For those who have and admire Sphene....

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Why did you choose your particular stone(s)--what spoke to you? And may I inquire, which vendor supplied your stone(s)?

I am seriously considering buying Sphene as replacement stones in platinum an antique setting. A ring. Presently bezels holding two dark sapphires I want to remove; hence I require pair of rounds. Stones are 8.1 mm and 7.7 mm.

For those who have Sphene in a ring, have you had an issues with damage to the stones? Were there concerns setting the stones--problems finding someone to set the Sphene? Do you think a platinum setting would showcase the Sphene nicely?

Any input would be appreciated.

cheers--Sharon

 

[Edward Bristol]

Hey, I am a sphene fan.

Yes, they are softer than others but harder then most materials that are used for jewelry. We have set many of ours and never broke one.

However, you might might local jeweler inexperienced with such a stone and not wanting to touch it.

 

[T L]

HI:

Why did you choose your particular stone(s)--what spoke to you? And may I inquire, which vendor supplied your stone(s)?

I am seriously considering buying Sphene as replacement stones in platinum an antique setting. A ring. Presently bezels holding two dark sapphires I want to remove; hence I require pair of rounds. Stones are 8.1 mm and 7.7 mm.

For those who have Sphene in a ring, have you had an issues with damage to the stones? Were there concerns setting the stones--problems finding someone to set the Sphene? Do you think a platinum setting would showcase the Sphene nicely?

Any input would be appreciated.

cheers--Sharon

Sharon,
I don't have a sphene that is set. However, I would highly advise against setting such a soft stone in platinum, which is an extremely hard and difficult to work with metal. I would go with 18K gold instead for the softness of it. If you have a very good jeweler, 14K would work as well. If you use any jeweler, it is paramount that you tell them how soft the stone is, and that its softer than tanzanite. Good luck, sounds like you have a nice upcoming project.

 

[minousbijoux]

I have a few starter sphenes that I bought years ago cheaply on ebay (which can still be bought cheaply on ebay, lol). I love their originality in color and dispersion. That said, neither would be setting stones. I do, however, watch on a regular basis for some green sphenes to come along so I can make them into earrings. If it were me, I would likely go with 18k white gold if you want a white metal for the same reasons TL said. Would love to see what you have, too!

 

[LD]

All of my sphenes are set into 9k or 18k gold.

Some jewellers will refuse to set it because (unless they work with coloured stones all the time) there is an added risk in setting such a soft stone. I'm notorious for setting soft stones into jewellery AND wearing them but I'm very soft on my jewellery. Sphene is a delicate stone so the only caution I would add is that if it's going to be an every day ring it may not look too good a couple of years down the line. If it's a wear every now and again ring and you're kind to your jewellery then I'd say to do it.

I've bought Sphenes from everywhere. My best one however has come from Multicolour. It's like a green Christmas tree with lights on.

 

[T L]

LD has a large cushion sphene from multicolour, and she wears it in a ring, so I think it's durable enough if you're careful. She has mentioned this many times to me, because I too, have reservations about wearing and setting sphene.

 

[T L]

All of my sphenes are set into 9k or 18k gold.

Some jewellers will refuse to set it because (unless they work with coloured stones all the time) there is an added risk in setting such a soft stone. I'm notorious for setting soft stones into jewellery AND wearing them but I'm very soft on my jewellery. Sphene is a delicate stone so the only caution I would add is that if it's going to be an every day ring it may not look too good a couple of years down the line. If it's a wear every now and again ring and you're kind to your jewellery then I'd say to do it.

I've bought Sphenes from everywhere. My best one however has come from Multicolour. It's like a green Christmas tree with lights on.

Were your ears ringing LD, because I posted about you at the same time you posted about your experience with sphene.

 

[JewelFreak]

Oh boy, that ring makes me want to go out & find its twin sister.

--- Laurie

 

[canuk-gal]

Hey, I am a sphene fan.

Yes, they are softer than others but harder then most materials that are used for jewelry. We have set many of ours and never broke one.

However, you might might local jeweler inexperienced with such a stone and not wanting to touch it.

Thank you for chiming in Ed. Outside of PS, I've never known anyone who possesses Sphene, loose or set!

cheers--Sharon

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Why did you choose your particular stone(s)--what spoke to you? And may I inquire, which vendor supplied your stone(s)?

I am seriously considering buying Sphene as replacement stones in platinum an antique setting. A ring. Presently bezels holding two dark sapphires I want to remove; hence I require pair of rounds. Stones are 8.1 mm and 7.7 mm.

For those who have Sphene in a ring, have you had an issues with damage to the stones? Were there concerns setting the stones--problems finding someone to set the Sphene? Do you think a platinum setting would showcase the Sphene nicely?

Any input would be appreciated.

cheers--Sharon

Sharon,
I don't have a sphene that is set. However, I would highly advise against setting such a soft stone in platinum, which is an extremely hard and difficult to work with metal. I would go with 18K gold instead for the softness of it. If you have a very good jeweler, 14K would work as well. If you use any jeweler, it is paramount that you tell them how soft the stone is, and that its softer than tanzanite. Good luck, sounds like you have a nice upcoming project.

TL

Thanks for the advice. I am glad to have this forum as a spring board for ideas! I believe I should be rethinking Sphene for this ring. But that means I still need a pair of rounds.....hot pink, or red or green....

cheers--Sharon

 

[canuk-gal]

I have a few starter sphenes that I bought years ago cheaply on ebay (which can still be bought cheaply on ebay, lol). I love their originality in color and dispersion. That said, neither would be setting stones. I do, however, watch on a regular basis for some green sphenes to come along so I can make them into earrings. If it were me, I would likely go with 18k white gold if you want a white metal for the same reasons TL said. Would love to see what you have, too!

MB:

Would not they be da bomb in earrings? Some design that articulates...that would be nonstop sparkle every time you moved

cheers--Sharon

 

[canuk-gal]

All of my sphenes are set into 9k or 18k gold.

Some jewellers will refuse to set it because (unless they work with coloured stones all the time) there is an added risk in setting such a soft stone. I'm notorious for setting soft stones into jewellery AND wearing them but I'm very soft on my jewellery. Sphene is a delicate stone so the only caution I would add is that if it's going to be an every day ring it may not look too good a couple of years down the line. If it's a wear every now and again ring and you're kind to your jewellery then I'd say to do it.

I've bought Sphenes from everywhere. My best one however has come from Multicolour. It's like a green Christmas tree with lights on.

LD:

I knew there was a marvelous Sphene ring--floating around PS... I could own this in a heartbeat! Beautifully done.

Unfortunately I am hard on jewellery. I do take some care, but find my rings against surfaces more often than I care....on the flip side, I rotate my rings so it wouldn't be a ring that received frequent use....

I use two benches in town and both would set Sphene.

cheers--Sharon

 

[minousbijoux]

I have a few starter sphenes that I bought years ago cheaply on ebay (which can still be bought cheaply on ebay, lol). I love their originality in color and dispersion. That said, neither would be setting stones. I do, however, watch on a regular basis for some green sphenes to come along so I can make them into earrings. If it were me, I would likely go with 18k white gold if you want a white metal for the same reasons TL said. Would love to see what you have, too!

MB:

Would not they be da bomb in earrings? Some design that articulates...that would be nonstop sparkle every time you moved

cheers--Sharon

And that is exactly why I want them! Sparkle (and color) city!

 

[FrekeChild]

I keep wanting Sphene...and yet, I can never pull the trigger. Someday....

 

[colorluvr]

My new 4.63 ct sphene (9.10 x 8.60 x 6.4 from Jeff Davies. His bench made me an 18k white gold setting (custom to fit the stone) with .58cts of VS - F diamonds. The green is gorgeous and is beautiful in person and the stone is quite clean for a sphene. I'm hard on rings, so I had it set in a pendant.

I wanted his bench to set it so I didn't have to worry about the heartache of the stone being damaged if I had it set in the states. They did a very nice job and I'm very pleased with the finished pendant. I wore it out to dinner the other night and stopped at the grocery store on the way home. The lady doing the check out commented on it immediately (gotta love grocery store lighting), but had never heard of a sphene when I told her what it was. She was impressed with the sparkle.

Unfortunately, I've yet to get a picture that properly shows off the stone. This is Jeff's photo of the pendant and his video and then two photos of mine that "kind" off show the color in low lighting. I'll post more if I ever get any good ones. Sorry that the one on my hand is fuzzy. The flashes of yellow that show in Jeff's still shot are not as obvious IRL. I have another one set in a pendant also, but it's more of a yellow sphene, however, the yellow does shoot off more different colors than the green does.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a5SDIgasoI&feature=youtu.be

 

[colorluvr]

This is a macro shot of my other pendant. It's approx. 8 x 8mm and was sold as "yellow/green" from Ceylon. It's also a very clean stone. ... I forgot to add, I got this stone from an ebay vendor that is no longer in business and had it set at a jewelry store when I lived in Oregon a few years ago. I had the setting and they built a basket it hold the sphene. I'm not in love with the setting and might reset it someday, but it would be way down my list or resets, so it doesn't get worn.

 

[colorluvr]

HI:

And may I inquire, which vendor supplied your stone(s)?

cheers--Sharon

Jaimeen with Primagems has nice sphenes. When I bought my green one from Jeff he told me that he seldom buys sphene, but bought mine because of the green color which isn't that easy to find apparently.

 

[jstarfireb]

I bought one from Roger Dery. It's a golden honey color and has great dispersion that I can never photograph right. It's set in a simple 4-prong silver pendant.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

JStar and CL:

-thanks for the pics of your wonderful jewellery, and recommendations of vendors!

cheers--Sharon

 

[minousbijoux]

Sharon: I hope its okay if I ask a question? Colorluvr, I love the fact that you both bought the stone and had the pendant made by Jeff Davies Jewellry. My question: did he send the sphene to you first and then you sent it back, or did you cross your fingers and hope? I love the photo of the second pendant (its hard to tell, but I think I probably love the actual pendant as well) - you take some great photos! TIA

 

[chrono]

I am waiting for my sphene to arrive and hopefully, it will match another that I currently own. I plan to set them as drop earrings.

 

[T L]

Here's one of mine sitting atop a rose gold setting. I didn't set it in there, but just placed it on top to see how it would look. In this photo you can sort of see the double refraction for which this gem is known.



I have a six carat apple green sphene that is in a cut I don't really like very much. I was thinking of having it recut. The color is much nicer IRL.



Not mine, sphene snake cuff.

 

[davi_el_mejor]

I have a six carat apple green sphene that is in a cut I don't really like very much. I was thinking of having it recut. The color is much nicer IRL.

That is amazing TL!! Can you imagine it in an emerald cut??? OMG I can and you should totally do it!

 

[T L]

I have a six carat apple green sphene that is in a cut I don't really like very much. I was thinking of having it recut. The color is much nicer IRL.

That is amazing TL!! Can you imagine it in an emerald cut??? OMG I can and you should totally do it!

Thanks Davi, but to be honest, I don't think emerald cuts or step cuts do as much for sphene as would a round, or cushion cut. I was thinking of doing a cushion on it, even though it might have a large loss of weight. I envision it as a cushion with a high crown and very small table.

 

[ChrisA222]

Exactly what TL said...

A step cut really downplays the dispersion factor (and brilliance) that a Sphene is known for....

I found a very bright, clean, yellowish green Sphene Emerald cut, bought it with intent to recut. I was really astounded when it arrived, it could have been a Peridot for all I knew...really surprising that anyone would step cut that gem.

Unfortunately, there wasn't quite enough material to recut the stone of mine into a brilliant/barion, but Dan Stair chose a scissor-cut, and it does show a bit more flash than the step cut did.

Here's the stone (not for sale, part of my collection) before and after recut, showing the color. I can't get it to show the dispersion with my daylight/lightbox setup, it needs incandescent for that and I haven't figured out how to get good incandescent shots.

Sphene is a favorite of mine. I have a yellow, honey, and this yellowish-green. I am looking to add a true brown, as well as a deeper green. I've found some Chromium-Sphene in the rough, but I suspect it will yield a similar color to this stone pictured. I've included a picture of it, as well.

This green one started as 3.36ct and 10x6.75mm, and is now 2.48ct, 9.6x6.4mm

The before pic was the vendor pic, the after pic is mine in daylight-calibrated fluorescent. Same with the rough. I had to adjust exposure due to the pics coming out looking too dark.

 

[minousbijoux]

Exactly what TL said...

A step cut really downplays the dispersion factor (and brilliance) that a Sphene is known for....

I found a very bright, clean, yellowish green Sphene Emerald cut, bought it with intent to recut. I was really astounded when it arrived, it could have been a Peridot for all I knew...really surprising that anyone would step cut that gem.

Unfortunately, there wasn't quite enough material to recut the stone of mine into a brilliant/barion, but Dan Stair chose a scissor-cut, and it does show a bit more flash than the step cut did.

Here's the stone (not for sale, part of my collection) before and after recut, showing the color. I can't get it to show the dispersion with my daylight/lightbox setup, it needs incandescent for that and I haven't figured out how to get good incandescent shots.

Sphene is a favorite of mine. I have a yellow, honey, and this yellowish-green. I am looking to add a true brown, as well as a deeper green. I've found some Chromium-Sphene in the rough, but I suspect it will yield a similar color to this stone pictured. I've included a picture of it, as well.

This green one started as 3.36ct and 10x6.75mm, and is now 2.48ct, 9.6x6.4mm

The before pic was the vendor pic, the after pic is mine in daylight-calibrated fluorescent. Same with the rough. I had to adjust exposure due to the pics coming out looking too dark.

Chris: do you think sphenes really need incandescent light to show their dispersion? I've never thought about it, but I guess just assumed that if I took it outside in regular daylight, it would do its sparkle fest thing. Not so?

 

[ChrisA222]

Yes, sunlight would work....but incandescent lights seem to be the bring out the most dispersion in my stones (in general).
Regardless, a pain in the butt to photograph!

 

[VapidLapid]

LD, your sphene does not seem to be showing the double refraction. Is that because it is cut on the "C" axis? I really like it. I do not like doubly refractive stones when they are not cut on the C. It drives me nuts, not that that is a long drive.

 

[minousbijoux]

LD, your sphene does not seem to be showing the double refraction. Is that because it is cut on the "C" axis? I really like it. I do not like doubly refractive stones when they are not cut on the C. It drives me nuts, not that that is a long drive.

You don't like the double vision thing? Remind you too much of the bad 'ol days?

 

[colorluvr]

Colorluvr, I love the fact that you both bought the stone and had the pendant made by Jeff Davies Jewellry. My question: did he send the sphene to you first and then you sent it back, or did you cross your fingers and hope? I love the photo of the second pendant (its hard to tell, but I think I probably love the actual pendant as well) - you take some great photos! TIA

I crossed my fingers and bought the stone sight unseen.

I almost never do that, which is one of the reasons I seldom buy colored stones via DB or Loupetroop unless it's from a PSer that I know or trust. I didn't want to have to deal with the cost or worry of shipping the stone back to Thailand and I knew the stone would need a custom setting because it isn't quite square and I wanted the halo "just so". Jeff and I did a lot of back and forth on the design. I know it looks like a simple halo (which it is) but I didn't want to see metal showing around the stone, just diamonds, and I figured an 18k custom pendant like that here in the US would have cost me alot more money, PLUS I didn't want the heartache of a jeweler here trashing the stone.

I've purchased quite a bit from Jeff, and he's always been quite honest with me, plus I think his videos do a pretty good job of showing what the stone is going to look like. When he told me that he seldom buys sphenes and bought this one for the color, I trusted that meant it was a special stone. It does NOT show as many colors as my green/yellow one, but I'm ok with that because the color makes up for it. Maybe I'll be brave enough to put my one (that is in the heart pendant) into a ring some day.