Oh My Gosh! Dream Tourmaline!

[JewelFreak]

Finally! For once in my life I clicked first. I am hopping around with joy. Tourm from Gene's drop today and I GOT IT. Next to a paraiba, this is as close as I'll ever come to my dream tourm. The Gem Gods were generous -- I came very close to buying a really nice, large yellow sapphire yesterday, but decided to sleep on it because it would have wiped out my gem-buying account. Found Gene's email this a.m. & clicked so fast I almost broke my mouse!

4.16 cts, 10.94 x 8.32


Help me decide how to set it. High-carat buttery yg or rose? Side stones? Too big to halo for size 7 finger? Want to do something fairly classic that will put the spotlight on the tourmaline (as if it were possible not to!). I know some of you hate haloes -- I like 'em & haven't done that with anything yet. If side stones, something different than diamonds for a little oomph?

--- Laurie

P.S. VL -- pics of everything to come -- it's always raining or gloomy or too darned cold when I'm in a photography mood -- but WILL get them done!

 

[chrono]

Congrats on the quick mouse work! I'm over the moon that you finally snagged a bright green tourmaline with that elusive blue modifier that isn't only large but well cut. High karat gold or rose gold will both compliment the tourmaline, so it's really your choice. Too big for a halo? Never. I've haloed stones measuring 10 x 8 mm and rocked it happily on a size 4.5 finger.

 

[Snowyrin]

Lucky you! Congrats on getting your dream stone. Looks really sparky to me. And the emerald liked colour,so pretty...

I'll set it in rose gold with hot pink or lavender side stones.

 

[RTFrog]

Congrats JewelFreak! That looks like an outstanding stone, and I cannot wait for your pictures.

I'd like to see it in a solitaire rose or white gold, making it pop, and really have someones focus solely on this stone. Although, no matter how you set it, that's where the focus will be!

Congratulations again.

 

[VapidLapid]

Congratulations!! That is some fancy mouseing. I vote buttery yellow.

 

[innerkitten]

I saw that last night. It's really gorgeous! can't wait to see more photos

 

[innerkitten]

Finally! For once in my life I clicked first. I am hopping around with joy. Tourm from Gene's drop today and I GOT IT. Next to a paraiba, this is as close as I'll ever come to my dream tourm. The Gem Gods were generous -- I came very close to buying a really nice, large yellow sapphire yesterday, but decided to sleep on it because it would have wiped out my gem-buying account. Found Gene's email this a.m. & clicked so fast I almost broke my mouse!

4.16 cts, 10.94 x 8.32


Help me decide how to set it. High-carat buttery yg or rose? Side stones? Too big to halo for size 7 finger? Want to do something fairly classic that will put the spotlight on the tourmaline (as if it were possible not to!). I know some of you hate haloes -- I like 'em & haven't done that with anything yet. If side stones, something different than diamonds for a little oomph?

--- Laurie

P.S. VL -- pics of everything to come -- it's always raining or gloomy or too darned cold when I'm in a photography mood -- but WILL get them done!

p.s I vote for high carat buttery gold.

 

[VapidLapid]

 

[NKOTB]

Awww, glad you finally got your dream stone! I know you've been looking for quite some time. It's a beauty, for sure! I'm not super creative when it comes to setting ideas, but just wanted to say a big CONGRATS!!

 

[LoversKites]

That's just beautiful. Congrats!!

My 2 cents - I think you should set it in wg to bring out the tourm's colour, with double claw prongs in a simple split shank solitaire and with two tiny red stones where the shanks meet to create a sort of dissonance, if that makes sense (since green and red are complimentary colours). I don't see how you could put the tourm in the spotlight any better - not that I'm too skilled with jewelry, just doing my best hehe

 

[JewelFreak]

Chrono, thank you! Glad to hear haloes work for you -- you are tiny enough to make me envious; I wear a 5 ring on my pinky! Coming from you, that news definitely keeps a halo in the running. I agree w/your comment about shape & cutting -- passed on a couple of really nice trilliants because I just can't get on that bandwagon & it would have detracted from my enjoyment. And while superb cutting won't make up for poor hue or saturation, in a stone w/good color, the cutting is to me an equal thrill. It's magic & a skill I admire profoundly.

Snowyrin, yeah, sparkly! The color does make me want to sing.

Thanks, RT Frog -- I see your point about a solitaire & that's also something I'm considering. It might just be a stone that wants to be by itself; some do & they tell you that.

VL -- you're talented! And quick. That's a lovely ring, right there -- has good style but not too intricate to drown the tourmaline. Looking at Gene's photo I see it in yellow gold too.

IK -- Glad you didn't snap it up last night! I guess it will tell me when I see it IRL what color metal it wants. Leaning toward yg right now, with you.

Many thanks for the thought, NKOTB! The parcel Gene got is producing such gorgeous gems, just the color I'd wish for, & I'm usually too slow on the uptake. The cheerful side of that is that the stone-buying savings acct mounts up while you wait for the right one & you can manage to grab it when it shows up.

Pics when it arrives -- after DH howls "How many of those do you NEEEEED????" & I remind him of the price for his new Maserati tires.

--- Laurie

 

[VapidLapid]

It is the maserati emblem with the crown as the prongs.

 

[endless_summer]

Wow - just wow - that is a dream tourmaline and certainly one that I would have bought in a heartbeat - just gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous! Yours will be my inspiration stone and point of comparison for when I start seriously looking for one.

Settings - for something of that incredible size, I'd go very classic and simple with platinum (since the stone is cooler in color), double-prongs to protect the edges on the stone on the corners with an understated open crown and simple tapering in the shoulders of the ring into the shank. But, that's just my taste, and I like simple.

Congratulations on such a beautiful stone!!!

 

[chrono]

VL,
That's just so cheeky to use the Maserati logo as the inspiration for the ring setting design.

 

[Acinom]

What an amazing stone
Such a mesmerizing colour.

I would do a setting like this:

 

[minousbijoux]

Yay Laurie!!! You so totally deserve the stone of your dreams! Congrats!

 

[JewelFreak]

OH VL!!!! And I didn't recognize it! You have no idea how many times I've photoshopped that onto mailing labels, stationery, you name it, and fixed it up in various pictures for DH's books. Ha! Maybe if I set it like that I wouldn't have to listen to him moan & groan. You are too much!

Wow, Acinom, gorgeous ring. That's worth keeping for inspiration. I only hope my stone is anywhere near the beauty of the one in the photo. Thank you!

Loverskites, I don't know what color metal I'll use till I see it, but it may be a stone that looks better on its own as you suggest. Definitely don't want to distract attention from it with too much bling.

Thank you, Minou! Yours are a standard I'll never live up to!

I tend to go for simple too, Endless Summer. When I have a gem I really really like & go to set it, so far I've dropped earlier plans for side stones or halos to let the stone itself tell its story, and been glad I did.

It's all theory till I have it in my hot little paw & let it talk to me.

--- Laurie

 

[OreoRosies86]

Woah! Are you excited to have your own tiny Carribean sea on your hand

 

[FrekeChild]

Gorgeous Laurie! So happy for you!

 

[royalstarrynight]

Wow that's a gorgeous stone! I see it in a warm toned metal as well..

VL, You are hilarious!

JF, I'm really curious as to what your hubby's reaction would be to that setting....

 

[redwood66]

JF that stone is so gorgeous and what a mesmerizing color. I also see a high carat yellow gold. This is so exciting for you to have your dream stone! It makes me want to decide what my dream stone is so I can begin a long arduous search.

 

[Starzin]

Just beautiful JF - gorgeous colour, gorgeous size It can definitely take a simple halo if you wish.

+1 for 18kt YG - looking forward to seeing your in-hand pics!

 

[sonyachancs]

that color is so beautiful! I vote buttery yg too - and a skinny e-w halo!

 

[arkieb1]

Congrats beautiful stone!!!!

WG or Platinum if you want to bring out more blue in the stone and YG if you want to bring out more green. I don't think rose works IMHO.

A white diamond halo would look killer so would two white diamond sides.

 

[chrono]

Widget had her Paraiba set by LM in a platinum halo. She later told me that it didn't look right to her and wish she had it set differently.

 

[armywife13]

Oh my gosh, congrats JewelFreak!!!! It is absolutely stunning!

 

[JewelFreak]

Thanks, everybody!

It's going to be yg, I'm pretty sure. I think the richness & warmth would set it off best. As for the rest, maybe when I see it IRL it will suggest what to do with it. I've been rummaging through my inspiration file as well as the Colored Stone E-rings thread. Can't wait to see how it looks in hand; then ideas may gel. Woot!

--- Laurie

 

[GregS]

Post pictures when you get it! Im dying to see more of this lovely stone.

 

[Trill]

Congrats on finding your dream tourmaline! It looks stunning, and can't wait to see more pics!

 

[iLander]

Gah! So beautiful I could cry! I loved the shape when I saw it on Gene's blog! I love the color! And the SIZE!!! Fabulous!

I will just sit here and wait for your pix, while drooling

But, lordy! Do hurry up!!!!!!!!