Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earring?

[ieatbugs]

I know it's a soft stone but I generally don't slam my head into corners, doors, desks etc if I can avoid it...

Can anyone advise on its usage in jewelry? Or perhaps where I could find a matched pair? I've only encountered one from List of Reputable Vendors!

 

[beau-wy]

Re: Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earri

My wife has had apatite stud earrings for many years, they are beautiful and have worn quite well. The biggest difficulty is in the setting of the gems (not just soft, but brittle and cleavable too). Once set, they function just fine. If possible, I recommend getting 4 stones for a pair of earrings, allowing for breakage of 2 during setting.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Re: Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earri

Yep - setting will be the worst part. Also, once you have the earrings, care should be taken to store them correctly to avoid scratching. I would wrap them individually and place them in a small box.

 

[ieatbugs]

Re: Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earri

My wife has had apatite stud earrings for many years, they are beautiful and have worn quite well. The biggest difficulty is in the setting of the gems (not just soft, but brittle and cleavable too). Once set, they function just fine. If possible, I recommend getting 4 stones for a pair of earrings, allowing for breakage of 2 during setting.

Woah! Thanks for the heads up. Maybe I'll skip out on this one since i don't have a great bench jeweler and I've only come up with one pair of the darn things in about 30 retailers.


Anyone know what else I might find in a fun, bright sparkly color that I could use for earrings? In about a 200$ price range.

 

[Fly Girl]

Re: Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earri

I've brought a lot of colored stones for setting to my jeweler, and he warned me to please not bring him any apatite. So, ditto on the setting issues mentioned by previous posters.

I'd take a look at blue topaz for a bright, lively and economical stone.

 

[chrono]

Re: Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earri

Few jewellers are willing to set apatite. Topaz is a great alternative with similar colouration and low cost. Blue zircon as well if you are bothered by irradiation treatment. If not limited to blue, sphene sparkles like a diamond with either a yellow or green body colour.

 

[ieatbugs]

Re: Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earri

Few jewellers are willing to set apatite. Topaz is a great alternative with similar colouration and low cost. Blue zircon as well if you are bothered by irradiation treatment. If not limited to blue, sphene sparkles like a diamond with either a yellow or green body colour.

I haven't quite seen any topaz that looked quite as neon as some of the pieces of apatite. Perhaps fluorite?

I do love sphene as well!

Will check out some more blue zircons.

Honestly, the hardest part of this so far is finding matched pairs: Few vendors seem to carry them on their websites. Often times they aren't matched well, and there isn't a huge selection. I have emailed a handful of people and am hoping to get some additional responses to my query

Semi unrelated.....If apatite is so difficult to set, what do people do with the stones? Just admire them sitting alone?

 

[melave]

Re: Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earri

HI ieatbugs

Jetflair on etsy has some apatite studs

http://www.etsy.com/shop/jetflair/search?search_query=apatite&order=date_desc&view_type=gallery&ref=shop_search

I have no idea how good they are or anything. but they are in your price range Hopefuly someone will pipe in who has bought from them

 

[ieatbugs]

Re: Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earri

HI ieatbugs

Jetflair on etsy has some apatite studs

http://www.etsy.com/shop/jetflair/search?search_query=apatite&order=date_desc&view_type=gallery&ref=shop_search

I have no idea how good they are or anything. but they are in your price range Hopefuly someone will pipe in who has bought from them

Thanks! Some of these seem like odd choices to set in sterling silver (ruby and chrome diopside?), and some of the prices seem a little too good to be true. Curious to see if anyone else chimes in.

 

[LD]

Re: Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earri

I've got Apatite earrings, bracelet and ring but all were set when I bought them. I know they're soft but I haven't had any issues.

 

[distracts]

Re: Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earri

HI ieatbugs

Jetflair on etsy has some apatite studs

http://www.etsy.com/shop/jetflair/search?search_query=apatite&order=date_desc&view_type=gallery&ref=shop_search

I have no idea how good they are or anything. but they are in your price range Hopefuly someone will pipe in who has bought from them

I've bought multiple earrings from Jetflair and they have all been fantastic. You can upgrade any of the sterling settings to gold or palladium if you want. ieatbugs - the rubies are filled, which may be why the prices seem so good? Idk, Jetflair seems to generally disclose treatment, answered my questions promptly, and the earrings irl matched the pics on the listing perfectly, so I would definitely recommend them.

 

[innerkitten]

Re: Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earri

HI ieatbugs

Jetflair on etsy has some apatite studs

http://www.etsy.com/shop/jetflair/search?search_query=apatite&order=date_desc&view_type=gallery&ref=shop_search

I have no idea how good they are or anything. but they are in your price range Hopefuly someone will pipe in who has bought from them

Thanks! Some of these seem like odd choices to set in sterling silver (ruby and chrome diopside?), and some of the prices seem a little too good to be true. Curious to see if anyone else chimes in.

I don't know about the prices, but you can set anything in silver. Even diamonds.

 

[ieatbugs]

Re: Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earri

HI ieatbugs

Jetflair on etsy has some apatite studs

http://www.etsy.com/shop/jetflair/search?search_query=apatite&order=date_desc&view_type=gallery&ref=shop_search

I have no idea how good they are or anything. but they are in your price range Hopefuly someone will pipe in who has bought from them

Thanks! Some of these seem like odd choices to set in sterling silver (ruby and chrome diopside?), and some of the prices seem a little too good to be true. Curious to see if anyone else chimes in.

I don't know about the prices, but you can set anything in silver. Even diamonds.

Certainly you can, I just wonder how good of an idea it is My sterling pieces have gotten scratches and dents and whatnot, so I'd think for something valuable I'd want it in a more hardy setting.

 

[innerkitten]

Re: Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earri

HI ieatbugs

Jetflair on etsy has some apatite studs

http://www.etsy.com/shop/jetflair/search?search_query=apatite&order=date_desc&view_type=gallery&ref=shop_search

I have no idea how good they are or anything. but they are in your price range Hopefuly someone will pipe in who has bought from them

Thanks! Some of these seem like odd choices to set in sterling silver (ruby and chrome diopside?), and some of the prices seem a little too good to be true. Curious to see if anyone else chimes in.

I don't know about the prices, but you can set anything in silver. Even diamonds.

Certainly you can, I just wonder how good of an idea it is My sterling pieces have gotten scratches and dents and whatnot, so I'd think for something valuable I'd want it in a more hardy setting.

I wouldn't worry with earrings so much because they don't take the same kind of abuse that rings and bracelets do. But if you want something more valuable go with gold obviously. Just don't go with like 22k or something cause that will be pretty soft.

GL! I'd consider the pre set one's too. Then you won't have to worry about damaging your stones.

 

[ieatbugs]

Re: Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earri

HI ieatbugs

Jetflair on etsy has some apatite studs

http://www.etsy.com/shop/jetflair/search?search_query=apatite&order=date_desc&view_type=gallery&ref=shop_search

I have no idea how good they are or anything. but they are in your price range Hopefuly someone will pipe in who has bought from them

Thanks! Some of these seem like odd choices to set in sterling silver (ruby and chrome diopside?), and some of the prices seem a little too good to be true. Curious to see if anyone else chimes in.

I don't know about the prices, but you can set anything in silver. Even diamonds.

Certainly you can, I just wonder how good of an idea it is My sterling pieces have gotten scratches and dents and whatnot, so I'd think for something valuable I'd want it in a more hardy setting.

I wouldn't worry with earrings so much because they don't take the same kind of abuse that rings and bracelets do. But if you want something more valuable go with gold obviously. Just don't go with like 22k or something cause that will be pretty soft.

GL! I'd consider the pre set one's too. Then you won't have to worry about damaging your stones.

Yeah, I'd love to be able to wear silver since it's economical but unfortunately I have a metal sensitivity...but only in my ears. So I gotta get everything with 14k posts or better!

 

[innerkitten]

Re: Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earri

Bummer. I have seen a few sterling earrings with gold posts. I guess those are for people like yourself that can't have sterling in their ears.

 

[chrono]

Re: Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earri

Actually, I have 22k YG earrings set with stones and have no issues with 24/7 wear. I thought silver can be easily worn by those with nickel sensitivity?

 

[ieatbugs]

Re: Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earri

Actually, I have 22k YG earrings set with stones and have no issues with 24/7 wear. I thought silver can be easily worn by those with nickel sensitivity?

Maybe I have more than just a nickel sensitivity then? Not sure, I just know I need to wear gold in my ears or they turn red and feel warm and hurty. Doesn't seem to happen anywhere else. Can't remember mom's exact explanation to me when I was a little girl about why I could only wear the expensive earrings, but sadly it seems to have persisted: I bought some cheapies and tried to coat them with clear nailpolish and it still didn't work out

 

[distracts]

Re: Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earri

Actually, I have 22k YG earrings set with stones and have no issues with 24/7 wear. I thought silver can be easily worn by those with nickel sensitivity?

She could have some kind of other sensitivity though? I am allergic to nickel and can wear sterling no problem - which is why I started buying from Jetflair in the first place, actually. Their stuff is sterling instead of "mystery metal." I do have a friend who is allergic to nickel and also can't wear sterling, though I don't know what it is in the sterling she's reacting to. You'd think if it was either copper or silver, she'd also have problems with yellow gold, but that's the one thing she can wear. *shrug* ears are weird.

 

[enbcfsobe]

Re: Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earri

I think multicolour.com usually has apatite pairs. Their search function allows you to select pairs only, which is quite helpful.

 

[enbcfsobe]

Re: Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earri

I think multicolour.com usually has apatite pairs. Their search function allows you to select pairs only, which is quite helpful.

 

[ieatbugs]

Re: Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earri

I think multicolour.com usually has apatite pairs. Their search function allows you to select pairs only, which is quite helpful.

The pairs on multicolor are pretty pale. I was looking for a neon apatite.

 

[chrono]

Re: Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earri

A few mixed lots and only 1 decent pair at AJS, more greenish than blue.

 

[ieatbugs]

Re: Is apatite appropriate for a round solitaire style earri

A few mixed lots and only 1 decent pair at AJS, more greenish than blue.

I imagine this will end up on my long list of impeccable specimens I'm on the hunt for!

I'm impressed by how many exceptional specimens have reeled me in that were types of gemstones I was previously uninterested in: until I saw the exceptional color/cutting and fell in love.

It makes it hard to plan jewelry pieces though: some things that seem like they should be easy to get can end up difficult and vice versa!