Help with a b-day present!

[Cyren]

I''m still a complete newbie here, so thanks for putting up with me!

My mother''s 50th (she''d probably kill me if she knew I told you that

) is coming up in the next few months and I want to do something special for her. She''s a woman who almost never wears jewlery and would never buy herself something expensive. Both she and my father wear simple wedding bands. But last year I caught her lusting after my aunt''s very simple sapphire necklace. It''s a string of faceted sapphire beads, not rondelles, hers are diamond shaped (?), or maybe better described as spindle shaped? very small, MAYBE 3mm across. Elegant and understated, just like my mother.

So, here''s my problem.... I don''t know where I would find something like this! I would be perfectly happy to buy either a prefabricated necklace or to buy the sapphires unstrung and commission a jewler (or do it myself it''s so simple really), but I don''t know the first thing about where to even LOOK for something like this. I hate to walk into a B&M without some sort of knowledge backing... any ideas? Thanks for all the help!

 

[mrssalvo]

can you ask your aunt where she got hers and purchase from her jeweler?
If not, I don''t know what to tell you about the gem stones. I know virtually nothing about colored stones. I would suggest contacting Wink Jones..Winfields. He''s deals with colored stones and does amazing custom work as well. His pricing is very competetive too. He''d be the guy I''d call if I were in your situation. Good luck, the neckace sounds lovely.

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 6/6/2006 5:31:56 PM
Author: mrssalvo
can you ask your aunt where she got hers and purchase from her jeweler?

I would definitely check with your aunt first. It sounds like a very unique and beautiful necklace. It would be great if you could find your mom the same one.

 

[fountainfairfax]

You may also want to check with mineralminers.com or alphaimports.com , both sell sapphire bead necklaces and could perhaps make you something like you described.

I contacted mineralminers when I was looking for a blue sapphire choker for the wedding that didn''t happen....they were very nice and I probably would have had them make me one.

 

[FireGoddess]

Wow FFF - that''s gorgeous!

 

[Cyren]

My aunt is the quintessential bargain shopper, I’m sure she found the necklace on consignment somewhere, without ability to go back and find more like it, I hate to say. Thanks for the ideas, I’ve sent emails to Wink and to mineralminers, hopefully someone will have some ideas on prices and if they can create it for me!

I just think it’s time for my mom to have something sparkly to wear, she’s earned it!