Does rose gold bring out green gems?

[Indylady]

I just saw the rose gold thread, and noticed that a lot of the gems featured in rose gold pieces were either pink or green. I recently bought an emerald from Gene, and I have no idea what color metal I''d like to set it in. I''ll post pictures of it soon, but, what do you guys think?

Emeralds, tsavs, demantoids, peridot, green spinels, green sapphires, green diamonds, mint tourmaline...which gems or shades of green look good in rose gold? What exactly does the rose gold do for them? I like what I''ve seen, but I haven''t been able to put my finger on exactly what effect the rose gold has over these gems to make them pop...simply because red and green are opposites on the color scale?

Please share your opinions!

 

[T L]

I think it does. My green grey diamond looks best in the rose gold setting. Something about it really brings out the green shade more than other metals I''ve tried with that stone. I also want to set my apple green sphene in rose gold. It looks great in rose gold when I placed it on top of an empty setting.

 

[SB621]

I personally love the contrast of almost any green gemstone with the rose gold...however, if you are setting a emerald I think I would stick with traditional white or yellow gold. For some reason I think the emerald color wouldn''t stand out as much. but that is just my .02 cents

 

[Indylady]

Thanks TL and Sarah!

I noticed that I hadn''t seen any emeralds in rose gold. I was wondering if it was simply for the sake of going a ''traditional'' route for a ''traditional'' gem, or if its because rose gold just doesn''t set off the color of emeralds like other green stones. A lot of emeralds have a secondary blueish hue, which is unlike other green gems which might tend to have a more yellow secondary hue. Mine doesn''t really have any blue to it, but maybe that is why?

 

[Burberrygirl]

Date: 9/4/2009 11:30:34 PM
Author: Sarahbear621
I personally love the contrast of almost any green gemstone with the rose gold...however, if you are setting a emerald I think I would stick with traditional white or yellow gold. For some reason I think the emerald color wouldn't stand out as much. but that is just my .02 cents

I agree, rose gold looks beautiful with green gems, but I'd stick with white or yellow for an emerald. My emerald is set in white gold, and my mom's is in yellow gold. I love how both look. I think the white gold and bright diamonds in my ring creates a lot of contrast.

 

[Pandora II]

For a tsavorite - especially one with blue undertones rather than yellow - I would definitely stick with white metals. They are rare enough that you don''t want to go introducing other colours via the metal...
Just my penny''s worth

 

[ma re]

Szh07, I think you know more about this subject than you give yourself credit, cause you''re spot-on with some observations. Indeed a great part of the reason why (some) green stones look nice in RG is the very fact they''re complementary colors i.e. on the opposite sides of a color wheel. Same reason why yellow gold makes even those inky, blackish sapphires seem more blue, and why YG seems more yellow when there''s some lapis set in it - those colors just bring eachother out. Of course, it''s all a matter of personal preference, so I personally am not a fan of green stones in RG look, but we all have a right to like something different I guess. When choosing metal color, just like deciding on anything else in terms of designing a piece of jewellery, you want to think about how the piece will be used, what style will it follow, and what shade of color this particular stone has. Even stone''s clarity and level of brilliance make a difference.

To elaborate one by one. Use of the piece; will it be an everyday piece, something for dressing up, something for work, for formal occasions etc. Cause very few people would wear a stone in some fun color like a bright yellowish-green peridot for formal occasions (it''s not exactly appropriate for funerals either...), but they''ll opt for something like a deep green emerald in white gold instead. However, if we''re talking about a casual party at a friend''s house, it''s just fine - think about where this piece will be worn most often.

Choice of style; again a fun piece with mismatched cuts and colors allows you more freedom in designing, while going for some elegant antique reproduction might be a whole other thing. The overall feel of the piece in question determines what color combinations might appeal to you in it. Would you like something cool and elegant, warm and cozy, something with a specific message or symbolism...there are numerous possibilities.

Main stone''s overall appearance; observe the stone under various lights and try to figure out what it says (I sound like a crazy person again...). Seriously, some stones are very quiet, shy and gentle, while others are more playful and ask for attention. That''ll tell you if it''s a stone for fun color combinations, or something more traditional. The cost of stone might tell you something too, cause if it''s not a very high quality piece you might want to play with it more.

Well, hope this helps a bit

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I''m setting the tsav in my avatar in yellow gold, I think it looks very regal (and maybe I''m just used to seeing it next to yellow gold after staring at the pic of it on barry''s site for so long!

 

[LD]

Oh dear, I''m bucking the trend here! I really dislike green gemstones in rose gold. The contrast detracts from the beauty of the gemstone and clashes IYKWIM. The thought of setting a Tsav or an Emerald in rose gold makes my blood run cold!

I know that I''m in the minority with this view but I honestly think that the colour of metal should never clash with the gemstone. It should compliment and then melt into the background to allow the centre stone to show it''s beauty. Otherwise the look becomes "busy".

 

[risingsun]

I prefer that emeralds be set in white or yellow gold. I just posted a thread about my sapphire recut/reset. In that thread there are also some pics of my new emerald, which is set in wg. I think it really sets off the color very well. My stone has some bluish tones in it and my preference, in this instance, is wg. My old emerald, which met with a "bad end," had a more yellow tone and I had it set in yg.

I am new to this forum. Thank you, mr. ma re, for your very interesting commentary on this topic.

 

[T L]

I think emeralds and tsavorites, and other deep green stones don't really need the "help" of a contrasting metal to bring out their green color. However, for stones that are borderline green, minty, or blue/green, rose gold is a nice option.

 

[Indylady]

Date: 9/5/2009 10:33:38 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
I think emeralds and tsavorites, and other deep green stones don''t really need the ''help'' of a contrasting metal to bring out their green color. However, for stones that are borderline green, minty, or blue/green, rose gold is a nice option.

TL- I think you hit it on the nail!
Ma Re- Thank you for the compliment!

I will post pics of my emerald on Monday or Tuesday (I''m away from it right now). You always have really wonderful insight when it comes to gems and their settings. Its certainly not an expensive gem ($55 or so) but it is expensive for me; besides being expensive, I''ve grown attached to it and grown to love it. However, I''m thinking that maybe an emerald shouldn''t be in an everyday ring?

MTG- You''re right about green gems looking regal!
Pandora- Your tsav is what throws me for a loop every time I settle on a yellow gold setting!

LD- I like what you said about the metal melting into the background..

Sarahbear, LD, BG, thank you so much for your thoughts! I love BG''s and Rising Sun''s emerald rings, both are very beautiful!

 

[ma re]

Date: 9/6/2009 1:26:06 PM
Author: szh07

However, I''m thinking that maybe an emerald shouldn''t be in an everyday ring?

Of course. I was thinking more about will it be something to wear around the house (more casual style), not necessarily 24/7. People have those pieces that they just put on when they feel like it, eventhough they''re not fancy or expensive, sometimes even with less durable stones (cause they may be easy to replace). I guess this won''t be one of those cases.

 

[risingsun]

Date: 9/6/2009 2:28:18 PM
Author: ma re

Date: 9/6/2009 1:26:06 PM
Author: szh07

However, I''m thinking that maybe an emerald shouldn''t be in an everyday ring?

Of course. I was thinking more about will it be something to wear around the house (more casual style), not necessarily 24/7. People have those pieces that they just put on when they feel like it, eventhough they''re not fancy or expensive, sometimes even with less durable stones (cause they may be easy to replace). I guess this won''t be one of those cases.

I agree with you about this. I wear my emerald when I''m aware of what I''ll be doing with my hands. After my first emerald got chipped--and I have no idea when or how it happened--I want to take better care of this one. My jeweler asked my to bring it in to her if it needs cleaning. No chemicals, no ultrasonics, and I forgot the third "no-no" she told me. I''ll have to ask. Thank you for your kind comments on my ring. I''ll be looking forward to seeing yours

 

[LD]

Date: 9/6/2009 3:25:17 PM
Author: risingsun

Date: 9/6/2009 2:28:18 PM
Author: ma re

Date: 9/6/2009 1:26:06 PM
Author: szh07

However, I''m thinking that maybe an emerald shouldn''t be in an everyday ring?

Of course. I was thinking more about will it be something to wear around the house (more casual style), not necessarily 24/7. People have those pieces that they just put on when they feel like it, eventhough they''re not fancy or expensive, sometimes even with less durable stones (cause they may be easy to replace). I guess this won''t be one of those cases.

I agree with you about this. I wear my emerald when I''m aware of what I''ll be doing with my hands. After my first emerald got chipped--and I have no idea when or how it happened--I want to take better care of this one. My jeweler asked my to bring it in to her if it needs cleaning. No chemicals, no ultrasonics, and I forgot the third ''no-no'' she told me. I''ll have to ask. Thank you for your kind comments on my ring. I''ll be looking forward to seeing yours

No hot water?????? That''s another no-no with an Emerald.

 

[Indylady]

Date: 9/6/2009 3:25:17 PM
Author: risingsun

Date: 9/6/2009 2:28:18 PM

Author: ma re

Date: 9/6/2009 1:26:06 PM

Author: szh07


However, I'm thinking that maybe an emerald shouldn't be in an everyday ring?

Of course. I was thinking more about will it be something to wear around the house (more casual style), not necessarily 24/7. People have those pieces that they just put on when they feel like it, eventhough they're not fancy or expensive, sometimes even with less durable stones (cause they may be easy to replace). I guess this won't be one of those cases.

I agree with you about this. I wear my emerald when I'm aware of what I'll be doing with my hands. After my first emerald got chipped--and I have no idea when or how it happened--I want to take better care of this one. My jeweler asked my to bring it in to her if it needs cleaning. No chemicals, no ultrasonics, and I forgot the third 'no-no' she told me. I'll have to ask. Thank you for your kind comments on my ring. I'll be looking forward to seeing yours

RisingSun- Your emerald ring is truly inspiration. It is one of the most beautiful emeralds I have ever seen- and I mean it!

 

[Indylady]

Ma Re- I think that is exactly what I might go for!

I just love the way you put it.

Lovingdiamonds- No hot water! I didn''t know about that one. I haven''t thought ahead to when I''ll be cleaning it, I''m glad you and Rising Sun mentioned it!