Kunzite Ring

[MrsM]

I have been avidly reading and learning about colored stones from this forum and am starting my own collection, with a lot of trial and error. Wanted to share something I just put together for my mom for Xmas. The stone is a 6.3ct kunzite which I got off DB, which I think was once owned by colorluvr. Yes, I know that kunzite is not ideal for a ring but this is going to be "special occasion evening cocktail ring". The setting I just received today and I am very pleased with how it came out as it is from LOGR and I was not sure what to expect. I did upgrade the melee and it looks absolutely beautiful! I have not had the stone set yet, so in the photos the stone is just propped in the setting. I see half and half extinction, which is a bummer, but I think my mom is still going to love it! I cannot wait for her to see it...but had to share it with fellow jewelery lovers in the meantime.

 

[minousbijoux]

Hi Mrs M!

I think it looks great! The stone and the setting are well suited and as far as the 1/2 and 1/2, it is less pronounced in a light colored stone like a kunzite, so it doesn't bother me. Others here might be more fussed, but I think you've done a great job and its still (almost) a month before Christmas. Well done.

 

[chrono]

The shadowing or whatever you want to call it isn't so pronounced as to "cut" the kunzite in half. It is a decent size and looks great in the setting.

 

[Arkteia]

Beautiful stone!

 

[LD]

Half/half? Nope can't see it! You're just seeing some normal shadowing that is evident in many light stones. It's actually a gorgeous pink for Kunzite. Just watch that you tell your Mum to keep it out of sunlight. Unfortunately the majority of Kunzite fades. There's no rhyme or reason as to which ones do or don't. I've had unheated and heated and some have faded of each and others haven't! No idea why.

Anyway, it looks absolutely gorgeous and if you'd like to adopt me as your 2nd mum I'd happily share wearing the ring! Very pretty.

 

[JewelFreak]

How pretty & what a wonderful present! I see shadowing but nothing as icky as extinction -- and it has enough sparkle & beautiful color to be an "oooh ahhh" stone. The setting couldn't be more perfect for it! What a lucky mom you have.

--- Laurie

 

[MrsM]

Thanks for the lovely comments, MB, Chrono, Arkteia, LD and JewelFreak. Happy to hear from the CS experts that they don't see extinction. There were a couple photos where I thought it looked half and half, but I did not include them. I can live with some shadowing.... .

LD: Yes, knew about the UV fading when I bought the stone, so will definitely warn my mom about the "limited use". I am hoping it is one of those that hold its color over time as I like the tone of pink it currently has!

Now, I just need to get it to a bench to have it VERY CAREFULLY set. I will breathe a sigh of relief once that step is done as my last venture ended up with a chipped stone .

 

[Kitten35]

I love this! I love Kunzite.

 

[chrono]

There were a couple photos where I thought it looked half and half, but I did not include them.

Can I ask why not?

 

[MrsM]

There were a couple photos where I thought it looked half and half, but I did not include them.

Can I ask why not?

Hmmm...good question. I think I was trying to pick the best four pictures in my initial upload. Here are couple more pics where the top half looks darker to me...do you think it is still shadowing or is it extinction? What is the technical difference?

 

[chrono]

It isn't particularly strong so I would be perfectly fine with that. A true extinction will be much darker and in your case, because it is a light stone to begin with, the darkening effect is not obvious. Furthermore, where the top half is slightly darker, there are still areas that is bright or lit up. I would not consider it showing the 1/2 and 1/2; I think you snagged yourself a nice looking kunzite.

 

[minousbijoux]

Agree completely!

Mrs. M: did you find LD's old thread about chicken baked kunzite? Worth a read, for sure!

 

[junebug17]

I love the color, so beautiful! Such a lovely ring.

 

[LD]

Mrs M as I said earlier, that is definitely not half/half. What you're seeing is simply shadowing - not extinction. It's caused by one of two things (or both combined). The first is head shadow from you taking the photo. The second is the way the stone has been tilted and is reflecting the light. I suspect it's a combination of both.

There's so much talk about half/half and in truth this is not a common phenomena - yes it happens but people now see something and think it's that!

You have a very lovely Kunzite there. It's a great colour.

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Kunzite is what ignited my love for collecting. And your ring just reminded of why! Absolutely lovely!

 

[MrsM]

Thanks for all the positive comments! I don't have the confidence yet to trust my eyes to evaluate all the nuances of a stone, so it is good to hear that I did okay . The pink is really lovely (not a color I could wear), but it is something I totally see my mom wearing. So I am very happy...

I have another ring in the making for me, which I will hopefully have by Christmas. Can't wait to share that one too--totally different from this one!

 

[minousbijoux]

I believe you did far better than "okay"

 

[colorluvr]

Hi! That definitely resembles a kunzite that was originally mine.. If so I can attest to the fact that it is a very lovely stone and I don't recall it having any half and half issues. Congrats!