- Joined
- Oct 11, 2011
- Messages
- 6,139
Over the past several months I've been saving up some money to spend on pretty baubles - I'm a stress spender and wanted to have a bit to blow guilt-free during finals. I had a list of things I've been looking for, and managed to find a few of them (okay, and some other things).
Tsavorite Garnet - 1.15 cts, 6.4 x 5.3 x 3.4 mm
Purchased from Tan at gemburionline on ebay.
I just wanted to SEE a tsavorite garnet in real life because I don't know that I ever have. That's actually the impulse behind several of my recent purchases. It's very pretty. The inclusion is not as bad in real life as the picture makes it look - it's not surface reaching so I hope it doesn't affect the structural integrity of the stone, as I think it will make a cute stacking ring. It was really hard to get a good picture of the color, which is why there's that weird sideways shot.
Green Tourmaline Ring
So I went to this estate jewelry store yesterday, looking for something I could quickly buy as a RHR, because my hands feel REALLY LOPSIDED with my e-ring on all the time, and all the other fancy rings I have are too big for my right ring finger. And sometimes silver and turquoise just isn't really appropriate. The sapphire from MasterCut Gems is intended for a RHR, but I don't know yet exactly what I want to do with it and my hands feel lopsided NOW. I had nothing specific in mind and so tried on everything in the store (really annoying the saleslady) and kept coming back to this. I know this isn't the most desirable color in tourmaline, but, idk, I like it? The brilliant forest green flashes are mesmerizing, it looks nice with my engagement ring, and it even looks nice and green in low indoor lighting, which I didn't expect.
Direct sunlight:
Indirect sunlight:
Side view: (That there's not much there is how I could afford it - I think most of the pricing at that place was based on weight.)
And with my e-ring:
Light Blue Heated Sapphire re-cut by Dana from Mastercut Gems, 1.37ct, 7.6 x 6 mm
(more info here)
So, this is the center stone for the sapphire RHR project. I saw a sapphire this silvery-blue color when we were looking for sapphires for my engagement ring, and LOVED the color but it was a 1ct cushion and faced up TINY, and the light blue didn't really pop against the diamonds. Ever since then, I've been looking for an affordable and not-tiny sapphire of that color. When I saw this linked in one of the threads the other week, I spent a couple of days deliberating (worried that one of you guys would buy it before I got the chance!) before finally buying it. I'm so glad I did - it's absolutely wonderful, perfectly pale and icy. My engagement ring sapphire is deep blue like the ocean, but this one reminds me of winter. And the color looks good with my e-ring!
I am thinking I want some light pink or yellow trillions or half-moons for sidestones for this sapphire.
I just like that three-stone style a lot - it's not unexpected since it's how like ALL my rings are but. I like it. If I could find pears tiny enough, I might use those, but idk, I worry that the pointy bits would break off more easily if they got whacked, and I want this to be a real everyday, as-often-as-my-e-ring ring.
Direct sunlight (simulated by my sunbox):
Indirect sunlight:
A couple shots of the veil inclusion, which I can only spot at extreme angles like this (it's in the upper left):
Regular indoor light:
Dark Unheated Sapphire cut by Dana, 1.55 cts, 7.2 x 5.3 x 4mm.
Dana threw this sapphire in FOR FREE because he said it didn't photograph well but was too nice to throw away. It's not one I would ever have bought on my own, but I am sure I will find something to do with it! It is an incredibly dark blue-green, but it's definitely not black - even at it's darkest you can see flashes of color. I think it might look good in a setting with some black enameling, so that the fact that it's not black jumps out. But I don't know. What should I do with it, PS, give me suggestions! Some of the shots involve the bunny - I thought if this stone didn't photograph well, she'd better be in some of the shots because she photographs amazingly.
So, there you have it. I'm pretty pleased with this little bunch, and even more pleased that I didn't have to spend a small fortune to get things I like so much!
Tsavorite Garnet - 1.15 cts, 6.4 x 5.3 x 3.4 mm
Purchased from Tan at gemburionline on ebay.
I just wanted to SEE a tsavorite garnet in real life because I don't know that I ever have. That's actually the impulse behind several of my recent purchases. It's very pretty. The inclusion is not as bad in real life as the picture makes it look - it's not surface reaching so I hope it doesn't affect the structural integrity of the stone, as I think it will make a cute stacking ring. It was really hard to get a good picture of the color, which is why there's that weird sideways shot.
Green Tourmaline Ring
So I went to this estate jewelry store yesterday, looking for something I could quickly buy as a RHR, because my hands feel REALLY LOPSIDED with my e-ring on all the time, and all the other fancy rings I have are too big for my right ring finger. And sometimes silver and turquoise just isn't really appropriate. The sapphire from MasterCut Gems is intended for a RHR, but I don't know yet exactly what I want to do with it and my hands feel lopsided NOW. I had nothing specific in mind and so tried on everything in the store (really annoying the saleslady) and kept coming back to this. I know this isn't the most desirable color in tourmaline, but, idk, I like it? The brilliant forest green flashes are mesmerizing, it looks nice with my engagement ring, and it even looks nice and green in low indoor lighting, which I didn't expect.
Direct sunlight:
Indirect sunlight:
Side view: (That there's not much there is how I could afford it - I think most of the pricing at that place was based on weight.)
And with my e-ring:
Light Blue Heated Sapphire re-cut by Dana from Mastercut Gems, 1.37ct, 7.6 x 6 mm
(more info here)
So, this is the center stone for the sapphire RHR project. I saw a sapphire this silvery-blue color when we were looking for sapphires for my engagement ring, and LOVED the color but it was a 1ct cushion and faced up TINY, and the light blue didn't really pop against the diamonds. Ever since then, I've been looking for an affordable and not-tiny sapphire of that color. When I saw this linked in one of the threads the other week, I spent a couple of days deliberating (worried that one of you guys would buy it before I got the chance!) before finally buying it. I'm so glad I did - it's absolutely wonderful, perfectly pale and icy. My engagement ring sapphire is deep blue like the ocean, but this one reminds me of winter. And the color looks good with my e-ring!
I am thinking I want some light pink or yellow trillions or half-moons for sidestones for this sapphire.
I just like that three-stone style a lot - it's not unexpected since it's how like ALL my rings are but. I like it. If I could find pears tiny enough, I might use those, but idk, I worry that the pointy bits would break off more easily if they got whacked, and I want this to be a real everyday, as-often-as-my-e-ring ring.Direct sunlight (simulated by my sunbox):
Indirect sunlight:
A couple shots of the veil inclusion, which I can only spot at extreme angles like this (it's in the upper left):
Regular indoor light:
Dark Unheated Sapphire cut by Dana, 1.55 cts, 7.2 x 5.3 x 4mm.
Dana threw this sapphire in FOR FREE because he said it didn't photograph well but was too nice to throw away.
It's not one I would ever have bought on my own, but I am sure I will find something to do with it! It is an incredibly dark blue-green, but it's definitely not black - even at it's darkest you can see flashes of color. I think it might look good in a setting with some black enameling, so that the fact that it's not black jumps out. But I don't know. What should I do with it, PS, give me suggestions! Some of the shots involve the bunny - I thought if this stone didn't photograph well, she'd better be in some of the shots because she photographs amazingly.
So, there you have it. I'm pretty pleased with this little bunch, and even more pleased that I didn't have to spend a small fortune to get things I like so much!
the tourmaline ring, its intensity in the light & its subtlety in shade. The light blue sapphire's a beauty too. Both stones will be super with your gorgeous e-ring.
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