Desperately Seeking Spinel!!

[MonkeyPie]

Date: 8/31/2008 10:20:20 PM
Author: FrekeChild
Hahahaha gecko!!!!You and I had parallel days! Crazy! I wanted to smack her. I so should have pulled out my loupe and started scrutinizing everything. Another thing that really bugged me was her insistence that I was not to put the rings back in the display holder things. Like I couldn''t do it right or something. It was obnoxious. I went to go put 4 of them back on the display things and she literally grabbed the ring from me to put it back the same way I was. And we all know how small rings are. She was basically grabbing at my fingers. What an obnoxious *bleep*.

MP-She took my info and told me she''s going to have him call me. According to the woman who has no idea what pave is he used to work at Tiffany''s. So yeah. We''ll see what he has to say when he calls me.

I will definitely let you guys know what happens.

And MP, don''t give Ravenna any of your business at Mati, ok?

Well that''s just stupid :/ Some people are so dumb. This is why I prefer Zales even if their stuff is crappy compared to other places - I have a young girl named Olivia that I always deal with and she''s good and super friendly. She doesn''t know much, but I like to tell her stuff I do know - like that SI isn''t actually "upgraded" despite what they try to tell people - and she remembers. She''s cute.

But if I do end up at Mati some time, I''ll be sure to avoid Ravenna since she''s dumb

 

[FrekeChild]

Thanks GemDave I''ll have to go check out those sites. Welcome to PS, I hope you decide to stick around!

gecko I hate the way stores treat you differently depending on who you''re with or what clothes you have on, or what hairstyle you have. My mom wears sneakers and sweats from Wal-Mart and most stores treat her like poo-somehow they can''t look past the cheap clothes and notice the big fat 1.5ct princess on her finger. I find it laughable. Not to mention how differently I''m treated in a jewelry store when I''m with FF versus by myself. Or how badly I''ve been treated in White House, Black Market. I will never go back to that place.

Hi Chrono! Those are my exact thoughts on that stone. Unfortunately it''s too big for me anyway, but I was very surprised at the cut on that stone.

MP She really was seriously lacking with the basic knowledge. She was trying to talk me into getting something carved into the metal or creating some kind of design in the shank, and then she tried to talk me into the swoopy thing that was covered in diamonds. Maybe she was new and really eager or something? I don''t know, but being that I am a former salesperson, she was really screwing up big time. First of all, because she had no idea what she was talking about. Second of all, she wasn''t listening to anything I had to say.

Lol about Olivia! How cute is that?! Is she at Coronado?

I really should have pulled out my loupe.

 

[Fly Girl]

Just catching up after the holiday weekend, and I''m sorry the Dan Stair spinel isn''t working out. Bummer, but I''m glad your FF had you look. I think he knew.

 

[FrekeChild]

I think he did too Fly Girl. He knows me pretty dang well, and he''s seen a lot of stones I''ve been excited about, and unfortunately that just wasn''t the one. I think Dan knew it wasn''t the one either, but he let me try it out anyway. He''s so cool.

So instead of just returning the stone and getting my money back, I''m actually trading it for another of Dan''s stones. I probably won''t get it until next week, so you guys get to stay in suspense until then.

And who knows, if I love it, it could become ering potential, even though it doesn''t really fit the description of what I''ve been looking for...

I''m still holding out for Barry, Peter and the mystery cutter (not CWMNBN), who should all be letting me know if they''ve got anything later this week or early next week. I''m keeping my fingers and toes crossed, and if they don''t come up with anything, I''m going to just get a dang sapphire from my local place and call it good. Or heck, I could just put the Darth Vader cushion in a solitaire and be done with it. Or, if both of those plans fail, I''ll just have him ask with a plain band.

In other news...FF has decided to increase the budget. Again. To allow for a sapphire if it becomes necessary. So I''ve had ideas...thoughts of my dream ring popping up. So I''m thinking about it...Because if I get a spinel, that leaves a good bit of room in the budget for said dream ring...

...sigh...

I''ll keep you guys posted.

 

[E B]

Dream ring?

You can''t just leave us hangin''.

Spill!

 

[LostSapphire]

Date: 9/2/2008 7:43:00 PM
Author: FrekeChild
I think he did too Fly Girl. He knows me pretty dang well, and he's seen a lot of stones I've been excited about, and unfortunately that just wasn't the one. I think Dan knew it wasn't the one either, but he let me try it out anyway. He's so cool.

So instead of just returning the stone and getting my money back, I'm actually trading it for another of Dan's stones. I probably won't get it until next week, so you guys get to stay in suspense until then.

And who knows, if I love it, it could become ering potential, even though it doesn't really fit the description of what I've been looking for...

I'm still holding out for Barry, Peter and the mystery cutter (not CWMNBN), who should all be letting me know if they've got anything later this week or early next week. I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed, and if they don't come up with anything, I'm going to just get a dang sapphire from my local place and call it good. Or heck, I could just put the Darth Vader cushion in a solitaire and be done with it. Or, if both of those plans fail, I'll just have him ask with a plain band.

In other news...FF has decided to increase the budget. Again. To allow for a sapphire if it becomes necessary. So I've had ideas...thoughts of my dream ring popping up. So I'm thinking about it...Because if I get a spinel, that leaves a good bit of room in the budget for said dream ring...

...sigh...

I'll keep you guys posted.

Good news on the budget! Have you considered possibly doing just 'the one' this time around, and hold off on the other projects? Would that let you get it absolutely perfect for you?

Just wondering if there's some way to make this happen so you are THRILLED with your e-ring?

LS

ETA: Freke, I just re-read my note and thought perhaps it could be perceived differently than intended: I've just been monitoring your angst and frustration at sourcing stones for a couple of projects, and I'm wondering if focussing on one would give you some resolution.

Here's to finding "the one" for you! (I know you've found the real "one" but I'm talking about the bit of rock for your finger!).

Lots of luck to you on this.

 

[FrekeChild]

EBree Dream ring-- Varna, Europa line, ST-105-SAP--I'll post a pic. Only I would get it custom done because it comes in Platinum, and that's out of budget. And I like to tweak things...make them perfect for me.

LS Oh don't worry, I keep picking up stones everywhere (I need to stop doing that!) but they've kind of hit a bit of a roadblock with getting set because we're in the process of planning a Vegas trip (partially just to get out of town, and partially to go look at wedding venues-squee!) but my donation to the adventure would probably take up about a third of what I have left in my bank account-which means that settings are going to have to wait until I get more cash. So the ideas are kind of there, but they've definitely been put on the back burner. Now if I find a stock rose gold setting for my little rhodolite, I might just have to consider it. But ering is still numero uno. I actually take breaks from it and tinker around with my other stones just so I don't get too wrapped up in the ering and let it drive me completely insane.

I was actually looking for a blue or pink tourmaline for a present for my mom, but until I talk my dad into it, and get all of this ering business figured out, I'm not even going to think about it. I have to confess that the ering would probably be more important to her anyway--IF she knew about it. lol.

I think that my biggest problem here is that I just can't find the stone. I'm certainly feeling your pain, LS. I'm sure it's out there somewhere, and I'm hoping that one of my three cutterteers happens to stumble onto it. I'm thinking that only time will tell with it, and I'm just going to have to wait it out. Which is hard because I'm not patient and I've been thinking about this, researching and searching actively, for almost a month now. And it's hard. It's hard to poke my nose into the SMTR board and see women who walk into the jewelry store and walk out with a diamond picked out. Or go online and find one that tickles their fancy immediately. That part isn't fun. So I've been steering clear of the SMTR board because I don't want to see it--except for the colored stone rings, because to me, they are that much more precious.

Really, it's less the ring that's important to me and more the stone. I have two settings picked out. If I give up on the spinel and get a sapphire, I get a *boring* solitaire, if I luck out and get a spinel, maybe I'll get the fancy replica Varna setting. But to me, all that's important is the man. I pulled my Peretti tsav band off last night and just told him to propose with that. When I saw it in person in Tiffany in Vegas, I told him straight up that he could propose to me with that and I'd be happy. And I would have been. Heck, I still would be.

Sorry, I guess those were some thoughts I just had to get off my chest.

So I'm waiting. And keeping my fingers crossed. And it's really hard. I hope the spinel pops up, and I hope its sooner rather than later because I think I'm about halfway through my patience.

As for the setting below, I'd want to tweak it a little bit, make the sapphires smaller (2mm or so) and a lighter color, but that also figures in with what color spinel I end up with. So that would have to wait for me to find one. The thing I really like about this ring is that it's a 3 stone without looking like one from the top. I first saw one when I was at a local shop and they had one with diamonds, and it had a diamond already set in it. So from the top, it looks like a plain solitaire, but from the side, it's obviously a three stone. So in a way the two sidestones are like surprise stones, and I have some lurve for surprise stones. Oh yeah, and it'd be in 14kt white gold, because I'm still budget conscious.

Any thoughts?

(I'm sorry for the crazy rambling. Today is FF's mom's birthday and we got up super early to go put flowers on her grave site in a town about 45 minutes away, and still make it to school on time. Plus it was my long school day, I didn't sleep well in the first place and didn't eat until 3:30 this afternoon.)

ETA: Thanks to everyone who has read my thread and gone through everything with me. I hope it will all be wonderful and worth it in the end. I appreciate your kind words, well wishes and thoughts.

 

[miraclesrule]

:::: begin threadjack:::::::

Did I already tell you this? I can''t remember if my brain cells made it to the keyboard. But I saw the most beautiful amethyst ring on Saturday night. I keep bugging my daughter to send me the pic from her camera because my cheap one kept making it look blue. I can''t wait to show you.

:::::end threadjack:::::::::


I''m sorry you are still searching for the ring. So, tell me, which was more difficult....finding your dream man or your dream stone for your ring?

 

[E B]

Oooh, I really like the Varna setting, and I think it'd look fabulous with two blue sapphire sides! I think you should go for it- your dream setting with the perfect blue spinel.

Would you go local for custom, or online like WF/Quest?

 

[FrekeChild]

miracles dream stone. For sure. Dream man walked into my life when I wasn't looking. Perhaps if I stop looking for the dream stone...the same will happen.

You did mention the amethyst somewhere. I must see it.

EBree You likey? I think I'll probably go local so I can b!tch them out need be, and threaten lawsuits if it's not perfect.

Seriously, I think I just want to be able to talk to someone face to face. Plus, if something goes wrong and they don't do what I ask of them, I can bring my dad around with his 6'3 frame in his dark suits, ties, and law degree. Hey, if he's intimidating enough to help me get out of speeding tickets...

JK. I think I'll go local so I can go in and bug them instead of calling and bugging. Besides, I'm much better at drawing what I want than describing what I want. Hah!

But I haven't thought much about it, so perhaps I will consider it.

But first things first! Must. Find. Stone.

Can you imagine how happy I'll be when I finally find it?!

 

[FrekeChild]

Dan seems to have a little somethin'' somethin'' up his sleeve...

 

[FrekeChild]

So I woke up to emails from mystery cutter and from Peter.

Peter has received the spinel rough, and one will make an oval and the other will make a round. Problem is the one that will make the oval has better color and the one that will make a round is a bit purplish blue. The other problem is that both of Peter''s stones would cut a bit smaller than I was hoping for. Round could be 5.5-6.5mm and the rough better suited to an oval could be 7x5 and 8x6 or a 5 to 6mm round.

Mystery cutter thought he had a piece of spinel rough that he could make work, but didn''t go as well as he hoped. Instead he cut a Madagascar sapphire into a round that is 1.40cts, color is a steely teal blue, a VS clarity, and is 7.0mm in diameter. I think it''s a pretty color, but the stone looks a bit splotchy in the pictures--a bit blue in spots and a bit yellow in other spots, and to me it looks as though the culet is not quite centered-although this could be just from the angle. Having said all of that, it''s pretty affordable.

I have pictures of the sapphire that the mystery cutter sent me, but I''m afraid that his photography will give him away...

Anyway, here''s Peter''s rough:

 

[pjean]

Ooh, that second rough is really pretty.

I know this is getting really frustrating, Freke. Hang in there!

 

[innerkitten]

I like the second one too. I wish we could see a pic of the sapphire. Dratt!

 

[FrekeChild]

Peter is cutting the top purple-ish one into a round as we speak (type).

And I did an awful job with photoshop, but I figured I''d let you see the sapphire.(innerkitten, this is for you!) Tell me what you think.

 

[innerkitten]

Thanks for posting it Freke
I REALLY love the color of it! I can''t tell if it''s streaky or it''s just light hitting it in a funny way, but it''s a beautiful blue. It''s a round too which is nice. I''m going to have to go back and read your description of it again.

 

[innerkitten]

7mm is a great size. Did he say if it was splotchy? Maybe he can send another photo of it? it kind of remids me of the one on thegemtrader but more teal.

 

[FrekeChild]

He didn''t say if it was splotchy. He sent two other pics-one of the side view and one of the bottom. You want to see those?

 

[innerkitten]

Yes please!

 

[LostSapphire]

Date: 9/3/2008 6:16:01 PM
Author: FrekeChild
He didn''t say if it was splotchy. He sent two other pics-one of the side view and one of the bottom. You want to see those?

Me too. Yes please.

LS

 

[FrekeChild]

Ask and you shall receive. He did say that the pictures don''t do justice to the stone.

Honest opinions please?

 

[LostSapphire]

Can you get him to put it on the back of his hand and photograph it outside (cloudy day is best). Otherwise, the background can distort the intensity of the colour.....

With it on the back of his hand, it also gives you an idea of how it would look with no light coming through the back of the stone....

LS

 

[FrekeChild]

Email is sent, we shall see what he says...

 

[innerkitten]

it will be interesting to see the next photo. If it's not blotchy it could potentially be a really nice stone colorwise. Teal is a great color and you can tell it won't be too dark. I need to have a second look but the cut looks nice to me.

 

[innerkitten]

I see what you mean about the culet is the first pic. It''s tough to say if the stones tilted a tad or if it''s actually off center.

 

[chrono]

It looks like the angle of the picture giving the off-centered culet look. The cut is good but the colour is uneven and saturation very light. Do have him retake the picture with the stone between the fingers for a truer colour. The rough in the second picture looks quite pretty.

 

[E B]

Ooh, I think both pieces of rough look promising! Hopefully one works out. The 1.40 ct stone looks like it has potential too, but I agree, the color looks a bit funky in the first one. It looks gorg in the photo where the gem's on its side, though.

Getting closer!

 

[Linda W]

Freke, it looks really pretty to me, but will need to see more pictures.


Linda

 

[FrekeChild]

Thanks guys! You''re all basically repeating stuff that''s in my head, but I''m glad to know it''s not only in my head.

I haven''t heard back about any more pictures, so we''ll just have to see what''s going on tomorrow I''m guessing.

I do like the sapphire from the side. And the color on the second rough is absolutely gorgeous. I can''t wait to see what Peter will have done to the other one. I''m hoping we find that out tomorrow as well.

 

[FrekeChild]

Ok. Top two are in sunlight, bottom two are in shadow.