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Big Project Alert: help me build my dream engagement and wedding rings!

Cerulean said:
It is very pretty. It definitely reads "light green/blue" to me vs "white" (although very very pale). This is the one on the right in the pic w/ two?

I inquired about a stone before and seemed a little finicky about the idea of a return (I was on the fence and asked what his policy was)

It discouraged me from buying at the time, but I wasn't as in love. I do not mean to discourage you, just wanted to share.

If he is cool with a return, I can't see why you shouldn't see it in person! What is the mm of the Finewater one? Can't seem to find it...
Click to expand...

Okay now I'm second-guessing which one is which... because in the original pic the one on our right looks much more greenish than the one on our left. So I am going to 100% clarify with him which one is which. Since I was interested in the brighter one, that looks a bit more blueish than greenish.

I'll also ask about his return policy! Don't worry about it, I appreciate all of the info and I imagine you're being even and honest w/o bias so I get it.

It seems he finally took the page down, but the Finewater sapphire is 5.7mm. I mean, that's what it said on the website... weirdly the paper that came with my order says it's 6.4mm but I just remeasured it and it's definitely shy of 6mm but then again I am using an old ruler but I'm inclined to believe the website.
 
silkystarlight said:
Okay now I'm second-guessing which one is which... because in the original pic the one on our right looks much more greenish than the one on our left. So I am going to 100% clarify with him which one is which. Since I was interested in the brighter one, that looks a bit more blueish than greenish.

I'll also ask about his return policy! Don't worry about it, I appreciate all of the info and I imagine you're being even and honest w/o bias so I get it.

It seems he finally took the page down, but the Finewater sapphire is 5.7mm. I mean, that's what it said on the website... weirdly the paper that came with my order says it's 6.4mm but I just remeasured it and it's definitely shy of 6mm but then again I am using an old ruler but I'm inclined to believe the website.
Click to expand...

Measuring with a ruler is super tricky. I actually invested in a cheap pair of calipers and it was money well spent...that is, if you continue going down the jewelry wormhole! Haha!

I would clarify. It is a bit hard to tell so can’t hurt. If the mm difference is that much...trust me, you will notice a size difference. It doesn’t mean you should consider it, but over 1mm to me is an obvious visual jump.

however, they are beautiful. Worth it to get more deets.
 
aw jeez, I can’t help but be interested because in a way I see some of the similar qualities in this stone as my Finewater sapphire’s photos (I’m meaning the ones I took), like the way it lights up/shimmers.... so that is the big draw to see it in-person.

likewise, my biggest hangup is that it’s a whole 1 mm smaller. So can I justify ANOTHER stone purchase after I just bought another stone?? (I know only I can answer that question myself) and like.... it’s only $300. That’s not THAT expensive! Plus, I could always put it in a nice dainty setting if it doesn’t work out..... ugh, my inner monologue is just EVIL! ;(

I still need to ask about the return policy, so maybe that’ll change now I feel...
 
silkystarlight said:
That is a BEAUTIFUL diamond! It's kind of hard to visualize the dimensions but I think it might be a smidge to big. BUT I have it saved to my IG ring inspo folder so I will keep it in mind!


I think cutting it to make side stones for the other sapphire would look great!

and I guess that makes sense. If there were more that could be facet-worthy they would probably be out there. I guess I can just keep my eyes peeled! Any chance you would be willing to disclose the source you used? No offence taken if you are not wanting to; I totally understand! So do not feel pressured to disclose.

I guess it wouldn't hurt to inquire after the type of diamonds I am looking for... idk I guess I'm a tad intimidated by the diamond trade; it seems enormous and also sometimes the price tags make my eyes want to fall out! :lol:


As much as I love the sapphire I shared in my other thread, I don't think that is the one for my ering. It's so close to being what I'm looking for, but seeing Lexililac's sapphire and some diamonds like the one DiamondLizzy shared (the video for All Yours Jewels she shared way earlier in this thread) make my heart beat fast so I think that's more of the look I want.

That Earth's Treasury milky white sapphire is amazing!! I really might have to consider that... the shape isn't quite what I'm looking for but it is close enough that I could see it working!

I also love the look of that light lavender sapphire but it is definitely not the shape I am going for.

But thank you for these great finds!!!


I know I'm a couple days late replying to this, but I promise I did see this post the day you posted it! But unfortunately by that time I got to see it the link was broken, so I didn't actually get to see what the IG post was! :(2


Oh that's really cool though! No worries, it sounds like you got a chance deal on a one-of-a-kind stone! It's sooo pretty so I understand why you fell in love when you saw it!
Click to expand...

@silkystarlight to visualise the size of stones I would suggest visiting diamdb.com. You can enter stones and your ring size to get an idea of what it might look like.
 
Hivona said:

Home | Obsessed Over Gems

obsessedovergems.com obsessedovergems.com

If you look up their Instagram they have quite a few milky, silky gems. Not too many listed on their website though.

https://www.midwinter.co/
salt and pepper diamonds with some milky whites.
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Midwinter's stuff is gorgeous but I think if you get a stone through them you also have to get the custom setting too, to me at least it doesn't look like they sell just the stones by themselves. I would really consider them if I hadn't already found a jeweler I love.

But the other place you mentioned does have some nice silky gems! Might add them to my "reach out to" list. Thank you for the recommendations!

DiamondLizzy said:
@silkystarlight to visualise the size of stones I would suggest visiting diamdb.com. You can enter stones and your ring size to get an idea of what it might look like.
Click to expand...
Oh my gosh, thank you for this suggestion!! I spent some time on the site putting in different stone sizes and comparing and it was a great for helping me visualize!



I did decide to pull the trigger on Caleb's sapphire... I feel a tad nervous because I don't often spend so much money at once, but I think it'll be exciting to see it in person! Plus... my birthday is this month, so I can just call it a birthday gift to myself lol
 
So a seller I reached out to on Etsy who had a sapphire that caught my eye finally got back to me... unfortunately the sapphire that I loved was actually teeny tiny (it was in a mixed lot lineup and I am not great at judging sizes yet lol) buuut she did present me with some other options!

From left to right, here are their measurements:
-4.6mm
-4.5mm
-4mm
-3.5mm
-3.5mm
-3.5mm
-2.5mm
-2.6mm
-1.6mm

1612986830270.jpeg

1612986827642.png

I feel like my brain is melting a bit with so many choices... and I can't tell if my brain is just looking at these and going "oooh shiny, get them all!!" just because, or if there's actually something I could do with them.
  • So the top two are small like Caleb's sapphire, but could potentially be center stones. I like how they look.
  • Another thought is taking the two closest-matching 3.5mm stones and using them for the outer stones needed for my wedding band idea.
  • and depending on what size we go with for the stone's in my boyfriend's wedding band, I could see either the 2.5mm or the 1.6mm stones working for that, as maybe the lightest in the ombre?
I'm sorely tempted to ask how much it would be for all of them.... have I ever mentioned that I actually have a big rekindled interest in getting into jewelry-making/goldsmithing myself? I took a jewelry-making class in high school and loved it, and the thought has been in the back of my mind ever since. So part of me just thinks "oh, get these stones! you can use them in the future pieces you make!!" because that is a GREAT excuse. :roll:

Do you guys think there's really any use for these stones, or should I probably cool my jets and back off for a little bit?
 
silkystarlight said:
So a seller I reached out to on Etsy who had a sapphire that caught my eye finally got back to me... unfortunately the sapphire that I loved was actually teeny tiny (it was in a mixed lot lineup and I am not great at judging sizes yet lol) buuut she did present me with some other options!

From left to right, here are their measurements:
-4.6mm
-4.5mm
-4mm
-3.5mm
-3.5mm
-3.5mm
-2.5mm
-2.6mm
-1.6mm

1612986830270.jpeg

1612986827642.png

I feel like my brain is melting a bit with so many choices... and I can't tell if my brain is just looking at these and going "oooh shiny, get them all!!" just because, or if there's actually something I could do with them.
  • So the top two are small like Caleb's sapphire, but could potentially be center stones. I like how they look.
  • Another thought is taking the two closest-matching 3.5mm stones and using them for the outer stones needed for my wedding band idea.
  • and depending on what size we go with for the stone's in my boyfriend's wedding band, I could see either the 2.5mm or the 1.6mm stones working for that, as maybe the lightest in the ombre?
I'm sorely tempted to ask how much it would be for all of them.... have I ever mentioned that I actually have a big rekindled interest in getting into jewelry-making/goldsmithing myself? I took a jewelry-making class in high school and loved it, and the thought has been in the back of my mind ever since. So part of me just thinks "oh, get these stones! you can use them in the future pieces you make!!" because that is a GREAT excuse. :roll:

Do you guys think there's really any use for these stones, or should I probably cool my jets and back off for a little bit?
Click to expand...

Hmmm. It’s hard to know. If you are doubting it, I’d pause. It might be helpful to see the size of Caleb’s since it’s en route?

So are you doing an ombré pave band where the small ones would get used?Sorry I may have missed the details
 
Cerulean said:
Hmmm. It’s hard to know. If you are doubting it, I’d pause. It might be helpful to see the size of Caleb’s since it’s en route?

So are you doing an ombré pave band where the small ones would get used?Sorry I may have missed the details
Click to expand...
I think I will ask what the prices are, so I can mull it over while I wait for Caleb's stone to arrive.

It's alright if you missed it, it was a small passing remark but I do have a mock-up of the idea for a two-tone ombre pave band for the hubby's ring! It's in the corner of my original sketch on my very first post lol

1613049653770.png

Ignore the 2mm stone size, I was looking at some real life examples after I made this mockup and I think I want to go a bit smaller, which is where I think the 1.6mm sapphire could come into play. But otherwise the two-tone factor of thicker outer yellow gold band and thinner white gold/platinum interior band is the same. I think I am going to stick to a black/white monochrome ombre for the stones, because I am trying to go for a pretty versatile look while still being a bit unique.

Also I say black/white but I'm not actually a fan of solid opaque black diamonds/stones (idk they look weirdly "flat" to me?), so it'll probably be more of a white to darkish grey gradient. Kind of like this one below, but probably a more subtle gradient.

1613049995496.png


I was largely inspired by this ring I'll share below, but with a wider gold band than silver, and also probably rounded edges instead. I'm also not crazy about how the silver band is raised but I could see that being a protective measure for the stones so I won't entirely rule it out. I'm also undecided as to whether it would be a half or full eternity pave but I'm leaning towards full.

1613050374011.png
 
silkystarlight said:
I think I will ask what the prices are, so I can mull it over while I wait for Caleb's stone to arrive.

It's alright if you missed it, it was a small passing remark but I do have a mock-up of the idea for a two-tone ombre pave band for the hubby's ring! It's in the corner of my original sketch on my very first post lol

1613049653770.png

Ignore the 2mm stone size, I was looking at some real life examples after I made this mockup and I think I want to go a bit smaller, which is where I think the 1.6mm sapphire could come into play. But otherwise the two-tone factor of thicker outer yellow gold band and thinner white gold/platinum interior band is the same. I think I am going to stick to a black/white monochrome ombre for the stones, because I am trying to go for a pretty versatile look while still being a bit unique.

Also I say black/white but I'm not actually a fan of solid opaque black diamonds/stones (idk they look weirdly "flat" to me?), so it'll probably be more of a white to darkish grey gradient. Kind of like this one below, but probably a more subtle gradient.

1613049995496.png


I was largely inspired by this ring I'll share below, but with a wider gold band than silver, and also probably rounded edges instead. I'm also not crazy about how the silver band is raised but I could see that being a protective measure for the stones so I won't entirely rule it out. I'm also undecided as to whether it would be a half or full eternity pave but I'm leaning towards full.

1613050374011.png
Click to expand...

Ahh I see! That’s a fun idea. Honestly I wouldn’t buy one melee at a time - that I’d really try to get a designer to source...otherwise it’ll be painful!
 
Cerulean said:
Ahh I see! That’s a fun idea. Honestly I wouldn’t buy one melee at a time - that I’d really try to get a designer to source...otherwise it’ll be painful!
Click to expand...

Yeahhh I'm having a hard enough of a time with the stones for MY rings as it is... I don't plan on adding much more pain or trouble to this project if I can prevent it!

I may just get the one though, to maybe be a special "center stone"/lightest part of the ombre. We'll see!
 
Agree with @Cerulean. I think if it's a "fun" or "lower value" project (interpret that how you may, then I'd say go ahead, buy the lot, and play around with it.

But for e-rings/w-bands, I'd really want to be sure that it's something I absolutely love and will want to wear for years and years.

So back to your original project. I'm feeling like maybe it'd be easier to lock down on the center stone first, then start on the sides. Do you have any top contenders right now?
 
AnastasiaBeaverhausen said:
Agree with @Cerulean. I think if it's a "fun" or "lower value" project (interpret that how you may, then I'd say go ahead, buy the lot, and play around with it.

But for e-rings/w-bands, I'd really want to be sure that it's something I absolutely love and will want to wear for years and years.

So back to your original project. I'm feeling like maybe it'd be easier to lock down on the center stone first, then start on the sides. Do you have any top contenders right now?
Click to expand...
I totally understand what you are getting at. I think right now I am going to wait and see what Caleb's sapphire ends up looking like in person, and then maybe after that I'll decide on the Etsy sapphires. I have a feeling they would probably end up being more suited for smaller projects.

I've spent a fair amount of time considering the different options in the back of my mind ever since this thread started and new stones and opinions have been shared. I have come to the following realizations:
  • there are lots of pretty sapphires out there, but I think that the look I want to go for is so particular that it'll be really hard to find what I want, especially for the center stone of my ering. I really want that stone in particular to be special and exactly what I want, because I feel that if I nail that center stone, then finding the ones that accompany it might have a bit more wiggle room and therefore easier to decide upon.
  • that being said, my mind keeps wandering back to the video of that All Yours Jewels "hazy" (fancy white) diamond. Yeah the one in the video is WAY bigger than I'm looking for, but I find myself pulling up that video every few days or so and just staring at that stone. I think I would really love a diamond that looks just like that, with what looks like a strong blue fluorescence and silkiness while still having some sparkle. I even love how it looks when he pulls it away from the direct sunlight. It just looks so magical and dreamy!
  • So this makes me feel like I'm drawing more towards the conclusion that despite my thoughts in the past that there was NO WAY I'd want a diamond as my center stone, I really do love how fancy white diamonds look and I think I might actually have an easier time finding diamonds that would look like what would make me happy.
  • the thing is, I'm honestly kind of intimidated by the thought of really going for diamonds because more often than not their price tags just feel impossibly huge for me right now, which then makes me feel disappointed and bummed out about this project.
  • I am really trying hard to remind myself that this project is just in the planning stage, and the whole point of this planning stage is to figure out what my budget will be so I can be prepared for it! It just kind of sucks to be mentally psyching myself out of a project that I know I will love in the end.
  • also the recent development of getting the 5.7mm Finewater sapphire (from the other post of mine) and seeing it on my hand makes me feel like I'd maybe want a slightly bigger center stone than that one (curse my size 8ish fingers!!), and bigger sizes equals bigger price tags so, then I'm back to worrying about the price of all of this. :wall:
So that's kind of what has been swirling around in my head for a while now... I think where I'm at right now is this: I am still fine with a center stone under 1ct, but while I initially thought I'd be fine with a 0.5ct 5mm stone, I think I will be happier with a closer to 6mm stone instead. I still want a round brilliant cut. I am putting fancy white diamonds more officially "on the table", and just need to bite the bullet and reach out to some sources to get some quotes. I am mot ruling out sapphires entirely, but I feel like they might be better-suited for my side stones. I should really reach out to Michelle (jeweler I'm working with) and ask if she has any sources she could pull from.

Trying to keep my ring ideas cohesive, I was thinking at the very least, it would be a good idea to have the center round stone of my ering and the pear center stone of my wband be the same type of stone (both would be diamonds if I go with diamond for my ering, etc.), and then maybe the side stones can be changed up a bit. I know it might be up to personal preference, but does that seem like a decent line of logic to follow?


Also, THANK YOU for making me think about this. I'm feeling a bit better about everything now that I've written my thoughts out and sorted through the mental static. (Is this what "mind clean" refers to?) You helped to bring me back in, instead of wandering out in space. :roll: sometimes I get a little too in my own head lol
 
silkystarlight said:
I totally understand what you are getting at. I think right now I am going to wait and see what Caleb's sapphire ends up looking like in person, and then maybe after that I'll decide on the Etsy sapphires. I have a feeling they would probably end up being more suited for smaller projects.

I've spent a fair amount of time considering the different options in the back of my mind ever since this thread started and new stones and opinions have been shared. I have come to the following realizations:
  • there are lots of pretty sapphires out there, but I think that the look I want to go for is so particular that it'll be really hard to find what I want, especially for the center stone of my ering. I really want that stone in particular to be special and exactly what I want, because I feel that if I nail that center stone, then finding the ones that accompany it might have a bit more wiggle room and therefore easier to decide upon.
  • that being said, my mind keeps wandering back to the video of that All Yours Jewels "hazy" (fancy white) diamond. Yeah the one in the video is WAY bigger than I'm looking for, but I find myself pulling up that video every few days or so and just staring at that stone. I think I would really love a diamond that looks just like that, with what looks like a strong blue fluorescence and silkiness while still having some sparkle. I even love how it looks when he pulls it away from the direct sunlight. It just looks so magical and dreamy!
  • So this makes me feel like I'm drawing more towards the conclusion that despite my thoughts in the past that there was NO WAY I'd want a diamond as my center stone, I really do love how fancy white diamonds look and I think I might actually have an easier time finding diamonds that would look like what would make me happy.
  • the thing is, I'm honestly kind of intimidated by the thought of really going for diamonds because more often than not their price tags just feel impossibly huge for me right now, which then makes me feel disappointed and bummed out about this project.
  • I am really trying hard to remind myself that this project is just in the planning stage, and the whole point of this planning stage is to figure out what my budget will be so I can be prepared for it! It just kind of sucks to be mentally psyching myself out of a project that I know I will love in the end.
  • also the recent development of getting the 5.7mm Finewater sapphire (from the other post of mine) and seeing it on my hand makes me feel like I'd maybe want a slightly bigger center stone than that one (curse my size 8ish fingers!!), and bigger sizes equals bigger price tags so, then I'm back to worrying about the price of all of this. :wall:
So that's kind of what has been swirling around in my head for a while now... I think where I'm at right now is this: I am still fine with a center stone under 1ct, but while I initially thought I'd be fine with a 0.5ct 5mm stone, I think I will be happier with a closer to 6mm stone instead. I still want a round brilliant cut. I am putting fancy white diamonds more officially "on the table", and just need to bite the bullet and reach out to some sources to get some quotes. I am mot ruling out sapphires entirely, but I feel like they might be better-suited for my side stones. I should really reach out to Michelle (jeweler I'm working with) and ask if she has any sources she could pull from.

Trying to keep my ring ideas cohesive, I was thinking at the very least, it would be a good idea to have the center round stone of my ering and the pear center stone of my wband be the same type of stone (both would be diamonds if I go with diamond for my ering, etc.), and then maybe the side stones can be changed up a bit. I know it might be up to personal preference, but does that seem like a decent line of logic to follow?


Also, THANK YOU for making me think about this. I'm feeling a bit better about everything now that I've written my thoughts out and sorted through the mental static. (Is this what "mind clean" refers to?) You helped to bring me back in, instead of wandering out in space. :roll: sometimes I get a little too in my own head lol
Click to expand...

I'm glad my previous post was helpful! I was worried I may have sounded pushy or exasperated with you; if I did, I totally didn't mean to!

And it really sounds like you've given this a lot of thought and have a solid plan moving forward. I totally get how sometimes we get so excited by seeing so many lovely options that we start to lose track of what we were looking for in the first place. Anyways, can't wait to see the stone you got from Caleb!
 
silkystarlight said:
I totally understand what you are getting at. I think right now I am going to wait and see what Caleb's sapphire ends up looking like in person, and then maybe after that I'll decide on the Etsy sapphires. I have a feeling they would probably end up being more suited for smaller projects.

I've spent a fair amount of time considering the different options in the back of my mind ever since this thread started and new stones and opinions have been shared. I have come to the following realizations:
  • there are lots of pretty sapphires out there, but I think that the look I want to go for is so particular that it'll be really hard to find what I want, especially for the center stone of my ering. I really want that stone in particular to be special and exactly what I want, because I feel that if I nail that center stone, then finding the ones that accompany it might have a bit more wiggle room and therefore easier to decide upon.
  • that being said, my mind keeps wandering back to the video of that All Yours Jewels "hazy" (fancy white) diamond. Yeah the one in the video is WAY bigger than I'm looking for, but I find myself pulling up that video every few days or so and just staring at that stone. I think I would really love a diamond that looks just like that, with what looks like a strong blue fluorescence and silkiness while still having some sparkle. I even love how it looks when he pulls it away from the direct sunlight. It just looks so magical and dreamy!
  • So this makes me feel like I'm drawing more towards the conclusion that despite my thoughts in the past that there was NO WAY I'd want a diamond as my center stone, I really do love how fancy white diamonds look and I think I might actually have an easier time finding diamonds that would look like what would make me happy.
  • the thing is, I'm honestly kind of intimidated by the thought of really going for diamonds because more often than not their price tags just feel impossibly huge for me right now, which then makes me feel disappointed and bummed out about this project.
  • I am really trying hard to remind myself that this project is just in the planning stage, and the whole point of this planning stage is to figure out what my budget will be so I can be prepared for it! It just kind of sucks to be mentally psyching myself out of a project that I know I will love in the end.
  • also the recent development of getting the 5.7mm Finewater sapphire (from the other post of mine) and seeing it on my hand makes me feel like I'd maybe want a slightly bigger center stone than that one (curse my size 8ish fingers!!), and bigger sizes equals bigger price tags so, then I'm back to worrying about the price of all of this. :wall:
So that's kind of what has been swirling around in my head for a while now... I think where I'm at right now is this: I am still fine with a center stone under 1ct, but while I initially thought I'd be fine with a 0.5ct 5mm stone, I think I will be happier with a closer to 6mm stone instead. I still want a round brilliant cut. I am putting fancy white diamonds more officially "on the table", and just need to bite the bullet and reach out to some sources to get some quotes. I am mot ruling out sapphires entirely, but I feel like they might be better-suited for my side stones. I should really reach out to Michelle (jeweler I'm working with) and ask if she has any sources she could pull from.

Trying to keep my ring ideas cohesive, I was thinking at the very least, it would be a good idea to have the center round stone of my ering and the pear center stone of my wband be the same type of stone (both would be diamonds if I go with diamond for my ering, etc.), and then maybe the side stones can be changed up a bit. I know it might be up to personal preference, but does that seem like a decent line of logic to follow?


Also, THANK YOU for making me think about this. I'm feeling a bit better about everything now that I've written my thoughts out and sorted through the mental static. (Is this what "mind clean" refers to?) You helped to bring me back in, instead of wandering out in space. :roll: sometimes I get a little too in my own head lol
Click to expand...

It’s the one you keep returning to and revisiting, especially if you tend to like a lot of things...feels like a strong indicator. I hope you have some luck finding something! I wonder if it might be worth signing up for alerts for Alex Parks and Premier on IG because their inventory moves lightning fast, but they both get unusual diamonds! You could always reach out and ask too - but I have no clue if they’d agree to source something specific like this as I’ve heard varying reviews (esp Alex Park) and he may have a budget minimum, like 10k since his margins are so thin!
 
Just wanted to share these - an IG story...this is from the same vendor I just got my sapphire from! It’s hard to tell what the qualities are in the video alone...but can’t hurt to share!

376715E6-DE20-41F3-A0CE-8A2AFFE3F1BC.jpeg
 
@silkystarlight I might have some potential options for you (not mine obviously but from a vendor I've been speaking to). Hesitant to post them bc I dont want a lurker to snatch them from under you, but happy to email you info. You can contact me from my loupetroop listings. I am "lovedogs" there as well.
 
Cerulean said:
I’m not sure where you left off on your project @silkystarlight - but the vendor o got my milky sapphire from has bunch of others - might be worth checking out -
Click to expand...
lovedogs said:
@silkystarlight I might have some potential options for you (not mine obviously but from a vendor I've been speaking to). Hesitant to post them bc I dont want a lurker to snatch them from under you, but happy to email you info. You can contact me from my loupetroop listings. I am "lovedogs" there as well.
Click to expand...

I just love how we can "go shopping" together here on PS. Ain't nothing bringing us down!
 
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