My new pale green Aquamarine.

[suzanne2]

Hello all. I was reading a discussion on another thread about aquamarines and how the older stones were mostly untreated with a slight green tint, so I thought I's share some of my loot from last week in Tucson. This 8.1 carat aquamarine is from John Dyer, the master cutter and one of my heroes

As you can see, it has a slight green tint, but it's the cutting that made me fall in love. Mind you, I've always wanted one of his stones but they were out of my reach. In Tucson I got show pricing and I'm not sure why. I wasn't in the wholesale only area and I didn't have a resale number. but I damn sure wasn't going to complain...



To me, it looks like crystal clear flowing water. If you turn it over you see this



a few more pics...



This last image is almost true to the color I see. A pale, pale green tint, sometimes blue, sometimes not.



I'm super excited about this stone. It's untreated, 13.7 x 8.2 mm and I have run through a thousand scenarios on how to set it. Diamonds or no? Yellow gold or white? I'm mostly leaning towards somehow having the design reflect the flowing water idea...Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Tekate]

That stone is mysterious, tantalizing and GORGEOUS.. whatever you set it in, it will be a knockout! remember to (if you would) tag me when you do, sometimes I miss stuff due to age .. I love aquamarines... gosh I love this stone.. can't wait to see what you do!!

 

[woweezowee]

Amazing!!! Gorgeous!!! So happy for you for acquiring that beauty!

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

Beautiful stone. What a score.

 

[missy]

Oh my gosh I love this. Reminds me of shimmery beautiful waters in the sea. Serene and beautiful. LOVE. Cannot wait to see what you do with it.

 

[Stone Hunter]

COOL stone cutting and lovely color! Congrats.

 

[T L]

It's so nice to see a John Dyer piece. He sells to the public now, so it's easier to get his works of art. Very beautiful, I have a green beryl that is minty like that, they're getting harder to come by in this color (both aquas and green beryl).

You will probably need a custom setting as it is very deep. I would also get a setting that protects the edges, as aquamarine tends to be a little chippy. Yellow gold would make it more green, and white metal will make it more blue. Rose gold will make it look the most minty.

By the way, please do not use those ring holders for gems. Many people have chipped or dropped gems with them.

 

[suzanne2]

That stone is mysterious, tantalizing and GORGEOUS.. whatever you set it in, it will be a knockout! remember to (if you would) tag me when you do, sometimes I miss stuff due to age .. I love aquamarines... gosh I love this stone.. can't wait to see what you do!

That's a great word for this stone. Tantalizing. Thank you very much.

Amazing!!! Gorgeous!!! So happy for you for acquiring that beauty!

I'm patting myself on the back so hard I might choke...lol

Beautiful stone. What a score.

Thanks so much.

Oh my gosh I love this. Reminds me of shimmery beautiful waters in the sea. Serene and beautiful. LOVE. Cannot wait to see what you do with it.

The indecision on how to set it will probably kill me.

COOL stone cutting and lovely color! Congrats.

The cutting is superb. So crisp. Thanks.

It's so nice to see a John Dyer piece. He sells to the public now, so it's easier to get his works of art. Very beautiful, I have a green beryl that is minty like that, they're getting harder to come by in this color (both aquas and green beryl).

You will probably need a custom setting as it is very deep. I would also get a setting that protects the edges, as aquamarine tends to be a little chippy. Yellow gold would make it more green, and white metal will make it more blue. Rose gold will make it look the most minty.

By the way, please do not use those ring holders for gems. Many people have chipped or dropped gems with them.

Darn! I just got the silly thing and now I can't use it? Thanks for the heads up.


I stood at Dyer's booth for at least 2 hours. He had a Paraibia at least a big as a robin's egg. Unbelievable stone. His mother was in charge and people were flocking around. She was such a sweet lady. Unlike the other booths, she would hand me a stone on a little tray and say "look after this while I see to these other people" and walk away. I was astonished and honored, so of course I guarded that tray with my life.

As for how the vendor picture compares to the stone in hand, I think his site did a good job with the color. Of course I only checked after I got home.




This is called his "zig zag" cut. I like the soft dreamy result. His "starbrite" cut is astonishing, throwing sparkles like crazy.

 

[elle_71125]

That is a beauty! I really, really want one of his pieces. I think the unique cuts are so cool. Each one a little piece of art. Your aqua is a beautiful color and the cutting is just so pretty. Very fluid.

I can't wait to see what you do with it.

 

[missy]

The indecision on how to set it will probably kill me.

Nooooo. PSers will help you! That stone is too beautiful to waste and not enjoy so you cannot kill yourself with indecision (haha) but I feel your pain! Why don’t you start a thread asking for setting ideas outlining the look and feeling you are envisioning for this beautiful piece.

 

[T L]

That's a great word for this stone. Tantalizing. Thank you very much.



I'm patting myself on the back so hard I might choke...lol


Thanks so much.


The indecision on how to set it will probably kill me.


The cutting is superb. So crisp. Thanks.


Darn! I just got the silly thing and now I can't use it? Thanks for the heads up.


I stood at Dyer's booth for at least 2 hours. He had a Paraibia at least a big as a robin's egg. Unbelievable stone. His mother was in charge and people were flocking around. She was such a sweet lady. Unlike the other booths, she would hand me a stone on a little tray and say "look after this while I see to these other people" and walk away. I was astonished and honored, so of course I guarded that tray with my life.

As for how the vendor picture compares to the stone in hand, I think his site did a good job with the color. Of course I only checked after I got home.




This is called his "zig zag" cut. I like the soft dreamy result. His "starbrite" cut is astonishing, throwing sparkles like crazy.

Yes, I could spend all day looking at his online gem catalog. I'm surprised more people on this site don't buy his gems. He has some nice, more affordable, and traditionally cut pieces too.

I'm jealous you got to go to the Tuscan gem show. I can't think of a place I rather be, even if it was the Bahamas. LOL. Enjoy your aqua!

 

[whitewave]

Wow. It is gorgeous!

 

[chatoyancy]

Your aqua is stunning. That cut is so cool. I’ll have to check out his site now! I also prefer aquamarine with a little green in them. That way they have that distinctively aquamarine look. You could go yellow or white. I wouldn’t put diamonds with it though. Why gild the lily?

Enjoy Tucson!

 

[suzanne2]

Yes, I could spend all day looking at his online gem catalog. I'm surprised more people on this site don't buy his gems. He has some nice, more affordable, and traditionally cut pieces too.

I'm jealous you got to go to the Tuscan gem show. I can't think of a place I rather be, even if it was the Bahamas. LOL. Enjoy your aqua!

The Bahamas have nothing on Tucson! Spending 3 days looking at eye candy was pure joy.

Wow. It is gorgeous!

Thank you Whitewave!

Your aqua is stunning. That cut is so cool. I’ll have to check out his site now! I also prefer aquamarine with a little green in them. That way they have that distinctively aquamarine look. You could go yellow or white. I wouldn’t put diamonds with it though. Why gild the lily?

Enjoy Tucson!

Why gild the lily indeed. I'm leaning towards a yellow gold scrollwork type thing. I'll start a thread and get some ideas. Do check out his site. I've spent so much time there that I recognized individual stones in his booth. Does that mean I'm a gem nerd?

 

[PrecisionGem]

Did you get that at the Pueblo Show? That show technically is a wholesale to the trade show, but no one ever checks, asks or really cares at it. I think the feeling is that everyones money is the same color. Some of the vendors at Pueblo will move over the GJX once it opens, and to get in there, you do need to be in the trade and prove it.

The Pueblo show always one of my favorite shows in Tucson.

 

[suzanne2]

That is a beauty! I really, really want one of his pieces. I think the unique cuts are so cool. Each one a little piece of art. Your aqua is a beautiful color and the cutting is just so pretty. Very fluid.

I can't wait to see what you do with it.

Thank you Elle. Each tiny gem is so intricately carved that it's astonishing. I was talking to a few cutters at his booth and they had great admiration as well. What a compliment to John's work.

 

[chatoyancy]

The Bahamas have nothing on Tucson! Spending 3 days looking at eye candy was pure joy.



Thank you Whitewave!



Why gild the lily indeed. I'm leaning towards a yellow gold scrollwork type thing. I'll start a thread and get some ideas. Do check out his site. I've spent so much time there that I recognized individual stones in his booth. Does that mean I'm a gem nerd?

It sounds like you’ve got a good start for a setting plan. It will be a showstopper! I’ll check out his site. I love it that you recognized individual stones. You probably are a gem nerd, but you are in good company here.

 

[suzanne2]

Did you get that at the Pueblo Show? That show technically is a wholesale to the trade show, but no one ever checks, asks or really cares at it. I think the feeling is that everyones money is the same color. Some of the vendors at Pueblo will move over the GJX once it opens, and to get in there, you do need to be in the trade and prove it.

The Pueblo show always one of my favorite shows in Tucson.

Hi Gene, yes I did. I wandered around town for a while, went to 22nd Street and a few other venues, but once I found the Pueblo show I was stuck. Buying gems wholesale is MUCH more fun, especially since I didn't realize at first what was going on and thought I'd landed in a gem nerd's paradise. A few of the vendors charged retail but they were in the minority. I'm definitely going back. This trip just whetted my greed.

 

[Deathspi]

Beautiful! I love JD!
Regarding the ring holder; I don’t know if anyone’s mentioned this, but I personally use those and think they’re fine, providing you stretch them out a little. I have one for big stones and one for small, as the bigger stone one is stretched open and wouldn’t hold s small stone. If I can put my finger in it and it’s not hurting or damaging my skin, then I’d be extremely surprised if it damaged a stone. Those long holders with the prongs sticking out the end are a different story however...

 

[suzanne2]

If I can put my finger in it and it’s not hurting or damaging my skin, then I’d be extremely surprised if it damaged a stone.

I bought a gorgeous rhodochrosite at the show and came home and put it in the ring holder. After TL told me it was not a good thing I scrambled for my loupe to make sure I hadn't damaged it. Luckily I couldn't find any scratches...

 

[dk168]

The aqua is stunning as I love pale coloured ones with a hint of green, thanks for sharing.
DK

 

[jewelsforalltosee]

I LOVE your aqua, just beautiful!!! I'd leave it unadorned, let the stone's cut shine in a minimalist bezel setting in white or yellow gold.