What would you get with a $5k budget?

[Probee]

Hello,

I’ve debating if I should spend my sparkle fund on the rubies or a red spinel or something else out there that I haven’t considered. I only have few pieces of jewelry so anything goes, preferably on the hand so I can see it and appreciate it.

Rubies are unheated and about 0.5 ct each.

Spinel is 3.2 ct

 

[Gloria27]

Whatever is going to be more scarce in the future and harder to obtain or more expensive.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

I’m oddly specific but I’d get a super glowy, smallish Colombian emerald pedant in yellow gold to stack with my other necklaces. I keep seeing people stack with green!

 

[Probee]

Whatever is going to be more scarce in the future and harder to obtain or more expensive.

That would be ideal but I’m afraid the future is uncertain? Or I’m just not knowledgeable enough about the market.

 

[maryjane04]

I'm going to say a spinel. Since you want something on the hand and i would prefer a bigger rock to see lol. I would love a large Ruby though but alas the budget constraints.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

That would be ideal but I’m afraid the future is uncertain? Or I’m just not knowledgeable enough about the market.

Pinks! Pinks are hell on earth to buy! And red! I’m so fortunate I barely wear red!

 

[Gloria27]

That would be ideal but I’m afraid the future is uncertain? Or I’m just not knowledgeable enough about the market.

The closer to pure red, green and blue, the more expensive a stone will be. Yellow is easier to find and not so expensive, yellow doesn't get as much love.

You seem to like reds since you mentioned ruby and spinel. Between the two, the safer bet would be spinel, bigger stones available, less included, cost less per carat (still!) and they used to be untreated (now some are treated).

If you budget is for the whole piece not just the stone, I'd look at these: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NabatiJewelry?dd_referrer=https://duckduckgo.com/

 

[Probee]

The closer to pure red, green and blue, the more expensive a stone will be. Yellow is easier to find and not so expensive, yellow doesn't get as much love.

You seem to like reds since you mentioned ruby and spinel. Between the two, the safer bet would be spinel, bigger stones available, less included, cost less per carat (still!) and they used to be untreated (now some are treated).

If you budget is for the whole piece not just the stone, I'd look at these: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NabatiJewelry?dd_referrer=https://duckduckgo.com/

Thank you! I could hang out with any one of those pieces all day.

Pinks! Pinks are hell on earth to buy! And red! I’m so fortunate I barely wear red!

I’m a pink girl and can be on board with this!

 

[Probee]

I’m oddly specific but I’d get a super glowy, smallish Colombian emerald pedant in yellow gold to stack with my other necklaces. I keep seeing people stack with green!

That is a lovely idea. Emerald is on my list but I don’t have a trusted vendor with reasonable pricing to work with yet. It needs more leg work so it’s further down on the list. I have more access to red spinels and blue sapphires so they get more of my attention lol

 

[Brightshiny]

I love the idea of a sparkle fund! If it were me, I would spend a lot of time shopping around for the perfect stone to be set into a right hand ring, but I prefer lilac/lavender spinel or interestingly colored sapphires. Bonus is that they are usually less expensive than rubies or emeralds.

My other choice would be a very lovely station set necklace, with ~2 carats of stone, low and easy to wear all the time.

Or an antique pendant and chain.

So many ideas, so little sparkle fund.

 

[dk168]

This pink Sapphire would be my choice (still available):

https://loupetroop.com/listings/loo...pink-2-dot-07ct-sapphire-with-lotus-gold-cert

For a bit more, a bigger pink Sapphire (sale pending):

https://loupetroop.com/listings/loo...cision-cut-sapphire-from-jeff-davies-gia-cert

DK

 

[Probee]

I love the idea of a sparkle fund! If it were me, I would spend a lot of time shopping around for the perfect stone to be set into a right hand ring, but I prefer lilac/lavender spinel or interestingly colored sapphires. Bonus is that they are usually less expensive than rubies or emeralds.

My other choice would be a very lovely station set necklace, with ~2 carats of stone, low and easy to wear all the time.

Or an antique pendant and chain.

So many ideas, so little sparkle fund.

I love outside of the box ideas! I’m not quite there yet. There was some temptation toward large unheated green sapphire over 6 ct.

This pink Sapphire would be my choice (still available):

https://loupetroop.com/listings/loo...pink-2-dot-07ct-sapphire-with-lotus-gold-cert

For a bit more, a bigger pink Sapphire (sale pending):

https://loupetroop.com/listings/loo...cision-cut-sapphire-from-jeff-davies-gia-cert

DK

Ah, I was eyeing the bigger one. That’s stunning. Maybe I should save a little more to get something spectacular!

 

[Autumn in New England]

How fun! I might strike out ruby, just because you can get something finer and larger for your $5k. So spinel is definitely an option. I also like your green sapphire idea (and that's a particularly nice one)... or yellow sapphire, pink/rubellite tourm, spessartine, the newer find of rose garnet, grossular, imperial topaz, opal... and the list goes on! That's a viable budget for any one of these varieties!!

 

[Probee]

How fun! I might strike out ruby, just because you can get something finer and larger for your $5k. So spinel is definitely an option. I also like your green sapphire idea (and that's a particularly nice one)... or yellow sapphire, pink/rubellite tourm, spessartine, the newer find of rose garnet, grossular, imperial topaz, opal... and the list goes on! That's a viable budget for any one of these varieties!!

Thank you! I do appreciate your inputs very much. You don’t think the green sapphire is too dark? I haven’t seen too many nice green sapphire though. It’s well under budget.

 

[rattatooE]

Hello,

I’ve debating if I should spend my sparkle fund on the rubies or a red spinel or something else out there that I haven’t considered. I only have few pieces of jewelry so anything goes, preferably on the hand so I can see it and appreciate it.

Rubies are unheated and about 0.5 ct each.

Spinel is 3.2 ct

Ooh out of curiosity, how would you use the rubies for jewelry? I ask since I count seven of them.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Thank you! I do appreciate your inputs very much. You don’t think the green sapphire is too dark? I haven’t seen too many nice green sapphire though. It’s well under budget.

It's definitely of the darker variety, but I love that it has a touch of blue. If you settle on wanting a green or blue-green sapphire, maybe do some thorough browsing first to see of you can find something with more of a medium tone. Montana sapphires (though more expensive) have a lot of these shades!

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

That is a lovely idea. Emerald is on my list but I don’t have a trusted vendor with reasonable pricing to work with yet. It needs more leg work so it’s further down on the list. I have more access to red spinels and blue sapphires so they get more of my attention lol

If you like red/pink get those first as they tend to be more difficult to procure.

I have found that the blues and greens are plentiful. I find it’s also useful to decide whether you want to devote your funds to dream collection quality or just workhorse quality.

 

[Probee]

If you like red/pink get those first as they tend to be more difficult to procure.

I have found that the blues and greens are plentiful. I find it’s also useful to decide whether you want to devote your funds to dream collection quality or just workhorse quality.

Thanks for giving me something to think about regarding red/pink. I’m too practical, hence luxury good is a new concept for me. That said I would like dream collection that functions as workhorse. If I can afford something, I want to enjoy the heck out of it. I don’t know how true it is but I personally feel safer wearing high value colored stone as compared to anything that resembles diamond. I don’t think the general public pays much attention to colored stones.

 

[Probee]

If you like red/pink get those first as they tend to be more difficult to procure.

I have found that the blues and greens are plentiful. I find it’s also useful to decide whether you want to devote your funds to dream collection quality or just workhorse quality.

I’m too practical, hence luxury good is a new concept for me. That said I would like dream collection that functions as workhorse. If I can afford something, I want to enjoy the heck out of it.

Ooh out of curiosity, how would you use the rubies for jewelry? I ask since I count seven of them.

I was thinking of making them into a bracelet to match with my rubies ring. I’m also pondering on a necklace. They are about 4x5-6 mm so not too shabby for a set of unheated rubies?

Edit to add, it may be a really big flower ring?

 

[Probee]

Ooh out of curiosity, how would you use the rubies for jewelry? I ask since I count seven of them.

Something like this maybe?

 

[Probee]

Yes/no?

 

[Autumn in New England]

Yes/no?

Yasssssssssssssss...

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Yes/no?

Totally YES!!!!!

That’s gorgeous! What colour gold are thinking?

 

[Probee]

Totally YES!!!!!

That’s gorgeous! What colour gold are thinking?

If I were to go ahead with this project it would be in 18k yellow gold I think. Ahhh decision…

 

[dhimer]

Yes/no?

Beautiful!
Mind sharing the vendor please? As if I need more temptation