I might take the plunge - *benitoite*

[Ninama]

I received a belated x-ma$ gift from my Dad today. If I don''t go ahead and start this BBTY project, I''ll just p*** it all away on stupid stuff like HOA dues, utility bills and pet food.

My budget is just about $400 and I have to consider shipping, so I think I can afford one small beni (<.50 ct)... or 2 very small (<.25-ish) or a few very eensy teensy ones. I would just have the first one or two bezel set on a WG chain and add more over time - probably sticking to ovals. Pretty?

These are all from multicolor.com:

 

[movie zombie]

i''m a party pooper: sorry but i don''t think color stone bling comes before HOA dues and other such thiings.

but i do appreciate the frustration of having to delay a project. how about setting aside money specifically for the project? if this $400 is indeed not needed for bills, why not let it sit and add to it each month?

i''m not to keen on the colors of any of those stones. on my monitor most look washed out and windowed. the pear in the lower right has some nice blue going on but is zoned from the middle to the point. most appear more purple than blue.

i know you love the blue beni based on the other thread; why not hold out for a bit better piece? or perhaps my monitor is skewed: as long as they have a good return policy, have them send several and send back what you don''t want.

movie zombie

 

[Ninama]

I''d really have pooped my own party anyway, MZ. It would be totally impetuous to jump into gemstones right this minute. All of the basic needs (and more) will be covered whether I do or don''t, but I won''t. I''ve never even seen one benitoite in person. I just got to thinking that it wouldn''t be all that expensive to get started.

I actually like the paler and purplish stones. Less royal, more ''watery''.

I don''t even mind a bit of a window, either. But, I really need to see some stones face to facet to understand what I like/want. I had to take the image quality way down to post the picture. I can see the faceting on the back of the benies... but the reflection makes it dificult.

I still love the EC but I''m pretty sure that a ring is not the way to go, for me... and there really is no rush for any of this anyway *whew*. I just got all excited last night!

 

[chrono]

I'm glad that you aren't buying right now. Also, I don't like any of them. The colour is too grayish, the cut is terrible (bow ties, extinction and windows) and just generally unattractive.

 

[Ninama]

Date: 1/25/2008 12:22:27 PM
Author: Chrono
I''m glad that you aren''t buying right now. Also, I don''t like any of them. The colour is too grayish, the cut is terrible (bow ties, extinction and windows) and just generally unattractive.

They seem so little.. does cut really show when you''re working with .2 ct, .3 ct? I just can''t visualize the size - maybe they''re larger than I imagine them.

I''ll go to the Intergem show next month and look at any benies that are there. I haven''t been to a gem show since the 80''s in NYC at The Armory. I''d never enven heard of "extinction", so I''ll also try to learn as much as possible in the mean time.

Thanks yous two.

 

[chrono]

The cut is part of the reason why the benis look terrible. They aren''t making the stone look as lively and as sparkley as benitoites are supposed to. Even if you are getting a small stone, a wowers small stone will catch more attention than a larger dead looking stone.

 

[Ninama]

So, getting 8, 10.... 12 wowers is going to be an *adventure*.

 

[movie zombie]

there is beni and then there is BENI. something for every budget as i always say. try and see many beni''s before you purchase so you''ll really know what you''re trading of re color.

you don''t have to get the deeper blue color if you really enjoy the lighter color. but cut is always going to be important.

glad you''re putting it off a bit.

still think that little EC is a winner......could make it into a pendant.......

movie zombie

 

[Selkie]

I don''t think it will be that hard if you''re willing to go for slightly smaller stones. And you really have to see them in person, they''re just amazing. I''m trying to remember how much my set of 5 cost. They are 2mm, and I think the total was about $150? I''ve seen matched and color-range sets of 3mm and 3.5mm stones too. So I think you might still be able to make a really nice DBY necklace if you got a couple sets like that.

 

[neatfreak]

I also don't mean to be a party pooper, but have you PRICED this project? I got ONE sapphire bezel set (sideways) and it was mega expensive for what it was because sideways oval bezels are just not a stock item, so it had to be custom made. The bezel one my one little sapphire was almost $300 for WG. Just something to think about...

 

[coatimundi_org]

Date: 1/25/2008 1:27:01 PM
Author: movie zombie
there is beni and then there is BENI. something for every budget as i always say. try and see many beni's before you purchase so you'll really know what you're trading of re color.


you don't have to get the deeper blue color if you really enjoy the lighter color. but cut is always going to be important.


glad you're putting it off a bit.


still think that little EC is a winner......could make it into a pendant.......


movie zombie

I love that EC too--it's such a lovely stone.

Just saw that you wrote, no rush. That's good, because there are so many options! You may hit the jackpot at the gem show too!

 

[Ninama]

Date: 1/25/2008 2:13:27 PM
Author: neatfreak
I also don''t mean to be a party pooper, but have you PRICED this project?

Not even roughly.