Pictures of my star rose quartz from Wildfish Gems

[cookies]

I got a star rose quartz from Ed a while ago. I don't know if it's top grade, but would like to share some pictures with you. The stone measures about 14.8 x 13.1 x 10.6 mm, and looks lavendar from the top, and pink from the bottom.

First, Ed's pictures.






Then, my pictures.









Thanks for looking!

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Sweet! Do you have plans for it?

 

[minousbijoux]

Lovely - I love its almost transparency that you can see the print, but only barely.

 

[cookies]

I don't have a plan for it. Ed suggested that I put it in a pendant, so nothing bad can happen to it. Sometimes I think it would be nice to have it on my finger; that way I can see the star more often. But I am afraid I might knock the ring on something and damage the stone. So I am not sure.. I'd love to hear suggestions though!

 

[Lady_Disdain]

I would love to have that on a ring - playing with star gems is hours of guaranteed fun - but I understand your worry.

 

[GemFever]

I've been toying with the idea of having a pendant on a super long chain, so I can play with the pendant if i want to. Then you can always switch out the chain if you like. Very pretty stone, looks delish!

 

[Fly Girl]

Very pretty.

I have a star rose quartz from Barry Bridgestock that I had set into a ring. It is an occasional wear ring and, so far, it is fine.

I think it is so fun to look at the star that it would be wasted for me in a pendant. And, I'm a big pendant lover.

In any case, please come back with more pictures when you have it set.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

I've been toying with the idea of having a pendant on a super long chain, so I can play with the pendant if i want to. Then you can always switch out the chain if you like. Very pretty stone, looks delish!

That is what I am thinking for a large hackmanite I got.

 

[JewelFreak]

That is so pretty! The star is well centered & shows beautifully. Love the color(s)! It would be fun in a ring but lovely in a pendant too.

 

[Lee Little]

Bright star for a rose quartz, they often are so faint but that one really shows nicely.
A cabochon is more durable than a faceted stone and quartz is pretty tough, I think a ring is in order. Best regards, Lee

 

[movie zombie]

i would not hesitate to put that lovely stone into a ring. cabs as noted are above are more durable than faceted. i have many large cabs set and i wear them when i leave the house. one is a rutilated quartsz and no issues. admittedly, i don't wear anything buy my 2mm 18k gold wedding band 24/7.

i say set it and wear it often!

 

[VapidLapid]

If you have it set in a bellybutton ring you can stare at it while contemplating your navel and it can lead you to enlightenment.

 

[cookies]

Thanks everyone! I think it was Fly Girl's star rose quartz ring that got me into collecting rose quartz. I really like this one. It looks like a jelly bean when there is no star.

I don't like wearing long chains so I think I will do a bezel ring, in white gold or rose gold. Definitely not a belly ring though.

I looked around today for possible settings. I like a simple bezel ring by Ann McKay. There is also a bezel ring by Cross Jewelers that might work. I also like a chunky setting by Cross Jewelers, which probably needs to be modified to use a bezel head instead.

Here is Ann McKay's. The only concern I have is the craftsmanship. Last time I had them bezel my Richard Homer rose quartz, it was not done well, and I ended up returning it and got a full refund. Anyway, here is the ring I like.



Next is Cross Jeweler's bezel ring. It's called "Lady Captain Ring", which is suitable for active lifestyle. There is nothing I don't like about it. However, I don't feel totally sold to this setting.



The last one is the chunky ring by Cross Jewelers. They call it the "Empress Ring". I really like the shoulders. If I go with this one, I will probably replace the baskset head with a bezel. I am not sure if my size 8 chubby finger can handle the wide shank. Perhaps they can make it a bit narrower for me..



So what do you guys think? Thanks!!

 

[movie zombie]

i like first two settings, particularly the first one, for your stone. also, can you have someone esle do the setting? if you weren't happy the first time, why reward them with further business?

 

[chrono]

I like the first setting out of the three shown as well. The design looks simple enough that just about anyone else can make it. It is a style that can also be duplicated safely enough because I've seen many such similar designs. I think having a star pendant is a waste because it limits what you can see. Such phenomena is only fun when the wearer is able to play around with the stone - roll it this way and that way to see the star travel across the dome.

 

[cookies]

Chrono, Movie Zombie, I like the first setting the most as well. Could you please recommend a few places where I can get a setting similar to that? I like rustic/old-word bezels more than contemporary/sleek bezels. Unfortunately many places seem to only do the latter, and the few jewelers who I know can do the Ann McKay bezel don't accept outside stones.

 

[minousbijoux]

Could Daniel M do a bezel like that? It looks like his style.

 

[cookies]

Could Daniel M do a bezel like that? It looks like his style.

Yeah, he set MTG's gorgeous violet star sapphire into a similar bezel ring. However, MTG had to reset it because of the irregularities in the bezel. I am quite picky.. I don't think I would be happy with an un-smooth bezel.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/star-sapphire-ring-finished.152235/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/star-sapphire-ring-finished.152235/[/URL]

 

[chrono]

I see what you mean...I do have a slightly different point of view though; it could be that the girdle of the sapphire is irregular and slightly off oval shaped, making it a challange to have the bezel very cleanly done. Not saying it cannot be done but requires a lot of experience and skill that demands equally high pricing (of the caliber of James Meyer, who is now retired).

 

[cookies]

Chrono, you can read my thoughts! I indeed need a jeweler who can do work that is of the caliber of James Meyer. I am that picky. I don't mind paying the JM price..

 

[chrono]

Jill Arnish of Etsy does high quality bezel work but her bezels seem to be the enclosed only type. She accepts customer's stones though.

 

[1001smiles]

Jill Arnish of Etsy does high quality bezel work but her bezels seem to be the enclosed only type. She accepts customer's stones though.

I would second Jill. She set my star rose quartz and her bezels are very nice. She also adds a shiny silver plate at the bottom, which makes the star more bright and better defined (I think my camera overexposed the brightness though). Also, I think the yellow gold bezel brings out the purplish hues in the quartz. I hope I am not thread-jacking by posting my picture...

Your star rose quartz is very pretty, I look forward to seeing it set.

 

[cookies]

Chrono, thank you for suggesting Jill Anish. I checked her etsy shop, and oh, I love some of her ring designs! Her price seems fairly reasonable too.

1001smiles, your ring and pendant are beautiful! The bezels look exquisite. I think I am sold.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Over time, the silver behind the stone may become tarnished (even fine silver becomes yellowish in time), which will distort the colour of the stone. One alternative I have heard about is to use aluminium behind a closed back bezel, since it doesn't tarnish. That, however, won't stop moisture and possibly gunk getting behind the stone, which is always a possibility with closed back bezels.

 

[cookies]

Lady_Disdain, you made a good point -- I wouldn't want dirt to accumulate over time behind the stone. So I probably should do an open-back setting.

The jeweler hunt is still going on, hmm.

 

[movie zombie]

leather is also used by some when setting cabs. in this instance i'm afraid it would darken your stone.

are you absolutely opposed to having the bottom of the stone open? it can be bezeled but still be open underneath.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

leather is also used by some when setting cabs. in this instance i'm afraid it would darken your stone.

are you absolutely opposed to having the bottom of the stone open? it can be bezeled but still be open underneath.

Leather, plastic, foam and even saw dust are or have been used to raise cabs in bezels. The idea is to raise a thin cab inside a bezel, in order to give it more presence (or to have it high enough inside an already made setting). However, they should really only be used for opaque stones.

 

[cookies]

I am quite fond of James Meyer's cab rings. The cab seems to be raised a bit, and the part near the bottom (waist?) is surrounded by metal, but the back is not covered by any metal. That's at least how my DH's JM ring looks. I like the open back style.

 

[Arkteia]

Cookie, Jill makes open bezels, too. She does like to use thin silver foil, like in ancient rings, to bring out the brillance or sheen of the stones, but I think it is optional... I remember she asked me whether I liked polished back with a hole (like a setting that JM once made for me), or foil. She makes very neat bezels. I have a pair of earrings with the top stones being closed, and the lower ones open. (They are much smaller than your stone, though).

 

[cookies]

Arkteia, thank you so much for the information. Jill is my top choice again.

Before I saw Arkteia's reply, I came across another bezel setting that I think is equally lovely as Jill's. I don't know if it has an open back, but the price seems reasonable. What do you think? I think it would be perfect if they can add some sort of antique finish so that the setting doesn't so shiny as in the picture.

http://www.crossjewelers.com/products/details.asp?ProductID=98