Bling wishlist/projects for 2025

[maryjane04]

2024 was an excellent bling year, but I also spent a TON, so 2025 needs to be a bit toned down imo!

I really only have two things on my list, one of which is a holdover from the previous year:

- an emerald cocktail ring, I’ve got some ideas of designs I’ve been sketching out. I want something really interesting with a lot of presence!

- a tahitian pearl tin-cup necklace - I obtained a Tahitian pearl bracelet for an absolute song, and I want to turn it into a necklace because I know I won’t wear the bracelet. Maybe with some fun diamond stations, perhaps also a pair of earrings to match.

So far that’s it, but let’s see if something else makes it on the list! I don’t always complete the projects I put on my list lol - I remember last year I had ideas of a wide RG cigar band for example, that never materialised.

Haha I think you're not the only one with a slimmed down list for 2025. Those emerald cut hoops you got were the highlight this year! So it's only fair that you didn't tick off everything on the list this year. Lol we should have a halfway check in point to reassess our list.

I can't wait to see your emerald cocktail ring. I'm so envious of all the emeralds on PS lately! And a fun pearl and diamond station necklace would be a nice piece that you can dress up or down.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

Haha I think you're not the only one with a slimmed down list for 2025. Those emerald cut hoops you got were the highlight this year! So it's only fair that you didn't tick off everything on the list this year. Lol we should have a halfway check in point to reassess our list.

I can't wait to see your emerald cocktail ring. I'm so envious of all the emeralds on PS lately! And a fun pearl and diamond station necklace would be a nice piece that you can dress up or down.

Oooh I’m so flattered you remember my hoops! They really are my favourite piece of jewellery and I wear them all the time.

This will be my first “real” pearl jewellery (aside from an akoya pendant I rarely wear and some seed pearl stuff) so I’m quite excited to make it happen. Everything else I have is costume.

Emeralds are my favourite stone but I also like them large so what will complicate matters is that I’m going to hunt for a secondhand emerald first and then design a ring around it. That strikes me as the best way to get something at a reasonable price. Wish me luck!

 

[maryjane04]

Oooh I’m so flattered you remember my hoops! They really are my favourite piece of jewellery and I wear them all the time.

This will be my first “real” pearl jewellery (aside from an akoya pendant I rarely wear and some seed pearl stuff) so I’m quite excited to make it happen. Everything else I have is costume.

Emeralds are my favourite stone but I also like them large so what will complicate matters is that I’m going to hunt for a secondhand emerald first and then design a ring around it. That strikes me as the best way to get something at a reasonable price. Wish me luck!

Haha how could we not remember those hoops!! We were begging for days for ear shots lol. And you wear them so well

I only have a Tahitian pearl strand that I rarely wear, only for weddings and things lol. I would like to add more pearl items in my collection too but alas the diamonds are the priority right now.

Ah yes definitely a large and in charge emerald which is quite pricey. I've seen some go under the hammer at auctions. I actually think that once I set all my stones, I probably would refrain from buying things that need setting. The cost to set is so high right now which might not be a problem for you as labour charges are minimal. But definitely save where you can!

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

Haha how could we not remember those hoops!! We were begging for days for ear shots lol. And you wear them so well

I only have a Tahitian pearl strand that I rarely wear, only for weddings and things lol. I would like to add more pearl items in my collection too but alas the diamonds are the priority right now.

Ah yes definitely a large and in charge emerald which is quite pricey. I've seen some go under the hammer at auctions. I actually think that once I set all my stones, I probably would refrain from buying things that need setting. The cost to set is so high right now which might not be a problem for you as labour charges are minimal. But definitely save where you can!

You’re so sweet!! Thank you!!

Yup the labour charges are saving me but gold prices have me hammered!! It’s like please STAHP especially since my jeweler is old school and will make things in 14kt only with extreme reluctance

I haven’t started the hunt yet for the emerald - I’m indifferent about the origin (and to an extent about the level of oiling as well, I would be ok with minor to moderate as long as the price reflects it); just want something really pretty. Let’s see what happens.

 

[maryjane04]

You’re so sweet!! Thank you!!

Yup the labour charges are saving me but gold prices have me hammered!! It’s like please STAHP especially since my jeweler is old school and will make things in 14kt only with extreme reluctance

I haven’t started the hunt yet for the emerald - I’m indifferent about the origin (and to an extent about the level of oiling as well, I would be ok with minor to moderate as long as the price reflects it); just want something really pretty. Let’s see what happens.

Hahaha yeah the gold prices! My SE Asian genes are churning cause I'm considering making a 9ct bangle lol it's not very mind clean and I'd much prefer 14ct if I can't get 18ct.

I think I would be the same as you in regards to origin and oiling of an emerald so long as the colour and glow blow me away. I'm really excited for you.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

Hahaha yeah the gold prices! My SE Asian genes are churning cause I'm considering making a 9ct bangle lol it's not very mind clean and I'd much prefer 14ct if I can't get 18ct.

I think I would be the same as you in regards to origin and oiling of an emerald so long as the colour and glow blow me away. I'm really excited for you.

Oh I know exactly what you mean. I’m ok with 14kt but 9kt just seems way low. I was telling my mom that I think I’ll do my pearl tin cup in silver because I don’t want to pay that much gold and it’s just going to be a fun thing; and she was like “oh if you’re doing costume just do 9kt gold” and it’s like, no mom, 9kt gold is technically still gold you know. It’s not costume. But then I’d rather do silver - why pay for the gold at all lol.

What’s the cost difference between 9kt and 14kt for your bangle? It should really only be $20 per gram, right? So depending on how heavy the bangle is it might not be too much of a difference. I assume labour cost wouldn’t change either way.

 

[maryjane04]

Oh I know exactly what you mean. I’m ok with 14kt but 9kt just seems way low. I was telling my mom that I think I’ll do my pearl tin cup in silver because I don’t want to pay that much gold and it’s just going to be a fun thing; and she was like “oh if you’re doing costume just do 9kt gold” and it’s like, no mom, 9kt gold is technically still gold you know. It’s not costume. But then I’d rather do silver - why pay for the gold at all lol.

What’s the cost difference between 9kt and 14kt for your bangle? It should really only be $20 per gram, right? So depending on how heavy the bangle is it might not be too much of a difference. I assume labour cost wouldn’t change either way.

Haha omg how times have changed. I used to think the same as your mum, only costume jewellery would be set in 9ct. But if it's a fun piece and you're not wearing it much then silver is fine.

My jeweller is away for the next month so I'll have to wait to get quotes. I think she quoted roughly $2200 AUD for 9ct depending on how much gold we'd need but I'll check again lol. You're so right 9ct is really low for an everyday piece haha I'll aim for 14ct then. Gold prices are making me depressed boo.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

Haha omg how times have changed. I used to think the same as your mum, only costume jewellery would be set in 9ct. But if it's a fun piece and you're not wearing it much then silver is fine.

My jeweller is away for the next month so I'll have to wait to get quotes. I think she quoted roughly $2200 AUD for 9ct depending on how much gold we'd need but I'll check again lol. You're so right 9ct is really low for an everyday piece haha I'll aim for 14ct then. Gold prices are making me depressed boo.

Honestly silver is almost MORE mind-clean than 9kt gold for me. It’s like silver is firmly in the “fun” category, and 14+ is the “fine” category. 9 is sort of the odd one out, doesn’t fit either category and it makes me a little uncomfortable.

I’d definitely at least explore the option of 14 and see the price difference. There’s also ways of reducing gold content by making it a bit thinner, hollow etc. my jeweller allows me to scrap existing jewellery that I have and use the gold towards other projects too.

I don’t mean to put a bug in your ear btw, it’s not like 9kt gold “isn’t gold”, but when you said you’re SE Asian and 9kt isn’t mind clean for you I thought I should say something because unfortunately I’ve found if something isn’t mind clean for me, I never reach for it! And that would be a shame.

 

[maryjane04]

Honestly silver is almost MORE mind-clean than 9kt gold for me. It’s like silver is firmly in the “fun” category, and 14+ is the “fine” category. 9 is sort of the odd one out, doesn’t fit either category and it makes me a little uncomfortable.

I’d definitely at least explore the option of 14 and see the price difference. There’s also ways of reducing gold content by making it a bit thinner, hollow etc. my jeweller allows me to scrap existing jewellery that I have and use the gold towards other projects too.

I don’t mean to put a bug in your ear btw, it’s not like 9kt gold “isn’t gold”, but when you said you’re SE Asian and 9kt isn’t mind clean for you I thought I should say something because unfortunately I’ve found if something isn’t mind clean for me, I never reach for it! And that would be a shame.

Thank you and you do make a good point! If I'm going to make something custom I might as well go for 14ct instead of 9ct. I would consider finished pieces in 9ct but yeah you're right it's really not worth the trouble of paying someone to make something and not being happy with it because it's not mind clean. I'm so tempted to scrap other pieces but unfortunately I don't have enough to cover one let alone two bangles. Someone suggested I make one bangle in silver but that would also be a shame cause it's not supposed to be a fun piece of jewellery lol.

 

[missy]

I will say I have no bling projects for 2025...unless an amazbling antique emerald cut lab diamond comes available that is...lol. No seriously, no bling projects. But you know what "they" say about the best laid plans

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

Thank you and you do make a good point! If I'm going to make something custom I might as well go for 14ct instead of 9ct. I would consider finished pieces in 9ct but yeah you're right it's really not worth the trouble of paying someone to make something and not being happy with it because it's not mind clean. I'm so tempted to scrap other pieces but unfortunately I don't have enough to cover one let alone two bangles. Someone suggested I make one bangle in silver but that would also be a shame cause it's not supposed to be a fun piece of jewellery lol.

Ok here’s another idea - do you have enough gold to cover the difference between 9 and 14kt if you scrap it? Because since you’ve already become comfortable with spending the amount on a 9kt bangle, you can “upgrade” with scrap gold.

 

[maryjane04]

Ok here’s another idea - do you have enough gold to cover the difference between 9 and 14kt if you scrap it? Because since you’ve already become comfortable with spending the amount on a 9kt bangle, you can “upgrade” with scrap gold.

Hahaha okay I'm digging through my jewellery box and I've got some gold.. probably enough for 18g of 14ct lol. Yay. I think this could work. I'll start with one bangle and come back for the other when I start working again.

I will say I have no bling projects for 2025...unless an amazbling antique emerald cut lab diamond comes available that is...lol. No seriously, no bling projects. But you know what "they" say about the best laid plans

Haha Missy are you even a PS'er lol. I'm envious of you because you've got everything you wanted hence nothing on your list or you've got some great restraint. But I'm sure you always find things when you least expect it. It's a good way to go I think. I definitely see a big emerald cut lab in your future haha.