Choosing best pink stone

[toefinger]

My wife's ring has two rows of channel set pink sapphires that she is no longer happy with. The issue is they are a hot pink color but they look kind of red. Even more so when the get dirty. So for our 10 year anniversary I am thinking about having the sapphires replaced with light pink colored stones and I need help choosing what kind of stone to replace them with. My jeweler recommend looking at the idea of using light pink czs. I have no issues with using czs and I'd like to keep the cost down. My concern is sparkle. I am wondering with such small stones, maybe 2mm in diameter, if any of the options for a pink stone are going to have much of sparkle to them or would you never be able to know the difference by looking at them if they were Cz or natural stones. If natural stones are a better option what would you recommend? Thanks in advance for any help given.

 

[chrono]

Are you looking to replace the stones in the ring (keep the setting)? If so, the labour cost will the bulk of the cost and with it being channel set, you are probably better off getting a new setting made. I do not think we are allowed to discuss cubic zirconia here.

 

[GregS]

CZ has higher dispersion than diamond which means lots of "sparkle" if cut well. But at the end of the day it's still just CZ.

 

[junebug17]

I personally wouldn't do czs for an engagement ring. I have nothing against sims but for a special piece I'd rather have natural gemstones. I'm a newbie at CSs so can't help too much with alternatives - maybe go with lighter sapphire stones or spinel - I'll let others more knowledgable take over.

 

[deskjockey]

I think I'd look into lighter pink spinel. I know Jeff Davies has some parcels of small (2.5mm) spinel, he could probably source some matched light pink ones...

 

[toefinger]

I figured I would post a pic of the ring for reference.

 

[ElleK]

How often does she clean it? Would she be ok if you reset it completely?

 

[mochiko42]

You can also get light pink natural sapphire melee. I have a halo ring with them.

 

[T L]

It might ruin the setting to try to take those out and replace them, too much work and labor involved.

If using a natural stone, you could get diffused pink sapphires, which are more abundant and cost less than non treated, or just simply heated sapphires. Pink cz's would look too fake, but colorless cz would be more realistic.

 

[pregcurious]

If you are open to a reset, perhaps someone could make that into a band. I don't know if that could be done. I would find a jeweler who has a good bench.

 

[regina3737]

CZ has higher dispersion than diamond which means lots of "sparkle" if cut well. But at the end of the day it's still just CZ.

But, a lower refractive index. Mossainite is actually higher than diamond, regardless I think both are worthless as they are man made.

 

[T L]

CZ has higher dispersion than diamond which means lots of "sparkle" if cut well. But at the end of the day it's still just CZ.

But, a lower refractive index. Mossainite is actually higher than diamond, regardless I think both are worthless as they are man made.

To the OP, Many people here don't care for synthetics, however, there are other forums devoted to synthetic and simulants. We're really not allowed to discuss these kinds of stones here, but there's nothing wrong with them. There's a market for everything, as long as you know what you're getting.

 

[pregcurious]

What is your budget? You could do a reset whit a band that has pink diamond melee. It would be pricey but it could be really stunning.

 

[pregcurious]

Would your wife consider resetting the stone in a solitaire setting, and getting a pink sapphire band like this one:

http://loupetroop.com/listings/bands/leon-mege-diamond-and-pink-sapphire-platinum-band-size-5-3-slash-4

 

[toefinger]

She has to clean it every few days to keep it looking pink. Hearing all of the posts it sounds like the better question is how feasible it is to replace the stones. I didn't know if it was possible to make the channel width wider and put larger pink stones in to make it more easily replacable. My budget is pretty low $300 to $600. Is there even a chance to get something like this done in that price range? My jeweler is a long time customer of mine and gives me a good deal. The larger of the two white gold diamond bands cost me $400 from him. The other band I got somewhere else and it is smaller and the diamonds are lower quality and it cost me $550.

 

[T L]

She has to clean it every few days to keep it looking pink. Hearing all of the posts it sounds like the better question is how feasible it is to replace the stones. I didn't know if it was possible to make the channel width wider and put larger pink stones in to make it more easily replacable. My budget is pretty low $300 to $600. Is there even a chance to get something like this done in that price range? My jeweler is a long time customer of mine and gives me a good deal. The larger of the two white gold diamond bands cost me $400 from him. The other band I got somewhere else and it is smaller and the diamonds are lower quality and it cost me $550.

The labor is going to be expensive. I think you're probably better off resetting in a simple gold band or something with low cost pink sapphires (like diffused or simulants). See what your jeweler quotes you though.