Need some guidance...

[GregS]

I'm wanting to have a custom pendant made. It will be a gift.

There will be two stones, a 3.05 ct. Indicolite Tourmaline measuring approximately 10x6mm and a .35 ct. European cut diamond in the 4.6mm range. I envision the Tourmaline mounted on end with the diamond mounted on top with a slight >1mm gap between the two. Double claw prongs for the Tourmaline to protect the corners and aesthetics and single claw for the diamond. I haven't decided whether I'd want to do yellow gold, Ademnium silver or white gold.

Here's my question, who would you recommend for this setting? I contacted Brian Gavin and they said they would do it, but wanted around 2k for 14 kt. wg. Way out of my budget. I'm looking to keep cost under 1k. My other question is which do you think would look better wg/silver or yellow gold? The recipient isn't opposed to either and likes both. I tend to favor wg but I suspect the medium dark blue Tourmaline would be better suited for yellow gold. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[chrono]

I think this stone can go either way. It seems like a simple straightforward setting which Daniel M on Etsy can do for under $1k.

 

[GregS]

You are fast Chrono!

Here's a picture of the Tourmaline...

 

[cm366]

Nice tourm Greg! As Chrono says, Daniel M on etsy is excellent and will probably be happy to do 14k for under your budget. Good luck!

 

[Enerchi]

Yummy stone Greg!
I had DanielM make me some items this summer, all in the argentium silver and they are wearing VERY well! No signs of discolouration and surprisingly, very minimal scratches on a very simple double prong, E/W tourmaline setting - that I wear almost every day! If not that, then I flip it for the 3 stone he made me! For a pendant, I'd go argentium silver. I thought the cost of my CSBTY pear sapphire pendant was extremely reasonable!

 

[chrono]

Have you placed the tourmaline against a white and yellow piece of jewellery to compare? If set in yellow, you'd also want to keep the OEC in the same metal type, and diamonds typically look better in a white metal.

 

[minousbijoux]

I sure love indicolites! Without even looking at the photo, I automatically wanted to say white metal. I agree with Chrono that diamonds look better in white and in general, that deep, teally (making word up here) color of indicolite looks phenomenal in white metal. That said, were it not for the diamond, I would say that due to the saturation on that stone, it would look good in anything, including a brown paper bag!

 

[chrono]

Minou,
It would look even better on my hand.

 

[minousbijoux]

Oh, Chrono, my dear, how you make me laugh!

I'm sure it would look lovely on your hand, only being outdone in beauty by your hand itself **bats eyes ever so sweetly and slowly withdraws...**

 

[GregS]

Minou,
It would look even better on my hand.

So far, in my short time here, your Tsavorite with pink side stones (forgot their name) is one of the best combinations of stones I have seen thus far. If you agree to be my personal gemstone consultant, maybe we can work something out.

White metal it is, I prefer it, so I'm glad others think it would be best. I messaged Daniel M. and I'm looking forward to hearing back from him. I'm aware that silver is less durable and prone to tarnishing (less so with ademnium) but how does it compare aesthetically to wg? There have been many instances when I haven't cared for white gold because it looks cheap, too shiny, I can't put my finger on it... Is their a certain type of white gold I should request? I like the subdued look of platinum but not the price.

 

[chrono]

Silver actually looks whiter and starker than white gold. Have you seen unplated white gold in person? It has a hint of warmth which might look more complementary to that beautiful indicolite without affecting the whiteness of the OEC.

Alas, my services are free and if pressed, only costs 2 measly cents. It'll be an unfair trade.

 

[GregS]

I have not seen unplated wg in person. But I did dig up this picture from Yssie and prefer (c) which is apparently unplated 18k nickel wg. Hopefully Daniel M. can accommodate me.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

I don't want to scare you, but nickel allergies/sensitivities are quite common (which is why nickel isn't allowed in jewelry alloys in Europe). Do you know if the person receiving it has any metal sensitivities?

 

[chrono]

I was about to pose the same question as Lady D. Some people have nickel sensitivity so it is something you should be aware of. I think there is a WG alloy that is nickel free.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

I was about to pose the same question as Lady D. Some people have nickel sensitivity so it is something you should be aware of. I think there is a WG alloy that is nickel free.

Yes - palladium white gold. It uses palladium (a member of the platinum family) as a bleaching agent for the alloy. Like platinum, it is very inert and I have never heard of sensitivity to it. However, the resulting alloy is more greyish than creamy (once again, like platinum) and more expensive than nickle white gold. It won't tarnish and gets a nice patina as well.

 

[GregS]

I shipped the stones off this morning to Daniel M.. I read some horror stories about stones breaking during setting so I had them insured through Jewelers Mutual. As for the nickel wg I decided to take my chances. I was going to have my gf hold some nickels under her arm pits for a while and see if she got itchy, but I dont think she would like that.

I will bump this thread with pictures of the completed pendant when it arrives. Thank you so much for all of your kind comments and help, its been much appreciated.