Mission impossible: find a specific size inexpensive stone

[natascha]

If you enjoy an impossible mission, you have come to the right topic.
I need a stone that fits a setting that is not standard sized, has no leeway in the mm and I am on an impossible budget. Scared jet?

The current stone in the setting has been measured by two different jewlers. It is an old mine cut with the measurements of 6,8x6,1x3,6 or 6,89x6,17x3,62.

The bad news is that apart from the size constraints I would prefer for the stone to be as inexpensive as can be, at least under 100 USD. Also I dislike yellow and orange, which excludes several stones that would have fit the budget. Thankfully I am not set on a colour and actually prefer some brown or gray modifieres.

Hopefully some kind soul can help guide me.

 

[chrono]

Re: Mission impossible: find a specific size inexpensive sto

Is your OMC oval-ish or rectangular-ish? It looks like you’ll need something around 7 x 6 mm?
How particular are you about treatment? Hopefully you will not mind something heated or even diffused or irradiated.
Is this going to be an occasional wear ring or every day wear ring?

I recently had to replace a damaged gemstone in an heirloom ring which was also an odd non-calibrated size. AJS will be a good place to look for something like that.

 

[natascha]

Re: Mission impossible: find a specific size inexpensive sto

I would say its cushiony with one corner more like an oval. I will try to post pics tomorrow, but they will probably be pretty horrible, don't have a camera so will have to use a mobil.
I think I'm fine with treatment thankfully. It will be a RHR so it won't be every day use but at the same time I don't want to have to replace it every 5 years.
Thank you

 

[natascha]

Re: Mission impossible: find a specific size inexpensive sto

Forgot to say that the ring is from 1866, yellow gold with black enamel.This leads me to not want an amethyst because the really rich colour combos don't make my heart sing. I like more muted colours.

 

[LD]

Re: Mission impossible: find a specific size inexpensive sto

Just a quick question - why does the stone have to be so precise? Is it a bezel setting? There can be some leeway and a 6.5 x 6.5 setting or even a 7x7 might work - especially if it's a prong setting.

 

[m76steve]

Re: Mission impossible: find a specific size inexpensive sto

natascha-iv had items built for the past several yrs-all my pendents are either put in made baskets or are fabricated to fit stones-you seem to have the opposit-a ring that you want to instal a stone without modifying the ring-if i understand-my goldsmith has never turned down a request or job that couldnt be completed to my satisfaction-you have to leave the ring with a goldsmith you trust with instructions on the stone you want & let him/her do their thing-all work should be approved by you before starting-there are just too many stones that will fill the bill without destroying the base ring-my 2 3/4 cnts-steve...

 

[natascha]

Re: Mission impossible: find a specific size inexpensive sto

I can't take a picture that shows the way the stone is set. You can see a photo here from the vendor http://www.kaplans.se/Kaplans/AuctionArt.aspx?vId=647188&plT=73597724&AuktID=1991

I think it's called a belcher setting but I'm not sure. Since it is quite detailed I don't want it reworked so I'm basically stuck with that size.

I live in Sweden where this type of jewlery is very far from the norm. When I talked to a SA in the store that I believed would be most experienced in this type of thing and said I wanted to take out the diamond and put in a gemstone one thing, she proposed to put in a syntetic aka a cubic zirconia. Also she was saying sure we can do this and that when she did not even know how to treat the enamel. This coming from a store specializing in antique jewlery and in making new jewlery who's owner is an expert who has been doing an antiques show for the last couple of decades. This kinda makes me not want to work with them and pretty much shows what I very long windedly am tryng to say, we don't really have a good selection of jewlers.

The goldsmith I am currently considering on the other hand seems to tell people strait upp what is happening not just what they want to hear. He says to get a stone as close as possible which I can understand.

Steve- Are you proposing that I ask the jewler to source the stone?

 

[LD]

Re: Mission impossible: find a specific size inexpensive sto

Natascha

The good news is that this is a prong setting AND the enamel doesn't touch the prongs so a good jeweller I'm sure will be able to take your stone out and replace it with another. You also have some leeway I think in the size of stone. If you look at the picture of the stone in the setting you'll see that if you had a stone a little wider, it wouldn't be an issue. The length might be though. Which of your measurements is the length (I'm assuming the longest but it's best to be sure)!?

Next thing is that the setting is made for an Oval cut stone so you've basically narrowed the field down again - which helps.

More good news - your stone is almost 6.9 in length (presumably that's the length). So you should easily find an oval with a 6.5 or 7mm length. HOWEVER are you absolutely sure about the width? For an oval that's pretty strange dimensions. I wonder if the jeweller measured the actual setting rather than the diamond that's in there now? With the measurements you've provided, it's almost a round stone (think roval rather than oval)!

 

[LD]

Re: Mission impossible: find a specific size inexpensive sto

Here's a few suggestions for you. For a budget of around $100 I'm afraid you won't get the best colour or cut but if you don't mind grey or brown modifiers then one of this may fit the bill for you!

http://www.ajsgem.com/sapphire/blue-sapphire/blue-sapphire-1.22-carats.html-1
http://www.ajsgem.com/sapphire/pink-sapphire/pink-sapphire-0.82-carats.html-0
http://www.ajsgem.com/garnet/spessartite-garnet/mandarin-garnet-spessartite-1.38-carats.html-1
http://www.ajsgem.com/tourmaline/blue-blue-green/blueblue-green-tourmaline-1.02-carats.html-0
http://www.ajsgem.com/sapphire/blue-sapphire/blue-sapphire-1.07-carats.html-0
http://www.ajsgem.com/garnet/tsavorite-garnet/tsavorite-garnet-1.15-carats.html
http://www.ajsgem.com/sapphire/pink-sapphire/purple-sapphire-1.19-carats.html
http://www.ajsgem.com/tourmaline/green-tourmaline/green-tourmaline-1.08-carats.html-0

 

[SB621]

Re: Mission impossible: find a specific size inexpensive sto

I would contact Dan Stair at www.CustomGemStones.com -he actually just cut a pink tourmaline for me with similar dimensions and it was well under $100.

 

[T L]

Re: Mission impossible: find a specific size inexpensive sto

bobkast.com

 

[natascha]

Re: Mission impossible: find a specific size inexpensive sto

Yes the length is the longer measurement, 6,8 or 6,89 depending on who you believe and they were measuring the actual stone.

Thank you for checking those out, colourwise the most intresting would be the last. Don't really like the purpuls and oranges. The pink is dare I say it to pink, I like some brown in my pink hihi.

Sarah- dan stair seems really intresting. Does one just send off an email and ask what he has or do I first narrow down possible colours/gems?

TL- will have to check out bob kast
Thank you guys

 

[m76steve]

Re: Mission impossible: find a specific size inexpensive sto

natascha-i think that is what im saying-let the jeweler get the stone & have it cut for the ring-if he is good the work should be as good as original-let a professional/tech bring the ring back to the original condition-so far u seem to have a lot of good ideas to fix your problem-enjoy-be involved-steve...

 

[Largosmom]

Re: Mission impossible: find a specific size inexpensive sto

Yes, you can send Dan an email and link him here to the thread so that he can see the ring. He is a very nice person and can say if he can cut something to match the size you need. His prices are very reasonable and the stones are lovely.

Love the setting!

Laura

 

[Arkteia]

Re: Mission impossible: find a specific size inexpensive sto

I would advise you to browse Dana Reynold's Marster Cut Gems website (google Master Cut Gems) - if there is nothing in the website, just contact him I am sure he'll either find something for you or cut something. His prices are very, very good!

Sometimes gemburionline or odyssey gems on ebay may have ovals matching your dimensions. Their prices used to be very good, and you still occasionally can win a bargain stone at an auction.

 

[natascha]

Re: Mission impossible: find a specific size inexpensive sto

Thank you all for your help. I am feeling pretty exited now that it seems that getting what I want will be possible. My timeline is to have the stone before christmas so I assume that I can take my time. Or does it get crazy before christmas and you have order like now?
I think the best would be to look at what colours and types I like before I make contact.

What do you think would suit my setting? I think it would be easy for the wrong stone to be overpowered in the setting.

 

[natascha]

Re: Mission impossible: find a specific size inexpensive sto

Usch reading through the thread made me realize what horrible spelling I have and that I should always proofread. Sorry for that.
I have been trying to narrow down what colours I think would work with my tastes and the setting:

- All yellows, oranges and the like - don't like them at all.
- Red - pure red too expensive, maybe some dark red garnet would work, or would that look to gothic?
- Blue - although I like pure blue I am not to keen on it with a yellow gold setting, the same goes for blue-grey. But maybe blue-green or blue-purple.
- Purple - don't like intense purple with yellow gold but maybe a very light purple would look nice.
- Pink - I don't like the pure pinks, but love the ones with some brown in them, maybe going towards a peachy tone.
- Green- not to sure here, most of the inexpensive ones I have seen have had some yellow with I don't like but otherwise I like them.
- White and very light colours, I think they will be overpowered by the setting, at least I feel that way with the diamond.

Any ideas? I think I will continue looking a couple of days and then start mailing the cutters to see if the have anything. Should I only email one at first or how does one do this?

Thank you for yor help.

 

[natascha]

Re: Mission impossible: find a specific size inexpensive sto

A little update: got some really bad mobile photos of the setting. I was trying to show the prongs which was pretty difficult because the diamond goes crazy in most lights. So don't worry, the diamond does not look like in the pics. Ugh it says that they are to large, how do I make them fit?
Anyhow I think I will be getting a rhodolite garnet, do you think I should get what I assume is a native cut at AJS Gems or should I try to get something better?
Other colours I am considering is lighter purples, dusky pinks(with some nice brown in them) and greens without yellow tones.