Good sources for small colored stones? (garnet or lavender spinel)

[redhead02]

Hi all,

I''m working on accumulating the stones for a 3 stone ring. I want to do a ring with tonal colors - I''m planning to flank a pink tourmaline with garnets or lavender spinels as the sidestones. I''m thinking a 6.5mm round center with roughly 3.5mm round sidestones.

However, I''m fairly new to the colored gems game, and not sure where to procure colored sidestones that small. Most of the colored gem websites I find are offering mostly big stones.

Any advice or recommendations are appreciated!

 

[arjunajane]

Hi redhead,
considering the size you''ve mentioned is not usually what shoppers are looking for (3.5mm), you''d be best off contacting some of the cutters in the stickied thread at the top of CS, and simply asking if they have what you''re after.
With a bit of luck you could find a cutter who has some small rough that will cut matching stones - however, I will say as someone who spent over a year looking/waiting for a lavender spinel, they are not the easiest to come across..I can recommend asking Barry of ACS stones, as that''s where I finally found mine.

You could also try some of the preferred sellers on ebay - sometimes I have seen bulk lots of smaller sapphires, you may be able to obtain what you''re after that way. Try this thread Tan''s stores - he tends to be one of the more trusted thai ebay sellers.

good luck, your ring sounds like it will be pretty!

 

[SB621]

I would also recommend Dana at MasterCutGems

 

[redhead02]

arjunajane thanks for the response! Your JKT ring was actually the inspiration for the project! I never thought about how pretty a ring with different tones could be until I saw yours

I''m sad to hear that I may have to hunt for a long time, but maybe if the garnets are easier, I''ll go that route.

Saraahbear, thank you, I will check out MasterCutGems.

 

[redhead02]

Oh, and I did write Barry I was way impressed by the tourmaline you had from him.

Sadly, he told me he''s not doing the custom cut small stones anymore. I wrote back to ask if the 6.5mm tourmaline was too small, so we''ll see what he says. I may cave and go for 7mm if I don''t hear from him, as 7 and up seems to be what he carries more or less regularly. I just don''t want to go any bigger than that because I think it will overwhelm the size of the finger I want to wear it on.

 

[Gailey]

Readhead,

You will find that most of the custom cutters that get mentioned here won''t cut stones under 4mm. I beleive it takes different equipment.

You need to check out the mass producers, such as Multicolour or Gemfrance.

Stuller also carries small stones, but they don''t cater to the retail market. I don''t know who you are planning to make your ring, but JKT has an account with Stuller and can acquire the stones for you.

 

[PrecisionGem]

Date: 4/20/2010 10:31:24 AM
Author: Gailey
Readhead,


You will find that most of the custom cutters that get mentioned here won''t cut stones under 4mm. I beleive it takes different equipment.

It''s not a matter of equipment, but rather cost. A 3.5 mm garnet should cost you just a few dollars, but for a cutter here in the US to cut one will amount to 1 to 2 hours time. So you would need to way over pay for the small stone, plus on a smaller stone, the quality of cutting won''t show up as much as on a larger stone, so it really doesn''t make sense to have one custom cut. On more expensive materials such as ruby and sapphire, then custom cutters can do small stones.

 

[redhead02]

Thanks for the info all This has been very illuminating. It sound like my best option is either to up the sizes of the stones, or maybe pursue JKT. I had been planning on going with a local jeweler, but I do love Julia''s work so that''s a great option if she can get the stones. I will have to ask.

I did hear back from Barry, and I think I may be in luck for the tourmaline from him. He also mentioned he would look through a bunch of stones that he cut over 20 years ago to see if he had garnets or spinels in there.

Thanks again!

 

[arjunajane]

Thanks Gene for the explanation (and Gailey),
I didn't think of it that way.


Redhead, I would ask JKT for sure - I just remembered she mentioned grabbing some stones from the Tuscon show - she could have something suitable?

And I'm glad Barry is sourcing your centre - his rounds make lovely rings!
(oh, and thankyou for the compliment on my one)

 

[Gailey]

Date: 4/20/2010 11:41:49 AM
Author: PrecisionGem

Date: 4/20/2010 10:31:24 AM
Author: Gailey
Readhead,


You will find that most of the custom cutters that get mentioned here won''t cut stones under 4mm. I beleive it takes different equipment.

It''s not a matter of equipment, but rather cost. A 3.5 mm garnet should cost you just a few dollars, but for a cutter here in the US to cut one will amount to 1 to 2 hours time. So you would need to way over pay for the small stone, plus on a smaller stone, the quality of cutting won''t show up as much as on a larger stone, so it really doesn''t make sense to have one custom cut. On more expensive materials such as ruby and sapphire, then custom cutters can do small stones.

That makes perfect sense. Thank you Gene.

It was a revered US custom lapidary, known well to you Gene that told me if I wanted stones smaller than 4mm, he would have to use a different machine. That''s how I came by that piece of information.

Redhead, have you actually seen stones of that size IRL or are you guessing at the size you think you need? I have some 3.5mm round imperial topaz and they are pretty teeny.

 

[redhead02]

You''re correct Gailey, I am guessing at the stone sizes a bit. I wanted something markedly smaller than the center because I like the center of 3 stone rings to really pop, I don''t like the 3 stone rings I see that just look like a row of stones across the finger.

However, I''ve basically been upping the sizes overall as I learn how hard small stones are to get. I''m now aiming for a 7mm center and 4mm sides. Hopefully that will be easier to procure.

I did get in touch with JKT, and I think it is on that she will make the ring! We''re working out scheduling, so I am going to ask her next about sourcing the small stones.