Blue stone in halo

[indigoblue]

One of my co-workers asked me to help her find an anniversary ring. She has no CS experience and is perfectly willing to buy the first one she sees in a jewelry store. But when she saw my tanzanite ring and my sapphire, she became curious about buying a loose stone and having it set. Her goal is to keep it under $1000.

She says she likes darker stones. Maybe it's because that's all she has seen in the jewelry stores under bright lights. I told her that darker stones would be cheaper, and she didn't seem to mind that.

I introduced her to Loupetroop, and when she saw this one ($1100), she immediately said, "That's what I want." The problem is that she's afraid to buy something with no returns.



I have no experience with halos, but a quick look at ERD and BG tells me that finding a ring on her budget is impossible. Does anyone have any suggestions? Have you seen anything lately that might work? I have her husband's email address and might be able to get him to expand the budget a little (maybe). Her ring size is about 5 and 3/4.

Here are a couple of other blue stones on Loupetroop:
A 2.99 ct (8.4mm) sapphire cut by Michael E $225


A 2 ct (8.1X6.5mm) blue/violet spinel $300

 

[chrono]

Okay, budget > $1000. Is this for just the stone? Shape preference? Size requirement? Dark blue, presumably heated is fine. You are right that a good halo setting in WG is going to cost at least $2K.

Michael E sapphire - something is off about that picture. At that price for that size, is it a synthetic or diffused stone?

 

[deskjockey]

At that price for that size, is it a synthetic or diffused stone?

iirc it's a synthetic.

 

[indigoblue]

At that price for that size, is it a synthetic or diffused stone?

iirc it's a synthetic.

You're right. It is synthetic. I overlooked the word "lab" in the description. Not sure if she'd even mind that as long as it's pretty.

"The stone is cut from Czochralski Pulled Blue Sapphire rough. This variety of rough had been off the market for almost 30 years. One of the highest quality lab roughs out there!"

Her budget is $1000 total, but she is not CS savvy. She is probably basing that on what she has seen in jewelry stores. I would just like to get some ideas to show her whether her budget is reasonable. The LoupeTroop ring for $1100 is probably her best bet. She just fears the no return policy.

 

[chrono]

Too RHR-ish?
https://www.etsy.com/listing/167167208/cornflower-blue-ceylon-sapphire-in?ref=shop_home_active_21

 

[indigoblue]

Too RHR-ish?
https://www.etsy.com/listing/167167208/cornflower-blue-ceylon-sapphire-in?ref=shop_home_active_21

Oh wow! She might like that. She does like yellow gold. I'll send her husband the pics and link. Thanks!

 

[distracts]

Both the ring and the Michael E loose stone are synthetic sapphires.

 

[texaskj]

indigo, I'm going to throw this out.
My engagement ring from my ex (circa 1990) is a dark oval sapphire with tapered baguettes and rounds making the halo. It's 14k yellow gold. The band starts out around 4-5 mms and tapers down to 2mm. The jeweler cut some of the basket underneath to fit a 2mm wedding band. I would definitely sell it for less than $1000. Your friend probably wants something nicer, but you just never know.
I would post a photo, but I'm at work.
Just holler if she might be interested.

 

[VirginiaZee]

Yvonne Raley has this ring in her shop, it's a "mildly heated" sapphire in rose goldhttps://www.etsy.com/listing/181194...on-sapphire-halo-ring?ref=shop_home_active_24

 

[VirginiaZee]

And Jewels by Grace has this one (it's over budget... by $600... and no word on treatments, though that doesn't seem to be an issue). I just thought it was an unusual and pretty ring. http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/rings/sapphire-and-pink-diamond-halo-ring.html#.U7S-lPldUms

 

[VirginiaZee]

And a cabochon halo (though not sure if she'd want that...) http://www.rubylane.com/item/1037259-R603X0004/Sapphire-Diamond-14kt-Gold-Cocktail-Ring

There are also a few other possibilities on Ruby Lane that I don't think I can post here, but should show up in a quick search.

 

[indigoblue]

Thanks for the suggestions texaskj. I'd love to see your ring but am not sure about how to go about this and not break the rules. VirginiaZee, I will show her your pictures when I get to work this afternoon (I work 3-11). They look promising. And her husband might be willing to go over budget if it's something she really likes. She will definitely like the return policy on the JbG.

Heat treatment doesn't matter at all to her. And she might even be happy with a lab stone. AFAIK she just wants a blue stone with a halo (thank you, Princess Di). I really appreciate all of your suggestions. Keep them coming.

 

[indigoblue]

Does anyone know anything about this guy?

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SellerOfJewels

He seems to have good reviews, good return policy, and reasonably priced halos.

And then there's LOGR @ Etsy too.

 

[Niel]

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=161342125837&alt=web


Love this.

 

[Niel]

If she doesn't care about treatment or whatever she might want to contact peter toracca. He cut an amazing blue spinel recently that might fit her criteria. I've seen pics the color is electric. I'm sure its on pinterest if you google his name and blue spinel.

I'd ask him to fit it to this. They recently had it up for 499 firm so I'd offer that.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=351108550912&alt=web

Or depending on how low they are willing to OBO and the price of the spinel this miiiiiight work. But keep in mind there would be setting and sizing costs.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=251575573619&alt=web

 

[texaskj]

indigo, here it is:



This was good for a laugh: the insurance appraisal is dated Aug. 10, 1990 and underneath that it says, "Gold Market at $350.00 oz"
Also good for a yuck or two was the replacement price of $2,695. No one in their right mind would pay that now, let alone in 1990.

 

[VirginiaZee]

Gene at Precision Gem also recently cut some blue spinel that might work... the pair sold but he might have more rough (http://precisiongem.com/Gemstones/rapidcart/labcreatedgems.html)

And Dana at Mastercutgems has a few sapphires that might work for her too, and are very budget friendly... http://mastercutgems.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=7531

 

[Niel]

http://www.rubylane.com/item/842649-00004834/Vintage-18K-Diamond-Sapphire-Ring

 

[indigoblue]

Thanks everyone. I am sending her all of these links and pictures but haven't heard back from her. She has been off work for the holiday week. I should hear more next week. I thought she might like this one if he could do it in yellow gold.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/184192076/14k-white-gold-natural-tazanite-and?ref=shop_home_active_3