Experts, please educate me on cushion cut tourmaline/garnet

[purplemelody]

Hello, I have been lurking around PS admiring everyone's beautiful engagement rings and gemstone jewelry. Recently I have this urge of putting together a right hand ring for myself, and there are a few questions I hope dear experts here can educate me more on gemstones.

I'm trying to find a peachy pink cushion cut gemstone to set in a rose gold micro pave halo setting. I did some research on PS, and found pink tourmaline and malaya garnet are affordable good choices. I went on looking for loose gems for sale, and found most of them are round cut or oval portuguese cut. Is this because tourmaline and garnet do not sparkle as much in a cushion cut than a round or portugese cut? What other type of gemstones would you reccommend that also comes in a peach pink colour?

My other question is about the setting. I would love the ring to be very subtle and "glowy" on my hand, but I do wonder if the ring would disappear on my hand since the colour is too soft and close to flesh-toned. I googled a picture with a pink stone & rose gold setting. Please feel free to give me opinions on the combination.

This is the peachy-pink colour that I have in mind:

[picture courtesy of AJS gems]

This is the pink stone + rose gold combination I'm trying to go for:

[picture courtesy of *laugh* Walmart ]

Thank you in advance!

 

[T L]

Re: Experts, please educate me on cushion cut tourmaline/gar

I know due to their low RI, tourmalines benefit from the many facets that Portuguese style cutting has, however garnets do not require it as much. They do have better luster and sparkle than tourmaline. I have a chunky faceted malaya and it still sparkles quite a bit. As for tourmaline, if you were to buy one, I would recommend Portuguese faceting or a high crown and small table to minimize the tilt window and give better sparkle. What I said about tourmaline also goes for morganite or any pastel beryl.

If your flesh is pink/peachy, then yes, it probably will disappear on your hand.

 

[cellentani]

Re: Experts, please educate me on cushion cut tourmaline/gar

I have a pale morganite ring, barion cushion in rose gold, and I love it for the "subtle and glowy" effect you described as wanting. The loose stone on my hand did sort of blend in with my skintone, but putting it in a diamond halo really helped to set off the stone. You might want a more delicate halo, but here's mine:

 

[AprilBaby]

Re: Experts, please educate me on cushion cut tourmaline/gar

WOW that is STUNNING!

 

[lelser]

Re: Experts, please educate me on cushion cut tourmaline/gar

Cushions usually don't sell as quickly as rounds or ovals, but I love them and cut them quite often. A good cut will give terrific sparkle in a tourmaline cushion.

Cheers,

Lisa

 

[CharmyPoo]

Re: Experts, please educate me on cushion cut tourmaline/gar

Cellentani .. I adore that ring. Drool.

I have seen on rare occasions peachy pink spinels .. I think they are gorgeous. I really love all my spinel. I have cushion gemstones that are really nice but hard to find ... I usually end up with ovals and rounds.

 

[purplemelody]

Re: Experts, please educate me on cushion cut tourmaline/gar

Wow, thank you everyone for your replies!

tourmaline lover: thank u for the explanation. I guess I will look for Malaya Garnet now instead, since I quite like its colour intensity. ^^

cellentani : Your ring is absolutely breathtaking!!! I agree, the diamond halo really make your morganite stand out. I really like the delicate setting, that's what I want to go for too. <3

lelser & CharmyPoo: Thank you for the explanation, I didn't know cushions do not sell as well as rounds or ovals. Cushions are so beautiful though. I guess I just need to keep hunting and contact one of the skillful gem cutters to inquire about one.


Thanks everyone! ^^

 

[T L]

Re: Experts, please educate me on cushion cut tourmaline/gar

Be careful with malayas though. They tend to shift to a more brown color in sunlight. You might like that however.

 

[chrono]

Re: Experts, please educate me on cushion cut tourmaline/gar

Given the choice, I’d go for a peachy spinel over a garnet or tourmaline for reasons of durability, high RI, brilliance and luster.

 

[purplemelody]

Re: Experts, please educate me on cushion cut tourmaline/gar

May I ask how much do light peachy pink spinel around 1.5-2.5 ct cost, roughly? I understand there are many factors to the cost ... Just wanted to know a rough estimate. I would rather pay more to have one that is cut well.

Would it seems very demanding if I request to find a light pink spinel in a specific size and clarity?

 

[chrono]

Re: Experts, please educate me on cushion cut tourmaline/gar

Depending on how peachy it is and who it is purchased from, it can be anywhere from $100 and upwards. Are you looking for something precision cut or just well cut (no window, not necessarily perfect meet points but it is symmetrical, no extinction, centered culet, etc). In terms of clarity, usually eye clean is the standard as anything beyond that is “demanding”.

 

[purplemelody]

Re: Experts, please educate me on cushion cut tourmaline/gar

Thanks for the tips and advice Chrono *thumbs up*
I'm thinking of precision cut. It's good that I asked about what is considered as 'demanding', lol