2014 Projects and Purchases?

[dk168]

What are your plans for 2014?

I would like to have a Boone cobalt chrome ring with either a very sentimental pearl (my first ever pearl in an oyster gifted to me by my ex-husband while we were courting), or one of the CS that I purchased in HK earlier this year (most likely the cushion checker board cut amethyst).

Not planning to buy any CS next year as I am now hooked on attending gem fairs and buying/choosing in person! So roll on Nov 2015 when I am in HK next!

However, I would dearly love to get a couple of strands of metallic white 7.5-8mm Freshadamas from PP for this pearl clasp that is lurking in my jewellery box (about 20mm in diameter), or ruby/garnet/spinel/etc. beads/rondelles:



DK

 

[chrono]

DK,
You are off to good planning.

As always, I plan to set more gems than buy in 2014.
1. Reset my spessartite earrings.
2. Set my sphene earrings.
3. Swap out a pendant stone for my newly recut sphene to complete my sphene suite.
4. Swap out a pendant stone for an unset cushion red spinel to complete my red spinel suite.
5. Set either my tsav/spinel or FCDs, depending on which design is finalized first.

 

[innerkitten]

I'm hoping to get a Montana sapphire. But other than that I plan on setting a moonstone I've had for a while. Maybe with small tiny sapphires. And I have some rhodolites and spessartites that I think would look very nice together as drop style earrings.

 

[redwood66]

I have gotten too many projects completed in 2013 to even think about 2014. But I would like to find a really pretty red or hot pink 6mm round spinel to set in a rose gold bezel for a stacking ring.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

My only project will be selling my spinels and assorted jewelry after the first of the year. I am hoping my vivid rare color pink from Dana and my loose Mahenge fetch a decent price. I bought a vintage house and she needs things. Sell your gems she says......

 

[distracts]

1. Combo Valentine's/First Anniversary (April) present. WHAT TO GET!?!?!? I wanted an eternity band but I showed my husband a french-cut band and he goes, "Boring! It looks the same as the wedding ring you already have! What about one of those colorful rings from that Sarosi thing we saw at the gem show?" So who knows what we'll end up deciding on. If I DO get a Sarosi ring I want it to be the moonstone one I got and have a quote for a custom one for.

2. Set my hot pink spinels! In sleek yellow gold settings!

.2.1. Oval pair, to be the bezel drop earrings (like the citrine ones on his etsy) by DanielM. I was originally contemplating Heart of Water lotus earrings but the price made me cringe and back off for a year.

.2.2. Emerald cut, to be in a bezel ring by Heart of Water. Can't get around the price on this one because I haven't seen anything else I like quite as much.

.2.3. Pear, to be set with a little diamond in a bezel pendant. Dunno if I'll go with DanielM or my local jeweler.

 

[dk168]

I may get a couple of cheapo stackers from LOGR to wear with my 1.19ct EC, one of them is likely to be ruby and diamond. This way, the ring can stay as it is until I have the money to have it re-set properly.

DK

 

[chrono]

I may get a couple of cheapo stackers from LOGR to wear with my 1.19ct EC, one of them is likely to be ruby and diamond. DK

DK,
I hope you'll post pictures or at least review the diamond quality and workmanship of the LOGR stackers. It's been a while since anyone purchased and reviewed LOGR settings, leaving many of us wondering whether the quality is still good for the price or has gone downhill.

 

[endless_summer]

2014 Project Wish List

light to medium light violetish-blue square step cut sapphire, though sometimes I see brilliant cuts and wonder

sunstone (yes, to be worn only with great care - e.g., no chores, walking pups, errands, etc)

a green stone - bluish-green or lighter mint green tourmaline (EC shape, maybe scissor cut on the bottom) OR tvav or mint green gossular garnet => this one, clearly I haven't figured out which of the greens I'd like best, though I am drawn to slight bluish and just a hint lighter than what one would call forest green to avoid blacking out, as least as far as tourms go, and then I see some of the brighter mintier colors and think, ohhhh sparkly...

all to be rings one day, as I find I wear them quite a lot more than earrings, bracelets, and especially pendants (i play with the pups a lot and would worry that a pup is going to be excited, jump up, and break the necklace )

 

[dk168]

I may get a couple of cheapo stackers from LOGR to wear with my 1.19ct EC, one of them is likely to be ruby and diamond. DK

DK,
I hope you'll post pictures or at least review the diamond quality and workmanship of the LOGR stackers. It's been a while since anyone purchased and reviewed LOGR settings, leaving many of us wondering whether the quality is still good for the price or has gone downhill.

Hmmm, interesting.

Which eBay vendor(s) are now favoured by the CS community please? I have checked out the recommended vendors thread, and have seen other settings vendors being mentioned besides LOGR.

DK

 

[chrono]

Which eBay vendor(s) are now favoured by the CS community please? I have checked out the recommended vendors thread, and have seen other settings vendors being mentioned besides LOGR.

I think Lanbo and Jewelryhoo2 are the current preferred Chinese eBay setting vendors. It doesn't mean LOGR isn't good anymore, only that no one has purchased or reviewed their jewellery lately.

 

[dk168]

Thanks Chrono for the information.

I have not checked out the offerings from those two vendors, and shall have a peek later.

DK

 

[dk168]

Nothing for sale at Jewelryhoo2 at the mo, and Lanbo's offerings are more expensive than the offerings at LOGR.

I'd probably go with LOGR as I do not wish to spend too much on the stackers.

DK

 

[chrono]

Lanbo's offerings are more expensive than the offerings at LOGR. I'd probably go with LOGR as I do not wish to spend too much on the stackers.

Depending on the cttw, once you upgrade the melees, they may end up the same price or less/more. You must upgrade the LOGR melees or else you are guaranteed to receive a frozen spit band. Upgrading melees isn't necessary for Lanbo's items. Don't forget that you can make a lower offer and/or negotiate free shipping too.

 

[colorluvr]

I'd love to get some of my loose stones set, but like LisaRN (well, we aren't there yet) we are seriously considering buying a house and if so, all $$$$ spent on non-essentials is on hold. We've hopped around the US for the last 14 years due to DH's job and it looks like we may actually stay in one place for more than two years. (should know more by the end of the year)

I may decide to sell some of my pretties, but I'm not quite there yet.... sigh....

 

[SB621]

Still hunting for my perfect sapphire and a lavendar spinel....

 

[mochiko42]

I've recently fallen in love with Asscher cut stones, and would like to find a nice one in green or yellow for setting in a ring. Maybe tsavorite or beryl.

 

[pregcurious]

I have no idea. I want an emerald one day, but I would like to save for a really nice one. That would require that I stop spending on other stones...

I also want to do something with this setting, but I have no idea what. It was my first reset. The setting is very pretty, but it does not match anything of my other jewelry (except my wedding ring which is YG). I kick myself every time I see it.

 

[distracts]

Pregcurious, if that was my setting, I'd try to find a nice green or blue-green, med-dark tourmaline to put in it. I think that could look really good with the yellow gold and scattered diamonds, and wouldn't be too expensive. If you end up wearing it and wanting a more durable stone, you could "upgrade" the stone to spinel, but I think tourm would be easier/cheaper to find in a color that would go well with the YG. I think one cut by Barry Bridgestock with the chunky faceting would look especially good. my two cents, anyway.

 

[Starzin]

Preg - save that lovely setting (that I've always liked) for your emerald. Since they usually look better in YG you could simply swap out the head for a YG one and Bingo! very cheap setting costs for it since you already have this ring.

 

[chrono]

Pregcurious,
I've always admired that setting of yours; the lace accents is unusual and beautiful. I would leave it as is until you find it right stone for it. I agree that any warm coloured stone would be a perfect fit (blue green, purple, blue, green, orange, etc).

 

[koolchicken]

I have a list as long as my arm!

First thing would be to set my purple spinel. Then I have a pink one and a tiny garnet (Christmas presents from my husband) that I'll need to set. I'm torn on whether or not to do a ring or pendant with the spinel, the garnet will be made into a simple ring.

After that I want to make the following.

I want an ametrine suite (my husbands birthstone is amethyst and my son and I are citrine). Set in either silver or white gold, and with no additional stones. I want it sleek and simple.

I also want to do stacking rings. I was inspired by this photo I took the other day,



I want to do rings in pastel pink, yellow, lavender, blue, and grey (and maybe orange if I can find one light enough). I'm thinking of using tanzinite, spinel, and zircons. This may be an ongoing project since finding the exact right stones might be tricky and I'm not sure if I want faced stones or cabs.

After that I want to do a Kauai inspired something. I'm moving off island so I want something to remind me of here while I'm away. I think tsavorite, spessartite, and blue topaz would be the right stones to get the exact colors I'm looking for. I'm just not sure if I want to keep the pieces separate (like stacking rings) or put them together, like in a pendant.

 

[Kim Bruun]

I plan to have a ring or two made in early '14. Highest on my list of stones to set are a purple sapphire, a Magenta sapphire, and a Mahenge spinel. I'm a dude, so it will be a challenge, but I have a couple of ideas.

 

[cookies]

I want Gene's 9.16 ct blue green cushion Tourmaline, and set it in the Empress Ring by Cross Jewelers, preferably in 18K un-plated white gold. However, I probably will need to choose between this and a home remodel.