Clueless about topaz (cute story included)

[maccers]

I'll try to make this quick - I joined PS to make a more educated decision for my e-ring. My bf is quite pleased that I love researching all there is to know about OECs and settings however, as most of you can probably relate, it's easy to get side-tracked! Which brings me to my current situation. One night as I perused PS, I came across a link to a coloured stone vendor and was checking out their inventory on ebay. Bf was beside me and, little did I know, was mentally making note of things I commented on. Fast forward to today, my Bf gets home and says he has an early 'mistake' Christmas gift for me. A 42 carat heart-shaped topaz from the vendor I was checking out! Apparently my bf went onto ebay, made a really low bid on it (less than a third, thank god), he didn't think it would be accepted but it was!!

So, now I have this stone and I haven't a clue about it. This whole situation is so sweet and funny because I don't even remember commenting on this stone or seeing this stone a few weeks ago. Anyway, the only thing I can think about doing with it is making a pendant..But it's very deep with a sharp pointy culet. Can you guys help with some suggestions? I also don't want to spend more than $300 on a setting - I'm not sure if this is even possible!

Please keep in mind, I don't know anything about coloured stones, I've heard the term 'window', 'saturation' and colour is king (i think).

A few stats, if they are helpful: 100% natural topaz, apprx 20 X 20 X 15mm, AAA Brownish Orange, Untreated/Unheated, Brazil.

 

[chrono]

This one is going to be a challenge due to the size. It isn't very practical to wear due to the depth plus metal price will be high for the large setting required. Either a silver setting or something from Tripps might keep you within budget.

 

[maccers]

Thanks Chrono!

I wasn't sure if I wasn't getting replies because ppl think it's ugly, hopeless or silly.

I wasn't aware of Tripps, I took a quick look and they have heart shaped pendant settings up to 16X16 but I'm going to contact them and see if they have something for 20X20, you never know!

I feel a bit sorry for my bf but for some reason he doesn't want to return it but it seems silly to have the stone collecting dust in a jewellery box.

 

[AprilBaby]

I really like the color and the shape. I don't think I would wear it. I would probably just keep it out to look at. Impractical but a really nice gesture from the bf!

 

[chrono]

Do you love the colour or is the sentiment more important to you? I think it is darned sweet of him but he should not allow pride to stop him from returning it if it isn't something you love, then have to spend $ on top of that to set it, then not wear it often. The colour is not highly desired so it's great that he didn't spend a lot on it but I'd rather him get a refund if it isn't something you love. If you love it though, then just ignore my advice.

 

[GemFever]

Man, that's such a sweet gesture from your bf! Depending on how much it cost, I'd say don't bring up returning it, just put it in a pretty gem holder and keep it on your desk as a memento.

But after telling bf how awesome he is, you may want to suggest that future surprises should come from a pre-approved wish list

 

[Fly Girl]

I can understand how that stone would catch his eye. I'd look into having it set into a silver pendant. He would love that. I do have a large topaz set into a pendant, and it tends to lay on it's side because it is so deep and hangs from a single point. One way to avoid that would be to have a wider bail at the top. I expect for this stone it would be easy to have a chain loop through both tops of the heart.

And, I agree, it would be good to have a preapproved list of pieces for him to choose from in the future. You do want to encourage bling-buying behaviors.

 

[maccers]

I can understand how that stone would catch his eye. I'd look into having it set into a silver pendant. He would love that. I do have a large topaz set into a pendant, and it tends to lay on it's side because it is so deep and hangs from a single point. One way to avoid that would be to have a wider bail at the top. I expect for this stone it would be easy to have a chain loop through both tops of the heart.

And, I agree, it would be good to have a preapproved list of pieces for him to choose from in the future. You do want to encourage bling-buying behaviors.

Thanks for the suggestions, FlyGirl. I wasn't sure if yellow or white gold (or silver) would be better suite to this piece. I don't have an eye for these things.

If I were to get a chain loop, that would involve getting holes drilled into the stone? I'm assuming there's some risk of breakage with that? Having said that, it makes sense to me because the stone is very heavy but I'd still have the problem of a sharp, pointy culet.

 

[maccers]

This one is going to be a challenge due to the size. It isn't very practical to wear due to the depth plus metal price will be high for the large setting required. Either a silver setting or something from Tripps might keep you within budget.

Emailed Tripps with the specs of the stone, I'll see what they say.

I found gemstoneworld.com, they have some heart shaped pendants too. Tried emailing them but their inbox is full so my email wasn't delivered.

 

[LD]

With such a whopper it's a challenge to wear (believe it or not)! Due to its weight it might twist, flip, turn etc.

I love the idea of having it on your desk so that you can see it all the time and without having to set it.

I'm curious to see what you do set it in if you decide to go for a piece of jewellery.

 

[movie zombie]

have you considered a bracelet?

 

[maccers]

have you considered a bracelet?

A bracelet, I didn't think of that. The stone is quite heavy so the bracelet would have to be more of a solid piece rather than a chain. And even then the weight of the stone would probably make the bracelet spin all day!

 

[GemFever]

At one point I was thinking of putting gems into some kind of metal components and attaching those components on wide leather bracelets (running out of fingers and ears, ahem). I never went through with the idea, but it's a possibility with some imagination. A wide leather bracelet wouldn't spin, and would be relatively affordable. But how to incorporate a big gem... that is the question!

 

[Dioptase]

I'd be very careful if I were you about that kind of colour in topaz. A good deal of them fade very quickly under exposure to sunlight.
If it's cheap and if you don't mind taking the risk, then it's fine

 

[maccers]

Diop - Is colour fading an issue with all topaz (natural, treated, other) or does it have to be treated in some way? This stone is supposed to be natural, unheated, untreated but maybe that doesn't matter?

 

[Fly Girl]

Any jeweler can order this Stuller setting for you. It comes in lots of metal choices, including sterling, and goes all the way up to 20mm in size. That stone would probably look better in yellow gold, but I'm guessing it might be a bit expensive for that size stone.

http://www.stuller.com/products/1942/?groupId=9902

 

[chrono]

Yellow gold is better suited to this topaz but silver is more affordable. There is no need to drill holes into the topaz. Get a basket setting with either a wide bale for stability and balance or solder two jump rings to the basket at the top of the heart at the rounded portion. This should take care of the twisting and flipping issue, plus the culet is protected within the basket so you will not get stabbed. Whilst a bracelet sounds interesting, do realize it will also sit very high off the wrist. It also requires more metal, which equates to more $$$.

 

[Dioptase]

Diop - Is colour fading an issue with all topaz (natural, treated, other) or does it have to be treated in some way? This stone is supposed to be natural, unheated, untreated but maybe that doesn't matter?

The brownish-red / yellow color in topaz is due to a colour centre. Some of these colour centre are unstable and are destroyed by UV light (and sunlight has some UV in it) others are stable.
As a general rule: topazes from Ouro Preto, Katlang and Guerrero are stable. Rest is more hit-or-miss.

 

[Fly Girl]

This is my 23 x 18 mm blue topaz, so about the same size as your heart. My jeweler hand-made the basket setting in 14k white gold. I'm showing it here with a sterling chain, because I didn't want to spend the $$$ to purchase a heavy-duty chain in white gold. The bird is my daughter's parakeet, who loves to play with pretty things.

 

[maccers]

This is my 23 x 18 mm blue topaz, so about the same size as your heart. My jeweler hand-made the basket setting in 14k white gold. I'm showing it here with a sterling chain, because I didn't want to spend the $$$ to purchase a heavy-duty chain in white gold. The bird is my daughter's parakeet, who loves to play with pretty things.

FlyGirl, thanks that's a helpful picture. The bird appears very enamoured of the setting - due to their similarity in colour no doubt.

 

[Dioptase]

I knew I would find this article again:
http://www.gia.edu/research-resources/gems-gemology/issues/fall2009-contents/fall-2009-featured-gni.html

 

[maccers]

I knew I would find this article again:
http://www.gia.edu/research-resources/gems-gemology/issues/fall2009-contents/fall-2009-featured-gni.html

Thanks for the article! Great information. I can't believe how quickly the stones fade, it takes no time at all really. I wish there was some predictability about fading, however, based on the sources of those stones (Thailand and Brazil) there's a very good chance that my stone will fade.

I'm very tempted to do the daylight window experiment to see if I get fading BUT it's probably better that I take this information back to the BF and let him decide whether he would like to return it (we have 14 days).