Mint green tourmalines

[Art Nouveau]

I found a pair of trillion shape mint green tourmalines at a reasonable price recently. The stones weigh ~ 5.3 carats. Here are the stones. I am planning to have earrings made as cheaply as possible and would welcome ideas. I am attaching in the next post some possibilities.

 

[Art Nouveau]

Here are some possible settings for earrings. Please cast your vote. Which one do you like best, and which one would you pick if you have to keep the costs down. I would welcome any other ideas, Thanks.

Art Nouveau

 

[valeria101]

Date: 6/10/2005 4:34:02 AM
Author: Art Nouveau

Which one do you like best, and which one would you pick if you have to keep the costs down.

#2 would keep costs down - it looks like a standard pair of small channel set diamond hoops that has been slightly modified to hang the tourmalines in basket settings.

#1 might just turn out to be the nicest design I''ve seen in a while ! Unless the tourmalines will be pierced, there will need to be some sort of metal frame to hang them in, but it can certainly be very discrete (some sort of recessed girdle setting with no basket in the back comes to mind). The shape and color of the stones make the earrings look very much like flowers... delightful !

"Platinumsmith" made a pair of earrings like these (assembled of small, diamond set platinum elements that is - shown here ) which turned out very nicely... Is he going to make yours ?

 

[BWise]

I will vote for #1 as well. Costwise, I don''t see a big diffrence between the frist three. The point is, if you are going to make a pair of beautiful earrings, don''t sacrifise the look for $. Wait till you can do it right. (just my 2 cents)

 

[MJO]

I vote #1

 

[saturn]

I like #1 the best, but I think it depends on the "look" you are going for.
#1 is delicate and feminine, and I think it would be very versatile.
#4 is also nice, and has a more glamourous look to it.

 

[royalasschergirl]

I like number one because you could wear it with jeans and a sassy top, or with an evening gown -- go dressy casual or formal with them, they seem the most versatile to me. Great sleek, feminine design, they stand out for sure!!

 

[MissAva]

I like five the best, it seems like the most classic of the five designs. I think it would also be up there in terms of cost though. Still...so lovely!

 

[diamondsrock]

I like number one because it''s simple and classy. I also really like number five because it really highlights the stone.

 

[valeria101]

Do they have to be long drops ?

There are several related designs down here including some lever backs with diamond frames of different shapes (square, heart and irregular for baroque pearls). Triangles could follow naturally.

Assuming the tourmalines are 10-11 mm (on each triangle side), the proportions would be quite different though and the earrings rather large. The frames would add 4-5mm width, IMO. Because of the size, somehow these close to the ear versions appear more "natural" than long freamed drops like #5 and #6 in the picture - especially for casual wear. But hey, that is really just one personal point of view from a commited wearer of tiny studs ...

Without frames (#1 drawing) the pastel colors make these relatively subtle and discrete.

Great picture, btw

 

[FireGoddess]

I LOVE number 1 and number 4!!! Number 1 would be great for every day wear, number 5 would be scrumptious for some glam!!!!!

Both are delicious!

 

[LollyBear]

I think #1 has the best balance of style, versatility and cost. It''s got my vote!

 

[Sasori]

I like #1, it looks more elegant, yet simple.

 

[belle]

#2 would be the most cost efficient....but #5 is downright stunning!

 

[Art Nouveau]

Thank you all for your comments. Looks klike #1 got the most votes. Actually the first three are my own earrings. I overlaid the green tourmalline on top of the existing stone. #1 is my turquoise drop earrings which I posted previously. Here it is again. It is a very simple but elegant design. The only concern is the trillions measure around 10-11 mm, which is quite a bit wider than the turquoise drop. Would the top look too narrow with the wider stone? I am considering making the drop removable so I can use the same top for other drops too. But would the drop hang as well?

I found #4 and #5 in an ad in a jewelry magazine. They are pink sapphire earrings. #5 is made up of a small diamond hoop and a removable drop. You can use the same top and make several bottoms out of color stones of different shapes. This style is gaining popularity. If my stones are expensive like rubies or sapphires, I would go with #5. But the mint green earrings are for everyday use, so I would probably go with #1 or a style along those lines.

Ana, the pearl earrings made by Platinum Smith are gorgeous, but Australia is too far away.

AN

 

[Art Nouveau]

I saw a pair of Mikimoto pearl earrings at a local store. The design may work for my mint green tourmalines too. I do not have a photo, but here is a very rough composite sketch.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 6/11/2005 12:08:29 AM
Author: Art Nouveau

I am considering making the (turquoise) drop removable so I can use the same top for other drops too. But would the drop hang as well?

Hey! This sounds fantastic... and really not expensive, so rather worth tryng, IMO. The drops could be balanced to hand straight down - it is a matter to be addressed by the construction of their settings (baskets, girdle settings, or whichever might be recommended by your jeweler).

just my 0.2 I had forgotten about your lovely blue set !

 

[widget]

LOL...when I looked at the original five choices, I preferred #2 because it reminded me of your Deco diamond ones....now I know why!

Now my favorite is the Mikimoto one...but adapting the turquoise ones probably makes the most sense. (But then when did "sense" ever have anything to do with jewelry?

)

widget

 

[Art Nouveau]

I ordered the setting for my mint green tourmaline earrings. It will take about a month. I will post pics when they are done. Thank you everybody for your input.

Art Nouveau

 

[Kaleigh]

The stones are just lovely. Can't wait to see the earrings once they're finished!!!

 

[velouriaL]

I love that turquoise necklace! Gorgeous!

 

[Art Nouveau]

My mint green tourmaline earrings finally arrived today. They turned out OK, but can be better. I think the earrings will look better if the stonesare dangling instead of fixed. The jeweler that made these had a similar pair of earrings with a pear shaped or oval stones. I also thought the shape of the halo would be modified a bit to fit the shape of the trillion, but looks like he used what he has already for a pear shaped stone. Should I let it go, or am I being too fuzzy if I ask to change the tourmaline trillions danlges. Since there is a little gap between the top of the stone and the top of the halo, I am thinking of doing something like my tourquoise earrings above, add a very small diamond and a couple of loops. What do you think?

Art Nouveau

 

[MissAva]

I dont think you are being to fussy at all. Get them the way you want them, talk to the jelwer I am sure he/she wants a happy customer.

 

[canuk-gal]

Hi:

I like my earrings to "move"--and although these would by virtue of the "hoop" design, instead I would perfer for the green stones to articulate at the top of the halo (or whatever one calls it). Can they be fitted to drop from the top of the halo/form....or perhaps they wouldn''t fit?

cheers--Sharon

 

[Jelly]

Wow! Those earrings are wonderful! I was in the jewelry store in Sacramento the other day and saw some mint tourmalines already set in rings. I think the jeweler said that they were from a particular mine, but I can''t remember the details right now.

Anyway, great earrings!

Stephanie

 

[Jelly]

Oops, I didn''t answer your question.

If you''re not 100% happy with your earrings, then by all means get them fixed. I think they are stunning as is!

Stephanie

 

[BWise]

I can see the resemblence of finishied work with #4 from your inspiration photo. Yet the difference is the missing halo right around the gem. And the overallshape is fit for trillion vs. pear.

I think the end result would have been fine, if there hadn't been the #4. Now it just feel like something is not right. It is a different between 'okay, fine' and 'WOW'! Get it fix by all means, please.

 

[Art Nouveau]

Yingh,

#4 in the photo was created by Photoshop magic. The original pic I found in a magazine was for pear shaped stones. I modified the shape of the halo and overlaid the trillion tourmaline. The jeweler that I ordered my earrings from had a pair with oval stones. I guess I did not make myself clear, but I was expecting him to modiify the shape of the halo to fit the trillion. It''s probably too hard to change the halo at this point, and I don''t mind not having diamonds around the stone, but I do think making the stones dangle would improve the overall appearance. This can be done by detaching the stones from the side of the halo, and making them hang from under the top of the halo with a little diamond and a couple of loops. This is not that hard to do, so I am going to call the jeweler on Monday to tell him I am returning the earrings and ask for the alteration.

Art Nouveau

 

[valeria101]

Fitting the shape of the halo would have been more ''sophisticated'' but... that''s just me knowing the current outcome was not intended.

The stones seem to light to fit well into a halo - judging from the picture. It seems that the frame overpowers them. Would it be bad to leave them dangle freely under a diamond support of some sort ? Perhaps it is only an unfortunate picture that makes me think this.

 

[widget]

Hi AN...

I'm glad you're taking it back for alterations...I too would prefer having the tourms articulated and dangling from the top of the halo rather than sort of 'sitting' on the bottom of it.

I had another thought...though I don't know if it's possible or worth the
expense...what about putting the tourmalines in very thin bezels? I was thinking that by eliminating the prongs (at least the two side ones) the look might be a bit cleaner..

Just a thought...

They are beautiful, though!

widget

ETA: I just noticed Ana mentioned in an earlier post "some sort of discrete girdle setting without a basket in the back (collet set, maybe?) " rather than a bezel...