Opinions Wanted: Are these worth the $??

[shazbone]

I have posted a few weeks ago about searching for an engagement ring. I was interested in blue, yellow and green sapphires. I stumbled upon these two rings from www.topazery.com, and there is just something about them. I love their vintage settings, but i know nothing about tourmaline, and if it is a durable engagement ring stone, for everyday wear, etc. I would appreciate any advice given here on these two rings, which one is seemingly a better deal and such. Thanks in advance for all the great info/opinions!

first ring:

http://www.topazery.com/antique-jewelry-item-rg1387.htm

second:

http://www.topazery.com/antique-jewelry-item-rg1386.htm

 

[MINE!!]

They both are nice..
Tourmaline is ok for an engagement ring from what I was told. I was considering one for mine for quite a time.

What is the return policy from this company, should you see the stone and not like it in person?

The first one looks like it has a bit of a window in the stone.. but I may be wrong. I prefer the emerald color of this one.. but that may just be preference.

The second one is nice from the looks of it.. wondering about the 'medium dark'

They are both very pretty and I think they would make lovely e-rings.... just to make it more difficult.... when you are chosing a ring.. consider what type of band is going to go with it. Is it going to sit flush? Is this going to matter to your fiancee if it does not? Just some questions to consider.

But once again, they are beautiful.

 

[MINE!!]

here is the first ring

 

[MINE!!]

Here is the other

 

[widget]

Hi Shaz...

Tourmaline is 7.5 hardness, so sapphire (9) might be a better choice for an ering that is to be worn everyday. I''d probably prefer a more protective mounting for a tourmaline.

I was going to say that these have held up for fifty years so that speaks well for them.....then I noticed that both these stones are replacements and not original to the mountings!

I''m sure the experts can be more conversant on the subject of wearability of tourms...I suppose that even if they do eventually show wear, you can always have them repolished occasionally..

I noticed something else sort of weird...it looks to me as if the quoted dimensions (LxW) are wrong. The rectangular one is said to be 7.3x7.15....isn''t that squarish?

Anyhoo....they are pretty...

widget

 

[shazbone]

Hmm the more I think about it, I am not sure about these two, as far as durability is concerned. But I do love the look of their settings, the yellow gold and green stone, and quite simple design...

Thanks for the input

 

[MINE!!]

Have you looked at velouria''s awesome ring... It may give you some inspriratin if you like the green stones.. I beleive she has a tourmaline... and it is gorgeous.. she uses it for her e-ring

 

[shazbone]

Yes, it is gorgeous! I believe something like that would be out of my price range (1-1.5K) though. Also, has anyone heard of www.engagement-ring-mountings.com?? I was doing a search, and ventured into their website, and found some pretty rings, at seemingly good prices. Whether the stones (sapphires) are synthetic isn''t really clear, though.

 

[shazbone]

some samples:
first one #1690

 

[MINE!!]

WEll... I have heard of them and perused their website a few times as well. they do have nice settings.

 

[shazbone]

another (set) $1400

 

[triphane]

Both rings are beautiful! Tourmaline is a very durable stone and I would not be too concerned about breakage. Bluish and redish colors of tourmaline demand an increased price because of the rarity. Green and black are most commonly found at the mines.

www.sandiegomining.us

 

[valeria101]

For the two tourmaline rings, you are basically paying for the settings. The tourmalines seem inexpensive and there is no shortage of green tourmaline. Between them , the first stone may have a less attractive color (dark, grayish, blueish green...) and the second is cut with a fat, deep pavilion that demanded the extra long and aucwardly arched prongs to hold it. I am pretty sure you can do better. But I certainly like the two-tone settings with deep green stones.

About durability - well, I have not tried to wear tourmaline rings gardening or doing major cleaning or showering. The only sort of jewelry that I do wear anytime are small stud earrings... For daily wear to the office, shopping and so fortgh, nothing happened to them. I didn''t have to worry about this, but I know that scratches are easily corrected sometimes even without unmounting the stone, and tourmaline is not prone to chiping (diamonds are).

Just my 0.2.

There has been at least one green tourmaline engagement ring around here - very lovely. And fine green tourmaline is extraordinary. I especially like it when the cut allows some dichroism to show and both colrs are nice - it adds interest and depth to the stone... At least IMO. Most of the time this effect is not talked about as a good thing, but this is mostly due to the frequent cases when one of the alternative colors is not desirable or dark (''closed'').

I hope you will keep a fine tourmaline in sight

 

[colorchange]

My 2 cent opinion is that the tourmalines are not worth the setting, try to find a top of the top Afgan tourmaline for instance it''s so much nicer !!!!!! And you won''t pay it more than $50 or $100.
I sold one of 3Ct recently for $70, a real wonder (I indeed regret to have sold it somehow) you can find some searching around.

About durability, I''ve no idea... but try green sapphire, it''s not so expensive. I''ve had nice green and yellow sapphires for around $100/Ct.

 

[AGBF]

Lately I have been seeing rings made with a combination of colored stones, sometimes sapphires and sometimes topaz. (And, probably, sometimes other things!) I do not know if you would be interested in something that does not have one main stone, but when I read about your color preferences, the first rings I thought of were those that combined stones of those colors!

I will see if I can find a picture or two.

Deb

 

[AGBF]

Well...this is not the finest example of a band set with colored stones, but at least it tells you where I am trying to go! Recently I saw truly gorgeous ring somewhere...only I do not remember where! If I come across it again, I will post it.

Deb

 

[AGBF]

This site has a variety of rings with stones in multiple colors:

Bands of Colored Sapphires

Deb

 

[AGBF]

This is a close-up of one of the sapphire bands pictured on the site.

PS-They will make to order!

Deb

 

[AGBF]

Here is a yellow sapphire ring from the same source as above. The price is $1,599.00.

Yellow Sapphire Ring

Deborah

 

[MJO]

Date: 10/19/2005 5:20:25 AM
Author: colorchange
My 2 cent opinion is that the tourmalines are not worth the setting, try to find a top of the top Afgan tourmaline for instance it''s so much nicer !!!!!! And you won''t pay it more than $50 or $100.
I sold one of 3Ct recently for $70, a real wonder (I indeed regret to have sold it somehow) you can find some searching around.

About durability, I''ve no idea... but try green sapphire, it''s not so expensive. I''ve had nice green and yellow sapphires for around $100/Ct.

Hello Colorchange,

If you have anymore afghan stones like this please let me know . I love medium toned afghan tourmalines. Most of the time the crystal is very nice. I like them better than the nigerian stones which tend to be darker.

 

[colorchange]

Hi,

Indeed I'm not here for self promotion, but I guess I have one small left (brilliant cut I guess) I have to check.
To me african are much below in color and when I see the price of green tourmaline compared to this of the setting, there is no reason not to buy very best quality.

Afgan tourmaline are relatively scarce compared to african, but few dealers make a big difference in value between both so I buy only afgan (even if I rarely buy tourmaline I'm almost only in precious stones not semi precious).

Regards.

 

[MJO]

Date: 10/19/2005 12:14:03 PM
Author: colorchange
Hi,

Indeed I''m not here for self promotion, but I guess I have one small left (brilliant cut I guess) I have to check.
To me african are much below in color and when I see the price of green tourmaline compared to this of the setting, there is no reason not to buy very best quality.

Afgan tourmaline are relatively scarce compared to african, but few dealers make a big difference in value between both so I buy only afgan (even if I rarely buy tourmaline I''m almost only in precious stones not semi precious).

Regards.

Hi,

I think you are correct especially in less expensive stones, buy the best most vivid you can find.