Blue Sapphire and some help

[Mido1918]

Dear friends,

i bought Blue Sapphire with AIGS certificate and i want to make engagement ring. My idea is to put sapphire in pave set mount with 2 side diamonds 0.13 and 0.08 ct D and SI1. Is it possible to put thoose two side diamonds to look like they are under sapphire and like they are inner part of the ring (this is how i imagine it in my head)? So any ideas?? Also where can i buy melee diamonds for 2 or 3 rows to circle sapphire. What should i look after on mlee diamonds? Comments on sapphire are also appreciated. It is natural blue sapphire from Madagascar.












Thank you!

 

[chrono]

I don't fully understand what you mean by "under sapphire, like they are in the inner part of the ring". It sounds like you want 2 surprise diamonds in the shank, possibly on the inside of the shank. Is that correct?

For creating a double or triple halo, the bulk of the cost is in the labour of setting the 200 or so melees, not the cost of the diamonds itself, so it is actually a better idea to have your jeweller source the melees and make the ring for you. I don't know your budget but if you aren't looking for a top notch ring on a tight budget, I would go with a ready-made cast ring. However, the fact that you want 2 surprise diamonds in the shank leads me to think you are better off going custom CAD/cast to ensure the ring is well made enough that you will not have stones falling out and the shank warping/breaking due to the surprise stones. Do you mind sharing your approximate budget so that we can help steer you in the right direction?

If it is too late to return/get a refund on the sapphire, then there is little reason for me to comment on it in a critical/constructive manner.

 

[Mido1918]

Thank you for helping first, second lets forget about inner input. What do you think abot this set diamonds would be here where is red. Second budget is like 2000 dollars. Third comments on sapphire good or bad are welcomed i still have time to buy another sapphire or diamond. Also if you have other ideas for mounting please share it.

 

[chrono]

It isn't difficult to set a pair of diamond accents in-between the split shanks. Is the $2K budget only for the setting? If so, you'd be hard pressed to get a double, much less triple halo for your budget unless you get lucky with a Chinese-made eBay setting.

What is your budget for the sapphire? Unheated only? Millimeter size requirement? Oval shape?

Have you received the sapphire? Do you absolutely love it? Colour is very personal so it could very well be that you like a darker and grayer blue. If so, then you did all right. I would try to find something a little better cut since the area in the center is not returning light/colour/sparkle as it should. If you prefer a brighter and bluer sapphire, then I would be more than happy to look around, provided I have some approximation of your budget and example pictures of blue sapphires that knock your socks off.

 

[Mido1918]

Chrono thank you very much for your help. About sapphire my girlfriend likes darker blue and that is why i bought this sapphire as in the end its for her. Also in personal sapphire looks just as i hoped it would. Yes i was thinking about 2000 dollars just for setting. I supose that ebay china settings are not recommended or... Also i already have 10 diamonds 0.01 also D and SI1 that i would use in halo or pave setting. I was thinking buying something like this :

http://www.ebay.com/itm/310950650839?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649


Sorry if there are some written mistakes english is not my primary language.

 

[chrono]

Ignore the names/descriptor of the 2 pictures below and tell me which blue you are looking for. Dark blue tells me the tone but it doesn't say anything about the saturation or pop of colour (intense blue or gray blue).

 

[Mido1918]

Navy or commodore also what do you think about this setting?

 

[chrono]

Yes i was thinking about 2000 dollars just for setting. I supose that ebay china settings are not recommended or... Also i already have 10 diamonds 0.01 also D and SI1 that i would use in halo or pave setting. I was thinking buying something like this :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/310950650839?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

It's not that eBay settings from China aren't recommended, it is all about your expectations and budget. If you want a ring that lasts umpteen years without melees falling out when worn 24/7, then I recommend getting a better made setting, which unfortunately will cost well beyond $2K for a triple halo, even if you provide all the diamonds because setting so many tiny stones is very time and labour intensive. Is there any consideration for a simpler design that would still fit your budget?

I would not buy loose melees on eBay. It is almost impossible to match the colour and size and you will need at least 120 melees for a split shank double halo. I'm guessing you'll need a minimum of 150 melees for a split shank triple halo.

 

[Mido1918]

Hmmm what kind of simpler set you think would fit. Yes i would like that ring lasts for quite some time. I could go for max 3000 dollars, but this is my upper upper limit. Also are there any ebay recommanded seller that you maybe know or could recommend.

 

[Mido1918]

What do you think about this set. Side diamonds as i would set them and just 1 row of melee diamonds around central sapphire.

 

[chrono]

I've used pictures from Gemfix to provide some basis of comparison. I don't know the lighting used to photograph your sapphire but by using examples from one vendor, at least I know the 4 sapphire pictures I borrowed are consistent. As you can see, you did get a darker toned sapphire but the saturation is low to medium. Are you looking for a grayer dark blue or a more intense dark blue?

 

[Mido1918]

To be honest i dont know what to say but when i look my sapphire it looks much more blue then on photos i send and i tried severl times to catch better angle but it looks like it is bluer in morning and darker greyer bye the end of day (i know this looks funny but i have no other explenation). Some times it looks greyer and sometimes bluer. To be honest more i look at it i like it more

 

[chrono]

To be honest i dont know what to say but when i look my sapphire it looks much more blue then on photos i send and i tried severl times to catch better angle but it looks like it is bluer in morning and darker greyer bye the end of day (i know this looks funny but i have no other explenation). Some times it looks greyer and sometimes bluer. To be honest more i look at it i like it more

Not a confusion at all; in fact, what you observed is normal. Sapphires look their best outdoors (strong shaded sunlight) and their darkest and grayest when indoors or weak sunlight. If you like it, then I will not continue to look for more sapphires. Just make sure that your idea of "dark blue" jives with her idea of "dark blue". My only other concern now is the cut. The stone has a medium sized window which does not reflect sparkle or blue back to the eye. You can probably see your skin underneath through the stone. It is possible that this windowed/leaking area will be minimized once the stone is set in an enclosed halo. On the other hand, with the tone already this dark, it is possible that the sapphire will look even darker and grayer after being set in an enclosed halo setting.

 

[Mido1918]

Side picture. Also thank you so much for beeing so helpful and friendly.

 

[chrono]

Whilst I was looking around for settings for your sapphire, I realized that the measurements of 7 x 6 mm isn't a calibrated size, meaning you are almost surely required to go with a custom setting made to fit the "odd" measurements. If you want an easier time looking for ready-made settings, you might want to consider standard sizes such as 8 x 6 mm.

 

[Michael_E]

It's not that eBay settings from China aren't recommended, it is all about your expectations and budget. If you want a ring that lasts umpteen years without melees falling out when worn 24/7, then I recommend getting a better made setting, which unfortunately will cost well beyond $2K for a triple halo, even if you provide all the diamonds because setting so many tiny stones is very time and labour intensive. Is there any consideration for a simpler design that would still fit your budget?

I would not buy loose melees on eBay. It is almost impossible to match the colour and size and you will need at least 120 melees for a split shank double halo. I'm guessing you'll need a minimum of 150 melees for a split shank triple halo.

I second all of what Chrono has said here and add, "Please do not buy loose melee at all" Why? Because you simply do not know what you're doing and do not have access to the right suppliers. As Chrono has mentioned it is very difficult to get a good color match AND size match on run of the mill melee. Size matching melee is critical in making a halo which looks good and those of us who do this work spend a lot of time finding suppliers who will provide well matched melee in closely matched sizes. These suppliers do not sell to the general public and the stuff offered to the public on E-bay is not nearly as well matched.

Then there is the idea of saving money by buying your own melee. If you buy melee at $800 -$1000 per carat and then have someone set them at $8 to $10 each, you are spending more than just buying melee from the person doing the work at $1500 to $1800 per carat, (and getting better melee in the later process). The deal may even be better in buying from the custom crafts person, since they often charge a premium, (of more than that $8 to $10 per stone), when setting crappy mis-sized and misshapen melee from E-bay, (if they'll set it at all). Save your money and time by letting the pro's do their job in making your fine jewelry.

 

[Mido1918]

Thank you all for helping and sharing ideas. I saw that some of people on forums say that Lord of the gem rings makes good yewlery. What do you think about making custom ring at Lord of gem rings.

 

[chrono]

Thank you all for helping and sharing ideas. I saw that some of people on forums say that Lord of the gem rings makes good yewlery. What do you think about making custom ring at Lord of gem rings.

It is a good product for the money spent BUT you must upgrade the diamonds or they will be cloudy or have carbon spots. Do not expect their micropave stones and setting to last a lifetime. There are reasons why the price is good. The melees are cast in place, not hand set individually so expect the diamonds to fall out over time if the ring is worn 24/7.

 

[Mido1918]

Is there good online (ebay) yeweler that someone can recommend that makes solid custom made mounts in middle range quality? Here in Croatia yewelers are 70% more expensive then in any other part of world because of huge taxes.

 

[chrono]

Daniel M (Dan) - http://www.etsy.com/people/danielmjewelry
JuliaB - http://www.etsy.com/shop/JuliaBJewelry