How to set a stone to make it look more saturated?

[beaujolais]

Any advice on how to set a stone to make it look more saturated? I don't know yet, if this stone will go into a ring or pendant, though.

Oh knowledgeable ones - would a bezel or bezel with filigreed sides help? The stone is a slightly lighter amethyst (meaning toward the lighter side of medium). It has secondary tones of magenta and an occasional blue that we'd want to emphasize. But, would a bezel cut the flash of the secondary colors? It's an emerald cut, 3 cts. Would yellow gold bring out the blue more than a white metal?

thanks so much,
sonoma

 

[RedSpinel]

Here's an idea: Take the setting you have chosen, glue in a piece of darker purple construction paper at the bottom, then mount the stone on top of it, and voila! When looking at the stone from above, it will appear darker purple! See the 'blue' spinel above my screen name(my avatar), it is really a clear, white spinel sitting on a piece of blue construction paper.....


For real though, I think getting maximum color potential from a stone is probably more a matter of cutting it the right way than mounting it the right way, but I'll defer to the jewelers/cutters here.

 

[beaujolais]

Thanks, RS.

It's not set right now.

I think getting maximum color potential from a stone is probably more a matter of cutting it the right way than mounting it the right way.

Well, can't go back on the cutting now, so all there is - is how to mount it.

I had bought a med. green tsavorite that I would have preferred to be darker. My benchperson set it in an enclosed backed, darkened on the inside, bezel pendant and ka-bing - a darker tsavorite. It still performed great, too.

Your avitar stone is Lovely, btw !

 

[T L]

Any advice on how to set a stone to make it look more saturated? I don't know yet, if this stone will go into a ring or pendant, though.

Oh knowledgeable ones - would a bezel or bezel with filigreed sides help? The stone is a slightly lighter amethyst (meaning toward the lighter side of medium). It has secondary tones of magenta and an occasional blue that we'd want to emphasize. But, would a bezel cut the flash of the secondary colors? It's an emerald cut, 3 cts. Would yellow gold bring out the blue more than a white metal?

thanks so much,
sonoma

Rose gold. I love rose gold with violet stones, they pop.

 

[chrono]

Not sure if I would want to bezel a softer stone like an amethyst but would definitely do a more enclosed type of setting. Without looking at the stone, in general, rose gold brings out the best of violet stones. You can't go wrong with yellow gold either but in this case, I think rose gold is better for the light tone and to bring out that flash.

 

[minousbijoux]

Sonoma: you are asking some great questions! As you know, a bezel and a setting with an enclosed back will darken/intensify the stone, but what I don't know is what it will do to the color dispersion. I love rose gold and gold gold with purples, violets and lavenders so I agree with TL, but you are asking a great question about not disrupting the dispersion. I'l look forward to the answers of those with experience mounting stones.

 

[minousbijoux]

Oh good, I was hoping that Chrono would post too!

 

[chrono]

If the stone is well cut, the brilliance will be minimally affected in an enclosed setting, especially if it's not a dark toned stone. Which brings up the point - Sonoma, how well cut is the stone? Any chance of a picture or two?

MB,
We are browsing PS at the same time.

 

[beaujolais]

Pretty well cut. I have to run to work right now but I'll try to get a picture up later.

Tx. so much all. Really !

 

[Lee Little]

I would full bezel set it, Amethyst is plenty easy to work with, completely closed setting, no filigree on the basket. The setting is more important than the metal color, however, darker metal will darken the stone a little too. As long as the cut is as you say it is, the fire will still be there. Best regards, Lee

 

[LD]

If the stone is well cut then brilliance shouldn't be affected but emerald cuts do not typically have as much dispersion as other cuts so having a full bezel probably wouldn't affect it negatively.

If it were mine (without seeing a picture), I would be tempted to full bezel in yellow gold (rose gold if you have to!!!! ). White gold probably won't do anything for it and is likely to make it colder looking.

How does it respond if you put it between the creases of two fingers (cupping it like a bezel) and moving your hand around? If you like it like that then a full bezel should be ok.

 

[RedSpinel]

Thanks, RS.

It's not set right now.

I think getting maximum color potential from a stone is probably more a matter of cutting it the right way than mounting it the right way.

Well, can't go back on the cutting now, so all there is - is how to mount it.

I had bought a med. green tsavorite that I would have preferred to be darker. My benchperson set it in an enclosed backed, darkened on the inside, bezel pendant and ka-bing - a darker tsavorite. It still performed great, too.

Your avitar stone is Lovely, btw !

Thats a good point, and I was mostly thinking about gems that were lighter than what you are actually speaking of, but a medium tint stone should show at least a little darker in a bezel setting than it would in an open setting. I dont know how much good it would do for lighter stones though. I've seen people mount light colored tourmalines, Morganites and such into bezels and it didnt darken them very much.

My only concern would be to make sure that the jeweler who will be performing the bezel setting is good, because you certainly dont want the stone chipped or damaged in any way(like what happened to my sapphire when bezel set). Especially if you really like the stone, and it cant be replaced easily or cheaply.

 

[beaujolais]

Thanks again, all. Thanks MBijoux.

Do realize that this stone has a new owner and I will be shortly packing it up and sending it on a trip to them. The new owner has a link to this thread, as I had discussed the saturation with him and possible ways to work with it.

This picture is to show faceting.

No way is the color as nice in real life as in this photo. Again, the picture is only to show faceting.
--------

(I'm still not that good at gemstones with my new camera yet.) Chrono, I did find the white balance and now adjust it for different conditions. Thanks.

Comments on how to improve these pictures are welcome. Some photos done in a smaller size to allow for uploading.

 

[beaujolais]

The color of it in real life is not as bad as in this photo. It is a lighter medium purple but not quite saturated enough. You can see how it's secondary is magenta, not blue.

 

[beaujolais]

Another one.

I'm only putting it up as I can't find the other photos right now. Yes, it's a hideous photo - I know that. However, it does, perhaps give an idea of the lighter purple color, magenta/pink undertone and it even put one of it's rare blue appearances in the upper right corner.

Please do not beat me up for this photo !

 

[chrono]

Most important first rule - always clean the stone before beginning the photography session.

Based on the last fuzzy picture, the stone will do well in yellow gold. If not for the durability issue, I would bezel it but prefer to play it safe and prong set it in an enclosed type setting.

 

[beaujolais]

Most important first rule - always clean the stone before beginning the photography session.

I really did - windex. (But then I dropped it and had to pick it up.)

Thanks so much !