Oval afghan tourmaline setting ideas

[kgizo]

I have been debating about this stone for a few months and am thinking a pendant would be nice. My concern: is the tilt window more likely to show up in a pendant instead of a ring? It is a light color blue so I wouldn't want a pink flesh colored spot to show through the blue. iPhone daytime photos, and I tried to show the window I'm concerned about in the last photo.

Also, I don't think I want a halo, but otherwise nothing has swayed me one way or the other. If you have a setting suggestion please chime in.

Thanks!

 

[minousbijoux]

I have to defer to the expert setters on the tilt window, but I have a couple of things to say (as always!): 1) the stone is very pretty. Not often that you see such a light blue in tourmaline as usually it has a greenish component; 2) it would make a beautiful ring or pendant I am sure, but it looks to be a great size for your hand so I vote ring! 3) fwiw, the tilt window looks pretty little to me.

 

[athenaworth]

I vote ring too! Super thin pave band (yes ala Blake Lively)

 

[Enerchi]

What a beautiful stone!! I have a similar looking tourmaline I purchased from Gemfix. I initially set it in a LOGR type of setting from one of the eBay vendors (and promptly lost melee....) then had it reset this past summer by DanielM on Etsy. I had it set in argentium silver, E/W and double prongs. No issues whatsoever with the ring and Caren was a JOY to communicate with!!!

 

[dianabarbara]

I vote ring too! Super thin pave band (yes ala Blake Lively)

I second this suggestion! I think it would make a truly stunning ring!

A thin halo might help protecting the stone, if this is a concern. But if you are not enthusiastic with it, you could also consider a nice elongated art deco setting?

 

[chrono]

A more enclosed style setting like a halo or very decorative basket will help lessen the appearance of the tilt window. I think it will also be less obvious in a pendant because no one is going to peer at it so close to you. With rings, many will view it up close and thus spot it more easily.

 

[Jereni]

Great size for a ring, I vote ring too! Not sure of the budget, what about half-moon diamonds as sides? That could be cool.

 

[meredeth11]

Vote ring too. The size, shape and the color is prefect for a ring, if you would want it being made into a pendant, more materials such as some gold or platinum, crystal, beads and so one would be added more or less, the complicated making process might shaken its value and the beauty of stone would be weaken, if it is on a ring, the stone alone can be as dazzling as possible to show the beauty as well as maintain its largest value!

 

[LD]

A tilt window will show no matter what design. It's a function of the colour and cut. If you're looking at it all day in a ring you very rarely look head on so you will see it. If that will bother you (and it would bother me), then I'd opt for a pendant.

The other reason for a pendant is that tourmaline is less durable than other stones so should be more protected around the neckline.

As Chrono has suggested, an intricate basket that encloses the sides in scrollwork or some such design will help to minimise the tilt somewhat.

Just one thing .......... how deep is the stone? I don't think it's too deep? If it's not then a pendant will be fine. If it's deep then you need to think about a design that stops the pendant (if you go that route) from flipping and twisting.

 

[kgizo]

Thanks for all the great responses! I agree with many of you that it is a nice size for a ring, but I have a spinel that I will set into a ring so that's why I'm leaning towards a pendant for this. I'm going to keep Blake's ring in mind for future oval projects. It is very elegant and pretty.

Enerchi, I plan to use DanielM for both pieces and what I have in mind for the spinel is very similar to your ring! I like how the simple setting highlights your stone. I haven't worked with DanielM before so appreciate your reference on them.

Chrono and LD, thanks for the advice about the settings to help close the tilt window. When I look at the stone head on there's no window and I love the color and brightness, but once angled it looks watered down and less pretty.

Last question for you all. Since the stone looks icy to me I was planning on white metal. I don't have any argentium silver, but thought I would give it a try since WG is so expensive. Do you have any advice or concerns about using argentium silver for this stone?

 

[Enerchi]

Thanks for all the great responses! I agree with many of you that it is a nice size for a ring, but I have a spinel that I will set into a ring so that's why I'm leaning towards a pendant for this. I'm going to keep Blake's ring in mind for future oval projects. It is very elegant and pretty.

Enerchi, I plan to use DanielM for both pieces and what I have in mind for the spinel is very similar to your ring! I like how the simple setting highlights your stone. I haven't worked with DanielM before so appreciate your reference on them.

Chrono and LD, thanks for the advice about the settings to help close the tilt window. When I look at the stone head on there's no window and I love the color and brightness, but once angled it looks watered down and less pretty.

Last question for you all. Since the stone looks icy to me I was planning on white metal. I don't have any argentium silver, but thought I would give it a try since WG is so expensive. Do you have any advice or concerns about using argentium silver for this stone?

The pieces I had made from DanielM were perfect! Everything was made in argentium silver (except for my RG spacer) and they are of excellent quality and workmanship. Caren was very good with correspondence and so easy to communicate with. They sent CADs for a sapphire pear 3 stone I had made and adjustments were easy and done quickly, with a follow up 'corrected' CAD within a few hours. Delivery was very simple - I picked the items up while I was on vacation - and that was no problem to arrange with them.

I think you'll be very pleased with their work! There are a LOT of people on the CS forum who have used them with excellent results!! Glad you are going to join the "DanielM club"! hahaha!

 

[LD]

Thanks for all the great responses! I agree with many of you that it is a nice size for a ring, but I have a spinel that I will set into a ring so that's why I'm leaning towards a pendant for this. I'm going to keep Blake's ring in mind for future oval projects. It is very elegant and pretty.

Enerchi, I plan to use DanielM for both pieces and what I have in mind for the spinel is very similar to your ring! I like how the simple setting highlights your stone. I haven't worked with DanielM before so appreciate your reference on them.

Chrono and LD, thanks for the advice about the settings to help close the tilt window. When I look at the stone head on there's no window and I love the color and brightness, but once angled it looks watered down and less pretty.

Last question for you all. Since the stone looks icy to me I was planning on white metal. I don't have any argentium silver, but thought I would give it a try since WG is so expensive. Do you have any advice or concerns about using argentium silver for this stone?

A large number of paler coloured gemstones suffer from a tilt window. If you really hate this then you have to have a pendant made that sits still so it's always seen face on (unless somebody is standing to one side of you). The placing of the bales is an important part of a static design.

Do you like the icy-ness of your stone and want to play it up? If so, a white metal is good. If you want to warm it up and don't like the coldness then you really will need to choose anther metal.