Do you try to avoid "repeats"? Color, shape, and/or setting?

[DecoDaze]

I find myself resistant to having "repeats" in my collection, as a means of making the most of my money. So when I'm setting a stone, I try to kill two (or more) birds with that stone: love the shape, love the color, and acquire some type of style that I love for the setting.

Thinking long term, I know I'd like to get an emerald cut stone, probably blue-green, to be set in a 5-stone with traps and bullets. Right now, I'm figuring out how to set my Finewater golden beryl ([URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/help-me-set-my-new-gary-braun-golden-beryl-asscher.212508/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/help-me-set-my-new-gary-braun-golden-beryl-asscher.212508/[/URL]). I am considering setting the beryl with tapered bags, but am worried that will be too similar to my as-yet-nonexistent 5-stone with traps and bullets. I mean, not really, of course, but my mind envisions it all as step cut elegance. I also love ovals with half moons and bullets, but is that too similar to the traps-and-bullets look? You see the knots I tie myself in, all based on my ever-changing wish list!

But maybe I'm going about it all wrong, and should just get the stones I fall in love with and worry about the setting later, take it stone by stone. How do you all go about it? Do you have specific colors, shapes, and/or setting styles in mind when you embark on a project? Or do you just go for the stones that strike your fancy and let the setting fall into place? Some combination of the two?

 

[dk168]

Re: Do you try to avoid "repeats"? Color, shape, and/or sett

I try not to duplicate cuts and settings, however, I find myself drawn to emerald/step cuts in lighter colour CSs ever since I got myself an EC aqua, and am planning to get a bigger one next year to be set in a similar style to my existing one, as I love Art Deco inspired settings.

I quite like the idea to have one significant stone in every colour of the rainbow, however, I am not too keen on orange or yellow. I would love to have a rainbow sapphire ring one day though.

I love (raspberry) reds and have 4 of them (3 rubies and a rubellite tourmaline), greens, blues, purple (2 amethysts, one good one) and aqua/turquoise (1 aqua so far), and shall concentrate on collecting these.

I guess at the end of the day, I have to love the pieces I have purchased, therefore, it does not really matter if they are similar in shape or style, as it will be a reflection of my own tastes and style preferences.

DK

 

[Arcadian]

Re: Do you try to avoid "repeats"? Color, shape, and/or sett

Duplicating a cut / shape doesn't bother me. IMO you like what you like. I have a couple of stones that were cut by the same cutter and boy can you tell it! I do try not to repeat color though. These days I buy the stone I like, worry about the setting later. Going the other way around doesn't always work...lol

 

[distracts]

Re: Do you try to avoid "repeats"? Color, shape, and/or sett

I don't try to avoid repeats because I love the same sorts of things. When I deviate from the beaten path and try to get something "different" for the sake of different, that's when I end up with things I don't like and need to sell.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

Re: Do you try to avoid "repeats"? Color, shape, and/or sett

I have been guilty of repeats. I am trying to branch out now, but there are just some stones and colors I just don't want. For example I admire bright blues and greens but don't want these colors in my collection. I love looking at pear shaped stones (so elegant) but I do not want to wear this shape. I will pick a pink or purple/red spinel over a less expensive (and prettier) garnet every time. I think gemstones are a luxury and part of that luxury is indulging in our whims even if those whims do not make perfect sense.

 

[NKOTB]

Re: Do you try to avoid "repeats"? Color, shape, and/or sett

Define "try".

 

[Acinom]

Re: Do you try to avoid "repeats"? Color, shape, and/or sett

I have a huge preference for blues and having currently two blue topazes cut, just required an untreated aqua and I already have a blue zircon.

Here is a thread on a similar topic (about CS, not the settings): [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/more-of-the-same.212166/page-2']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/more-of-the-same.212166/page-2[/URL]

 

[T L]

Re: Do you try to avoid "repeats"? Color, shape, and/or sett

No, I absolutely don't care about repeats, even if that means I have 50 million halos.

Also, if a stone is beautiful and well saturated, or has other fabulous attributes (luster is a very overlooked attribute), then for me, the ring is all about the stone, not so much the setting. At least for me, I try to find settings that enhance the stone further, and often times, that means I have little imagination because what works for one gem with similar traits, will work with another.

 

[Niel]

Re: Do you try to avoid "repeats"? Color, shape, and/or sett

I don't try to avoid repeats because I love the same sorts of things. When I deviate from the beaten path and try to get something "different" for the sake of different, that's when I end up with things I don't like and need to sell.

+1

I think buy what you like, dont try to be different just for the sake of variety.

 

[junebug17]

Re: Do you try to avoid "repeats"? Color, shape, and/or sett

I guess I lean a little towards not repeating colors, I just like having a little variety - although I am definitely drawn to blue stones! I have a darkish sapphire and an aquamarine, I would really love to add a green stone and a pink stone eventually. I'm not as concerned about repeating shapes, but will still try to add a little variety that way too.

 

[lilmosun]

Re: Do you try to avoid "repeats"? Color, shape, and/or sett

While I lean toward certain color categories as well, my purchase differentiators are color (hue/tone) and gemstone type (when the optical properties differ..not just to have one of everything).

Otherwise, I try to avoid repeats unless there is a significant difference in size/cut quality.

It's hardest when I see or get offered a less common stone at a great price that is similar to one of my favorites. I actually have a ritual I kind of go through. I talk myself down and say "I already have one just as nice or nicer". If that doesn't work, I take out mine to look at it as reinforcement that I don't need this one because its too similar. I then remind myself that I am not an investor nor do I have the funds to be a true collector. When it sells quickly (sometimes before I complete my ritual), I will typically kick myself for not buying. But then I remind myself that someone else got a great deal on a stone they will appreciate/love all the more for not having one. Too much information about the voices in my head

On rare occasion, I will buy a ring for a different setting that I love regardless of the stone. However, for most of my CS rings, the setting is more a vehicle to wear/see a stone I love and a secondary thought.

 

[DecoDaze]

Re: Do you try to avoid "repeats"? Color, shape, and/or sett

This is all fascinating, thanks for all the responses! Sometimes I feel it's easier to shop for a stone if I have some idea what I want in cut/color/setting--narrows the field a bit--but it also makes it more difficult precisely because it narrows the field! But I think I try to plan in too much detail, e.g. I want a blue-green stone in a step cut for a 5-stone with traps and bullets. I want a red stone in an oval to set with half moons. Etc. When what I find is that the right color may come along in the "wrong" shape for my plans, but that's the stone that speaks to me. I think I'll try to relax about it and focus on whether or not I love a particular stone. And set that stone in whatever way most appeals, even if that means I end up with two (or more!) rings with traps and bullets.

I guess at the end of the day, I have to love the pieces I have purchased, therefore, it does not really matter if they are similar in shape or style, as it will be a reflection of my own tastes and style preferences.

DK, I totally agree. That's my cardinal rule: I have to love the pieces I've purchased!

These days I buy the stone I like, worry about the setting later. Going the other way around doesn't always work...lol

I think these are wise words, Arcadian, and proving to be my experience as well!

I don't try to avoid repeats because I love the same sorts of things. When I deviate from the beaten path and try to get something "different" for the sake of different, that's when I end up with things I don't like and need to sell.

Totally makes sense distracts (and Niel)--I'm drawn to the same types of things over and over, too. I should clarify that when I say I generally try to have different settings for each stone, it's not for the sake of variety on its own, but rather because there are so many styles I *do* like, and if I avoid repeat styles my money goes farther. If money were no object, then I'd have zero objections to repeats!

I think gemstones are a luxury and part of that luxury is indulging in our whims even if those whims do not make perfect sense.

Agreed, LisaRN. And hey, if what you like happens to be not the most "desirable" color or shape, then it works in your favor!

Define "try".

LOL, NKOTB!

I have a huge preference for blues and having currently two blue topazes cut, just required an untreated aqua and I already have a blue zircon.

Here is a thread on a similar topic (about CS, not the settings): [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/more-of-the-same.212166/page-2']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/more-of-the-same.212166/page-2[/URL]

Thanks for the link, Acinom. And actually, giving myself permission to get repeats or quasi-repeats eases the pressure of each purchase--as in, if I buy *this* blue stone, it doesn't mean I can't buy *that* blue stone in the future!

No, I absolutely don't care about repeats, even if that means I have 50 million halos.

Also, if a stone is beautiful and well saturated, or has other fabulous attributes (luster is a very overlooked attribute), then for me, the ring is all about the stone, not so much the setting. At least for me, I try to find settings that enhance the stone further, and often times, that means I have little imagination because what works for one gem with similar traits, will work with another.

This also makes sense, TL. And it means that I can set multiple stones with step cut sides!

I guess I lean a little towards not repeating colors, I just like having a little variety - although I am definitely drawn to blue stones! I have a darkish sapphire and an aquamarine, I would really love to add a green stone and a pink stone eventually. I'm not as concerned about repeating shapes, but will still try to add a little variety that way too.

The nice thing about blues, junebug, is that they're all a little different. Am I right, or am I right?

While I lean toward certain color categories as well, my purchase differentiators are color (hue/tone) and gemstone type (when the optical properties differ..not just to have one of everything).

Otherwise, I try to avoid repeats unless there is a significant difference in size/cut quality.

It's hardest when I see or get offered a less common stone at a great price that is similar to one of my favorites. I actually have a ritual I kind of go through. I talk myself down and say "I already have one just as nice or nicer". If that doesn't work, I take out mine to look at it as reinforcement that I don't need this one because its too similar. I then remind myself that I am not an investor nor do I have the funds to be a true collector. When it sells quickly (sometimes before I complete my ritual), I will typically kick myself for not buying. But then I remind myself that someone else got a great deal on a stone they will appreciate/love all the more for not having one. Too much information about the voices in my head

On rare occasion, I will buy a ring for a different setting that I love regardless of the stone. However, for most of my CS rings, the setting is more a vehicle to wear/see a stone I love and a secondary thought.

lilmosun, I think I'll adopt some of your mental process when considering stones that are similar to what I already have, just to make sure I'm not going overboard. Part of the problem is with some of these gorgeous stones that appear in the best lapidaries' drops, it needs to be a split-second decision!

 

[iLander]

Re: Do you try to avoid "repeats"? Color, shape, and/or sett

I TRIED to avoid repeats but I currently have 2 Gene greenish/blue tourmalines, and 2 Gene red/reddish stones (ruby and sapphire). I will probably have them all haloed. Because I love halos and I'm a complete geek about them.

I will add them to my sapphire halo and my emerald halo.

I'm thinking of having earring jackets made, which are basically a halo that you stick studs in.

I like the whole flower theme, and I like that halos have been made since the 1800's.

I think I have a problem