First jewlery/gemstone purchase

[Devannk8966]

Hello everyone! First I want to thank all of you for this amazing resource and the valuable information you all share, I'd be even more lost without it. I am extremely new to the gemstone and jewelry world and have quickly become captivated by the beauty of all the different gemstones out there.

This all began about a month ago when I decided to get my girlfriend a ring for Christmas. She doesn't wear much jewelry and when she does, it's all fashion jewelry, nothing really nice. A few months ago she casually mentioned that if I got her a ring she'd actually wear it. Her style is kind of bohemian, antique, some would say hipster like.

After looking for a few weeks or so I decided on a ring from Macy's for the design and to replace the dark, almost black, sapphire with a tanzanite or other stone of higher quality.

Here is the ring I purchased.
https://www.macys.com/shop/product/...-5-ct.-t.w.-ring-in-14k-white-gold?ID=2350958

The stone is an 8x6mm oval cut. I have been primarily focused on tanzanite for the replacement stone although one jeweler told me tanzanite may not be the best for a ring she'd wear all the time.

Before I purchase a stone or hire someone to get and replace it, I was hoping to get some advice from people who really know what their talking about. The ring I purchased has a return policy so any suggestions of different rings, different stones you think may look or work better then tanzanite, or advice on getting a tanzanite for a good price and replacing it would be much appreciated.

The prices I'm seeing for a nice rich blue tanzanite seem to range greatly in price between venders recommended by this forum.

So long story short I'm wondering if tanzanite is a good choice for a ring she will likely wear all the time, unless she's gardening or something, and if so what is a good range in price for a higher quality rich blue tanzanite around 1ct?

Also, would I be able to replace the stone myself? It doesn't seem like it'd be too difficult but I'm no expert by any means. I do have a jewlers supply store for the required tools to do it.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I wouldn’t do tanzanite for a daily wear ring. It is Very soft.

Does she have a favorite color or do her clothes tend towards certain colors?

 

[peacechick]

If your girl is the bohemian type, may I suggest an amethyst or garnet? No bohemian type will be without such gems in her collection

As someone who does some self-setting, I would not advise a first DIY attempt with a white gold ring and any stones of value. You risk chipping stones, breaking prongs, mangling the undergallery and so on. Practice with cheap silver settings! We have a thread on this here:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-me-your-self-set-jewelry.243925/

 

[Devannk8966]

Thank you for the link to the stone setting thread. I'll definitely pass on that idea for now then.

So tanzanite would really be used for a ring you'd only wear on special occasions to lessen the chance of it scratching or breaking?

Her favorite color is a burnt orange, but she also really likes pastel colors. I know she doesn't like amethyst, but likes citrine a lot but she just bought a fashion citrine ring. Is garnet stronger that it'll hold up to daily wear?

The one jeweler I was talking to has ceylon sapphires in a medium blue color in the size I need but says they're only $190 which sounds like it's probably heavily treated to me?

 

[strawrose]

What is your total budget, for the setting and the stone? Do you need it by Christmas?

 

[Devannk8966]

It originally was meant to be for Christmas but i doubt it'll be done by them now which I'm okay with if she'll like it more. I have a meeting with a jeweler tomorrow who said she needs to look at the ring to see if the prongs are quality enough to replace the stone. She said she may be able to get it done by Christmas if I she has a stone I like or I get one before giving her the ring.

The total budget is around $700-$800 and I got the ring for $300.

Thank you for your help.

 

[2Neesers]

If her favorite color is burnt orange, she might like spessartite garnet. Here’s a thread dedicated to spessartite. They often lean brown, so make sure you choose a pretty orange colored stone.
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-your-spessartite.172291/

 

[2Neesers]

Have you checked out Diamond Zone/Ivy and Rose? Many of us here have purchased from there and have been happy with the pieces for the price paid. How do you feel about the quality of the Macy’s ring? Diamond Zone has a somewhat similar style if you wanted to start from scratch linked here:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NATURAL-DI...-SEMI-MOUNT-/173689115002?hash=item2870ad917a
And a link to their settings:
http://www.ebaystores.com/MyDiamond...d=110520942&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1513&_pgn=3
And here are a few ready to ship pieces with stones already set:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-CO...RING-FLOWER-/401656132671?hash=item5d8492343f
This one is not trade ideal color for a ruby, but since she likes burnt colors she might like it:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-1c...-WHITE-GOLD-/401657007052?hash=item5d849f8bcc
This one is a little above budget:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-8ct-PURP...OLD-VINTAGE-/153301528182?hash=item23b17bae76

 

[FinleysMom]

LOVE that oval ruby!!

 

[Bron357]

Hi, yes it’s not just a matter of bending prongs to get a gem out and rebending prongs back to put a new gem in because bending and rebending metal, especially if not tempered correctly, can literally snap the prong off. And replacement prong work could cost a lot.
I would return the ring if you don’t like it in its current presentation.
The choice of Tanzanite isn’t great for an every day ring, they are quite brittle so a little knock to the edge (girdle) can cause a chip. More a special occasion ring or being bezel set (which is a full circle of metal protecting the edge of the stone).
Ivy & Rose (recommended vendor) sell lovely settings and they can also set your gem for extra $$. These types of settings require cutting (a notch) into the prong to create the “lip” that the gem will be sitting on and then the prong tip is gently bent over the gem. This is specialised work requiring specific tools and experience.
Alternatively, there are pre notched settings, these have already had a lip created and a novice with gem setting pliers AND the right size and shape gem to suit the setting, can do it at home. I’ve done this, it’s a cheap way of getting a ring (most settings are silver) but the choice of settings is quite limited and I mangled the first two settings I worked on.
So certainly consider “Jamminggems” or “FireMountain” as two suppliers of both the tools and ring mounts (various sellers on Etsy as well) if you’d like to make a ring at home yourself but for a special ring, it’s best to go with gold and a professional setter.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

Here is a nice orange spessartite garnet that is a possibility to replace the center stone since your GF likes the color burnt orange.
https://www.litnon.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=10984

 

[strawrose]

This would make a lovely pendant, especially since it’s in her favorite color (if you’re willing to change): https://www.litnon.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=9312

I second Ivy and Rose for ring setting.

 

[Anne111]

All nice colored spessartite I see are seriously expensive. Not sure if that is a new development or if they always been so valuable, for being 'only' a garnet I mean.

 

[peacechick]

For something off the beaten track, how about a moonstone ring? Moonstones are so romantic and this one has a beautiful halo.
https://loupetroop.com/listings/bands/moonstone-and-diamond-ring-18k

 

[Devannk8966]

Are diamond zone and ivy rose the same company? Thank you all for these recommendations they have so many beautiful rings. I'm honestly tempted to raise my budget to $1100 to get this.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NATURAL-1-...472903?hash=item23b1a89d47:g:ngEAAOSwhfRb-Mz6


I do also like these two:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/PINK-TOURM...249665?hash=item5d8484bb01:g:ECUAAOSwPg9cD~kx

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RED-TOURMA...575171?hash=item5d8489b283:g:vykAAOSw~2VcB0~Z

I also love this setting and emailed them about the cost to set a sapphire or other stone.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-2-CARAT-...e&pageci=43dceff7-7fad-478c-a194-b21b8bfee341

 

[Devannk8966]

The spessartite is very nice and about what I figured I'd pay for a tanzanite. You think the color would look good in the white gold ring?

What's the romance behind moonstone, I've never heard that?

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

The spessartite is very nice and about what I figured I'd pay for a tanzanite. You think the color would look good in the white gold ring?

What's the romance behind moonstone, I've never heard that?

I think spessartite looks great in white metal. Here is an example of one that is being sold by a well known PS member.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/232963...ng&ref=sr_gallery-1-20&organic_search_click=1

@Anne111 - I recall one of the popular gemstone vendors had remarked that it is difficult to source rough spessartite - so the prices have went up.

 

[2Neesers]

Are diamond zone and ivy rose the same company? Thank you all for these recommendations they have so many beautiful rings. I'm honestly tempted to raise my budget to $1100 to get this.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NATURAL-1-...472903?hash=item23b1a89d47:g:ngEAAOSwhfRb-Mz6


I do also like these two:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/PINK-TOURM...249665?hash=item5d8484bb01:g:ECUAAOSwPg9cD~kx

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RED-TOURMA...575171?hash=item5d8489b283:g:vykAAOSw~2VcB0~Z

I also love this setting and emailed them about the cost to set a sapphire or other stone.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-2-CARAT-DIAMOND-VINTAGE-OVAL-SEMI-MOUNT-ENGAGEMENT-RING-SETTING-8x6-COCKTAIL/401656018721?_mwBanner=1&ul_ref=https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/e11050.m43.l1123/7?euid=aeb7db19c5d14f128829ae0a105824f9&bu=45070520434&loc=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F401656018721&sojTags=bu=bu&srcrot=e11050.m43.l1123&rvr_id=0&rvr_ts=c1c386e01670ab641b3553cbffe4266e&ul_noapp=true&pageci=43dceff7-7fad-478c-a194-b21b8bfee341

Yes, they are the same company . I would try contacting Ilya Kunin, the owner, and tell him you heard about him on Pricescope. He knows we are a picky bunch and will keep that in mind. The last time I emailed him it was at [email protected] . He might even be able to find you a nice spessartite if you go in that direction. They do add extra fees if you modify their settings to fit a non-stock setting stone size, so if you can make a stock setting work with a stone, you will get the best pricing. I like all of the settings and rings you have linked. The only one I would have a question about would be the tanzanite ring in your first link. The stone looks like it’s set crooked to me and has what we call a window in the center. It could just be the way the photo was taken, but I would ask about if you are considering that ring.

 

[peacechick]

If you have your heart set on tanzanite, I would pick this one: http://etsy.me/2ciqvxF

I think it’s gorgeous. If you don’t get it, I just might!

 

[Devannk8966]

That tanzanite is gorgeous, and since it's in a bezel the stone would be much safer from cracking or chipping, correct? Unfortunately, the bezel makes it look like an led flood light to me as weird as that is.

Unfortunately, I had to come to the difficult decision to let tanzanite go for now. It just doesn't make sense to use such a soft stone in a ring she hopefully will wear a lot. I will definitely be getting her a tanzanite pendant or pair of earrings in the future though and the spessartite too, haha.

I met with the jeweler yesterday and she really liked the darker sapphire in the ring and said it wasn't as low quality as I thought it might be. I was worried it was fracture filled or color diffused, which I would like to verify it isnt but doubt Macy's would be able to tell me that information. I thought this due to a strange looking ''inclusion" in the stone that looks like a smudge or something. I included a picture where you can see the inclusion at the end of my post.

Anyways, the sapphires she had were pretty lightly colored and I didn't like them as much as what I had so in the end I decided that it wasn't worth switching the stone out and not having it ready for christmas.

But while I was there, since I had already planned on spend more on the ring to switch the stone out, I decided to pick up a matching set of WG sapphire studs!



Overall I am very happy with what I got for the money I spent and I think she'll really like the ring and earrings. I really appreciate all the advice and help you all have offered. I hope everyone has a happy holiday!


Here is the picture you can see the inclusion in. It's in the bottom left of the stone as it's oriented in the photo. Is this just a normal inclusion or something else?

 

[2Neesers]

I bet your girlfriend will be thrilled with the ring and earrings. I was expecting the center stone of the ring to be darker from your original description, but I see pretty blue flashes in your photos and the design is beautiful!