Custom jewelers in NYC (yellow gold, colored gemstone) and/or experiences with Dana Walden Bridal?

[fiancetobe]

Hi all, I hope this is the right place to post and apologies if I mix up some terminology or if some of these questions are very basic--I'm very new to all this but just want to get something she'll love and that'll last her a lifetime.

I'm shopping for an engagement ring for my girlfriend who is sure she wants something in yellow gold with a colored gemstone. She seems to especially like a halo style with a thin band. A few of her "pins" are from the brand Dana Walden and we're based in NYC, so I was thinking about just going there. Does anyone have experience with them and can vouch for their quality/value? I noticed that not all of their gemstones are GIA certified--is that a red flag? And are there any custom jewelers you all would recommend for this style of ring? Thanks in advance!

 

[lovedogs]

Do you mind sharing your budget? For an engagement ring stone, I would want something with a trustworthy certificate or from a trusted vendor directly. But sometimes for less $$ stones a certificate isn't always included because it isn't worth the vendor's time/money to get them certified.

 

[fiancetobe]

Do you mind sharing your budget? For an engagement ring stone, I would want something with a trustworthy certificate or from a trusted vendor directly. But sometimes for less $$ stones a certificate isn't always included because it isn't worth the vendor's time/money to get them certified.

Of course. My budget is up to $30,000, but many of the rings my girlfriend pinned are around or under $10,000.

 

[lovedogs]

Of course. My budget is up to $30,000, but many of the rings my girlfriend pinned are around or under $10,000.

Ok, perfect, thanks! For that kind of money, you want to make sure you are buying from either someone very knowledgeable about gemstones or that it comes with a certificate.

From my brief look at Dana Walden, I don't like her options (to be honest). They seem overpriced for what they are, and don't have sufficient info for me to feel like you'll get your moneys worth.

What color stone does she want? I'd personally recommend looking at Earth's Treasury https://www.earthstreasury.com/product-category/gemstones/ or gemfix https://gemfix.com/

Both have amazing stones, and earth's treasury does engagement ring settings as well.

 

[LilAlex]

Of course. My budget is up to $30,000, but many of the rings my girlfriend pinned are around or under $10,000.

First -- congratulations!

Next, colored stones are a real can of worms. (And I love them.) You can easily spend your entire budget and get something without a ton of intrinsic value (although it will be pretty). I assume that is not what you are after. NYC is a great place to get a heated, fracture-filled, diffused colored stone -- but that is like a kit-car that looks like a Ferrari, etc.

You will need more guidance than the typical diamond-hunting guy -- and it can take months even with that. A mounting will be $2000 - $4000 for most, but you could spend over 10K on that alone. So by far the bulk of your purchase is $8 - 25K on the center colored stone -- and that is the (very) tricky part. At this price point and with this milestone and with a lifetime of anticipated daily wear, I would shop the stone first. (At a much lower budget, I would shop for a vintage ring with an untreated colored stone at a Lang or Berganza -- but they are not NYC.) The other great thing about a colored stone is that color trumps size -- there are no head-to-head comparisons ("ooh -- how many carats?") in the friend/office group .

In NYC, I would work with a "broker" type person who can source top-notch colored stones from wholesalers and vet them for you for a mark-up. I have asked Inken at Enhoerning and so have others here. Being in town, you can see things in person which is great. She is very candid. Colored stones are so unlike diamonds which -- outside of this forum -- are fairly commoditized (4Cs, etc.).

I always said that if I were doing this again, I would get my spouse a lovely unheated sapphire for her e-ring. (Well, she now has that, courtesy of Inken, that she swaps back and forth with her decades-old diamond.) (I mean the diamond is probably even older than that but I was referring to the ring/marriage. )

 

[fiancetobe]

Wow, thank you so much both for your detailed and extremely helpful replies!

Ok, perfect, thanks! For that kind of money, you want to make sure you are buying from either someone very knowledgeable about gemstones or that it comes with a certificate.

From my brief look at Dana Walden, I don't like her options (to be honest). They seem overpriced for what they are, and don't have sufficient info for me to feel like you'll get your moneys worth.

What color stone does she want? I'd personally recommend looking at Earth's Treasury https://www.earthstreasury.com/product-category/gemstones/ or gemfix https://gemfix.com/

Both have amazing stones, and earth's treasury does engagement ring settings as well.

Thank you. Yes, I was concerned about how little information Dana Walden seemed to provide on their gemstones. Glad to have that feeling seconded by someone with much more expertise. She wants a green stone, but not super bright green like the classic emerald. From my research, it seems like emeralds would be too soft for daily wear anyway, so I was looking into green sapphires, but would love to hear any other ideas! I will take a look at both of those sites, thanks! Do you have any tips on choosing a high quality sapphire?

First -- congratulations!

Next, colored stones are a real can of worms. (And I love them.) You can easily spend your entire budget and get something without a ton of intrinsic value (although it will be pretty). I assume that is not what you are after. NYC is a great place to get a heated, fracture-filled, diffused colored stone -- but that is like a kit-car that looks like a Ferrari, etc.

You will need more guidance than the typical diamond-hunting guy -- and it can take months even with that. A mounting will be $2000 - $4000 for most, but you could spend over 10K on that alone. So by far the bulk of your purchase is $8 - 25K on the center colored stone -- and that is the (very) tricky part. At this price point and with this milestone and with a lifetime of anticipated daily wear, I would shop the stone first. (At a much lower budget, I would shop for a vintage ring with an untreated colored stone at a Lang or Berganza -- but they are not NYC.) The other great thing about a colored stone is that color trumps size -- there are no head-to-head comparisons ("ooh -- how many carats?") in the friend/office group .

In NYC, I would work with a "broker" type person who can source top-notch colored stones from wholesalers and vet them for you for a mark-up. I have asked Inken at Enhoerning and so have others here. Being in town, you can see things in person which is great. She is very candid. Colored stones are so unlike diamonds which -- outside of this forum -- are fairly commoditized (4Cs, etc.).

I always said that if I were doing this again, I would get my spouse a lovely unheated sapphire for her e-ring. (Well, she now has that, courtesy of Inken, that she swaps back and forth with her decades-old diamond.) (I mean the diamond is probably even older than that but I was referring to the ring/marriage. )

Thank you very much! I mean I hope she will never be in a position where she'll be looking to sell her ring lol, so in that sense intrinsic value matters less than just getting something she loves, but of course I don't want to be ripped off either haha. I will look into reaching out to Inken. Could you explain more about heated vs. unheated sapphires? Or, in general, how to spot a quality sapphire?

Once I have a stone, do you have any recommendations for who I should go to for the mounting? The stuff my girlfriend likes seems very intricate with little diamonds, and I keep reading horror stories about them falling out! I see Steven Kirsch and Leon Mege recommended a lot here, but not sure if they work with gold as much. Thanks!

 

[yssie]

I’m going to ask a clarifying question - I hope you don’t mind it @fiancetobe.

Does your partner want an engagement ring featuring a green centerstone? As in - have you had an explicit conversation with her or her friends/sisters/X and you’re confident this is her desired direction?
Or does she like (and have pinned/etc.) lots of rings that have green stones - but she hasn’t specified that that’s what she wants in an engagement ring?

Many women love and have coloured gemstone engagement rings, but some women would prefer neutral stones for their engagement rings - supplemented with coloured gemstone right hand rings!

Edit - Green sapphires often have significant olive and/or grey components that won’t appeal to many people - especially if they equate “green gemstones” with “emeralds”. Take a look at green garnet (tsavorite in particular) as an alternative.

 

[fiancetobe]

I’m going to ask a clarifying question - I hope you don’t mind it @fiancetobe.

Does your partner want an engagement ring featuring a green centerstone? As in - have you had an explicit conversation with her or her friends/sisters/X and you’re confident this is her desired direction?
Or does she like (and have pinned/etc.) lots of rings that have green stones - but she hasn’t specified that that’s what she wants in an engagement ring?

Many women love and have coloured gemstone engagement rings, but some women would prefer neutral stones for their engagement rings - supplemented with coloured gemstone right hand rings!

No, of course I don't mind, thank you for asking! She has specified that she wants a green center stone for her engagement ring.

 

[fiancetobe]

Edit - Green sapphires often have significant olive and/or grey components that won’t appeal to many people - especially if they equate “green gemstones” with “emeralds”. Take a look at green garnet (tsavorite in particular) for some colour alternatives.

Sorry, I didn't see your edit before I hit reply. I believe she actually prefers the more olive-green or blue-green tones that are found in green sapphires. She has said she does not like the bright bright green of emeralds.

 

[MollyMalone]

Hi, @fiancetobe -- and welcome! -- from another NYC resident And no, your girlfriend does not have weird taste!!

Did you happen to see the "sticky" -- New to Coloured Gemstone Buying? Read This First -- that's near the top of the Colored Gemstones forum Index page? If not, here's the link; think you'll find it very useful:

New to coloured gemstone buying? Read this first!

First of all welcome to our technicolour world! :wavey: If you've never bought coloured gemstones before, you're in for a real ride and I'm hoping that this thread may help you on your quest for your "special" one! One thing it's important to know .......... this part of PS is frequented by...

www.pricescope.com

Re the style of ring: have you and your girlfriend done any in-person ring shopping? The reason I ask is because I know I'm not the only woman who thought, based largely on photos, that I wanted certain styles, but after "auditioning" a variety of rings on my finger, I ended up deciding on something very different -- both in the shape of the stones and the design -- than what I'd anticipated!

If you two have not already done that kind of window shopping, may I suggest that you make an appointment at Greenwich Street Jewelers downtown in the Financial District:

Luxury Jewelers | NYC Jewelry Store | Greenwich St. Jewelers

Discover Greenwich St. Jewelers, your premier NYC jewelry store. Shop online for exquisite jewelry pieces from top designers.

www.greenwichjewelers.com

The reason I'm suggesting them is because it's an excellent brick-and-mortar jewelry store with an eclectic assortment of rings from very traditional to more contemporary-"edgy." I have not been there since the onset of the pandemic, but in my past experience, the staff is informative and personable -- without being pushy; won't make you uncomfortable for just browsing.

Based on what you've described, I'm thinking that she might like a Montana sapphire -- unless she wants a large sapphire; Montana sapphire rough rarely lends itself to yielding faceted gems of appreciable carat weight. Earth's Treasury and GemFix are good, reliable sources for Montana sapphires & visiting both websites will give you an idea of "the lay of the land:"

Montana Sapphires | Ethically Sourced and Mined | Beautiful American Cut

Montana Sapphire | American Cut Sapphires: Beautiful, Rare, Unique | Ethically Sourced and Mined with Minimal Environmental Impact | Conflict-Free

gemfix.com

Montana Sapphires - Earth's Treasury

Montana Sapphires The largest source of mine direct Montana Sapphires. Newest Montana Sapphires A ring as unique as you. Create your dream ring Read what our customers are saying

www.earthstreasury.com

But before you plunge deeper into actually shopping for a particular stone, I recommend that you narrow down her preferences for stone shape and size and ring design

 

[fiancetobe]

Hi, @fiancetobe -- and welcome! -- from another NYC resident And no, your girlfriend does not have weird taste!!

Did you happen to see the "sticky" -- New to Coloured Gemstone Buying? Read This First -- that's near the top of the Colored Gemstones forum Index page? If not, here's the link; think you'll find it very useful:

New to coloured gemstone buying? Read this first!

First of all welcome to our technicolour world! :wavey: If you've never bought coloured gemstones before, you're in for a real ride and I'm hoping that this thread may help you on your quest for your "special" one! One thing it's important to know .......... this part of PS is frequented by...

www.pricescope.com

Re the style of ring: have you and your girlfriend done any in-person ring shopping? The reason I ask is because I know I'm not the only woman who thought, based largely on photos, that I wanted certain styles, but after "auditioning" a variety of rings on my finger, I ended up deciding on something very different -- both in the shape of the stones and the design -- than what I'd anticipated!

If you two have not already done that kind of window shopping, may I suggest that you make an appointment at Greenwich Street Jewelers downtown in the Financial District:

Luxury Jewelers | NYC Jewelry Store | Greenwich St. Jewelers

Discover Greenwich St. Jewelers, your premier NYC jewelry store. Shop online for exquisite jewelry pieces from top designers.

www.greenwichjewelers.com

The reason I'm suggesting them is because it's an excellent brick-and-mortar jewelry store with an eclectic assortment of rings from very traditional to more contemporary-"edgy." I have not been there since the onset of the pandemic, but in my past experience, the staff is informative and personable -- without being pushy; won't make you uncomfortable for just browsing.

Based on what you've described, I'm thinking that she might like a Montana sapphire -- unless she wants a large sapphire; Montana sapphire rough rarely lends itself to yielding faceted gems of appreciable carat weight. Earth's Treasury and GemFix are good, reliable sources for Montana sapphires & visiting both websites will give you an idea of "the lay of the land:"

Montana Sapphires | Ethically Sourced and Mined | Beautiful American Cut

Montana Sapphire | American Cut Sapphires: Beautiful, Rare, Unique | Ethically Sourced and Mined with Minimal Environmental Impact | Conflict-Free

gemfix.com

Montana Sapphires - Earth's Treasury

Montana Sapphires The largest source of mine direct Montana Sapphires. Newest Montana Sapphires A ring as unique as you. Create your dream ring Read what our customers are saying

www.earthstreasury.com

But before you plunge deeper into actually shopping for a particular stone, I recommend that you narrow down her preferences for stone shape and size and ring design

Thank you very much for the advice. Haha I deleted what I said about her taste being weird--I felt so bad after I posted it! I'll read through that stickied post, thanks for pointing that out. We've done some window shopping, which is how she came to love the halo design, but we're always open to doing more so will definitely check out Greenwich Street Jewelers. I think I'll be looking for something in the 3-5 carat range--is that a size that you would still recommend Montana sapphires for?

 

[yssie]

Can you post some photos of colours your girlfriend likes? And does she have strong shape preferences?

You have a very generous budget, but I do think it would be helpful to narrow colours down before approaching a vendor (if you go the assisted sourcing route @LilAlex recommended and which I suggest as well).


I’m NOT saying “go buy this stone”. Not by any means. However, when you said greenish blue this was the first example that came to mind. This could be dead on, colour-wise, or woefully off.

6.41 ct Unheated Teal "Hearts and Arrows" Sapphire

6.41 ct Unheated Teal "Hearts and Arrows" Sapphire

www.finewatergems.com

Tourmaline, garnet, zircon, sapphire, peridot - there are lots of stones that could be candidates, depending precisely what colour and shape you’re looking for.

 

[MollyMalone]

Well, Montana sapphires aren't plentiful in 3+ carat sizes. Easiest way to see the larger ones on the two sites I linked above:

• Filter Earth's Treasury inventory of Montana sapphires by carat weight by using the "slider" in the left-hand sidebar that appears after you hit View All Montana Sapphires on the page I linked in my first post.
• On Gemfix's Montana Sapphires page, change the Sort button in the upper right-hand corner to Sort by price: high to low.

 

[fiancetobe]

Can you post some photos of colours your girlfriend likes? And does she have strong shape preferences?

You have a very generous budget, but I do think it would be helpful to narrow colours down before approaching a vendor (if you go the assisted sourcing route @LilAlex recommended and which I suggest as well).


I’m NOT saying “go buy this stone”. Not by any means. However, when you said greenish blue this was the first example that came to mind. This could be dead on, colour-wise, or woefully off.

6.41 ct Unheated Teal "Hearts and Arrows" Sapphire

6.41 ct Unheated Teal "Hearts and Arrows" Sapphire

www.finewatergems.com

Tourmaline, garnet, zircon, sapphire, peridot - there are lots of stones that could be candidates, depending precisely what colour you’re looking for.

Ah, maybe greenish blue was not the right term after all.

Here is the ring from Dana Walden that she indicated was a frontrunner, and many of the other rings she pinned are in this hue as well:

Here are rings we made when we were playing around on Brilliant Earth (earlier in the search process, before she landed on the halo):

 

[fiancetobe]

Well, Montana sapphires aren't plentiful in 3+ carat sizes. Easiest way to see the larger ones on the two sites I linked above:

• Filter Earth's Treasury inventory of Montana sapphires by carat weight by using the "slider" in the left-hand sidebar that appears after you hit View All Montana Sapphires on the page I linked in my first post.
• On Gemfix's Montana Sapphires page, change the Sort button in the upper right-hand corner to Sort by price: high to low.

Thank you!

 

[LilAlex]

Once I have a stone, do you have any recommendations for who I should go to for the mounting? The stuff my girlfriend likes seems very intricate with little diamonds, and I keep reading horror stories about them falling out! I see Steven Kirsch and Leon Mege recommended a lot here, but not sure if they work with gold as much. Thanks!

Too much to post -- which is why I think you would benefit from independent/unbiased guidance. Nothing wrong with heated and it is way more cost-effective. It is essential to know whether it is heat-only and only a report from a reputable lab can tell you that (not a jeweler or "gemologist" in the shop).

Green is tough for sapphire. As others have said, I do not think I have ever seen an attractive pure green for any price. There are lovely teal sapphires and many are seafoam-ish and Montana (and unheated and small). My post above was before the "green" came to the forefront. For e-ring, I would not go below corundum hardness for a center stone. Yes, emerald is too fragile. Even chrysoberyl is too soft, imo, although you could maybe find an olive one of those. (And even sapphire will accumulate abrasions at the facet meet points over years, unlike diamond.)

EDIT: That teal that @yssie linked to is lovely, imo. I can not tell how accurate the photos are; it could be dark.

About "intricate": many (many) will disagree but a lot of ring-makers will not. All that delicate, spider-web intricacy is amazing on IG but a nightmare IRL. And almost impossible to repair. Get a solid (even "stout") setting that can take some abuse. You would be amazed at what just digging into jeans pockets or rummaging around in a purse -- or wrestling your carryon into the overhead compartment, for that matter -- will do to a dainty ring. Think: opening car doors. Even carrying a heavy backpack by hand can bend a heavy platinum ring (happened to DD). It's fine for a cocktail-type ring or an old Edwardian treasure that she will wear a few times a year -- but not for an e-ring, imo. Our local B&M jeweler always shows me the casualties that keep coming in to his bench.

I infer from your budget that your spouse is not in manual labor. My (very) white-collar spouse's e-ring has been clobbered more times than I can count. Saved her finger from being smashed behind a filing cabinet at work, etc.

 

[elle_chris]

Another vote for Greenwich st. Jewelers.
I've been going to them for over 15 years. Only jeweler I actually trust (aside from the diamond vendors recommended on PS.)

 

[yssie]

Okay. Both of those examples do have strong olive!

One thing to note - you’ll want to go quite a bit lighter in tone than either of those stones. See how bright the metal is in those pictures? But the stones still look very dark. Stones do darken a touch once set, compared to loose, and both of those would look basically just black IRL in almost every lighting environment.

Ah, maybe greenish blue was not the right term after all.

Here is the ring from Dana Walden that she indicated was a frontrunner, and many of the other rings she pinned are in this hue as well:

Here are rings we made when we were playing around on Brilliant Earth (earlier in the search process, before she landed on the halo):

 

[MollyMalone]

Here's the largest green-that-isn't-teal Montana sapphire on the Earth's Treasury website, 4.43 carats:

4.43-Forest Green Montana Sapphire (Heated) - Earth's Treasury

A beautiful forest green heated Montana sapphire faceted in our “Testudo” brilliant oval design, 4.43 carats.

www.earthstreasury.com

You can see green non-Montana sapphires here (use filters on Earth's Treasury to sort out by carat size and color)

All Sapphire Archives - Earth's Treasury

www.earthstreasury.com

Natural Green Purple Violet Fancy Colors Sapphires from Gemfix

Natural Green Purple Violet Fancy Colors Sapphires from Gemfix

gemfix.com

 

[LilAlex]

Here's the largest green-that-isn't-teal on the Earth's Treasury website, 4.43 carats:

With your budget, that is just not pretty enough, imo. And it is not a great stone -- with all the color zoning and the gray modifier and the...

 

[fiancetobe]

Too much to post -- which is why I think you would benefit from independent/unbiased guidance. Nothing wrong with heated and it is way more cost-effective. It is essential to know whether it is heat-only and only a report from a reputable lab can tell you that (not a jeweler or "gemologist" in the shop).

Green is tough for sapphire. As others have said, I do not think I have ever seen an attractive pure green for any price. There are lovely teal sapphires and many are seafoam-ish and Montana (and unheated and small). My post above was before the "green" came to the forefront. For e-ring, I would not go below corundum hardness for a center stone. Yes, emerald is too fragile. Even chrysoberyl is too soft, imo, although you could maybe find an olive one of those. (And even sapphire will accumulate abrasions at the facet meet points over years, unlike diamond.)

EDIT: That teal that @yssie linked to is lovely, imo. I can not tell how accurate the photos are; it could be dark.

About "intricate": many (many) will disagree but a lot of ring-makers will not. All that delicate, spider-web intricacy is amazing on IG but a nightmare IRL. And almost impossible to repair. Get a solid (even "stout") setting that can take some abuse. You would be amazed at what just digging into jeans pockets or rummaging around in a purse -- or wrestling your carryon into the overhead compartment, for that matter -- will do to a dainty ring. Think: opening car doors. Even carrying a heavy backpack by hand can bend a heavy platinum ring (happened to DD). It's fine for a cocktail-type ring or an old Edwardian treasure that she will wear a few times a year -- but not for an e-ring, imo. Our local B&M jeweler always shows me the casualties that keep coming in to his bench.

I infer from your budget that your spouse is not in manual labor. My (very) white-collar spouse's e-ring has been clobbered more times than I can count. Saved her finger from being smashed behind a filing cabinet at work, etc.

Thank you for the explanation. Are there any options besides sapphire for green (I looked up green diamonds....... those prices ). And yes, your advice about "intricacy" is well taken--my girlfriend, bless her, is very clumsy, so we will definitely keep that in mind in choosing the perfect setting.

Okay. Both of those examples do have strong olive!

One thing to note - you’ll want to go quite a bit lighter in tone than either of those stones. See how bright the metal is in those pictures? But the stones still look very dark. Stones do darken a touch once set, compared to loose, and both of those would look basically just black IRL in almost every lighting environment.

Yes, that's a great point, thank you. I remember she tried on a few rings that looked green on the counter but once on her finger looked almost black, which she did not like at all.

With your budget, that is just not pretty enough, imo. And it is not a great stone -- with all the color zoning and the gray modifier and the...

I've been browsing the sites shared here and am struggling to find anything in green within the price range ($8k to $25k) you recommended. What do you think of something like this (although I am fairly certain I will ultimately go with a broker as you suggested): https://gemfix.com/gems/sapphire-fancy-15-1214 ?

 

[yssie]

This just showed up in my IG - social media knows everything!!

Caleb B. Quashen International on Instagram: "And to think, this could be yours… 4.08 carat light bluish teal green with a touch of subdued yellow; modified radiant cut sapphire. 10.01x7.59x5.36mm VVS+ Madagascar origin . . . . #partisapphire #sapp

389 likes, 14 comments - calebbquashen on February 17, 2022: "And to think, this could be yours… 4.08 carat light bluish teal green with a touch of subdued yellow; modified radiant cut sapphire. 10.01x7.59x5.36mm VVS+ Madagascar origin . . . . #partisapphire #sapphireengagementring...

www.instagram.com

 

[MollyMalone]

With your budget, that is just not pretty enough, imo. And it is not a great stone -- with all the color zoning and the gray modifier and the...

My reason for posting was simply so he could quickly see the largest non-teal green Montana sapphire that's currently in ET's inventory.

Thank you for the explanation. Are there any options besides sapphire for green (I looked up green diamonds....... those prices ).

* * *

I've been browsing the sites shared here and am struggling to find anything in green within the price range ($8k to $25k) you recommended. What do you think of something like this (although I am fairly certain I will ultimately go with a broker as you suggested): https://gemfix.com/gems/sapphire-fancy-15-1214 ?

I'm thinking the Gemfix one is too olive/yellowish for her tastes?

Unfortunately, buying a colored gemstone is tougher than shopping for a round, brilliant cut diamond; it could be an appreciable amount of time before "the one" appears, even if you were shopping for a stone less rare than a nicely green sapphire. So try to not get discouraged!

But if she would consider a teal sapphire, that will expand the possibilities.

 

[LilAlex]

I've been browsing the sites shared here and am struggling to find anything in green within the price range ($8k to $25k) you recommended. What do you think of something like this (although I am fairly certain I will ultimately go with a broker as you suggested): https://gemfix.com/gems/sapphire-fancy-15-1214 ?

In green gold for a man's ring, that one could be great. It's a little, uh, "bilious" for an e-ring, imo. It is unique and could also make a cool cocktail ring -- I don't want to impugn this stone too much. But I don't think it's on par with even the dark green examples you posted above.

There are amazing green stones -- not just emerald but chrome tourmaline, some cuprian tourmalines, tsavorites, demantoids (I want to spell that with a "z" now for some reason). But save those for an occasional-wear right-hand ring, killer earrings, or a cocktail ring or pendant -- you have decades of jewelry gifts ahead of you. None are even remotely durable enough for long-term daily wear -- and the ring will be a source of stress and not joy.

Maybe take a beat and sit down with her to prioritize. I don't think you will be able to make a durable green e-ring. Yes, true fancy green diamond is insane. That said, there are greenish-orangish-brownish almost-colored diamonds that are gorgeous and not crazy expensive (IIRC). I have always wanted one of those -- a "so-bad-it's-good" white diamond that is not GIA "fancy." There are lots of these at the lower end of the spectrum (toward the middle or even end of the color alphabet) -- and you would need an expert to guide you -- you don't just want a sallow yellow-brown one. But that is a distinct possibility. My favorite B&M store had a weird one of those that was 1-ct and very distinctive, oddly appealing, and very affordable. (Certainly someone else thought that because it eventually disappeared.)

 

[demantoidz]

There are amazinggreen stones -- not just emerald but chrome tourmaline, some cuprian tourmalines, tsavorites, demantoids (I want to spell that with a "z" now for some reason).

OP, if you want olive, you can also look into chameleon diamonds, not green ones per say. But you won't get a 3ct with that budget. It may take a while to find a decent one.

I don't know if this is the wrong color for you, but Enhoering sourced this gorgeous green sapphire for a client a while ago. Not exactly teal or olive, but a not-too-dark bluish green. Probably the best I've seen based on trade ideals.


Just came across this seller, they sold this pretty yellowish green sapphire. It has blue zoning but just an example of the yellowish green these can be without being 'olive' (if the pics are accurate). Take a look at their site, they have quite a few greens.

6.67 carats Green Sapphire - Choice Gems Co

Description: Green Blue Sapphire: The picture of the sapphire in a ring is to model the gem to scale on how it would look like when mounted on a ring. Origin: Gombe, Nigeria Clarity: VS (what does this mean?) Weight: 6.67 carats Dimensions: 11.1 x 11.1 mm Treatment: Heated

www.gemsfacets.com

 

[LilAlex]

And yes, your advice about "intricacy" is well taken--my girlfriend, bless her, is very clumsy, so we will definitely keep that in mind in choosing the perfect setting.

And it doesn't even have to be this; mine was just always super-busy and preoccupied. She was a marathoner back then and would run (and fall) in the dark and we both worked crazy-long hours and she always did ten things at once. She could not bother worrying about pre-planning every hand-placement in the real world; if you start to fall over on the "T" (MBTA), you grab the big steel bar...

 

[demantoidz]

Sold, but just for color reference. Yellowish & bluish green, potentially not too dark.

Choice Gems Co on Instagram: "Happy President's Day! This is a throwback to the second largest sapphire we have ever cut! Ended up a 16.7 carat radiant! Swipe ro see the ring and the rough."

173 likes, 11 comments - cgemsco on February 21, 2022: "Happy President's Day! This is a throwback to the second largest sapphire we have ever cut! Ended up a 16.7 carat radiant! Swipe ro see the ring and the rough.".

www.instagram.com

Video: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CW_7DBRPTnD/?utm_medium=copy_link

 

[fiancetobe]

Sold, but just for color reference. Yellowish & bluish green, potentially not too dark.

Choice Gems Co on Instagram: "Happy President's Day! This is a throwback to the second largest sapphire we have ever cut! Ended up a 16.7 carat radiant! Swipe ro see the ring and the rough."

173 likes, 11 comments - cgemsco on February 21, 2022: "Happy President's Day! This is a throwback to the second largest sapphire we have ever cut! Ended up a 16.7 carat radiant! Swipe ro see the ring and the rough.".

www.instagram.com

Video: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CW_7DBRPTnD/?utm_medium=copy_link

16.7 carats?! Wowza!

 

[demantoidz]

16.7 carats?! Wowza!

Same vendor I linked in my previous comment. They seem to have a nice selection of larger greens/teals. Needs a lab report & return policy etc

 

[fiancetobe]

I'm thinking the Gemfix one is too olive/yellowish for her tastes?

Unfortunately, buying a colored gemstone is tougher than shopping for a round, brilliant cut diamond; it could be an appreciable amount of time before "the one" appears, even if you were shopping for a stone less rare than a nicely green sapphire. So try to not get discouraged!

But if she would consider a teal sapphire, that will expand the possibilities.

There are amazing green stones -- not just emerald but chrome tourmaline, some cuprian tourmalines, tsavorites, demantoids (I want to spell that with a "z" now for some reason). But save those for an occasional-wear right-hand ring, killer earrings, or a cocktail ring or pendant -- you have decades of jewelry gifts ahead of you. None are even remotely durable enough for long-term daily wear -- and the ring will be a source of stress and not joy.

Maybe take a beat and sit down with her to prioritize. I don't think you will be able to make a durable green e-ring. Yes, true fancy green diamond is insane. That said, there are greenish-orangish-brownish almost-colored diamonds that are gorgeous and not crazy expensive (IIRC). I have always wanted one of those -- a "so-bad-it's-good" white diamond that is not GIA "fancy." There are lots of these at the lower end of the spectrum (toward the middle or even end of the color alphabet) -- and you would need an expert to guide you -- you don't just want a sallow yellow-brown one. But that is a distinct possibility. My favorite B&M store had a weird one of those that was 1-ct and very distinctive, oddly appealing, and very affordable. (Certainly someone else thought that because it eventually disappeared.)

OP, if you want olive, you can also look into chameleon diamonds, not green ones per say. But you won't get a 3ct with that budget. It may take a while to find a decent one.

I don't know if this is the wrong color for you, but Enhoering sourced this gorgeous green sapphire for a client a while ago. Not exactly teal or olive, but a not-too-dark bluish green. Probably the best I've seen based on trade ideals.

Thanks all for the advice, everyone--I am so blown away by and grateful for how helpful you all have been. I've reached out to Inken at Enhoerning and am excited to get started. Fingers crossed! Now there's just the small matter of finding someone to do the setting...