How Would You Set a 58ct Cushion Cut Kunzite

[prs]

Not a question one gets asked every day!

DW's latest acquisition is a 58.5ct cushion cut Kunzite.



Here's the stone in sunlight.



And here it is at an angle to the sunlight



The stone measures 23.1x24.1x14.8 so too big for a ring and we intend to set it as a pendant. This was the inspiration setting that looked best to us:



However to scale for our stone the diamonds work out to be 3.0mm, and we would need 32 of them. Africa Gems have a prices for calibrated round diamonds on their site and their cost for 32x3.0mm F,VS would be $7,744!!!!

We looked at using smaller diamonds but with a stone perimeter of 94mm you still need a lot of diamonds nomatter how small you go. Also smaller diamonds don't look nearly as good. Here's what 1.60mm would look like:



We have found a seeting with no halo at all that looks pretty good.



What do you think looks best? All thoughts and ideas welcome!

 

[strawrose]

A diamond pendant with a lovely paraiba in the bail? You can always do filigree around the stone to limit the amount of diamonds needed.

 

[Rfisher]

Colored stone melee?
Contrasting or coordinating.
Cobblestone diamonds with the smaller sizes thrown in I assume will be less than a uniform halo of 3mm’ers. Ask for a quote? I also assume the quoted price will be lesser than the price you are looking at via AfricaGems listed retail?

 

[T L]

Can you photograph it with the table face down so we can see a side view of the pavilion?

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Whoa!!!! That's fabulous prs!!!!

May I ask how you'd preserve the color in this? Would it help to hide it in the dark when you're not wearing it?

***

A wise friend once pointed out to me that I'd need to use more of the smaller diamonds to make a ring anyway so just get bigger ones.

Is there another source for 3mm melee that you can find? Or 2mm as a compromise?

***

These are all 23mm and bigger stones

This is what 1.1mm will look like on a big stone.



1.3mm



***

Not the 3 prongs!!! Please not the three prongs!!! There is something super weird about 3 prongs!!!! Looks like a rodent clawing it's way out of a trap!

 

[voce]

I concur with @mellowyellowgirl and think you should go for smaller diamond Halo to create a sophisticated, frosty look.

 

[chrono]

I'm going to be the only Debbie Downer and advise it as a pendant for night wear only because it is relative soft at MOH 6 to 7 and it will fade over time when exposed to sunlight / UV.

 

[T L]

I think white zircon is an extremely believable and affordable alternative to diamond melee. I would go with white zircon, especially if it’s in a pendant, as they’re unlikely to get scratched or chipped.

 

[T L]

I'm going to be the only Debbie Downer and advise it as a pendant for night wear only because it is relative soft at MOH 6 to 7 and it will fade over time when exposed to sunlight / UV.

Exactly, and most are irradiated to deeper colors these days, which makes them fade rapidly when exposed to heat or intense light. It should be kept in a dark box.

 

[LemonMoonLex]

I concur with TL in that it should only be worn in the evening, at night, or only on extremely overcast days as my kunzite faded incredibly fast and I did leave it in a dark box.

But I personally think that you should make it a ring, one epic-ly huge ring!

I vote for 18k rose Gold with the smaller diamond meelee!

 

[prs]

A diamond pendant with a lovely paraiba in the bail? You can always do filigree around the stone to limit the amount of diamonds needed.

Colored stone melee?
Contrasting or coordinating.
Cobblestone diamonds with the smaller sizes thrown in I assume will be less than a uniform halo of 3mm’ers. Ask for a quote? I also assume the quoted price will be lesser than the price you are looking at via AfricaGems listed retail?

Thanks for your suggestions. Paraiba melee would look terrific with the pink kunzite, I'll float that idea by DW.

 

[prs]

Can you photograph it with the table face down so we can see a side view of the pavilion?

Here's a photo, the four sides of the pavilion are covered in numerous facets. A checkerboard pattern?

 

[voce]

Are kunzite irradiated? I've never considered purchasing anything other than sphene below 7 on the Mohs scale.

 

[prs]

Whoa!!!! That's fabulous prs!!!!

Not the 3 prongs!!! Please not the three prongs!!! There is something super weird about 3 prongs!!!! Looks like a rodent clawing it's way out of a trap!

Thank you mellow. I kind of liked the three prongs, now if DW decides to go that way I'll always have to think of it as the rat pendant!!!

 

[prs]

I'm going to be the only Debbie Downer and advise it as a pendant for night wear only because it is relative soft at MOH 6 to 7 and it will fade over time when exposed to sunlight / UV.

No problem chrono. I knew kunzite could fade with exposure to sunlight, although how fast it can fade seems to be subject to debate. This stone is super saturated compared to most of the kunzite out there, so I suspect it's not long out of the ground.

DW keeps all her jewelry locked away when she's not wearing it, and likes to wear her smaller, less obvious pieces during the day. We know this piece will be for indoors and evening wear only.

 

[voce]

Thank you mellow. I kind of liked the three prongs, now if DW decides to go that way I'll always have to think of it as the rat pendant!!!

My avatar ruby ring has three prongs. I definitely thought when I designed it that 1) it's more protective of the sharp corners and 2) it's like a floral motif, like a bud or shoot with leaves around it. I do see the claws in your 3-prong inspiration, and I think it looks like claws because the three prongs are spaced evenly instead of bunching together. In retrospect, the setter made the middle prong too short for the intended look, but the prongs were not the focus of the design for me...the real priority and innovation was in the gallery, which I have not ever posted on PS.

 

[T L]

Are kunzite irradiated? I've never considered purchasing anything other than sphene below 7 on the Mohs scale.

Yes, irradiation and heating, together, are common for spodumene

 

[prs]

I think white zircon is an extremely believable and affordable alternative to diamond melee. I would go with white zircon, especially if it’s in a pendant, as they’re unlikely to get scratched or chipped.

Thank you so much for the suggestion, I really like the idea of going with zircon so we can stay at 3.00mm and not break the bank. I haven't yet found a seller of calibrated white zircon but calibrated white sapphire is readily available, and the 3.00mm is a fraction of the diamond price. Do you think sapphire would work as well as zircon?

 

[chrono]

White sapphire just doesn't have the same pizzazz as white zircon.

 

[ChaiK]

Lovely colour but I have never been brave enough to buy a kunzite, much as I love that colour.

Maybe as a bracelet cum pendant? With tsavorites, peridot and diamonds so you save on costs.

Or aquamarine melee and diamonds.

Don't just use coloured melee alone. Must have diamonds or white bling bling zircons. I always feel setting with melee alone renders the entire piece lacking in a certain je ne sais quoi





Or just a simple diamond or zircon claw at all four corners pendant with a nice diamond bail and wear with a black velvet ribbon. Also very pretty. Just the claws alone on these rings. But turn yours into a pendant.



No, white sapphires will not be as blingy as zircons. I would go for zircons - as blingy as diamonds.

 

[strawrose]

White sapphire tends to look dull, so I second the white zircon.

 

[prs]

But I personally think that you should make it a ring, one epic-ly huge ring!

I vote for 18k rose Gold with the smaller diamond meelee!

This rock is 14.8mm high, it would indeed make an epicly huge ring, however.....

Smaller diamond melee is the fallback position if all else fails!

 

[prs]

My avatar ruby ring has three prongs. I definitely thought when I designed it that 1) it's more protective of the sharp corners and 2) it's like a floral motif, like a bud or shoot with leaves around it. I do see the claws in your 3-prong inspiration, and I think it looks like claws because the three prongs are spaced evenly instead of bunching together. In retrospect, the setter made the middle prong too short for the intended look, but the prongs were not the focus of the design for me...the real priority and innovation was in the gallery, which I have not ever posted on PS.

I like the three prongs because they add some complexity and interest to what otherwise would be a big flat expanse. Yours look much better with the three prongs aimed towards a common central point. Perhaps if the middle prong were a little thinner it could be made the same length as the others.

When are we going to get to see that gallery...how about right now since the secret's out!

 

[Rfisher]

Cambodia natural White Zircon 4mm lot 2.26 tcw in * MOST Recent CUT

Ask if they happen to have 3mm?

edited to add

Zircon - White Stock Gems

Welcome to Cecile Raley Designs. Custom make your own jewelry and find some gorgeous and unique gemstones. Create your own special piece of jewelry from scratch or by choosing a piece from our catalog and adding gemstones from our shop. We may also be able to source something for you if you...

www.cecileraleydesigns.com

 

[prs]

Lovely colour but I have never been brave enough to buy a kunzite, much as I love that colour.

Maybe as a bracelet cum pendant? With tsavorites, peridot and diamonds so you save on costs.

Or aquamarine melee and diamonds.

Don't just use coloured melee alone. Must have diamonds or white bling bling zircons. I always feel setting with melee alone renders the entire piece lacking in a certain je ne sais quoi





Or just a simple diamond or zircon claw at all four corners pendant with a nice diamond bail and wear with a black velvet ribbon. Also very pretty. Just the claws alone on these rings. But turn yours into a pendant.



No, white sapphires will not be as blingy as zircons. I would go for zircons - as blingy as diamonds.

Wow, wow, wow, but I just don't have the imagination to come up with a fabulous setting containing all those colors, shapes and sizes. That's a talent reserved for very special people! I really like the idea of blingy claws, thank you! They definitely add a lot of interest to those pieces.

Speaking of zircons and fabulous settings, when will we get to see that gorgeous ring you were sending to DKJ to switch out the zircons?

 

[voce]

When are we going to get to see that gallery...how about right now since the secret's out!

Not unless I decide to turn jeweler and patent the design. If I ever do file a design patent for fun, I'll let you know first thing.

 

[prs]

Cambodia natural White Zircon 4mm lot 2.26 tcw in * MOST Recent CUT

Ask if they happen to have 3mm?

Thank you! We'll be going with David Klass to do the setting and I'm sure Amy will have a good source for zircons. Now I know they exist and their price is right, I might even draw out 4.00mm just to see how that might look compared to 3.00mm.

I'm also sure DKJ will have much better diamond pricing than Africa Gems retail price, although i suspect that even their price for 3.00mm will be more than we want to pay. It doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense to have the diamonds in the halo cost way more than the center stone. Also, not that we'd ever want to sell, but Kunzite jewelry doesn't exactly fetch top dollar in the retail market.

 

[T L]

If you can’t find white zircon, cz is another option, although “gasp,” it’s a lab gem.

 

[prs]

If you can’t find white zircon, cz is another option, although “gasp,” it’s a lab gem.

Actually I was thinking moissanite or even MMD, but let's not go there just yet!

 

[T L]

Might as well, you have to be careful of undisclosed lab diamond melee these days.