Help finding a moderately priced tsavorite for mom?

[darkeyesredshoes]

Hello colored gem geniuses (genii?),

This is my first foray into your realm, and I''m hoping you''ll have some advice for me. When my parents were visiting me after Thanksgiving vacation, I noticed that my mom wasn''t wearing her wedding set. Imagine my concern! After asking, I found out that there was nothing wrong with the state of the union, but my mom''s rings had stopped fitting. I made all the usual noises about getting them resized, but in the back of my head I started thinking about helping my dad get my mom a new ring for fun.

Her existing ring is an emerald cut emerald with small diamond sidestones in white gold. It''s very pretty and understated. During the last few Christmases, I''ve helped (i.e. picked out for) my dad get her some emerald and diamond drop earrings and a diamond pendant, and she''s always thrilled when she gets jewelry. So I think she''d like a new ring. Who wouldn''t?

Here''s the point. I doubt the budget will be very big, and I don''t think it would be good to try and replace her set. I was thinking it''d be nice to get her a ring that would fit on her left hand while the wedding set gets sorted, then later be able to be worn on the right. I was thinking:
Stone: step-cut (or octagonal, or whatever you call rectangularish) tsavorite. Or maybe something else if you have suggestions?
Budget: less than $700 to leave room for setting
Size: under 1.5 carats? I''d prefer optical symmetry, good color, and clarity over hugeness, and I think she would too

I saw this one on paraibainternational, but I''m woefully insecure because I know nothing about colored stones.

I''m open to stone suggestions, design ideas, and all-around help in general. I''m out of my depth here, and I think it would be silly to have it match her e-ring, don''t you?

Help me, Colored Stone Forum. You''re my only hope.

 

[darkeyesredshoes]

ooooooooOOOOOOOOoooooooooo...What about Mozambique Tourmaline? Does it glow? Is it copper-bearing?

 

[chrono]

A true copper bearing mozambique tourmaline will glow but I don't think you'll be able to find a nice one for under $700. There are lots of Mozambique paraibas out there but many will claim their stone has copper but yet doesn't glow. Don't buy the name, buy the stone.

The PI tsavorite has a lovely grass green colour but the cut.

The top left side of the table is so out of whack that my eye will always be drawn to it. Not a good thing, especially as a gift to mom.

Is a cushion cut okay or must it be a step cut?
http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=1711

 

[darkeyesredshoes]

Thanks for the advice, Chrono. Any suggestions for trustworthy purveyors? Should I check out anybody here in NYC, or just stick with the internet?

Edited to add: I thought it was just me! I was hoping it was tilted or something. I think I might be in over my head. Given a $1,500ish total budget (or less), what would you do?

Re-edited to re-add (I should just let you finish your thought already!): That's really nice and well under budget! I wonder how to go about finding a setting once we settle on a stone.

 

[chrono]

http://www.thegemtrader.com/Dec%2006%20Paraiba%20Page.htm
A decently priced real Mozambique Paraiba. I've purchased one from him so I know the stone GLOWS. The only downside is that it isn't the infamous blue green windex colour, hence better pricing than the $1000 per carat stuff. This MP appears to be the most saturated (strongest colour) among his stock. The others look too washed out, however, it is a trillion shape.

ETA
Don't worry about the setting yet. One at a time. Stone first, then setting. There are many settings to choose from: from custom to stock stuller, adwar, etc. I'm sure we can find something.

 

[darkeyesredshoes]

It would be so exciting to get her a paraiba! I know you said not to worry about the setting, but I''m trying to figure out what we could do with a trillion. You''re my hero, Chrono. Of course, with more choices comes greater indecision on my part. Oh bother.

 

[chrono]

A little riskier with an overseas purchase but AJS is an upstanding vendor.
http://www.ajsgems.com/product/44f44cd0-ccf8-40f0-861d-eeee8728955e.aspx Nice deep green cushion and eye clean
http://www.ajsgems.com/product/8415aed8-6fbe-41c0-950d-d3173c8ceab6.aspx Unusual scissor cut but may be too light?

 

[darkeyesredshoes]

I think that the scissor cut is my favorite out of all of them so far. I wonder how light it would appear in person... Is lack of color saturation always a negative?

 

[chrono]

I know this is a Leon masterpiece but it is so simple and really lets the stone speak for itself, which is what that MP needs. I''m sure there are lots of stock settings that look like that without the Leon pricetag (but of course will be without Leon''s elegant finish and fine prongs). Perhaps a jeweller can burnish the shank?

 

[chrono]

Date: 12/10/2007 12:25:28 PM
Author: darkeyesredshoes
I think that the scissor cut is my favorite out of all of them so far. I wonder how light it would appear in person... Is lack of color saturation always a negative?

Not always. Some people like darker colours, others prefer a lighter shade (and enjoy the savings that come with a less desired colour). I do want to note a difference between tone and saturation though. You will always want the stone to be decently saturated, be it a dark tone or light tone. If the light colour has light saturation, it will appear washed out or watery, then that isn''t a good thing.

 

[darkeyesredshoes]

I''m glad I don''t have to pay tuition to benefit from all your expertise! I''m waiting for my dad to call me back so I can allow him to have a modicum of input. I really appreciate all of your help, and I''m definitely curious to hear what you would do with my predicted total budget.

 

[chrono]

Umm, I''d get something completely different because I''m not a fan of green stones.

 

[darkeyesredshoes]

Do tell! I was just looking at green stones because they reminded me of her e-ring. I''m not married to the idea.

 

[chrono]

I am a sucker for spinels so here are my choices:
http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=2204 Pink spinel for $345
http://www.diamondexpert.com/diamonds/dbs.cgi?sf=detg.setup.cgi&active=active&stock=SP00247&submit_search=1
Fantastic spinel that's on sale right now too.

To be honest, I just bought this:
http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=2350

I would also be tempted by Brad's MP. If nothing else, I'd "order" it just to play around with it. I already have a MP and once you have seen it, you'll always remember it. There is no other gemstone that has its own internal battery.

 

[chrono]

Would you consider this emerald cut green tourmaline?
http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=186

Another nice looking green tourmaline
http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=2182

I really like this one but it is sold:
http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=2304

Darn it, this one is sold too:
http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=2285

 

[Harriet]

ParaibaI has stones other than those on their website. Give them a call.

 

[darkeyesredshoes]

Okay, here's an idea. It'd probably be easier to put a trillion in a necklace, right? Maybe I can give her the MP in a necklace as a Christmas present, and then Dad and I can figure out the ring thing as a combination Christmas/Anniversary extravaganza. I really like the red spinel you pointed out as well, so I think that it or the scissor cut would be a great stone for a ring. Would there be a hardness concern with either one of them?

ETA: I feel like a kid in a candy store! I think this'll be a slippery slope, ladies. Harriet, if I were to call them, would you recommend any particular phrasing for what I'm looking for?

 

[chrono]

Spinels and tsavorite garnets are fine in rings as long as removed before undertaking any "hard" labour. Before making a final decision, give Gary Dutton a call and AJS an email. Ask for more pictures:
1. Side view of the stone
2. Pavilion view of the stone

PI does carry nice stones in their inventory but you have to be selective and ask specifically for them. Since I haven''t actually bought anything from them, I''ll leave Harriet to advise you.

 

[darkeyesredshoes]

Chrono, would you do the same before buying the trillion?

 

[chrono]

Date: 12/10/2007 4:10:58 PM
Author: darkeyesredshoes
Chrono, would you do the same before buying the trillion?

Yes. I do this with almost all vendors, even my preferred ones if I have doubts about the gemstone.

 

[darkeyesredshoes]

I''ll send them an email. Thanks so much!

 

[milton333]

If you have some time to make the purchase at your leisure, you might consider finding a "native cut" stone online and sending it to someone reputable to be re-cut, such as this vendor, who has gorgeous cut stones. You would lose some carat weight, but a re-cutter can clean up a lot of issues (including windows) in a native-cut stone. It might be cost-effective, particularly based upon the availability of inventory in the stone you''re looking at. Or, if you contact most vendors (including White''s Gems, in my prior link), tell them what you''re looking for, they can keep an eye out for you.