Gemstone Bracelet

[Harriet]

I''d like to assemble a bracelet with gems of different cuts and colours, but of similar size, dangling from it. Suggestions of cuts? Hard stones?

 

[gemnut]

It all depends on how much you want to invest in the bracelet. If money is no object, the hardest and most valuable stones that come in many colors are diamonds, of course. Second hardest and also very expensive are sapphires but they come in a rainbow of colors. Whatever you choose after that is a softer stone and prone to chipping and breaking.

Frankly, I would be afraid to hang valuable stones from a bracelet. If you insist on mined stones, however, do consider spherical or cobochon cuts to protect your stones from chipping.

I have seen combinations of the very soft turquoises and corals hanging from bracelets, and they are beautiful but you would need to be extremely careful since they are very brittle.

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 7/8/2007 7:57:32 PM
Author:Harriet
I''d like to assemble a bracelet with gems of different cuts and colours, but of similar size, dangling from it. Suggestions of cuts? Hard stones?

Hmmm, are you thinking of briolettes?? They dangle nicely and shouldn''t cost too much, for semi precious stones. Not sure where to source them though. My daughter makes her own earrings with briolettes, that we buy at Gem shows. Sounds like a fun project.

 

[simplysplendid]

Hi, how about something from marco bicego? They are italian and have a lot of gorgeous colourful pieces and not very expensive. I think they are available in a few stores in the US and I found something in moondancejewelry.com:

http://www.moondancejewelry.com/moondance/product.asp?s%5Fid=0&dept%5Fid=953&pf%5Fid=PAAAAACOCBLMADEG&


Perhaps you can visit the website www.marcobicego.com for some ideas. I love their pieces and have several pieces of them. Alternatively, try Dana Kellin. They are also available at moondancejewelry and www.stowecraft.com. Have fun!

 

[Harriet]

Date: 7/8/2007 9:19:54 PM
Author: gemnut
It all depends on how much you want to invest in the bracelet. If money is no object, the hardest and most valuable stones that come in many colors are diamonds, of course. Second hardest and also very expensive are sapphires but they come in a rainbow of colors. Whatever you choose after that is a softer stone and prone to chipping and breaking.

Frankly, I would be afraid to hang valuable stones from a bracelet. If you insist on mined stones, however, do consider spherical or cobochon cuts to protect your stones from chipping.

I have seen combinations of the very soft turquoises and corals hanging from bracelets, and they are beautiful but you would need to be extremely careful since they are very brittle.

Coloured diamonds are out of the question. Do you think spinels would be too soft? They are 8 on the hardness scale, 1 down from sapphires. Sigh, this is going to be a long-term project.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 7/8/2007 9:31:42 PM
Author: Kaleigh
Hmmm, are you thinking of briolettes?? They dangle nicely and shouldn''t cost too much, for semi precious stones. Not sure where to source them though. My daughter makes her own earrings with briolettes, that we buy at Gem shows. Sounds like a fun project.

Briolettes are lovely. But I was thinking more in terms of rbs, cushions, ovals, trilliants, pears, blah blah blah.
Which gem shows do you attend? I''ve never been to one!

 

[Harriet]

Date: 7/8/2007 9:53:36 PM
Author: simplysplendid

Hi, how about something from marco bicego? They are italian and have a lot of gorgeous colourful pieces and not very expensive. I think they are available in a few stores in the US and I found something in moondancejewelry.com:

http://www.moondancejewelry.com/moondance/product.asp?s%5Fid=0&dept%5Fid=953&pf%5Fid=PAAAAACOCBLMADEG&


Perhaps you can visit the website www.marcobicego.com for some ideas. I love their pieces and have several pieces of them. Alternatively, try Dana Kellin. They are also available at moondancejewelry and www.stowecraft.com. Have fun!

Thanks! Bulgari has one, but it''s $$$!

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 7/9/2007 12:45:07 AM
Author: Harriet

Date: 7/8/2007 9:31:42 PM
Author: Kaleigh
Hmmm, are you thinking of briolettes?? They dangle nicely and shouldn''t cost too much, for semi precious stones. Not sure where to source them though. My daughter makes her own earrings with briolettes, that we buy at Gem shows. Sounds like a fun project.

Briolettes are lovely. But I was thinking more in terms of rbs, cushions, ovals, trilliants, pears, blah blah blah.
Which gem shows do you attend? I''ve never been to one!

It''s one that travels from city to city, many PS''ers have been to them. In K of P, it comes in the early fall and then again in the spring.

 

[Harriet]

What is it called? How do you know which stones are good? I don't feel equipped to buy them on my own yet. Thank goodness for Richard M's guidance.

Btw, DF says he wants to assume responsibility for this project as a Christmas present. How sweet!

 

[monarch64]

Harriet, that sounds like a beautiful idea! Are you at all worried the stones will get chipped at all no matter how they are set if they are dangling? Just curious?

 

[crown1]

hi harriet! have you looked at sundance catalog? they often have gemstones set in jewelry. i saw a fairylore bracelet on their site. i''m not sure if that is what you are after or not. you could take a look. it was set in 14k yg.

i suspect you really want something custom made from your description. i am like someone else who worried about damage to dangling stones on the wrist. would you consider bezel setting the stones and not having them dangle? i think your guy can come up with something great for you and would let him have that opportunity. how can a girl refuse a guy wanting to buy her what she wants? i will be watching to see what you come up with.

 

[twodoor2]

Ok, where is everyone getting these wonderful husbands!!!???

I''m sooo jealous.

If you bezel set the stones, they wouldn''t fall out as easily and be more protected. Just something to think about.

 

[Madam Bijoux]

A bracelet made of all the different colored Sapphires would probably be the most chip resistant and scratch resistant way to go. Happy hunting! (Would Leon Mege put something together for you?)

 

[Cehrabehra]

::grumble:: it ate my post!!!

How funky/colorful do you want it? One of every color? In a rainbow? Scattered?

I''d probably keep it in a color family. Like all different shades of sapphire in blue from light to dark or multiple colors of red garnet from pinky to cinnamon Maybe orange and red or even orange/yellow/red Or you could do blue/teal/green

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[gemnut]

Date: 7/9/2007 12:42:59 AM
Author: Harriet

Date: 7/8/2007 9:19:54 PM
Author: gemnut
It all depends on how much you want to invest in the bracelet. If money is no object, the hardest and most valuable stones that come in many colors are diamonds, of course. Second hardest and also very expensive are sapphires but they come in a rainbow of colors. Whatever you choose after that is a softer stone and prone to chipping and breaking.

Frankly, I would be afraid to hang valuable stones from a bracelet. If you insist on mined stones, however, do consider spherical or cobochon cuts to protect your stones from chipping.

I have seen combinations of the very soft turquoises and corals hanging from bracelets, and they are beautiful but you would need to be extremely careful since they are very brittle.

Coloured diamonds are out of the question. Do you think spinels would be too soft? They are 8 on the hardness scale, 1 down from sapphires. Sigh, this is going to be a long-term project.

It all depends on what use you will make of the bracelet, Harriet. If you are generally careful with your jewelry, perhaps spinels will do fine. If you are a bit on the careless side (like me)... well... I don''t think I can handle a dangle bracelet of any kind of stone! lol

 

[twodoor2]

How about a rainbow sapphire bracelet? I sometimes see suites of loose rainbow sapphires purposely put together to make bracelets, and they're not too badly priced. Or you could purchase one already made. They can come in rounds or princess cuts. Very pretty and very durable. The problem also with making a bracelet that might not be cost effective is that the jeweler may charge you for setting each stone, and the labor pricing can add up. It may be more cost effective to purchase one already made. Here are some, but you can find them on lots of websites.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.myjewelrysource.com/images/sapphire-bracelet/gb4034.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.myjewelrysource.com/rainbow_sapphire_bracelets.htm&h=94&w=190&sz=4&hl=en&start=8&um=1&tbnid=Ld-lx-11dX0TEM:&tbnh=51&tbnw=103&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drainbow%2Bsapphire%2Bbracelet%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den

 

[Harriet]

Date: 7/9/2007 1:21:20 AM
Author: monarch64
Harriet, that sounds like a beautiful idea! Are you at all worried the stones will get chipped at all no matter how they are set if they are dangling? Just curious?

I am, so I have to find very hard stones.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 7/9/2007 8:22:07 AM
Author: crown1
hi harriet! have you looked at sundance catalog? they often have gemstones set in jewelry. i saw a fairylore bracelet on their site. i''m not sure if that is what you are after or not. you could take a look. it was set in 14k yg.

i suspect you really want something custom made from your description. i am like someone else who worried about damage to dangling stones on the wrist. would you consider bezel setting the stones and not having them dangle? i think your guy can come up with something great for you and would let him have that opportunity. how can a girl refuse a guy wanting to buy her what she wants? i will be watching to see what you come up with.

Hi crown1,

I didn''t even know that a Sundance catalogue existed until now! I''ll go take a look.

It doesn''t have to be custom made. I saw a diamond version online (for the life of me, I can''t remember where).

I''m more than happy to turn this project over to DF.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 7/9/2007 12:02:15 PM
Author: twodoor2
Ok, where is everyone getting these wonderful husbands!!!???

I''m sooo jealous.

If you bezel set the stones, they wouldn''t fall out as easily and be more protected. Just something to think about.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 7/9/2007 1:02:08 PM
Author: Madam Bijoux
A bracelet made of all the different colored Sapphires would probably be the most chip resistant and scratch resistant way to go. Happy hunting! (Would Leon Mege put something together for you?)

Yikes! I don''t think this warrants LM''s price.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 7/9/2007 1:25:19 PM
Author: Cehrabehra
::grumble:: it ate my post!!!

How funky/colorful do you want it? One of every color? In a rainbow? Scattered?

I''d probably keep it in a color family. Like all different shades of sapphire in blue from light to dark or multiple colors of red garnet from pinky to cinnamon Maybe orange and red or even orange/yellow/red Or you could do blue/teal/green

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I hate having my posts eaten too. Why does that happen?

I haven''t decided on the colours yet. It all depends on what stones I can find.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 7/9/2007 1:47:50 PM
Author: gemnut
It all depends on what use you will make of the bracelet, Harriet. If you are generally careful with your jewelry, perhaps spinels will do fine. If you are a bit on the careless side (like me)... well... I don''t think I can handle a dangle bracelet of any kind of stone! lol

I am very careful, except when I''m losing rings down sinks.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 7/9/2007 5:13:38 PM
Author: twodoor2
How about a rainbow sapphire bracelet? I sometimes see suites of loose rainbow sapphires purposely put together to make bracelets, and they''re not too badly priced. Or you could purchase one already made. They can come in rounds or princess cuts. Very pretty and very durable. The problem also with making a bracelet that might not be cost effective is that the jeweler may charge you for setting each stone, and the labor pricing can add up. It may be more cost effective to purchase one already made. Here are some, but you can find them on lots of websites.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.myjewelrysource.com/images/sapphire-bracelet/gb4034.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.myjewelrysource.com/rainbow_sapphire_bracelets.htm&h=94&w=190&sz=4&hl=en&start=8&um=1&tbnid=Ld-lx-11dX0TEM:&tbnh=51&tbnw=103&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drainbow%2Bsapphire%2Bbracelet%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den

Thanks, but I''d really like something dangly. My dealer (that sounds bad) has something up his sleeve. I can''t wait!

 

[twodoor2]

You could throw some crysoberyls in there as well, it''s the third hardest gemstone out there (after sapphire and ruby). Very pretty yellow, or yellowish green color.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 7/9/2007 10:49:58 PM
Author: twodoor2
You could throw some crysoberyls in there as well, it's the third hardest gemstone out there (after sapphire and ruby). Very pretty yellow, or yellowish green color.

A cat's eye one could be fun.

 

[Harriet]

What about white danburite? Also, I'd appreciate cut suggestions.

 

[chrono]

I think Danburites are too soft. Didn't IndyGal chip hers? I remember someone here on PS damaging hers but was thankful that it was cheap.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 7/10/2007 12:30:14 PM
Author: Chrono
I think Danburites are too soft. Didn''t IndyGal chip hers? I remember someone here on PS damaging hers but was thankful that it was cheap.

They are 7-7.5. Someone did damage hers, but she dropped them on the floor.

 

[chrono]

Well, it really isn''t going to be much different with a bracelet. Your wrist will be banging tables and a whole lot of other things on a frequent basis.

 

[Harriet]

That''s why I''m thinking about danburites. If one chips, the pai won''t be too bad.