I think I'm done buying blue sapphires

[Avondale]

I think you should cannibalize the earrings for the diamonds. Finding a matched pair of OECs is very difficult! And our little labs in the earring mountings that you will only ever see from 4 feet away. Set it immediately so that we can enjoy it!

I'm probably cannibalizing the earrings, yeah. I'll give it just a bit of time, in case another member pops up and says they have a suitable pair stored somewhere in a box that they forgot about. But going with labs in the earrings is definitely a solid plan B. I was toying with the idea of getting two spesses set in them and making a full set with the ring and pendant, but then I thought, weeeell, if I leave some diamonds in, then they could work as a set with the new ring... So that's where we are now.

What I look for in a colored stone is for it to hold its color in different lighting. Check.

I think the OP is making the right decision, in not getting lab reports.

The color is glorious and a lab report will not change that.

Spot on. The stone already has a report on the things that matter most. We know it's a sapphire, we know it's natural, we know it's heated. What else is there.

An origin report is going to accomplish only one of two things:

1. It will either confirm some regular origin or no origin at all, and I would've spent money that could've went towards the setting instead, or

2. It will confirm Kashmir and then I'll be terrified of wearing it. I remember you sharing it's how you felt when you got your Kashmir. I'm not in the business of spending money just to then let it sit in a safe. Life isn't waiting for us to live it.

The reality is, I want neither of the two outcomes.

I have never seen a heated Kashmir offered for sale

Let's be honest, this stone proooobably wasn't the prettiest in its unheated form. They wouldn't have cooked it otherwise. And Kashmirs have a reputation precisely because they were spectacular right out of the ground. Besides, if you're after a Kashmir, and you're willing to spend the pretty sizeable amount of money to get it, would you want one that was treated? I doubt there's any market for heated Kashmir to begin with.

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

I'm probably cannibalizing the earrings, yeah. I'll give it just a bit of time, in case another member pops up and says they have a suitable pair stored somewhere in a box that they forgot about. But going with labs in the earrings is definitely a solid plan B. I was toying with the idea of getting two spesses set in them and making a full set with the ring and pendant, but then I thought, weeeell, if I leave some diamonds in, then they could work as a set with the new ring... So that's where we are now.




Spot on. The stone already has a report on the things that matter most. We know it's a sapphire, we know it's natural, we know it's heated. What else is there.

An origin report is going to accomplish only one of two things:

1. It will either confirm some regular origin or no origin at all, and I would've spent money that could've went towards the setting instead, or

2. It will confirm Kashmir and then I'll be terrified of wearing it. I remember you sharing it's how you felt when you got your Kashmir. I'm not in the business of spending money just to then let it sit in a safe. Life isn't waiting for us to live it.

The reality is, I want neither of the two outcomes.



Let's be honest, this stone proooobably wasn't the prettiest in its unheated form. They wouldn't have cooked it otherwise. And Kashmirs have a reputation precisely because they were spectacular right out of the ground. Besides, if you're after a Kashmir, and you're willing to spend the pretty sizeable amount of money to get it, would you want one that was treated? I doubt there's any market for heated Kashmir to begin with.

Exactly. Wear it! That’s why it’s such a unicorn. My avatar Kashmir is banged up now because I wore it and probably have hurt the value. I try not to care, but I do notice that I reach for my Madagascar sapphires the most, especially the heated one. It should be about the color and the joy. That’s what you’ve got!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Saw this post and thought of you. Inspo!

 

[Avondale]

Saw this post and thought of you. Inspo!

The one straight in the middle is the one I'm going for.

I spent a minute thinking about the number of prongs and your image solidified the decision. I was thinking of going with maybe six prongs for the side diamonds, but no. Four on each stone fits so much better.


The time has come to begin project execution. I have a meeting set up on Friday with the jeweller who did the restoration on my blue flower ring. I did meet with another jeweller about a month and a half ago, and did believe for a while that I would work with him. But then I went to the other jeweller to have my wedding ring enlarged a bit and just felt so comfortable there. Plus his offer was only about 2/3 of the offer of the other guy, which more or less sealed the deal.

My main source of inspiration is this ring gildedlane sold a while ago:

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

The fleur de lis engraving on the shoulders of the band instantly drew my attention. But I'm not as fond of the baskets for the gems. I want something more flowy, more in line with the fleur de lis aesthetic. I also want to incorporate milgrain in the design.

So far I've settled on 18k gold, yellow gold for the band, white gold for the baskets and prongs. Four claw prongs for each stone. And I'll probably spend tomorrow evening looking at baskets and galleries for more inspiration.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Exciting! I posted a bunch of images of fleur de lis galleries in my five stone ring project thread if you want to look at inspo. But most fleur de lis styles I’ve seen were six prongs not four.

Also may I suggest tab prongs? I love them on a four prong basket.

 

[Avondale]

Exciting! I posted a bunch of images of fleur de lis galleries in my five stone ring project thread if you want to look at inspo.

I do! I did not follow the project thread, though I did dedicate a good amount of metaphorical salivating over the photos of the finished ring.

But most fleur de lis styles I’ve seen were six prongs not four.

Six is a classic solution. In fact, I usually prefer to set ovals in 6 prongs, with two of those being right on the vertical line to protect the stone from damage. But in this case I want to allow the maximum possible light into the stone, as this particular one is more noticeably affected by being placed in a closed off setting, and I don't want to darken the blue.

Also may I suggest tab prongs? I love them on a four prong basket.

You most certainly may, but the thing that worries me is that my stones are on the smaller side. Sapphire is 7x6mm, diamonds are 3,6mm. I appreciate the look of tab prongs on larger gems but I fear they may overpower my smaller ones.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I do! I did not follow the project thread, though I did dedicate a good amount of metaphorical salivating over the photos of the finished ring.



Six is a classic solution. In fact, I usually prefer to set ovals in 6 prongs, with two of those being right on the vertical line to protect the stone from damage. But in this case I want to allow the maximum possible light into the stone, as this particular one is more noticeably affected by being placed in a closed off setting, and I don't want to darken the blue.



You most certainly may, but the thing that worries me is that my stones are on the smaller side. Sapphire is 7x6mm, diamonds are 3,6mm. I appreciate the look of tab prongs on larger gems but I fear they may overpower my smaller ones.

Yeah it really depends on the bench persons skill at really delicate work.