Is an engagement ring made entirely out of a single lab sapphire boule a bad idea?

[thekokeshi]

Assume it'll scratch during first use if worn to the office?

 

[lovedogs]

What are you imagining? I don't understand and csnt pictire what you're saying

 

[thekokeshi]

What are you imagining? I don't understand and csnt pictire what you're saying

Instead of the standard metal ring with a mounted gemstone, I was interested in a ring completely made of sapphire. Think of a a ring or bangle made completely of jade- that's what I'd want but in a sapphire ring.

 

[lovedogs]

Instead of the standard metal ring with a mounted gemstone, I was interested in a ring completely made of sapphire. Think of a a ring or bangle made completely of jade- that's what I'd want but in a sapphire ring.

Oooo I understand.

Like this, but sapphire?

GIA Evaluates 4.04-Carat Ring Carved From a Single-Crystal Lab-Grown Diamond

A little over four years ago, Dutch Diamond Technologies introduced the world to an all-diamond ring faceted from a plate of lab-grown material. Dubbed “Project D” and timed to coincide with the company's 10th anniversary, the high-profile accomplishment provided a publicity bonanza, while...

www.beeghlyandcompany.com

 

[thekokeshi]

Oooo I understand.

Like this, but sapphire?

GIA Evaluates 4.04-Carat Ring Carved From a Single-Crystal Lab-Grown Diamond

A little over four years ago, Dutch Diamond Technologies introduced the world to an all-diamond ring faceted from a plate of lab-grown material. Dubbed “Project D” and timed to coincide with the company's 10th anniversary, the high-profile accomplishment provided a publicity bonanza, while...

www.beeghlyandcompany.com

Yes, exactly! I'd also be interested in a band made entirely of lab diamond, but assume it's over my budget since I've never heard of something similar besides your example.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I don’t think a band of sapphire or diamond can be anything but a novelty.

 

[lovedogs]

I don’t think a band of sapphire or diamond can be anything but a novelty.

This. It's 1. A novelty and 2. Prohibitively expensive due to the time/effort it takes to cut something like that

 

[Dreamer_D]

This. It's 1. A novelty and 2. Prohibitively expensive due to the time/effort it takes to cut something like that

It would be super cool, but not practical at all!

 

[thekokeshi]

@Dreamer_D @lovedogs By novelty, you mean that it's extremely impractical for daily wear? I assume so but was hoping it wasn't the case!

 

[Starstruck8]

That's a very cool idea!

It certainly won't scratch. But it might crack.

As for 'practical', check out this thread:

I probably overpaid for this bangle, and it looked more red in the vendor's photos, but I LOVE IT! I had researched jade bangles, and I have to admit that I really can't see a difference between inexpensive and very expensive ones, and it's all so confusing to me, but I saw this ruby one and couldn't stop thinking about it. My husband gave me the go-ahead, and I was very excited! So...it's more of a pinkish/purplish ruby than I was expecting, though it does have intense saturation in the sun, with red tones and translucency, as well as some chatoyance (in any lighting). It fluoresces intensely even though the material is from Tanzania, and I really like the matrix. It shows other tiny crystals. The bangle is 58mm (inner diameter) and fits perfectly. I've chosen to wear it on my right wrist. I love the feel and weight of it. It wasn't inexpensive, but I looked around and couldn't find another one like it. So here it is, and I'm enjoying it!















Here it is when I hold a pen light to it. So red!

@Tourmaline bought a spectacular bangle carved from solid natural ruby. But, if you follow the thread, you will see that it broke.

Maybe flawless synthetic sapphire would be more robust. I don't know. But the band would be an obvious point of failure. There's a good reason why rings are usually made with metal bands. Metal may be soft, but it's not brittle.

Could it be done? I don't know. But you would have to get good advice, and do it knowing the risks.

 

[Bron357]

It’s certainly possible but not very practicable.
People mistake the meaning of Mohos scale of hardness in which corundum is 9 and diamond is 10. Hardness as is resistance to abrasion against another gemstone not hardness in relation to physical forces. While diamond is 10 and Talc 1, a Talc crystal will better withstand a blow from a hammer than a diamond crystal.
Which is why creating a ring shape out of most gemstones is impractical.
You need to look at their crystalline structure to appreciate if shearing/ fracture is likely to occur with physical force. Emerald for eg is one of the most susceptible gems to fracture due to crystal structure, a gem like tanzanite is prone to girdle chipping.
So while sapphire cut as a gemstone is resistant to scratching and the girdle edges quite robust, creating a ring of corundum crystal which is a curved shape with only a few mm of thickness at any point, how the forces of any impact will dissipate through structure is likely to result in breakage.

 

[lovedogs]

@Dreamer_D @lovedogs By novelty, you mean that it's extremely impractical for daily wear? I assume so but was hoping it wasn't the case!

Definitely impractical for daily wear

 

[newtojewels]

This post made me think of a "ring" that Lang Antiques has had for years. Note that it is clearly fragile -- it has a giant chunk missing -- and is so thick that wearing it as a ring would be really uncomfortable.

Solid Emerald Slide Ring

We've never seen anything quite like this amazing and humongous emerald ring before. The 339 carat emerald - yes, 339 carats! - has been carved into a giant ring with decorated sides and a flat faceted top. Besides a ring, this unique jewel also makes for a striking necklace slide or paperweight...

www.langantiques.com

 

[FinewaterGems]

Here's one that's been done 2000 years ago, albeit with a gold insert to give it some stability.

https://mymodernmet.com/caligula-sapphire-ring-marlborough-gem/

 

[Dreamer_D]

@Dreamer_D @lovedogs By novelty, you mean that it's extremely impractical for daily wear? I assume so but was hoping it wasn't the case!

Yes that is what I mean.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Here's one that's been done 2000 years ago, albeit with a gold insert to give it some stability.

https://mymodernmet.com/caligula-sapphire-ring-marlborough-gem/

Belonged to Caligula!!

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Here's one that's been done 2000 years ago, albeit with a gold insert to give it some stability.

https://mymodernmet.com/caligula-sapphire-ring-marlborough-gem/

is this type with the metal insert a possibility ?
the idea of a totally gemstone ring is a pretty idea, but i think it would lead to heart break

 

[toomuchB]

I have seen this on Instagram with moissanite and iirc with a red stone that may have been lab ruby. The seller @pirmiana advertises this but no idea if they are reliable. For practicality reasons I agree with the above.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[Grymera]

You might get this to scratch the itch:

Cabochon Ring

Resolutely timeless this minimalist ring has become an iconic object. An elegant and feminine accessory par excellence, the Cabochon embodies the know-how of Maison Lalique. This crystal cabochon unveils a 1931 design by René Lalique, "inventor of modern jewellery". This color reveals the...

fr.lalique.com