silk, but should be suitable, with a re-cut, to round out the oval. That wonky spot in the pic may be a slight fracture or maybe a deeper feather which doesn't show as readily as in the picture. It might be worth calling them and see what they have to say since it's very cheap and possibly has potential.

I have no affiliation with, nor do I even know these guys, but they are on the Preferred Vendor list, so is it O.K for me to post an image from their site? If not please delete this and slap my hand.

simply_sapphires_star_ruby.jpg
 

crescentgems

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I thought you were looking for a purple star Sapphire
I saw this at master cut gems - posting this as he is in the vendor list
26522.jpg
 

T L

Super_Ideal_Rock
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vintagelover229|1450899419|3965390 said:
I would really love to see everyone cabochons-I'm on the hunt (in an ideal world for a neon purple star sapphire) for a cab-and would love to see the colors that you guys are sporting in your collections.

Here's a very thorough thread with many cabochon pieces from various Pricescope members.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-me-your-cabochon-pieces.150054/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-me-your-cabochon-pieces.150054/[/URL]
 

vintagelover229

Ideal_Rock
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Michael_E|1450914469|3965500 said:
If I had a low budget and wanted nice star I'd buy an existing stone that had issues and have it re-cut. This stone from Simply Sapphires looks lumpy and striped with silk, but should be suitable, with a re-cut, to round out the oval. That wonky spot in the pic may be a slight fracture or maybe a deeper feather which doesn't show as readily as in the picture. It might be worth calling them and see what they have to say since it's very cheap and possibly has potential.

I have no affiliation with, nor do I even know these guys, but they are on the Preferred Vendor list, so is it O.K for me to post an image from their site? If not please delete this and slap my hand.

Thanks for the suggestion Michael E: I'm not sure recutting is the route I want to go at this point though since then I'm dealing with more than just 2 vendors and am taking a risk that I'm not on any sort of familiar ground on. But I appreciate the suggestion and will keep it in mind if I can't find what I"m looking for as an option!


crescentgems said:
I thought you were looking for a purple star Sapphire
I saw this at master cut gems - posting this as he is in the vendor list
26522.jpg

Where did you find this? I looked twice at his site (before your post and after) and I still was unable to locate it. I even looked under cabs and didn't see it :???:

TL said:
vintagelover229|1450899419|3965390 said:
I would really love to see everyone cabochons-I'm on the hunt (in an ideal world for a neon purple star sapphire) for a cab-and would love to see the colors that you guys are sporting in your collections.

Here's a very thorough thread with many cabochon pieces from various Pricescope members.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-me-your-cabochon-pieces.150054/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-me-your-cabochon-pieces.150054/[/URL]

Thanks for the thread-I'll do some more reading. Not sure why that didn't pull up in the search when I searched PS for a thread like that.

Has anyone heard of star ruby international? I'm eyeing a few from them currently and am waiting a reply on making comparison videos. I've also been in touch with Scott schreiber in regards to a custom setting. I told him my total budget and he didn't say he couldn't do it, which was much more encouraging then my email exchanges with James meyer.

Here are a few I've been eyeing.
I also emailed them to see if they have anything in this color closer to the size I'm searching for since they don't have anything in their stock online
http://www.starruby.in/store/burmese-star-sapphires/12-99-carat-rare-deep-glossy-purple-star-sapphire-from-burma


This one has an inclusion but I don't mind the color-just worried it's too translucent.
http://www.starruby.in/store/burmese-star-sapphires/1-65-carat-glossy-purple-star-sapphire-from-mogok

I realize this is more pinkish than I was going for but the color I really just love for whatever reason
http://www.starruby.in/store/burmese-star-rubies/1-74-carat-unique-glossy-pinkish-red-unheated-burmese-star-ruby

Smaller than I'd like but another nice color I love
http://www.starruby.in/store/burmese-star-rubies/1-02-carat-lovely-deep-magenta-red-burmese-star-ruby

A bit lighter-more lilac than I was going for and seems slightly out of oval but the only other purple one in my budget/size
http://www.starruby.in/store/ceylon-star-sapphires/2-63-carat-exceptional-purple-star-sapphire-from-sri-lanka

I also like the blue on this one but its over budget and too large
http://www.starruby.in/store/burmese-star-sapphires/6-35-carat-intense-cornflower-blue-star-sapphire-from-mogok


Another purple but its too light
http://www.starruby.in/store/ceylon-star-sapphires/2-63-carat-exceptional-purple-star-sapphire-from-sri-lanka

This one isn't the right purple, more pink than I'd like (and not the glowing pink) but I do like the star and the saturation
http://www.starruby.in/store/ceylon-star-sapphires/3-07-carat-sri-lankan-violet-star-sapphire-with-super-sharp-star

Better color but too large
http://www.starruby.in/store/ceylon-star-sapphires/4-86-carat-exquisite-reddish-purple-star-sapphire-from-ceylon



Any thoughts on any of these stones? Things I can look at while on the hunt that after viewing these you can point out to help me filter though the rest?

Thanks! Sorry for the delay-busy week!
 

Garnetgirl

Ideal_Rock
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Has anyone heard of star ruby international? I'm eyeing a few from them currently and am waiting a reply on making comparison videos. I've also been in touch with [siz]Scott schreiber[] in regards to a custom setting. I told him my total budget and he didn't say he couldn't do it, which was much more encouraging then my email exchanges with James meyer.
Vintage lover, have you seen these posts by Arkteia?

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-ruby-has-been-lost-stolen-steps-to-take.218324/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-ruby-has-been-lost-stolen-steps-to-take.218324/[/URL]
 

puppyguts

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Feb 9, 2012
Messages
234
Here's a group shot of mine in terrible indoor lighting, no sun again
20160104_134035.jpg
1.6 blue moonstone sri Lanka 8.9x6.8 from barry
3.6 black star sapphire India from Kosnar
3.73 aquamarine 10.7x8.4x3.74 from barry
14.4 peach moonstone India 15x9.3 from jim mccormick

They all look better than my dull overcast camera pictures
 

chrono

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Messages
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I would check out Tan on eBay, as suggested above for your cabochon.
I would also avoid selecting Scott to set your stone, given the troubles another PS member has in her dealings with him.
 

vintagelover229

Ideal_Rock
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Garnetgirl|1451679886|3969353 said:
Has anyone heard of star ruby international? I'm eyeing a few from them currently and am waiting a reply on making comparison videos. I've also been in touch with [siz]Scott schreiber[] in regards to a custom setting. I told him my total budget and he didn't say he couldn't do it, which was much more encouraging then my email exchanges with James meyer.
Vintage lover, have you seen these posts by Arkteia?

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-ruby-has-been-lost-stolen-steps-to-take.218324/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-ruby-has-been-lost-stolen-steps-to-take.218324/[/URL]

I hadn't-thank you for the link garnetgirl. I'll take all of that info into consideration when making my decision. Does anyone have another vendor they can recommend? Who'll come in under 2k for a custom setting?

puppyguts said:
Here's a group shot of mine in terrible indoor lighting, no sun again
20160104_134035.jpg
1.6 blue moonstone sri Lanka 8.9x6.8 from barry
3.6 black star sapphire India from Kosnar
3.73 aquamarine 10.7x8.4x3.74 from barry
14.4 peach moonstone India 15x9.3 from jim mccormick

They all look better than my dull overcast camera pictures

Thank you so much puppyguts-I LOVE them all! Its so nice to see size perspective too. May I ask what size ring you wear? I realize gems are often done in mm instead of weights so those sizes will help me a LOT when making a decision :) Thank you thank you thank you!

Chrono said:
I would check out Tan on eBay, as suggested above for your cabochon.
I would also avoid selecting Scott to set your stone, given the troubles another PS member has in her dealings with him.

I've emailed him and he currently doesn't have any stars. I didn't see anything in any of his shops either that fits the bill. Thankfully I'm not in any rush so if anyone spots anything in the next while please post it to this thread, I would greatly appreciate it!
 

puppyguts

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Arialle

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Hi,

Here are my cabs:

The reddish pink one is tourmaline, the bluish green one apatite and the remain one is jadeite:)
Both apatite and toumaline were purchased on eBay.

As for the ring I designed, the center stone is jadeite.

Hope you find your dream cabochon :)

image_4165.jpg
image_4167.jpg
 

Acinom

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Hope you will find your dream cab soon. Just like you I love the soft angles and richness of a cab.

Here are mine:

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_1403.jpeg

_1404.jpeg

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blithesome71

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Messages
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Mine's a Moss Agate cab (parcel still in transit from india) ~ Vendor pics

moss_agate_6_0.jpg
moss_agate_6.jpg
 

jordyonbass

Ideal_Rock
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Acinom, I will never get sick of seeing your Paraiba cab. that truly is one spectacular stone!!

Blithesome71 I have been cutting some of that down at my lapidary club and it looks so beautiful once it's been cabbed and polished but in the rough it looks...well, rough :lol:

I'm loving the pink sapphires in this thread so thought I would contribute with my project, I was a good boy last year and Mrs Jordy got me this little pink sapphire rough for xmas to cab at the club. Unfortunately they've been closed since mid december for the xmas/holiday break and will be open again in about a week otherwise I would have already started working it under the guidance of the senior members. It may take me a little while to get it done but once I have finished it I will pop back in with pics (unless my novice hands completely destroy it!).

20151225_074917-1.jpg
 
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