Found my tanzanite, now need a setting!

[mayachel]

Thank you for pointing me in the direction of Paraiba International. After much browsing on-line, I kept coming back to one particular stone. I spoke with Adam on Wed. and it was in my hot little hands by Thursday. He was great to work with, and I would definitely recommend the company to others in the market. Since I know everyone is always trying to decide how accurate internet images are, In my opinion the video on the site does the stone better justice than the photo as to what it looks like in real life, but the reality is neither compare to how gorgeous it is in person.

So here is my brilliantly bright and colorful stone!

AAA
3.19 Ct
Emerald/Octagon
Strong Blue/Violet
IF
Heat treated

 

[mayachel]

The big question is...what to do with it? I have had my heart set on using it for a right hand ring, thinking along the lines of a LM classic solitaire. However, now that I have it I'm feeling a bit panicky about setting it in a ring. Ideally, I'd like to wear it on a regular basis, but wouldn't be hard on it.

My second thought is to put it in a very simple pendant like this one: http://artofplatinum.com/vault/inde...&category_id=8&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1, but most likely minus the diamond halo. While this would be a safer for the stone option, I'm worried it will be harder to wear as a dress up/dress down piece.

Open to other ideas!

 

[Treenbean]

We all know about the durability issues with tanzanite. I would be hard pressed to set such a beautiful stone in a ring. I think the pendant is really gorgeous! It is simple enough to wear with almost anything but is also extremely elegant. It is a really good choice in my opinion. Congrats on your new stone.

 

[minousbijoux]

Another vote for the pendant. Crasru has a beautiful tanzanite pendant she had made and if I remember correctly, it looks quite similar to what you propose. Maybe she'll pop along and say something about it.

And oh, your stone is quite beautiful.

 

[LD]

If you want a ring - put it in a ring. I've got tons of Tanzanite rings and apart from one (many many years ago and one of the first I bought) not one of them have suffered on my hand!!!! They all look like the day I bought them or had them made.

Having said that, a pendant would be lovely also. The problem is that you just don't see it!

I have an 18ct one exactly like yours and I'm going to have it set (one day when other projects don't get in the way) into a pendant inspired by this design by Tiffany.

 

[mayachel]

LovingDiamonds-That inspiration piece is absolutely stunning. I don't know how anyone will be able to focus on what you are saying when you are finally wearing yours! I want to make sure I'm understanding the statement "you just don't see it" correctly-do you mean that, a dainty little pendant tends to get lost visually? Or that I'm not "seeing it" as my "vision"?

I appreciate hearing both sides of the "is it too soft for a ring" conversation.

 

[minousbijoux]

I think she means that if its a ring, you can gaze upon it whenever you want, but if its a pendant, you can't see it unless you are looking in a mirror...

Edited for typo

 

[LD]

Yes, Minous is correct - I meant that if you wear a pendant you don't get the pleasure of seeing it when you're wearing it unless you have an elaborate system of mirrors on your chest and shoulders!

A 3ct Tanzanite isn't a huge stone for a ring so I really believe it would be ok if you're careful. My largest ring is 8ct but I have a number of 4cts and they really don't look too big or bulky.

 

[pregcurious]

Wow, that is a beautiful stone. I think it would be lovely either way, but I have a preference for rings so I can admire stones while typing.

 

[Tanzigrrl]

YAY! I'm so glad you had a nice experience with Paraiba International. I have had a wonderful experience working with Adam. I love the stone you chose. Nice choice! I'm another in the "set it in a ring" camp. I have a cushion cut tanzanite, between 3 and 4 carats and it sits up very high in a very thin 18kt WG ring. I wear the ring all the time and feel pretty safe with it. I obviously don't wear it if I'm going to be working hard with my hands or anything, but just normal daily wear has been fine for it. I know tanzanite is a soft stone and I know people have horror stories about breaking them, but mine is living proof that you can wear one successfully in a ring.

 

[NovemberBride]

I had the opposite experience, I have a lovely tanzanite that was my mother's that she gave me when I passed the bar exam and we had it reset into a 3 stone ring. It is set fairly low and I have only worn it infrequently and never when I would be hard on it and it unfortunately has gotten several small chips that I am hoping can be polished out. As a result, I am afraid to wear it so it mostly sits in the jewelry box. I would hate to see that happen with your lovely stone. Although some people will have a better experience, tanzanites are really too soft for ring stones.

 

[JewelFreak]

Gosh, it's a beautiful tanzanite! Love the cut too.

I think the pendant you linked to is very very nice -- and the halo would be scrumptious with that stone. It's iffy to set a tanz in a ring but you can be ok with luck & care & attention to how you use your hands. Like November Bride, I whacked a big chip off one that was bezeled right down in the shank of a ring. I don't wear it anymore. As a risk-averse sissy, I, myself, wouldn't want to risk your gorgeous tanzanite, which probably wasn't cheap, either.

You can't see a pendant all the time when you wear it, but you can swan around in front of a mirror & grin from ear to ear (I would!) -- and it will be smack dab at eye level for everyone else to see. You'll get a zillion compliments on it!

It comes down to what you are happiest with. If you think you can keep it in good shape on your hand, go for a ring if you prefer that. If not, it would make the most gorgeous pendant in the world.

--- Laurie