In the market for an aqua...need advice!

[MadameB72]

Hi, Everyone!

I'm looking for an aquamarine to commemorate the arrival of my daughter. I'd thought I wanted to get a stackable ring but now I think I'd like to have a pendant designed instead.

Here's my question: I have a lead on a pretty stone (3.9 ct, emerald cut, EGL cert). I know that when buying diamonds, there are better certs than EGL but I don't know if that applies to colored gemstones or not.

Can anyone assist me?

Thanks!!!

 

[LD]

For an Aqua the EGL cert will be fine.

 

[chrono]

In general, lab reports for coloured stones are to confirm either the lack of treatment or the type of treatment, and sometimes to verify the gem type if purchasing from a vendor who you aren't familiar with. Most aquamarine are heated to remove the green, leaving the blue behind. However, there are now undisclosed oiled and irradiated aquamarine so buying from a trusted source is always a good idea. For aquamarine, the colour is what determines the price of the stone. The deeper the blue, the more expensive. The paler the blue, the less expensive. A green modifier is preferred in Asia but avoided in the USA.

 

[MadameB72]

Thanks very much!

And LD, thank you for your incredibly informative colored gemstone post...super helpful!

NOW...the next question: Assuming I buy the aqua I saw (incidentally, it is from a jeweler my family has worked with over the years so I feel good about that part of it), does anyone have any suggestions about whom I might get to make the pendant (the image I see in my head is very simple: bezel set with milgrain detail)?

Again...THANK YOU!!!

 

[SparkliesLuver]

Congratulations on the arrival of your daughter.

David Klass has been on a roll with a lot of super designs lately. He's also pretty reasonable, so I'd contact him.

 

[chrono]

Why not have your jeweller create the pendant setting for the aquamarine?

 

[MadameB72]

Thank you! I'll check him out!

 

[MadameB72]

Chrono, good suggestion but the designer that this jeweler works with doesn't appeal to me. The work tends to be somewhat clunky/heavy and I'm looking for delicate/refined. I'd rather work with someone whose aesthetic is a little closer to mine from the start (seems there would be less room for communication problems).

 

[chrono]

Pick your choice; these are from the vendors list as used frequently by most CSers.

Etsy Stone and/or Setting Vendors
Adzia - http://www.etsy.com/people/AdziasJewelryAtelier
Sally of Heart of Water - http://www.etsy.com/people/HeartofWaterJewels
Kyleanne - http://www.etsy.com/people/kyleannemetals
MountainMamaGems https://www.etsy.com/shop/MountainMommaGems
Maddie of OneGarnetGirl - http://www.etsy.com/people/onegarnetgirl
Jill of janishjewels - http://www.etsy.com/shop/JanishJewels?ref=ss_profile
JuliaB - http://www.etsy.com/shop/JuliaBJewelry
Ryan Quantz (mostly does cabochons, but also some faceted gems) - http://www.etsy.com/shop/RyanQuantzStudios
Yvonne Raley of Cecile Raley Designs - https://www.etsy.com/shop/yvonneraley
Wilds Global Minerals - https://www.etsy.com/shop/WILDSglobalminerals (Stones only)

Custom Setting Vendors
Brian Gavin Diamonds (BGD) - www.briangavindiamonds.com
Brilliantly Engaged (BE, formally known as ERD) - http://www.brilliantlyengaged.com
Victor Canera - www.victorcanera.com
Michael E - http://gemshoppe.com
Green Lake Jewelry - www.greenlakejewelry.com
Joseph Jewelry - https://www.josephjewelry.com
Steven Kirsch http://www.stevenkirsch.com
David Klass https://www.facebook.com/david.klass.jewelry
IDJewelry http://www.idjewelryonline.com
Quest Fine Jewelry http://questfinejewelers.com
Hunt Country Jewelers http://huntcountry.com
Peter Lees Jewelry http://peterlees.com
Beatriz Fortes http://www.beatrizfortes.com
Julia Kay Taylor http://juliakaytaylor.com/

 

[MadameB72]

Wow! Thanks so much for the help!

 

[agingsparkle]

JuliaB on that sticky list does delicate milgrain bezels, in the necklaces section she has 2 showing, one with a little diamond halo around the bezel, and another that's just the milgrain bezel in rose gold, so you can see some examples...

 

[indigoblue]

I love my Aqua pendant and get comments all the time. It was cut by Dana at Mastercut and was set in a 14k YG stock setting by my local jeweler. BTW, that is a Japanese red maple.

USSR natural unheated classic seafoam green
5.42ct
14.8 x 10.7 x 7.7

 

[T L]

Always buy aqua from a reputable vendor who knows his/her source very well. There is irradiated aqua on the market, that fades to a lighter tone over time. The treatment is not detectable, EGL report or not.

 

[LD]

Sally at Heart of Water (see list Chrono posted) does the most fabulous work. Have a look at her website and see what you think. She's super helpful and shipping stones to her isn't as dangerous as you may feel at first.

 

[T L]

Sally at Heart of Water (see list Chrono posted) does the most fabulous work. Have a look at her website and see what you think. She's super helpful and shipping stones to her isn't as dangerous as you may feel at first.

She will also make a ring setting for you, but your measurements must be precise. Then your local jeweler can set the stone.

 

[MadameB72]

TL, I've been doing a little bit of research (I'm new to the world of colored gemstones) but I had the impression that an irradiated aqua would be very deeply saturated (which would then fade) and that irradiated aquas are not all that common (certainly not as common as heated aquas). Am I wrong?

Thanks for your thoughts...

 

[MadameB72]

Always buy aqua from a reputable vendor who knows his/her source very well. There is irradiated aqua on the market, that fades to a lighter tone over time. The treatment is not detectable, EGL report or not.

TL, I've been doing a little bit of research (I'm new to the world of colored gemstones) but I had the impression that an irradiated aqua would be very deeply saturated (which would then fade) and that irradiated aquas are not all that common (certainly not as common as heated aquas). Am I wrong?

Thanks for your thoughts...

 

[T L]

TL, I've been doing a little bit of research (I'm new to the world of colored gemstones) but I had the impression that an irradiated aqua would be very deeply saturated (which would then fade) and that irradiated aquas are not all that common (certainly not as common as heated aquas). Am I wrong?

Thanks for your thoughts...

I bought one, and it wasn't super saturated, and it still faded over time to an almost white beryl.

 

[evergreen]

I know you said you like the one your jeweler has, and I don't know anything about your budget or color preferences or shape or ANYTHING... but have you seen this LoupeTroop listing? http://loupetroop.com/listings/loose-stones-colored-gemstone/precision-cut-deep-greenish-blue-aquamarine The seller is (I'm pretty sure) a looooooooongtime PS member and avid colored stone enthusiast.

Also if you buy it I won't keep looking at it on my phone wishing I could find $800 in nickels in my couch.

 

[mochiko42]

Have you tried Beau Patterson? He has some nice untreated and precision cut aquas up at the moment. http://m.ebay.com/sch/beau-wy/m.html?_pgn=1

 

[MadameB72]

I know you said you like the one your jeweler has, and I don't know anything about your budget or color preferences or shape or ANYTHING... but have you seen this LoupeTroop listing? http://loupetroop.com/listings/loose-stones-colored-gemstone/precision-cut-deep-greenish-blue-aquamarine The seller is (I'm pretty sure) a looooooooongtime PS member and avid colored stone enthusiast.

Also if you buy it I won't keep looking at it on my phone wishing I could find $800 in nickels in my couch.

It IS lovely...but (weirdly enough), I tend to like slightly less saturated aquas. Thanks!

 

[mochiko42]

I know you said you like the one your jeweler has, and I don't know anything about your budget or color preferences or shape or ANYTHING... but have you seen this LoupeTroop listing? http://loupetroop.com/listings/loose-stones-colored-gemstone/precision-cut-deep-greenish-blue-aquamarine The seller is (I'm pretty sure) a looooooooongtime PS member and avid colored stone enthusiast.

Also if you buy it I won't keep looking at it on my phone wishing I could find $800 in nickels in my couch.

It IS lovely...but (weirdly enough), I tend to like slightly less saturated aquas. Thanks!

This one? $95 for a precision cut aqua!