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Brown gemstone?

Mjay

Mjay

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Mar 15, 2018
Messages
1,151
I’ve been wanting a brown old mine cut or old European cut diamond for years. Unfortunately I just haven’t found the right one and keep blowing my budget for it on other things. I saw a post by cvb where she posted a gorgeous old mine cut sapphire and it got me thinking- maybe I can scratch this itch with a custom cut brown gemstone? I’m new to the gemstone world. Who does custom cuts? Perhaps a brown zircon or is there another more durable option? Any advice?
 
tagging @lovedogs who had some really pretty brownish-pink gemstones a while back
 
PinkAndBlueBling said:
@Mjay Have you tried Alex Weber on IG? https://www.instagram.com/premiergemstones/

He often gets browns and yellows. I have several diamonds from him. He's awesome!
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Thank you! He is definitely on my radar. A brown diamond is out of budget at the moment but I’m wondering if he may be able to cut a brown gemstone for me. I’ll probably reach out once I have an idea of what kind I’m looking for.
 
lovedogs said:
I strongly suggest investigating zircon!! I have a freakish number of brown/pink zircon and I love them. Happy to help!
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Thank you!!! Do you by any chance have any vendors that you recommend? Preferably those who can do custom cuts?
 
To be honest brown is not a desirable color or tone in any kind of gems. Most stones with brown tone is much cheaper compared to the ones without the brown tone. For example a pad that is brownish pink is much cheaper and less sought after than a orange pink one. Also tourmalines with brown axis are much cheaper compared to the ones having vivid colored tones. However if that is ur personal preference to get brown ones， I would suggest you to be aware not overpaying for them. Stones with brown tones are usually 20-40% cheaper than a pure vivid ones.
 
I've not purchased from or worked with Mastercut Gems, but perhaps they would do a custom cut for you. They are a recommended vendor.
 
Mjay said:
Thank you!!! Do you by any chance have any vendors that you recommend? Preferably those who can do custom cuts?
Click to expand...
custom cuts AND wanting a specific color is quite challenging. Unfortunately I don't have any vendors offhand that I know could source that color + custom cut it.
 
Brown diamonds used to be undesirable now they market them as chocolate
anyway just looking away from diamonds for a moment and
beauty is in the eye of the beholder and fashion is fickle

brown may be far from favourite colour but i know i suit it
i have a lovelly rose gold smokey quartz pendent
i would love a ring to match

while im not keen on coloured stones that are ment to be red or orange but look brown, i think actual brown stones have an old world charm to them

have you thought about a brown topaz ?
why shouldn't a cheaper stone go into a fabulous setting ?
if its not for investment, just for something beautiful on your finger why not ?
i googled and i see brown topaz in silver settings but they would look gorgouse in yellow or rose gold
There must be nicely cut brown stones out there
 
I’m hoping and wishing and crossing my fingers that brown (like a lighter smoky quartz) sapphire or spinel exists and is ‘ given away’ and is languishing somewhere that lapidaries practice on.
Insure would love a large lovely cut one! :love:
kinda like what PrecisionGem said about what used to be thought about grey spinel?
 
I think brown diamonds are affordable, especially if you can find a trustworthy dealer on eBay. However, I bought mine years ago. Not sure of the prices now.

I purchased a one carat brown diamond, albeit with a needle inclusion, but the color helped the inclusion not be eye distracting. It was very affordable. Clarity is not as much an issue in brown diamonds as it is in white diamonds. No one will notice a difference between SI to IF clarity for example.
 
I’d opt for a brown zircon if you haven’t found the right brown diamond.
yea tl is right that generally brown diamonds can be cheaper but I get it a brown old cut in - depending on the color your after- is not a dime a dozen.
there are brown chrysoberyl too
Can be cheap and could prob. Have one custom cut to match a setting you find- if you were so inclined.
 
T L said:
I think brown diamonds are affordable, especially if you can find a trustworthy dealer on eBay. However, I bought mine years ago. Not sure of the prices now.

I purchased a one carat brown diamond, albeit with a needle inclusion, but the color helped the inclusion not be eye distracting. It was very affordable. Clarity is not as much an issue in brown diamonds as it is in white diamonds. No one will notice a difference between SI to IF clarity for example.
Click to expand...

They are definitely affordable but I’m looking for an old mine or old euro. It’s a needle in a haystack. Hard to find and I keep blowing my budget on other items while waiting. Figured I can scratch the itch with a gemstone for under 1k while I save more $ and search.
 
Niel said:
I’d opt for a brown zircon if you haven’t found the right brown diamond.
yea tl is right that generally brown diamonds can be cheaper but I get it a brown old cut in - depending on the color your after- is not a dime a dozen.
there are brown chrysoberyl too
Can be cheap and could prob. Have one custom cut to match a setting you find- if you were so inclined.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I’ve found some awesome antique settings on eBay so I’m thinking an antique cut brown zircon will be perfect!
 
Here's a beautiful brown zircon (link below). Not antique cut but this guy does amazing work and will cut to order. I've got a beautiful natural blue topaz of his that might be my favorite:
My topaz:Screen Shot 2021-09-11 at 4.55.20 PM.pngAnd here's a link to his brown topaz (one of them). He's a very nice and talented guy.

Bespoke Gems - Zircon

Bespoke Gems specialises in precision cut gemstones of the finest quality in a wide range of classic, modern and unique designs. Each gem is personally faceted in Sydney by one of Australia's premier gemcutter, Doug Menadue. A wide range of beautiful Australian Sapphires in stock. Discover the...
www.bespoke-gems.com
 
Mjay said:
They are definitely affordable but I’m looking for an old mine or old euro. It’s a needle in a haystack. Hard to find and I keep blowing my budget on other items while waiting. Figured I can scratch the itch with a gemstone for under 1k while I save more $ and search.
Click to expand...

Well at least zircon is a higher RI gem. It is similar to a diamond in that respect. Diamond is also harder and has better luster, but zircon is a nice second choice for me. You just need to be more careful with it.
 
I got this nice brown/orange chrysoberyl from Adamant years ago. While technically an "undesirable" color for the type (and therefore affordable), it is a lovely stone. Kind of honey-colored with lots of light return.

Screen Shot 2021-09-11 at 2.27.43 PM.png

Like you, I have a low-color diamond on my list but the hue is key. Not yellowish. I have seen some almost-fancy browns in various rings (maybe Lang?) that are really not in my league but are way more affordable than a similarly-sized colorless.
 
@Mjay Is this what you're dreaming of?
www.instagram.com

Cicada Jewelry Design, Inc. on Instagram: "Don’t judge me on my first attempt on this ‘reels’ business haha. We’ve got a chocolate chip cookie of a banger here with zero carbs and sugar, organic, pressure induced over millions of years, funky cognac

419 likes, 39 comments - cjd_sako on July 28, 2021: "Don’t judge me on my first attempt on this ‘reels’ business haha. We’ve got a chocolate chip cookie of a banger here with zero carbs and sugar, organic, pressure induced over millions of years, funky cognac color I2 clarity, non-certed old...
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com
He calls it chocolate chip!
 
Mjay said:
Thank you! I’ve found some awesome antique settings on eBay so I’m thinking an antique cut brown zircon will be perfect!
Click to expand...

That’s probably what I would do. Would be a little extra work but would elevate a - for lack of a better word- basic stone to something exciting
 
mwilliamanderson said:
Here's a beautiful brown zircon (link below). Not antique cut but this guy does amazing work and will cut to order. I've got a beautiful natural blue topaz of his that might be my favorite:
My topaz:Screen Shot 2021-09-11 at 4.55.20 PM.pngAnd here's a link to his brown topaz (one of them). He's a very nice and talented guy.

Bespoke Gems - Zircon

Bespoke Gems specialises in precision cut gemstones of the finest quality in a wide range of classic, modern and unique designs. Each gem is personally faceted in Sydney by one of Australia's premier gemcutter, Doug Menadue. A wide range of beautiful Australian Sapphires in stock. Discover the...
www.bespoke-gems.com
Click to expand...

omg that brown zircon is incredible! Thank you!
 
mwilliamanderson said:
@Mjay Is this what you're dreaming of?
www.instagram.com

Cicada Jewelry Design, Inc. on Instagram: "Don’t judge me on my first attempt on this ‘reels’ business haha. We’ve got a chocolate chip cookie of a banger here with zero carbs and sugar, organic, pressure induced over millions of years, funky cognac

419 likes, 39 comments - cjd_sako on July 28, 2021: "Don’t judge me on my first attempt on this ‘reels’ business haha. We’ve got a chocolate chip cookie of a banger here with zero carbs and sugar, organic, pressure induced over millions of years, funky cognac color I2 clarity, non-certed old...
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com
He calls it chocolate chip!
Click to expand...

I had eyeballed that one! it has so much character! I love wonky but that stone is just to wonky for me
 
Kosnar Gem has a good few brown zircons. I bought a chocolate one and had it set in rose gold as a pendant. I adore it.

I would also love a nice rosy chocolate diamond at some point - problem is I like the ones with pink overtones and don’t have a few hundred thousand to spend :)

EC7B0A94-7F98-4B8E-8168-CEB0A6B4A811.jpeg
 
Brown moissanite would probably be super-duper sparkly, even more so than a diamond.

However, just a thought here but if a brown diamond is what you've been wanting all this time, I wonder if a substitute brown stone would just be another diversion from getting what you really want?
 
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