What would be the best choice (peacock inspired)?

[RetroQT]

If one wanted to have a piece made with a colored gemstone that had the best performance and color changing properties so as to bring out the vibrant colors seen on a peacock, what type of gemstone would you recommend?

(I was thinking sapphire, but I am completely ignorant to the world of colored gems so there may be other options.)

Thanks!

 

[userangl28212003]

Black opals/dark opals with blue and green play of color I thing would look great peacock colors.

 

[88_star]

Second either opals or teal colored sapphires. Other possible options would be zircon, tourmaline.

 

[Catmom]

I have a butterfly brooch in peacock colors. It's tourmaline, aquamarine and apatite.

 

[dk168]

Opal or Ammonite?

DK

 

[kgizo]

Thread 'my Jeff White teal sapphire ring'
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-jeff-white-teal-sapphire-ring.215204/

 

[LilAlex]

Color-changing is pretty specific. Iridescent like a peacock feather? I think black opal or something with shiller like labradorite or maybe rainbow moonstone. Or MOP or some other shell material -- paua? Is that abalone? None of these are good for big, stand-alone stones (apart from opal), but some are perfect for space-filling accents in what we now seem to be calling a "critter brooch," etc. To me, abalone seems the most "peacock-like."

There are gorgeous peacock-colored sapphires (Lotus color descriptor) but they are very spendy and are unlikely to give you much color change (and the color-change they manage is a very un-peacock "wait 'til I move to another room or someone changes all the lightbulbs.") The old-school calibre-cut Pailin sapphire -- too dark for a center stone but amazing for little accents -- has a great color, too.

EDIT: I love ammolite but it is very red and is always a doublet or worse. I always wanted one but not after I learned that. I think it's not scam but rather a fact of life -- they are fragile and wafer-thin.

EDIT again: unheated tanzanite, with its trichroism.

 

[icy_jade]

Abalone mabe pearls…

 

[emmy12]

Abalone mabe pearls…

Icy, are you volunteering some of yours to this project? I saw those loose ones you just posted in your dedicated thread!

 

[icy_jade]

Icy, are you volunteering some of yours to this project? I saw those loose ones you just posted in your dedicated thread!

The SoC mabes I have all tend to the reddish side - I think I specifically requested for that. So they aren’t as peacockish. I suppose the bluish mabes could be a good fit but I think abalone mabes have a much much more vibrant color. Brighter, more contrast and also that blue-green combi too.

SOCs tend to have a more pastel color scheme imo?

 

[emmy12]

I see what you mean that the abalone is definitely more suited to peacock colors.
What does SOC stand for? (Pearl newbie here!)

 

[RetroQT]

Y’all are awesome! I am undecided about if I’m gonna do a ring (I don’t have any CS rings) or a pendant. But I want to do something set in yellow gold with the main stone as a blueish green and accent stones of blue, green, purple, and maybe diamond. I want to capture the essence of the peacock color scheme.

 

[icy_jade]

I see what you mean that the abalone is definitely more suited to peacock colors.
What does SOC stand for? (Pearl newbie here!)

Sea of Cortez pearls from Mexico

 

[icy_jade]

Ok, gemstones wise:
- Blue: sapphire
- Green: tsavorite
- purple: grape garnets or purple sapphires
Or tourmalines… they come in most colors

But just to source and buy the stones could be a massive project in itself so you may want to consider getting a done piece? Because the stones and everything could be right but if the design or bench isn’t able to pull it all together into a cohesive piece, then it may not work either right?

Anyway some Boucheron inspirations…

 

[RetroQT]

Ok, gemstones wise:
- Blue: sapphire
- Green: tsavorite
- purple: grape garnets or purple sapphires
Or tourmalines… they come in most colors

But just to source and buy the stones could be a massive project in itself so you may want to consider getting a done piece? Because the stones and everything could be right but if the design or bench isn’t able to pull it all together into a cohesive piece, then it may not work either right?

Anyway some Boucheron inspirations…

Those are beautiful! And I love the idea of sapphires (favorite) and garnets (birthstone).

I’m going to reach out to Caysie about doing it. I want the colors of the peacock, but it’s not going to look like one. It’ll be Art Deco inspired. These pics are for color inspiration but not design.

 

[icy_jade]

Those are beautiful! And I love the idea of sapphires (favorite) and garnets (birthstone).

I’m going to reach out to Caysie about doing it. I want the colors of the peacock, but it’s not going to look like one. It’ll be Art Deco inspired. These pics are for color inspiration but not design.

Ah ok, after seeing what you have for inspiration, I think the centre stone I would suggest a tourmaline for affordability and color range.

Wasn’t sure if you meant a literal peacock critter bling, but looks like not. You can also search peacock in 1stdibs and have a look at the blings there for inspiration. All the best with your project!

 

[emmy12]

Art deco peacock feather ring from Greenlake Jewelery Works in Seattle. Maybe too literal for what you're going for?

 

[RetroQT]

Art deco peacock feather ring from Greenlake Jewelery Works in Seattle. Maybe too literal for what you're going for?

I am planning on something along these lines. Center stone will be an oval or pear and bezel set and then “feathers” of colored stones on the top.

 

[Mreader]

Didn’t read all comments but blue zircon is a great stone with a high refractive index so it has a lot of sparkle.

 

[JewelledEscalators]

If one wanted to have a piece made with a colored gemstone that had the best performance and color changing properties so as to bring out the vibrant colors seen on a peacock, what type of gemstone would you recommend?

(I was thinking sapphire, but I am completely ignorant to the world of colored gems so there may be other options.)

Thanks!

Is peacock your star sign?

 

[RetroQT]

Is peacock your star sign?

I don’t think so. I just love their colors.

 

[Neptune]

Art deco peacock feather ring from Greenlake Jewelery Works in Seattle. Maybe too literal for what you're going for?

That’s a neat way to set a heart.

 

[JewelledEscalators]

In Japanese and Chinese, the name for malachite is 'peacock stone' （孔雀石), though I would agree that black opals remind me most of a peacock's colour scheme.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Color-changing is pretty specific. Iridescent like a peacock feather? I think black opal or something with shiller like labradorite or maybe rainbow moonstone. Or MOP or some other shell material -- paua? Is that abalone? None of these are good for big, stand-alone stones (apart from opal), but some are perfect for space-filling accents in what we now seem to be calling a "critter brooch," etc. To me, abalone seems the most "peacock-like."

There are gorgeous peacock-colored sapphires (Lotus color descriptor) but they are very spendy and are unlikely to give you much color change (and the color-change they manage is a very un-peacock "wait 'til I move to another room or someone changes all the lightbulbs.") The old-school calibre-cut Pailin sapphire -- too dark for a center stone but amazing for little accents -- has a great color, too.

EDIT: I love ammolite but it is very red and is always a doublet or worse. I always wanted one but not after I learned that. I think it's not scam but rather a fact of life -- they are fragile and wafer-thin.

EDIT again: unheated tanzanite, with its trichroism.

paua is the type of abolone we have down here
because of the cold water ours has the best colour
i would love to see it used in a higher end piece as all i y see is cheap touristy stuff and tradtional maori carvings (as the eyes)
i did once almost buy a timber cheese board with paua inlay - but do i really need another cheese board ?
you used to be able to buy toilets seats with paua inlay and also bathroom tiles (the latter was very stylish)

About Paua

Paua is a member of the abalone family (Haliotidae) of which there are around 140 species worldwide. The paua is native and unique to the cold, blue waters of the New Zealand coastline. There are three types of Paua in New Zealand: Paua - Haliotis Iris - The largest, most common and best known...

pacificjewelsnz.com

i do covet a paua pearl but those things cost a lot

 

[LilAlex]

you used to be able to buy toilets seats with paua inlay and also bathroom tiles (the latter was very stylish)

Hmmm. Wheels are turning now. Men have so few things to set gems into -- besides rings and the occasional pendant. Cufflinks are, um, unnecessary. Belt buckles get beat up and scream WWF or, worse, "Howdy!"

But toilet seats...! I guess cabs only . Will start a separate thread for this. Maybe a subforum if it really catches fire...

 

[nycchicky]

Perhaps turquoise and lapis - mixed with small diamonds?

 

[greeneyedmomster]

Also - Madagascan sapphire - this is my unheated 3.9 ct teal sapphire set in a CvB setting of 18k gold. Definitely channels peacock vibes depending on the lighting.



Also the mermaid unheated tanzanites can come on a beautiful peacock like colors

 

[Autumn in New England]

In Japanese and Chinese, the name for malachite is 'peacock stone' （孔雀石), though I would agree that black opals remind me most of a peacock's colour scheme.

How interesting! This made me think of azurmalachite, which is azurite (blue) and malachite (green) mixed. I cut the large cabs below for a pendant and ring project. I also agree with you that something with blue-green iridescence or opalescence is most reminiscent of a peacock's feather.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

How interesting! This made me think of azurmalachite, which is azurite (blue) and malachite (green) mixed. I cut the large cabs below for a pendant and ring project. I also agree with you that something with blue-green iridescence or opalescence is most reminiscent of a peacock's feather.

have you made the project yet ?

 

[JewelledEscalators]

How interesting! This made me think of azurmalachite, which is azurite (blue) and malachite (green) mixed. I cut the large cabs below for a pendant and ring project. I also agree with you that something with blue-green iridescence or opalescence is most reminiscent of a peacock's feather.

Yes I can see the resemblance to the peacock!