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Christmas gemstone ideas

KristinTech

KristinTech

Brilliant_Rock
Premium
Joined
Aug 7, 2013
Messages
1,863
As part of my Christmas, my husband wants to buy me a gemstone to be set later. The budget for this is $300 for the stone. I already have aquamarine, blue zircon, and tourmaline. I really love garnets in all colors, and am open to any other gemstone. Bonus if the size of the stone would fit a stock setting. :) I would lean toward setting it in a ring, but possibly also a pendant. I saw the huge list of respected CS vendors, but I'm not sure where to send him for this purchase! My RH finger is a size 7.5-8 if that factors in! I appreciate any help!
 
Do you have a favorite color or shape? You'll have to narrow it down a bit eventually, might as well start now!
 
Is there a minimum mm size you'd like?
 
Once you decide on size & if there's a color you prefer, you might take a look at http://www.finewatergems.com/ where Gary is having a sale. Some stones might be within your budget -- unless you're already definite about what you want, roaming through the vendors on the vendor list might help you see what turns you on. Nice husband! Have him talk to mine, ok? :D

--- Laurie
 
FrekeChild|1385444620|3563031 said:
Do you have a favorite color or shape? You'll have to narrow it down a bit eventually, might as well start now!
Click to expand...
Green, red/pink, orange, purple... those would be my preferred colors, I guess! I think round would be my preferred, but I would also like an emerald shape (e-ring is oval, so maybe not oval?). I'm not really picky about the shape, as long as the color and all the other specs are in place.

One of those mint garnet glowballs would be spectacular, not sure if it's in the budget! :)
 
I know $300 isn't a large budget, but of course the bigger the stone the better. :) I would lean toward about the mm size of a one carat diamond, but if it's smaller I might be forced to halo it to increase the coverage. :naughty: Truthfully, though, no I don't have a certain size that it has to be. I really want the color of the stone to be center stage. I can make it "bigger" later with the setting.
 
Thank you, IndyLady and JewelFreak-- I will keep perusing the PS vendor list for ideas. :)
 
1 ct round diamond ~ 6.5 mm
1 ct round garnet ~ 6.0 mm
1.5 ct round garnet ~ 6.5 mm
 
Thank you for that comparison, Chrono!
 
I hate to mention it, because I WANT IT, but Barry B. just put up a little trio of round garnets, 4.9/5 mm, as a "set" for under $200. They look very sparkly and since they're matched (size and cut) they could go together in a nice little pendant or ring, and should easily fit a stock setting.

If they sit there much longer I might buy them because I like the smaller sizes and they look very, very shiny. =)

http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewCat_h.asp?idCategory=57

Edit: never mind they're gone already. haha
 
deskjockey|1385476718|3563149 said:
I hate to mention it, because I WANT IT, but Barry B. just put up a little trio of round garnets, 4.9/5 mm, as a "set" for under $200. They look very sparkly and since they're matched (size and cut) they could go together in a nice little pendant or ring, and should easily fit a stock setting.

If they sit there much longer I might buy them because I like the smaller sizes and they look very, very shiny. =)

http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewCat_h.asp?idCategory=57

Edit: never mind they're gone already. haha
Click to expand...

That is so nice of you to post them. :) I actually saw them (and that they were sold) before you posted. But it's so nice that you were trying to share them with me! I have been going through a lot of the PS vendor sites, and I realize that some websites are a lot more user-friendly than others. It's time consuming--and fun!
 
I'm going to post some random stuff.

http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=139&idproduct=3870

I have NO IDEA why this has been sitting around for as long as it has. It's freaking gorgeous.
http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=139&idproduct=3859

This is beautiful too.
http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=139&idproduct=4451

And this. Although it's kind of roval-y.
http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=139&idproduct=4342

I'll keep poking around.
 
 
Hmm, where to start?! Freke is definitely on to something with her recommendations for Barry at AC stones; his cutting is amazing and he can make anything look brilliant and gorgeous. That said, I caution you when it comes to garnets in the red family, as they seem to brown out frequently in certain lighting (particularly flourescent).

I would recommend either of the Barry supernovas that Freke pointed out are being sold secondhand. The first is one I owned for years and just recently destashed. I've been on my holy grail search for years for a vivid reddish orange spessartite garnet. This one was close but no cigar. I no longer own it but know its a beautiful stone - so that one is worth considering. Also, the one recommended right under that - the greenish/teal supernova tourmaline also looks quite nice. I also like the emerald green Afghan tourm that Freke found. You have a lot to choose from, but again, I caution you to avoid red garnets unless you don't mind that they can turn muddy in some lighting.
 
FrekeChild|1385536767|3563743 said:
I'm going to post some random stuff.

http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=139&idproduct=3870

I have NO IDEA why this has been sitting around for as long as it has. It's freaking gorgeous.
http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=139&idproduct=3859

This is beautiful too.
http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=139&idproduct=4451

And this. Although it's kind of roval-y.
http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=139&idproduct=4342

I'll keep poking around.
Click to expand...

Of these, I love the malaya garnet and the large amethyst the best. It seems that my husband has opinions about this now that I'm getting some things narrowed down--he doesn't care for the rectangular stones. I think it's just the step cuts he's not crazy about (he liked the ember-cute amethyst). Anyway, thank you for these great ideas! In browsing the websites, the garnets really do speak to me (but how can you pass up such a large amethyst?!). I went to the University of Illinois. Would it be obnoxious to have an orange and blue three-stone ring? :)
 
When you say the garnets are winning out, are you looking at green or yellow garnets? Or are you back to coveting red/purple ones? Barry is incredibly kind and forthcoming. If there is one you are seriously considering, ask him how it performs in various lighting situations - he'll completely help you.
 
FrekeChild|1385538233|3563752 said:
Gemrite!

http://www.gemrite.com/collections/gems/products/orange-grossular-garnet-2-36-cts

http://www.gemrite.com/collections/gems/products/rhodolite-garnet-2-04-cts

Interesting
http://www.gemrite.com/collections/gems/products/imperial-garnet-1-80-cts
Click to expand...

In browsing, this was one of my favorite vendor sites... except that they didn't say certain stones were sold until you clicked on them! So it was frustrating when I'd see something that I liked, only to find out they were gone. But I did bookmark it as one of my favorite vendors at first glance.
 
deskjockey|1385560133|3563842 said:
I saw this last night and thought it was neat, just because it seems very unusual:

http://litnon.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=9858

(or at least it appeals to my sense of odd/interesting!)
Click to expand...

Yes, I think I must have a sense of odd/interesting, because I think that is beautiful! I do have an aqua that my husband bought me several years ago (set it east-west in a bezel pendant), so I am going for something different this time. But that stone is really neat!
 
minousbijoux|1385562454|3563864 said:
Or are you back to coveting red/purple ones? Barry is incredibly kind and forthcoming. If there is one you are seriously considering, ask him how it performs in various lighting situations - he'll completely help you.
Click to expand...

Definitely. He's awesome. My main requirement with my recent garnet was that I wanted something that would be beautiful in flourescent lighting, since that's what my office has (it sucks out my soul) and I wanted something that would make me happy here, since I spend most of my day here. He was very helpful in getting me info about how it would do and what I got not only met, but exceeded expectations there. He has another rhodolite of the same type, but a little larger, it's the "cherry" garnet on his page.
 
minousbijoux|1385561321|3563852 said:
Hmm, where to start?! Freke is definitely on to something with her recommendations for Barry at AC stones; his cutting is amazing and he can make anything look brilliant and gorgeous. That said, I caution you when it comes to garnets in the red family, as they seem to brown out frequently in certain lighting (particularly flourescent).

I would recommend either of the Barry supernovas that Freke pointed out are being sold secondhand. The first is one I owned for years and just recently destashed. I've been on my holy grail search for years for a vivid reddish orange spessartite garnet. This one was close but no cigar. I no longer own it but know its a beautiful stone - so that one is worth considering. Also, the one recommended right under that - the greenish/teal supernova tourmaline also looks quite nice. I also like the emerald green Afghan tourm that Freke found. You have a lot to choose from, but again, I caution you to avoid red garnets unless you don't mind that they can turn muddy in some lighting.
Click to expand...

Thank you for this info... I do have a small rhodolite garnet set with a tiny diamond melee that is a set of stackers for my mother's ring set (sapph, rhodolite, aqua). It is very small, but I have noticed the stark difference in light performance as I go about my day. It is also bezel set (all the gemstones are in the stackers), so I'm not sure how much that has to do with it.

I was rereading my original post, and I misspoke (I will blame all the vendor browsing I had been doing at that point!)-- I don't currently own a tourmaline, I own tanzanite. So I would be open to a tourmaline, definitely. I think there is something just so striking about the orange colors, though! Do people set it with white gold? White gold with yellow gold prongs?
 
minousbijoux|1385562454|3563864 said:
When you say the garnets are winning out, are you looking at green or yellow garnets? Or are you back to coveting red/purple ones? Barry is incredibly kind and forthcoming. If there is one you are seriously considering, ask him how it performs in various lighting situations - he'll completely help you.
Click to expand...

Orange (are they considered in the yellow family?) and green garnets are winning out right now... I do love the look of the red/purple garnets, but I think it would bother me to have something light up so brightly in some lighting, then turn more of a dull wine-y color in other.
 
KristinTech|1385563294|3563876 said:
minousbijoux|1385562454|3563864 said:
When you say the garnets are winning out, are you looking at green or yellow garnets? Or are you back to coveting red/purple ones? Barry is incredibly kind and forthcoming. If there is one you are seriously considering, ask him how it performs in various lighting situations - he'll completely help you.
Click to expand...

Orange (are they considered in the yellow family?) and green garnets are winning out right now... I do love the look of the red/purple garnets, but I think it would bother me to have something light up so brightly in some lighting, then turn more of a dull wine-y color in other.
Click to expand...

Well said.
 
Freke, thank you for your post about the loupetroop listings. The BB mandarin spess will be on my doorstep next week. :) I want to also especially thank MB, the previous owner of the stone, for helping me understand what second hand stones on loupetroop suited my needs best.

It will be wrapped up and under the tree, so I am not going to be able to set it until January at the earliest. But I am very excited to start a new thread at that time regarding the best way to set it. I'm just sure it will be a ring. Rose gold? Yellow (haven't owned YG in decades)... what fun to decide once Christmas comes! I wear all plat or WG, so even considering new metal is a whole new ball game for me.

Thanks again to all who gave ideas! :)
 
yay!!!!! I'm glad I could help! And I'm glad that it's a stone that MB has seen in person and could advise you on.

Can't wait to see what you do with it!
 
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