Better eyes needed to check a couple of low price gems

[NexivRed]

So I think I'm sort of in love with a zircon Both the colour and the cut appealed to me straight away, and I am considering purchasing it to turn into a single bezel necklace with rose gold for the setting and silver for the chain. Could I possibly get some outside opinions on it? Just trying to learn as much as I can when choosing gems, but this little one did stand out a mile to me - http://www.gemselect.com/zircon/zircon-355144.php

Also, another couple of low cost, small gems are these blue zircon (yes I've been trawling the zircons lol.) The second one appeals to me a little more than the first, and again I'm thinking about some sort of bezel setting. Perhaps a simple ring, or a bracelet. Or maybe just a bezel that can be interchanged between bracelet and necklace. I just love the shape and the colours -
http://www.gemselect.com/zircon/zircon-310022.php
http://www.gemselect.com/zircon/zircon-309995.php

If you were to choose one of those, which would you pick and why? Depending on how much money I can make in the next few weeks, my order list for Daniel M may go up

 

[JewelFreak]

I think you'll find they are very small. Especially the blue ones are too teeny to make decent single-set stones. You can find a gem shape & size chart here: http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/nscnet/pdf/stone mm dimensions.pdf Websites show their stones many times magnified, so it's easy to picture them as bigger than they are.

Zircons are brittle, easily chipped or cracked, so keep that in mind when you decide how to use one. Also, if you're looking for dispersion, step cuts do not show the sparkle you get from, say, a cut like the round red/brown one, because they don't have as many facets to return light, though you do better with zircon than most colored gems due to its high RI.

Frankly, I wouldn't spend money on a setting for a $10 stone. You'd end up paying many multiples of the gem's cost, especially with rose gold. Did you look at the shipping charges for these? You pay $8 for a gem & $7 to ship it.

What is your budget? It's worth it to spend a bit more for a stone you'll be happy to keep. If you check the thread here, https://www.pricescope.com/forum/co...ead-with-respected-cs-vendors-t169561-90.html you'll find a list of vendors with good reputations on PS.

--- Laurie

 

[movie zombie]

good advice above.
better to save your $, get educated, and have a bit more to spend.

 

[NexivRed]

Hi, thanks for taking a look. Just wanted to quickly say I got the blue zircons mixed around with regards to preference!

With regards to the size, I know they'll be tiny. I have a 0.2 carat diamond solitaire that's about 5mm across which I compare to, and the DBTY bezel stones tend to be 0.2, 0.5, 0.8 caeat weight so pretty small to that's why I was eyeing up these stones.

I would only bother including these stones in another order due to the shipping costs. I'm looking for another gem currently, and if I find it on that site then I was thinking of adding some 5mm stones for earrings and also bracelet and necklace gems.

If zircon is very brittle then I may reconsider using that. I'll definitely check out the links you posted though, thanks

 

[JewelFreak]

Colored stones have varying specific gravities, so comparing them by weight with diamonds does not give you info about their dimensions. You need to look at the mm with colored gems. The size chart is a big help.

After you read some of the educational stuff, if you find other ones you like, put 'em up & plenty of folks will be glad to help. Good luck!

--- Laurie

 

[chrono]

First off, I would double check with Daniel M whether he will bezel set a zircon. I am very sure he will prong set one. Not many jewellers are comfortable doing this as they are known to be brittle.

 

[NexivRed]

Colored stones have varying specific gravities, so comparing them by weight with diamonds does not give you info about their dimensions. You need to look at the mm with colored gems. The size chart is a big help.

After you read some of the educational stuff, if you find other ones you like, put 'em up & plenty of folks will be glad to help. Good luck!

--- Laurie

Yeah I saw about the different densities meaning different carat weights, but first I check by carat weight and then I cross check the actual size. I'm very happy with a 5mm gem for the bezel and earring projects. I believe Daniel M's stock bezel earrings are 5mm gems anyway.

I really do like the orangey zircon in the first link though. Is it a decent cut? Not found anything else yet but am looking through topaz as it's my son and my mum's birthstone. Really into blue at the moment. Almost got sucked in by a sapphire last night, but I just can't spend £200 on a teeny tiny sapphire lol. It'd have to be a biggin for a ring when I get one of those.

First off, I would double check with Daniel M whether he will bezel set a zircon. I am very sure he will prong set one. Not many jewellers are comfortable doing this as they are known to be brittle.

Thank you, will do Just waiting to hear back from him on the ring design. I fear it's gonna take a while to come up with one cos I just can't decide!

 

[JewelPhenom]

Thank you, will do Just waiting to hear back from him on the ring design. I fear it's gonna take a while to come up with one cos I just can't decide!

I can sympathize with you there!
There are so many design choices and so little time to bring each to life.