Looking for crimson gem

[Upgradable]

I'm planning on making my daughter a custom class ring for college. I need a "crimson" gemstone that has decent mohs so it will be wearable. I'd love some help! I don't want to go uber expensive since we have to pay for the college education first! I'll attach a picture of the football helmet to give you an idea of the color. Thanks!!

 

[T L]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-18ct-Beautiful-Cabochon-Natural-Orange-Pink-Spinel-/250954252543?_trksid=p4340.m185&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC.NPJS%26its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3DUA%26otn%3D5%26pmod%3D250910357051%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D5861927300917079699#ht_1949wt_958

 

[Upgradable]

Wow TL, that's beautiful! I'll have to see what she thinks about cabs. I'd prefer it for a class ring.

 

[T L]

Well, they use cabs for class rings, and this is the perfect color, huge, durable, inexpensive, and untreated, and most importantly, unlike 99.9999% of all class rings, this is natural. Cabs are also less prone to wear since there's no facets to show off chips and the like.

 

[chrono]

Hehe...I was going to suggest a cabochon myself because they are a very affordable red that you can still get a decent size AND is wearable. Your gemstone options really open up too to include garnets.

 

[athenaworth]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-18ct-Beautiful-Cabochon-Natural-Orange-Pink-Spinel-/250954252543?_trksid=p4340.m185&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC.NPJS%26its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3DUA%26otn%3D5%26pmod%3D250910357051%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D5861927300917079699#ht_1949wt_958

Wow! That even looks like a helmet!

 

[sphenequeen]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-18ct-Beautiful-Cabochon-Natural-Orange-Pink-Spinel-/250954252543?_trksid=p4340.m185&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC.NPJS%26its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3DUA%26otn%3D5%26pmod%3D250910357051%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D5861927300917079699#ht_1949wt_958

+1

 

[fussykiki]

Wow. It is very lovely. I like it!!

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

That looks like a gumdrop! Yum!

cheers--Sharon

 

[VapidLapid]

I think it's perfect.

 

[GemFever]

I love that cab too.

It's kinda big though, and from what I understand, class rings have a considerable amount of metal on them, no? It may look goo big on your daughter's hand. But if she can pull it off, I think it will look fabulous!

 

[colorluvr]

I've admired that same cab many times and it was the first stone that came to my mind after I read Uppy's post.... Good call TL!

 

[TristanC]

Wow! That even looks like a helmet!

My first thought! Exactly like the helmet example. I think it'll be great!

 

[Starzin]

An absolutely magic match! My only concern would be as GemFever said, that that the ring may be very big (from what I've seen of class rings - we don't have them in OZ). Not, I might point out, that big rings have ever been a problem for me I used to wear one almost daily the stone of which covered my index finger to the knuckle - 'till it got stolen But any way you can get this gumdrop baby into a ring would be worth it...and durable as others have noted.

 

[T L]

Well, uppy hasn't replied back to this thread yet, so maybe others want to point out some other crimson stones????

 

[Starzin]

Well, uppy hasn't replied back to this thread yet, so maybe others want to point out some other crimson stones????

I think we were all so gobsmacked by the perfection of your choice we downed searchlights...but s'okay I'm on it boss, I'll try to look for a faceted option just in case later.....

 

[Starzin]

...okay I'm back. Unfortunately I didn't have as much time today as I thought but here's a couple.

Two pretty closely matched spinels but both VS1 don't know if that's acceptable...I think the smaller (second here) is slightly better than the first -
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-57ct-Abso...140?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cfdbcacc4

http://www.ebay.com/itm/0-90ct-Mind...745?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a6f67d479

Hey they are spinels at least

An IF rhodolite garnet -
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-64-CT-NAT...493?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e68c7250d

and do these things have to be oval?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/USA-CUT-STU...164?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item484090593c

I'll do better next time...maybe

 

[Upgradable]

TL, as much as I loved it, she thumbs downed the cab. Sigh..... So I'll be looking for a faceted stone. I also think that 8x10 is as big as I can go. I will be bezeling it, so I have to be aware of darkening. Thanks ladies!

I love the look of that rhodolite garnet you posted, but will it hold up over time? As for shape, round or oval are what I'm looking for.

 

[Pandora II]

Garnets need a fair amount of babying.

I only wear mine when I go out, never at home. They are definitely not a 24/7 kind of ring.

 

[GemFever]

This is for a high school class ring, right? I'd say garnet is fine -- my reasoning is that your daughter will probably wear it in high school only, and then keep as a memento in a jewelry box. If it gets a tiny ship or some wear around the facet edges, it probably won't be a big deal. Plus, if it is bezeled well, it should be protected. And if you're looking for something that's not too expensive, garnet seems perfect.

- Anya

 

[Starzin]

Spinel World
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-3-CT-RI...812083?pt=Loose_Gemstones&hash=item3f1259c2b3

Bright but don't know if the window would close
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-63-CT-E...806726?pt=Loose_Gemstones&hash=item3f1259adc6

Quite a bit of extinction going on?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-41-CT-R...812042?pt=Loose_Gemstones&hash=item3f1259c28a

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-5-CT-GO...804088?pt=Loose_Gemstones&hash=item3f1259a378

Hot Gemstone...
I think this is a nice stone but may not be pink enough...is it the same as the first one above? Same owners?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-3-CT-RICH...304?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a6fca9bd0

Don't you love the descriptions on these?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-5-CT-RARE...842?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a6fca8e4a

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-57-CT-FAB...085?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a6fc0afe5

And another garnet from Gems Heaven - this one's IF too and they are inexpensive compared to the spinels.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-78-CT-NAT...504?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e66d18af0

I would agree with Anya. I've worn red garnets for nearly 30 years without mishap, first a cluster my parents gave me (stolen) and then a solitaire for the last six years or so. I think the red ones are tougher than you think. If she falls in love with it and wants/needs something in line with a spinel later well then you can encourage her to save for it herself

 

[chrono]

Uppy,
Your choices become greatly limited when it comes to durable gemstones in the red colour group. Somehow, I doubt she's going to be gentle with the ring, even if bezeled. A garnet might fit the bill but many tend to be a mucky brown. Spinels are more durable but the purer the hue, the more expensive it gets. I wouldn't recommend a red zircon in a ring.

 

[Pandora II]

Uppy,
Your choices become greatly limited when it comes to durable gemstones in the red colour group. Somehow, I doubt she's going to be gentle with the ring, even if bezeled. A garnet might fit the bill but many tend to be a mucky brown. Spinels are more durable but the purer the hue, the more expensive it gets. I wouldn't recommend a red zircon in a ring.

Agree with this. The plus is that red garnets are relatively cheap, so if she scratches and chips it like crazy she can always have it replaced. The downside is that the red stones tend to be dark and bezelling will make them darker still - it's very easy to end up with a black stone with red flashes.

Red zircon is way too brittle for anything more than an occasional wear ring IMO.

How sentimental is she likely to be about the piece?