Help, Where else to look for an Emerald for an e-ring

[EvanTG]

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to find an emerald for an engagement ring. I'm planning to propose to my girlfriend this coming October when we go to Hawaii. She loves emeralds and actually told me she would love to have one on her ring instead of a diamond. I read emeralds are not the best stones for an e-ring but if that's what she wants I'll get that.

I've gone through the whole list of respected vendors and can't really find what I want. I'm looking for a 3+ ct emerald, emerald cut, very minor inclusions and only oil as an enhancement. Budget is 15-20k for the ring including setting. Is this reasonable?

A few I found are http://www.africagems.com/emerald2to3carat.html,, unluckily the 3.46 ct one has been sold
Multicolor has a 4 ct one but seems to have a lot of inclusions, not sure since I'm new to this. But it's the best option so far.
I also found some in Israel-diamonds.com but read some mixed reviews about that vendor here, also James Allen has some but not exactly what I want and probably can get a better gem from a different vendor.

Anyone knows of vendors with more emeralds in stock? Also, am I being reasonable in what I want? I would appreciate suggestions and other options. Thank you.

I was thinking about something like this but it's too expensive, twice my budget http://www.langantiques.com/products/item/30-1-1221,, but I'll deal with the setting later, I want to find the perfect stone first.

 

[T L]

Emeralds are not durable enough for e-rings.

 

[GliderPoss]

What about a beautiful tsavorite garnet instead? Better durability and clarity too. This is one of my absolute favourite PS rings: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/leon-mege-daniel-k-tsavorite-pictures-inside.46513/ and here is another: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/tsavorite-platinum-ring-w-diamond-halo.179295/

 

[GoldfishPie]

I just had a great experience with Embassy Emeralds. They have one that is 4.08cts. http://www.embassyemeralds.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&manufacturers_id=&products_id=551

 

[LoversKites]

I just had a great experience with Embassy Emeralds. They have one that is 4.08cts. http://www.embassyemeralds.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&manufacturers_id=&products_id=551

Embassy Emeralds is the vendor I'd recommend.

 

[chrono]

I would also go with Embassy Emeralds and make sure to insure the ring since you are insistent on going with an emerald for 24/7 wear. I would hate to see you spend $20K only to have the stone chip shortly after wearing it. I'm guessing that you might be able to get a 2 ct stone with great colour, 3 ct stone with average colour for your budget. Find out the level of oiling (faint, medium, etc) and whether the cedar oil has been mixed with other epoxy/resins. Be prepared to re-oil the emerald every few years and know how to care for it (no ultrasonic, no steam, avoid household cleaners/chemicals, etc).

 

[T L]

I would also go with Embassy Emeralds and make sure to insure the ring since you are insistent on going with an emerald for 24/7 wear. I would hate to see you spend $20K only to have the stone chip shortly after wearing it. I'm guessing that you might be able to get a 2 ct stone with great colour, 3 ct stone with average colour for your budget. Find out the level of oiling (faint, medium, etc) and whether the cedar oil has been mixed with other epoxy/resins. Be prepared to re-oil the emerald every few years and know how to care for it (no ultrasonic, no steam, avoid household cleaners/chemicals, etc).

Re-oiling requires removal from the setting too, and each time you reset it, it will be prone to chipping.

 

[EvanTG]

I understand emeralds are not ideal for daily wear. I'll see how I approach this subject with the gf to see what she says without giving it away completely. A green tsavorite sounds like a very good alternative, thank you.

 

[EvanTG]

Thanks for the vendor recommendation, I remember taking a quick look at the website before but I'll take another look and call them, maybe they have even more that are not online.

 

[chrono]

The good thing about tsavorite is that you don't have to worry about treatment and re-treatment but it still requires care as an e-ring stone. Pandora and her friend, who both have tsavorite e-rings and only wear it when going out (removed as soon as they get home), have put a rather deep scratch and another has chipped the stone. Unfortunately, there isn't a bright and saturated natural green stone that is everyday wear. Green sapphires are rather gray and drab. Chrysoberyl is more chartreuse. Demantoid is too delicate, zircon is prone to chipping and abrasion, diopside is terribly soft, tourmaline is chippy, and so forth.

 

[EvanTG]

Thanks Chrono, that's good to know. I wonder if she would like a ring like the one below, not exactly the green center stone that she wanted but kind of a compromise, I assume the small emeralds can be easily replaced if something happens to them.



http://www.decoweddings.com/1911/emerald-cut-diamond-ring-emerald-halo/