List Ideas for Gem stone setting by specific gem types...

[ccuheartnurse]

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking into purchasing a gemstone or 2 but haven't zero'd in which one I want yet. There are so many very beautiful stones out there to choose from. I'm a bezel girl, love them & always have. I do realize that there are some gems that do not do well being set into a bezel form. Speaking in general, can you gals/guys give me your opinion on this.

1. What Gem types are great for bezelling? Which of these gems remain true to colour, which ones might darken? In reference to the ones that darken, how many shades or tone should you look for to bezel them anyway? I did read a Zircon wasn't a good stone to bezel because can fracture. Are there others?

2. What stones would you consider strictly prong style? 2 or 4? If light or darker, how would you set it? Some settings are completely closed in some the stone is pretty exposed. What colour of gems would you be able to enclose & which ones would you consider best for an exposed set up?

I dont know if a chart format would be best? Below is just an example & of course if anyone wants to take this thread on, be my guest.

1. Sapphire:
Bezel: stick with light to medium shade
Prongs: any shade
For Sapphire with extinction, which is best?

2. Zircon:
Bezel: Do so with caution
Prongs: Best & safest for the gem.

3.?

Would this work? I'm just trying to find a good way to illustrate as many gems as we can. Might even be a good idea for a sticky. I'm not the one who would be able to set up this thread as I've been hanging out in the diamond forums for the last 13yrs. LOL I'm a bit ashamed to say that I dont know all that much about gems. You guys really are awesome & very knowledgeable. I am very interested in learning this myself & I am sure there are others on the forum that also might now know the details & the various nuances of the individual types. If there is already a thread, please direct me to it. The search function on PS is substandard IMO.

If this is an overly aggressive a post, I apologize in advance. I have an oval blue sapphire with extinction. The setting is pretty enclosed. I wonder if repurposing it in a different setting would help it or no need to bother. And if I take it out of the setting, what gem should I be able to put in it's place. ** sigh ** so many questions. The ring I am talking about is ..
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/40th-birthday-rings.48174/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/40th-birthday-rings.48174/[/URL]

Thank you...
Judy

 

[dk168]

Re: List Ideas for Gem stone setting by specific gem types..

I would bezel-set everything if I have my way, after losing a prong-set imperial jade centre stone from a ring that was on loan to me from my mum. However, that's personal preference based on an unpleasant experience.

I have since found a prong style that I believe I can live with, and believe they are called tab prongs.

Hopefully the CS experts will come along soon to offer their advice.

DK

 

[pregcurious]

Re: List Ideas for Gem stone setting by specific gem types..

I hope someone who has experience setting gems will comment. Perhaps MichaelE?

 

[minousbijoux]

Re: List Ideas for Gem stone setting by specific gem types..

Were it that easy, my friend! It is a matter of individual preferences and individual stones. There might be pointers about setting certain stones in bezels vs. prongs, tension or gypsy settings based on hardness, but there is certainly no such guideline for color. The answer to color, and how a stone darkens, depends on many factors such as whether it has silk, how its cut, and what lighting conditions its owner might be wearing it under. My advice would be to find your stone and then plan the setting around it.

If you want to start with your blue sapphire, then could you post a photo of the ring's gallery so we know how enclosed the stone is? Also, could you provide the dimensions of the stone? My bet is that its not a well cut stone and much of the light is leaking elsewhere.

 

[ccuheartnurse]

Re: List Ideas for Gem stone setting by specific gem types..

Thanks gals for your responses. The ring's profile is included in the link to the original incoming thread. Once on my hand it's pretty much enclosed. No light gets to it at all. I have to admit, I HATE the prongs on this ring. Makes my 9 x 7 look tiny. It' most likely isn't cut well & back in 2006 I was even more ignorant than I am today about sapphires. I always wanted a blue stone & thats the one my ex-husband could afford at the time. I have toyed with the idea of using my original stone as a pendant or perhaps saving it for my young neice for her 16th bday & getting myself a really well cut, gorgeous coloured one. My practical nature is saying I'm nuts, too many other gems to buy with that money. LOL LOL I agree!

I do hope someone from the trade chimes in but I gather they are eagerly getting ready for Tucson & may not be online much. I can wait. nothing going to happen till they come back with sacks full of gems for us to buy anyway.

I also have read that Spinels tend to shift colour. Would this be more prevalent in an enclosed setting or is this just the nature of the gem? I would like a red one at some point.

Judy

 

[minousbijoux]

Re: List Ideas for Gem stone setting by specific gem types..

Thanks gals for your responses. The ring's profile is included in the link to the original incoming thread. Once on my hand it's pretty much enclosed. No light gets to it at all. I have to admit, I HATE the prongs on this ring. Makes my 9 x 7 look tiny. It' most likely isn't cut well & back in 2006 I was even more ignorant than I am today about sapphires. I always wanted a blue stone & thats the one my ex-husband could afford at the time. I have toyed with the idea of using my original stone as a pendant or perhaps saving it for my young neice for her 16th bday & getting myself a really well cut, gorgeous coloured one. My practical nature is saying I'm nuts, too many other gems to buy with that money. LOL LOL I agree!

I do hope someone from the trade chimes in but I gather they are eagerly getting ready for Tucson & may not be online much. I can wait. nothing going to happen till they come back with sacks full of gems for us to buy anyway.

I also have read that Spinels tend to shift colour. Would this be more prevalent in an enclosed setting or is this just the nature of the gem? I would like a red one at some point.

Judy

Its not the profile we need to see - its the gallery beneath. I looked through your other thread. There are no pictures of the gallery, thus the request. Still, I'm not sure what you are seeking answers to at this point? The more specific you can be, the more likely you are to get responses.

 

[chrono]

Re: List Ideas for Gem stone setting by specific gem types..

1. What Gem types are great for bezelling? Which of these gems remain true to colour, which ones might darken? In reference to the ones that darken, how many shades or tone should you look for to bezel them anyway? I did read a Zircon wasn't a good stone to bezel because can fracture. Are there others?
Stones that are well cut, medium tone and lighter, and show little extinction are great candidates for a bezel setting. Depending on these 3 factors, the stone can darken by a shade up to 2 shades when bezeled. Whether a stone can be safely bezeled depends on the experience and skill of the setter. Some benches chip diamonds in prong set setting whilst some benches do a great job bezeling a quartz/garnet/etc.

2. What stones would you consider strictly prong style? 2 or 4? If light or darker, how would you set it? Some settings are completely closed in some the stone is pretty exposed. What colour of gems would you be able to enclose & which ones would you consider best for an exposed set up?
What do you mean by "2 or 4"? I do not like stones that are completely enclosed because it makes cleaning a challenge. Most CS cannot be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steamed. Most CS also benefit from extra light coming in from the sides of the setting.

I dont know if a chart format would be best? Below is just an example & of course if anyone wants to take this thread on, be my guest.

1. Sapphire:
Bezel: stick with light to medium shade Yes
Prongs: any shade Depends on the colour of the sapphire
For Sapphire with extinction, which is best? Totally open setting, probably faux tension.

2. Zircon:
Bezel: Do so with caution Only if the bench is skilled with bezeling CS
Prongs: Best & safest for the gem. Unskilled benches can still chip it trying to prong set it.

3.?

Would this work? I'm just trying to find a good way to illustrate as many gems as we can. Might even be a good idea for a sticky. I'm not the one who would be able to set up this thread as I've been hanging out in the diamond forums for the last 13yrs. LOL I'm a bit ashamed to say that I dont know all that much about gems. You guys really are awesome & very knowledgeable. I am very interested in learning this myself & I am sure there are others on the forum that also might now know the details & the various nuances of the individual types. If there is already a thread, please direct me to it. The search function on PS is substandard IMO.
I agree with Minou that there are too many variables to create one such thread, hence shopping for and setting a CS is more challenging than diamonds. The learning is steep when there are so many gem types and colours to consider. The more specific the question, the better we can assist/answer your question.

If this is an overly aggressive a post, I apologize in advance. I have an oval blue sapphire with extinction. The setting is pretty enclosed. I wonder if repurposing it in a different setting would help it or no need to bother. And if I take it out of the setting, what gem should I be able to put in it's place. ** sigh ** so many questions. The ring I am talking about is ..
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/40th-birthday-rings.48174/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/40th-birthday-rings.48174/[/URL]
I don't think there is more that can be done to lessen the extinction. It is prong set and although the setting is enclosed, I see that the girdle is well above the halo, which allows light into the sapphire from the side. In this case, the extinction could be due to the cut and recutting CS is another whole ball of wax.

Thank you...
Judy

Most spinels are shifty but there are a few that hold their colour extremely well. That said, these few are more expensive than the shifty spinels for that reason.

 

[ccuheartnurse]

Re: List Ideas for Gem stone setting by specific gem types..

I went through the thread & you are right, no pics of the gallery. I dont know if I'll have a chance to go take some. It's all open underneath & nothing enclosing the stone, just the sides. Could be that the sapphire just is a poorly cut one.

I suppose what I'm asking in a v e r y long winded sort of way, is what stones would be good to bezel & which ones should I stay away from. I think there is no clear answer & is gem specific (colour & cut). I want to replace my sapphire in the setting. It's not a well made setting & from a distance no one sees the flaws I see holding it closely to my eyes. Mind you, when I look through my reading portion of my progressives, I dont notice any flaws myself. I probably should not change my current prescription.

I'm getting ahead of myself as I have 3 settings I can repurpose & now I just need to focus on which gem I want 1st & see where I go.

Thanks for taking time to read this.

Judy