My new sapphire

[singingbell]

My first loose gemstone purchase: a 1.16 ct heated Montana sapphire. The first photo on the left was taken by the faceter from whom I bought the stone (minus the background which I cropped out with a graphics editor). The other two are my newbie attempts at photographing the sapphire with a digital camera under indoor lighting -- you can see the smudges on it because I keep picking it up to study how the light bounces off different facets.

 

[singingbell]

Now I have the fun task of deciding what to do with the 6mm sapphire. In my avatar you see one possibility that I''m considering, putting it in a ring setting from Gordon Clark that I''ve coveted for a while. I don''t know if adding a halo around the stone is possible on this particular setting, but after seeing the gorgeous halos in SMTR, I just *had* to find out how it would look... At least making changes with a graphics editor is free!

I have pictures of other ideas that I want to run by everyone here to get your opinions, but I''m having trouble posting them. I''ll keep trying...

 

[singingbell]

Hope the pictures will post this time... As you can see, my inspiration came from PS as well.

I''m leaning towards putting the sapphire into a pendant, and save the Gordon Clark setting for another sapphire. On the other hand, it would be nice to set it in a ring so I can look at the stone when I''m wearing it. It''s really interesting to see the different "personalities" of the sapphire under varied lighting conditions.

 

[Cave Keeper]

Initially, I thought that Montana sapphire had too light a tone.
But your various settings opened my eyes to the possibilities of stones with such light tones. You''re a genious, SingingBell.

All the settings make your stone so beautiful.

Love the last one showing the bracelet on your wrist. I must try to get one of those watch-sized stones, too.

 

[singingbell]

Date: 9/4/2005 6:13:34 PM
Author: Cave Keeper
Initially, I thought that Montana sapphire had too light a tone.

But your various settings opened my eyes to the possibilities of stones with such light tones. You're a genious, SingingBell.

All the settings make your stone so beautiful.

Love the last one showing the bracelet on your wrist. I must try to get one of those watch-sized stones, too.

Ha ha! I'd have to win the lottery first before I can afford a watch-sized stone.

The piece in the last photo is actually a close-up photo of a ring, not a bracelet. Although, now that you menion it, it would make a very neat bracelet design.

Thanks for your compliments! I was just having fun with the graphics editor to "try on" my sapphire in different settings that caught my eye. Is there one you like over others?

Initially I didn't think I'd like such a light-toned sapphire either, especially with a tinge of green within the blue, which I normally do not care for. But once I saw the stone in person I became mesmerized by its brilliance, and I want to try to find a setting that best "showcases" its strength. I welcome any suggestions!

 

[Jelly]

Hi SingingBell

What a great sapphire. I love all of those settings and I think a pendant would be great for that stone.

I personally like rings because you can gaze at it all day! Not so easy when it''s around your neck.

Keep us updated on your project!

Stephanie

 

[Cave Keeper]

Date: 9/4/2005 8:42:37 PM
Author: singingbell
:
The piece in the last photo is actually a close-up photo of a ring, not a bracelet. Although, now that you menion it, it would make a very neat bracelet design.

Thanks for your compliments! I was just having fun with the graphics editor to ''try on'' my sapphire in different settings that caught my eye. Is there one you like over others?

The one I like most is the one with your wrist (oops, finger). The reason is because your wringer being so fair and beautiful makes the jewelry on it even more beautiful.

In other words, in order to compare the different jewelry designs properly, you need to use the same background and either all are shown worn on your fair and beautiful finger or else all are shown not worn on your fair and beautiful finger. For example, two rings are shown with a yellowish background, while another two are shown against a plain white background. That just make your selection job harder. Of course, the presence of your beautiful and fair finger in the picture would be best, as it would help you to judge which particular design best suits your fair and beautiful ringer, dearest Ringing Bell.

 

[pad3006]

Hi singingbelle
yeah that is a really great stone I love the color of it. I never knew Montana has saphires. I like the jewelry you posted too, all I can say is wow.
I love sapphires, its my gf''s birthstone too, sometime when I want to get her a stone I am going to look into some from Montana b/c I love that color

 

[belle]

hey singingbell, it''s good to see you back again....and with such a lovely stone!

i really like the look of the thin, octagonal halo. i think it compliments the stone very well.

 

[Kaleigh]

What a beautfiul sapphire singinbell. I do adore the octagonal halo as well. Boy that is a yummy color.

 

[singingbell]

Stephanie -- You can understand my dilemma! My head tells me that a pendant would make more sense for this stone and for my nascent jewelry collection, but my "ideas file" has a lot more rings than pendants, so you know where my heart lies

CK -- Alas, that lovely hand in the photo does not belong to me. I had saved the photos for that ring from the "Show Me The Ring" forum, and unfortunately didn't save any related information about the owner. I'm envious of both the hand and the ring!

Anyway, I made some changes to the photos. Row 1: Gordon Clark setting with sapphire alone; halo pendant modified from a pendant from Mondera.com. Row 2: setting from Signed Pieces, modified; Gordon Clark with halo. Row 3: the beautiful ring from SMTR, with close-up of the actual ring on the right. Row 4: floral ring, wish I remember who made that setting; simple pendant with yellow gold for a change of pace.


Pad -- I'm glad you like the sapphire too! The color really grew on me after I saw it in person.

Belle and Kaleigh -- thank you for your comments!

 

[flutterby]

That stone is lovely. I would love it in a pendant. The haloed pendant necklace is stunning!

 

[newshopper]

My favorites are the pendant and the setting from Signed Pieces--all are very pretty, though. I think you can''t go wrong with any of the choices.

 

[rae]

Lovely stone, singingbell - congratulations! Can''t wait to see what you end up doing with it.

 

[singingbell]

Thanks to everyone to checked in since my last post.

I think I''m going to go for a haloed pendant in white gold. Not sure if it''s going to be a plain metal halo or with diamonds (maybe CZ''s??)... Cost will have a lot to do with that decision.

I''m leaving on vacation starting tomorrow and won''t be able to check PS for a couple of weeks -- I expect to go through major withdrawals! Hehehe. When I get back I''ll start making inquiries in earnest about setting my little sapphire.

 

[belle]

it''s going to be awesome whatever you decide..that is such a pretty stone

have a great vacation!

 

[FireGoddess]

Singingbell - did you sift for your own piece of rough? I'm curious cuz I just went to Montana for a reunion with some girlfriends and we went to the Sapphire Mountains and sifted to find our own rough. My biggest was 1.7 ct that I am having heat treated and faceted there. If you did sift, do you mind telling me what the original color of the rough was (or did your faceter have a picture of the rough if you didn't sift yourself)? I have no feel for what color I'm going to end up with, but it was a nice piece of rough and it was pretty cheap to have it processed, so I thought it would be a nice memento of the trip! It was a very light blue...I wonder how much darker the stone will get after heat treating.

 

[newshopper]

Great choice! Please post pictures when it is done.

 

[singingbell]

Date: 9/8/2005 7:17:39 PM
Author: FireGoddess
Singingbell - did you sift for your own piece of rough? I''m curious cuz I just went to Montana for a reunion with some girlfriends and we went to the Sapphire Mountains and sifted to find our own rough. My biggest was 1.7 ct that I am having heat treated and faceted there. If you did sift, do you mind telling me what the original color of the rough was (or did your faceter have a picture of the rough if you didn''t sift yourself)? I have no feel for what color I''m going to end up with, but it was a nice piece of rough and it was pretty cheap to have it processed, so I thought it would be a nice memento of the trip! It was a very light blue...I wonder how much darker the stone will get after heat treating.

Hi FireGoddess! Sorry it took me so long to reply -- I came back from my trip last week but have been knocked out by a bad cold since then.

The rough for my sapphire was acquired by the faceter. The only information I have about the source of the rough is that it came from some place called Gem Mountain in Montana. After I saw your post, I e-mailed the faceter to ask for pics of the rough for my stone, unfortunately he did not save the pics. I wish I had thought to ask him when I bought the stone -- it would have been interesting to see how the rough looked!

Good luck with your sapphire, FG, and please post pics if you can! Someday I hope to get a chance to sift for a stone myself.

 

[FireGoddess]

That''s so interesting - that''s where we sifted...Gem Mountain. Somebody lucked out and found a piece of cuttable rough that was 8 carats...which will yield about a 2 carat stone, but mine is going to end up somewhere around a half carat coming from a 1.7 ct piece of rough. Still, it was really fun and I can''t wait to see what color the stone ends up...it will be months however, before I get it back, so I''ll be sure to post, but it will be awhile!