Amethyst ideas please

[pwendyp]

I have come to a point where my own little glut of gems can be set now, over the next little while...and have many many ideas, but of course, am always open to more input.

I have most of what I want to achieve buttoned down, but am going to open a thread or two to pick all your brains and the multitude of saved images you all will have!

Amethysts...rich and regal, and I have 4 or 5 of them. Earrings for sure, pendant very likely.

I've got tons on pictures for the pendant, and am thinking of putting some extra colour in with them. What kind of colours go best with amethysts (rich purple ones)

<----see avatar for inspiration!

How do you think a rich red garnet in small sizes might look, in a design such as this one? in a mix of white metal and yellow gold?

My other thoughts are of something green or aqua...or gold or yellow...help!!

I really am thinking of a pendant and earring, not necessarily matching, but very alike, in rich purples and reds - think Christmas, think LBD.

Is it too much to put red and purple together?

The reds would be 4mm - and just a few of them - very likely anthill's.

Anyone have any pictures of purples with whatever?

TLee

TIA

 

[Lovinggems]

How about something like this? I always want one myself and it''ll be nice to have a better cut stone to compliment the enamel work.

 

[Lovinggems]

I also like the rich red and purple idea.

 

[ma re]

Since the design itself is quite striking, dinamic and...well...daring I think it''s a good idea to come up with an interesting color combination. Is there one (color combination) that you especially like? If not, I''d suggest going with garnets as accents, but I''d think about rhodolites instead of pyropes. Their burgundy color is a great match with deep purple, as it''s still interesting but not too overwhelming. There''s also a size factor to consider, cause majority of colored stones don''t look like much in such small sizes, and their colors get washed out (especially aqua of those you mentioned). But possibilities are endless and I''m sure you''ll have fun deciding

P. S. I''d also consider something yellow, blue or maybe even brown.

 

[pwendyp]

Thank you both for your ideas...

I like the pendant shape lovinggems - but I''m not an enamel gal - it just doesn''t sing to me - but thank you for the image, and those colours are lovely - truly spring like.

Mr ma re - thank you for coming in...you might well be right about using rhodolites...more a colour to sit with, rather than compete...

On the other hand - I think I want this to be a truly ''bling bling'' piece...

I''ve seen some pyropes in little sizes, and they held the red very well...might be worth buying 6 of them - and see how they look?

The other colour, which I like, and you suggested also, is yellow...strong golden yellow...but what stone, that will cut at 4mm or a little less and still hold the colour? Sapphire, citrine (both will wash out I fear)...cognac or champagne diamonds? I wonder how much they might be priced at?

oh the choices...!

 

[chrono]

My personal choice is a strong bright yellow for contrast. Little sapphires might fit the bill. 4 mm will not be an issue for corundum but I don''t think citrines will cut it in that size.

 

[ma re]

Yup, sapphires might be good if you choose to go with yellow as I''ve seen them holding the color pretty nicely even in smaller sizes. Spessartites can come in really nice yellow shades (orangy-yellows), it''s not very unusual to find them so small (just like sapphires) and they can hold the color. If you, however, choose pyropes I''d strongly advise setting them in yellow gold to avoid them looking too dark.

 

[pwendyp]

Choices are leaning to yellows!

I''m liking it...and yellows set in yellow gold, will get some enhancement from the gold colour (if they need it!)

I think some sapphires can be got for a relatively reasonable cost...

And thanks for heads up mr ma re, on the setting pitfalls on pyropes, I kinda thought they could darken on setting.

off to do some searching...then errands - grrr!

 

[Fly Girl]

Date: 7/22/2009 8:17:01 AM
Author: pwendyp
Choices are leaning to yellows!

I'm liking it...and yellows set in yellow gold, will get some enhancement from the gold colour (if they need it!)

I think some sapphires can be got for a relatively reasonable cost...

And thanks for heads up mr ma re, on the setting pitfalls on pyropes, I kinda thought they could darken on setting.

off to do some searching...then errands - grrr!

Ahhh, pwendyp. I'm having T Lee work on an amethyst project for me right now. I recognized your example of her work immediately. Are you in the Twin Cities area? If so, you make an appointment with T and take in your stones, and she can design a piece for you on the spot. She is an amazing designer to work with. She can also obtain any accent stones that you would like for the piece.

 

[pwendyp]

oh FlyGirl...how I wish I were there sometimes, amongst all the great designers, and so many baubles! I''m the English! Himself in the other room is the American one!

So, I''m in the UK, but have no problem with working from across the pond. Custom is a ridiculous price over here, like hundreds of pounds and the sky''s the limit - silly money! And it''s fun chatting here of course!

T.Lee''s work is gorgeous isn''t it, I spent ages going through her whole site, and also remember reading your posts about your project with the briolettes, which are gorgeous by the way!

I had an odd red garnet in my little treasure chest, and put it up against the amethyst...it did not look too great - competition for best colour was going on me thinks, so I reckon a deep golden yellow is going to win the day.

I love the stones you have picked to go with your amethyst, the pale blue''ish aqua ones - so smooth and chic - a gorgeous contrast.

 

[Fly Girl]

Date: 7/22/2009 1:32:15 PM
Author: pwendyp
oh FlyGirl...how I wish I were there sometimes, amongst all the great designers, and so many baubles! I''m the English! Himself in the other room is the American one!

So, I''m in the UK, but have no problem with working from across the pond. Custom is a ridiculous price over here, like hundreds of pounds and the sky''s the limit - silly money! And it''s fun chatting here of course!

T.Lee''s work is gorgeous isn''t it, I spent ages going through her whole site, and also remember reading your posts about your project with the briolettes, which are gorgeous by the way!

I had an odd red garnet in my little treasure chest, and put it up against the amethyst...it did not look too great - competition for best colour was going on me thinks, so I reckon a deep golden yellow is going to win the day.

I love the stones you have picked to go with your amethyst, the pale blue''ish aqua ones - so smooth and chic - a gorgeous contrast.

Yes, T''s work is awesome. Here is the first project I had her do for me, an aquamarine pendant. Link It has many of the elements in the pendant you posted above. I already owned the orange and white diamonds, which she incorporated into the design. She used a mixture of yellow and white gold, so I could wear the piece with either color of metal.

I would check with her what color side stones she thinks would work. She has access to top cutters, such as Richard Homer or Roger Dery, so I expect she could source them for you.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I think green and purple look nice together too
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24807757

 

[kas baby]

agreed! green and purple is a stunning combo...

MTG that ring is fantastic!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Date: 7/22/2009 6:51:26 PM
Author: kas baby
agreed! green and purple is a stunning combo...


MTG that ring is fantastic!

Julia Taylor is currently one of my favorite people ever. She made my spinel pendant and it turned out beautifully!

I also think green offers a better contrast to purple than does dark red.

 

[chrono]

That ring shows a nice combo of green and purple. I suppose the green has to have a slight yellow undertone and be light and bright to bring contrast, yet be complementary.

 

[stepcutnut]

I love the pendant design and your pendant Flygirl!!! Both are beautiful pieces I could see pink, orange, yellow or green with the amethyst.

 

[QueenB29]

I second the green. I also recently saw a lovely pair of earrings with amythest and garnet. Although you said you didn''t like the red and purple together. It could also look lovely with grey pearls.

 

[stepcutnut]

Sorry for the crude interpretation, but here is a color combo I love

 

[pwendyp]

Stepcutnut!

I love the paintshop rendition you did for this pendant - thank you!

It''s a gorgeous combination of colour...very worth thinking about.

And FlyGirl, I love your pendant you had made a while ago, and love the use of both yellow and white diamonds - a very real possibility to go with an amethyst I think. I''d get a little colour, and some ''chic'' by adding in a white diamond or two.

I came across some princess citrines the other day, that looked a gorgeous colour, and hopefully enough saturation - I just need to write and ask about them, although not sure about the use of another angular stone against the trillion?

Still in the search stage...but it''s gelling!