Chrome Diopside in a ring?

[Kismet]

Most of the sites that talk about this gem say that it''s generally too soft for ring wear. Does anybody have any hands on experience with it in a ring?

Thanks!

 

[Kaleigh]

What''s is it on the Mohs scale of hardness. I am familiar with the color of it, but forget what it''s number is??

 

[Kismet]

I believe it''s 5.5.

 

[Kaleigh]

Oh that is soft!! Maybe if it were protected in a bezel setting it would be ok. Is this for a ring that you plan to wear every day??

 

[Kismet]

No, I don''t think I''d wear it every day. I actually have nothing planned out in regards to a specific ring, I just thought that green was very pretty. I stumbled onto this site the other day and just decided what I really want is a colored gemstone ring.

 

[Kaleigh]

It''s a lovely color. In this section of the PS forum there was a thread about tourmaline and it was also a yummy green color. I think that may be a nice choice for a ring, as I believe it''s harder that chrome diopside.

 

[MINE!!]

There is a Chrome Tourmaline? and I know there is a Verdalite? Tourmaline.. It is worth looking up. Also, there is Tzavorite which very green and yummy too. Good Luck.

 

[MJO]

Personlly I would go with tourmaline also. Chrome Diopside is very dark in bigger stones. I have a 4ct that is extremely dark and only looks good in direct sunlight. From what I''ve seen all the stones seem to be the same.

 

[Kaleigh]

MJO,
What was the name of the tourmaline, it had a specific name??

 

[MJO]

If you mean Paraiba it is to expensive for most people but there are very beautiful green stones right now coming from Nigeria and Afghanistan. I just asked one of my suppliers to send me some of the bluegreen and green stones on approval. Remember one thing about tourmaline. It is dichroic and the colors on the ab axis are not always the same as on the c axis. Also most stones have a closed c axis. This means the stones are very dark when viewed through that side and when cut aren''t as bright. Also pure green and blue green with no olive or brown modifiers is what you are looking for. If you see olive green move on.

 

[Kaleigh]

Yes that''s it Paraiba. Got to save up cause that color is amazing!!

 

[MINE!!]

There is a Chrome Tourmaline and a Verdelite. The Chrome is darker green and the Verdelite is a bit forestey.

 

[Kaleigh]

Tsavorite is also very pretty, not sure of it''s hardness though, MJO any thoughts on this??

 

[MINE!!]

Just one last one and I leave this forum... I know that Tzavorite is a garnet which gives it the 7.0-7.5 hardness scale. PLease, feel free...

 

[Kaleigh]

Thanks MINE!! How is your daughter is she still enjoying her new ring??

 

[MJO]

Tsavorite is a perfect ring stone. One of my favorite rings I made for my wife is a tsavorite. It was cheap, but I found everything cheap at the time. I found a 3ct perfect tsavorite for $900 and a semimount with an awful stone holder (got a mental block here) but over 2 cts of wonderfully clean H color Princess cut diamonds for $1,200. I had a jeweler I know modify the setting to have the prongs attached and it turned out great. The whole thing cost me $2,500.

Now tsavorites have gone up again and that stone is over $1,000/ct if you can find one that color and clean. Oh yeah the question was what do I think about tsavorites in a ring . I think they''re great.

 

[Kismet]

Thanks for all the info. Chrome Tourmaline and Tsavorite are very pretty as well.

MJO: What are the ab and c axis in re: gems?

 

[MJO]

When you are looking at a peice of rough stone especially tourmaline. The long side is the ab axis and the short side is the c Axis. Light travels through the stone at different speeds in different directions. The slower the peed the less bright the stone is at the end it is comming out. Alot of tourmalines are cut in a rectangular cut with steep sides on at the small ends. This is so less of the light from that end reflects back into the face of the stone. This is because the c axis is closed. Oval and round stones use only open c axis stones.

 

[valeria101]

Diopside looks very nice as briolettes - even large ones as long as they have an oval section that keeps them from being too deep and dark. Same goes for cabs and beads. Faceted pieces need to be deeper to avoid windows and at that depth the color becomes way dark

. Which is unfortunate for that otherwise wonderful green.

That hardness is close to opal - wearable with a disclaimer

There is a light green version sometimes called by thge trade name "Tashmarine" - but it is a light wash green, not very lively.