Would Love some advice

[ritubhasin2]

My 2nd child is graduating from high school and wants a class ring. I think it is a dreadful waste of money. The ring she is looking into purchasing costs about 400.00 ... and is not worth a fraction of that. I would like to entice her into getting something that she will actually WEAR and use after high school. She loves colored stones. Any recommendations or advice on which direction to take this? She does not like the color pink. I was thinking of getting her a nice mandarin spess, but was not sure if I could get a nice one for under 400.00 AND find a setting. Thoughts?

 

[T L]

My 2nd child is graduating from high school and wants a class ring. I think it is a dreadful waste of money. The ring she is looking into purchasing costs about 400.00 ... and is not worth a fraction of that. I would like to entice her into getting something that she will actually WEAR and use after high school. She loves colored stones. Any recommendations or advice on which direction to take this? She does not like the color pink. I was thinking of getting her a nice mandarin spess, but was not sure if I could get a nice one for under 400.00 AND find a setting. Thoughts?

How hard is she on her jewelry? Would she wear it 24/7, play sports in it, etc. . . ?

 

[tyty333]

What are her school colors? What's her favorite color?

 

[ritubhasin2]

She loves orange. She also loves reds, and greens and saturated blues. But her love is the warmer colors.

 

[ritubhasin2]

She is not hard on her jewelry and is very good about removing it. I was thinking about just getting a very nice stone with a solitaire setting for her. They are offering some sort of "black" setting from Jonstens for Class rings and she is enamored with the dark black and the orange icky plasticy glass stone they are changing an arm and a leg for. I love Mokume style, but I know that is not in my price range.

 

[T L]

She is not hard on her jewelry and is very good about removing it. I was thinking about just getting a very nice stone with a solitaire setting for her. They are offering some sort of "black" setting from Jonstens for Class rings and she is enamored with the dark black and the orange icky plasticy glass stone they are changing an arm and a leg for. I love Mokume style, but I know that is not in my price range.

Do you have a photo of the setting you like? Maybe someone can find something similar for less. However, the hard part will be finding the stone. I wouldn't buy a setting first, as you may never find the "right" stone for it. If you do happen to get a nice spess for under $400, consider yourself lucky and then build the ring around that. Do you want to gold, or would argentium silver be another option? Argentium silver is far more economical and doesn't tarnish, and is strong as well. Some dealers carry it, or do custom work in it.

 

[ritubhasin2]

argentium silver would be nice ...... I think the one that she was looking at was made from this. It is just a matter of finding a spess then I suppose. I am assuming that I would be able to look in the threads and that will help me find someone that would have this type of setting or would do custom work. We have nothing like that around here unfortunately.

 

[T L]

argentium silver would be nice ...... I think the one that she was looking at was made from this. It is just a matter of finding a spess then I suppose. I am assuming that I would be able to look in the threads and that will help me find someone that would have this type of setting or would do custom work. We have nothing like that around here unfortunately.

You could also do a cabochon fire opal too, like this one. It's not super saturated orange, but it might be orange enough.

http://www.gemselect.com/fire-opal/fire-opal-382043.php

Or cabochon spessartites are more affordable than faceted ones.

https://www.etsy.com/market/cabochon_spessartite

 

[ritubhasin2]

This is what she wanted. I don't think it needs to be exactly the same.. but the closer I can get with a superior product I think she will be happy.

 

[LoversKites]

Litnon has well priced spess, but it's not all clean. Still, maybe something you think she'd like?
http://litnon.com/index.php?page=view&cat=53

 

[ritubhasin2]

Those are very pretty! I am not sure about getting one that is not faceted, I think she likes the facets.

Apparently the ring she wants is White Lustrium .. smh..

 

[LoversKites]

Those are very pretty! I am not sure about getting one that is not faceted, I think she likes the facets.

Apparently the ring she wants is White Lustrium .. smh..

They're all faceted on Litnon, but some have lower clarity. The cleaner ones are smaller. Or did you mean something else?

I'll keep an eye out. Is there a minimum size you're aiming for?

What exactly is white listrium?

 

[T L]

Litnon has well priced spess, but it's not all clean. Still, maybe something you think she'd like?
http://litnon.com/index.php?page=view&cat=53

Good site for spess, I forgot about them.

I found a vendor on etsy that has black rhodium rings, and that's what she would want. Perhaps you can convince this vendor to make a mount for you and set it.

I don't know anything about the above etsy vendor, but I found her. I have had luck with etsy ring vendors lately. I would just search etsy for "black rhodium ring."

 

[T L]

Those are very pretty! I am not sure about getting one that is not faceted, I think she likes the facets.

Apparently the ring she wants is White Lustrium .. smh..

It's an alloy. Sounds like some of the newer and more durable silver alloys out there, like argentium.

"WHITE METALS. White Lustrium – Is a durable and brilliant metal alloy that contains Nickel. Silver Elite with Platinum – Is a precious metal alloy composed of 77% Silver, 3% Platinum, and 20% other metal alloys. It is then plated with a Rhodium Plating which is a silvery, metallic colored precious metal."

She probably wants "white lustrium" because the graduation ring catalog is promoting it. I would advise a white and durable, yet affordable metal, like argentium, instead. It's comparable.

 

[indigoblue]

This isn't what you want to hear, but I sorta like her class ring. I wore mine for a couple of years after high school and still pull it out to wear to reunions. I was so thrilled to get it. We had no choice back then except male/female. And I hooked up with a former classmate at our 40 year reunion and married him in 2013. He still had his class ring too. Here they are:

 

[ritubhasin2]

@LoversKites - Not sure, I am thinking at least an 8x8.. but I really like the pear on that site!

@TL - I will look into that! Thank you for all the awesome info.

@indigoblue- Thats awesome! Thanks for sharing that! I think the main problem I have is that I have in my jewelry box, my class ring that has not slipped on my finger in 20+ years and then next to it is her grand mothers. I def, in the end will give her an option as to what she wants to do, I would just like to show her that there are MANY more options than what Jostens offers.

 

[T L]

@LoversKites - Not sure, I am thinking at least an 8x8.. but I really like the pear on that site!

@TL - I will look into that! Thank you for all the awesome info.

@indigoblue- Thats awesome! Thanks for sharing that! I think the main problem I have is that I have in my jewelry box, my class ring that has not slipped on my finger in 20+ years and then next to it is her grand mothers. I def, in the end will give her an option as to what she wants to do, I would just like to show her that there are MANY more options than what Jostens offers.

Most people don't end up wearing their class rings, especially females. I think class rings are more handsome on men as they're more of a masculine style. I bet she ends up cheerishing the ring you end up making her much more, and you're welcome.

 

[LoversKites]

@LoversKites - Not sure, I am thinking at least an 8x8.. but I really like the pear on that site!

Spess will be very hard to find at that size in that budget, especially considering it's a dense gem faces up small. Chrysoberyl (typically greenish or brownish yellow) maybe.

Eta: This spess might fit the bill, though smaller than what you want. The image shows brown but the description says it has no hints of brown. Downside is no returns. Still think it's worth mentioning.
http://loupetroop.com/listings/loose-stones-colored-gemstone/1-dot-56-carat-spessartite-garnet

 

[ritubhasin2]

My Ering is a spess It took me a long time to find the perfect one. I am def. not looking for the perfection I have in that my ring, but something in a lower quality is great.. LoversKite Thanks for that link

 

[ritubhasin2]

This looks pretty ..
http://gemrite.com/spessertite-garnet/73-spessertite-220-cts.html

 

[pregcurious]

Would you consider a treated, but more durable stone?

Does anyone know where to get affordable, beryllium diffused orange sapphire?

 

[NKOTB]

A few options...

https://www.etsy.com/listing/197392776/cushion-cut-gotham-ring-in-14-rose-gold?ref=shop_home_active_16

This might be dark, but is well below budget... https://www.etsy.com/listing/204188634/engraved-halo-ring-with-rhodolite-garnet?ref=shop_home_active_3

https://www.etsy.com/listing/202638513/five-stone-octagon-ring-with-tourmaline?ref=shop_home_active_14

https://www.etsy.com/listing/212996356/engraved-sunflower-ring-in-14-k-rose?ref=shop_home_active_3

 

[enbcfsobe]

I like the idea of a solitaire, but also saw this on etsy and thought it was a cute and more wearable option to the bulky traditional class rings.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/196682...evant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery
It is a bit pricey for just the small engraved stacker, but it could be combined with other stackers in her preferred color(s) and make a nice and useful set that she would get more use out of over time.

 

[caf]

Jeff Davies has this "champagne" zircon. It is within your budget for the stone. Not a spess but pretty. He has spesses but they are out of budget. Check out his website - http://jefferydavies.com/inventory/product/166-zircon-3-43ct

I think I saw a spess from someone else that was more reasonable. I will look around for it.

C

 

[caf]

Here is one from Roger Dery. I don't know price.

 

[LoversKites]

Would you consider a treated, but more durable stone?

Does anyone know where to get affordable, beryllium diffused orange sapphire?

Not a diffused sapphire but that controversial copper diffused andesine (yeah it's on the soft side, but still)
http://www.litnon.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=10449

 

[Marlow]

Would you consider a treated, but more durable stone?

Does anyone know where to get affordable, beryllium diffused orange sapphire?

Not a diffused sapphire but that controversial copper diffused andesine (yeah it's on the soft side, but still)
http://www.litnon.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=10449

Shame on you!!!!!

 

[LoversKites]

Would you consider a treated, but more durable stone?

Does anyone know where to get affordable, beryllium diffused orange sapphire?

Not a diffused sapphire but that controversial copper diffused andesine (yeah it's on the soft side, but still)
http://www.litnon.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=10449

Shame on you!!!!!

Sorry it fits OP's needs though.

 

[Siameseroo]

Jeff Davies has this spess listed - could be promising? And within your budget.

 

[T L]

Jeff Davies has this spess listed - could be promising? And within your budget.

That's a bit more of a yellow though than orange. She may like it though, but it looks like citrine to me.

Citrine is an affordable alternative is she doesn't mind yellow-orange.