Re - setting my baby Alexandrite - I’m in Australia.

[Bron357]

Hi, I’ve come to appreciate that my baby Alexandrite deserves a better home. Given that it was that a fluke purchase (I was buying the pretty gold cable bracelet, the bonus was that it came with a little “purplish” gem charm) about 20 years ago. I thought being tiny, it measures around 7.2 mm by 5.2mm by 3mm deep, it wasn’t worth the expense of a reset. However at that size it’s actually over 1 carat and though included, it has a strong colour change, so apparently its worth a bit more than the $60 I paid!
Here is Australia I’m looking at at least $3,000 for even a tiny diamond halo and I feel my size 8 fingers demand something more than that.
My thoughts (cheapest to most expensive)
1 - get a plain simple gold setting made (but it will all but disappear on my size 8 finger)
2 - buy a “made in China” diamond halo setting and get it set here (diamonds and ring will only be very average quality)
3 - buy a decent second hand ring to my liking that has a 7 x 5 mm oval sapphire / ruby/ what have you and pull out stone and replace. ( though probably the head will need replacing too).
4 - send it to the US and have it set into a totally amazing setting.
5 - get it set here into something half decent.

The advice I need is re option 4.
Who can the experienced PSers recommend as an economical vendor for a diamond halo type setting?
Photo under incandescent light on my middle finger for scale. Excuse my lack of photography skill. Other photo for colour change in daylight, well, as best I can. Alex’s look different in every photo.
Many thanks for any suggestions.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

Well I've only worked with JuliaB on Etsy for a custom ring but I'm very happy with it. You could set it into the daisy stacking ring like I have or she has one with rose cut diamonds that looks pretty. Her custom mounts are 15% off so worth a look maybe?

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JuliaBJewelry/items?section_id=13679603

 

[Bron357]

Thanks Stephanie, I saw a perfect mount and I’ve messaged Julia. Yay.

 

[stracci2000]

I have no advice for you except to say that your lovely Alex deserves a much better setting than what she is living in now!
Emerald by day, ruby by night! That color change is strong!

 

[YadaYadaYada]

I'm so excited for you Bron! Is there one that you really like? By the way I forgot to say that I love your Alexandrite, the color change is so neat

 

[mochiko42]

How about Alistair Kelsey, he's in Australia and has made pieces for other PSers before. http://www.alistairkelsey.com

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

oh Golly @Bron357 is it that expensive? Is that for custom made stuff? I've always bought the settings from Hong Kong/China when I needed a generic setting and it's not too bad! They tend to vary between shops.

The super annoying shop has really bright white sparkly diamonds in their settings at decent prices.

 

[Nosean]

And a lab report before you set it?

http://www.lotusgemology.com/index.php/library/articles/298-emeralds-from-russia-a-closer-look

If scroll a bit down you see two rings with alexandrites around 1 ct.

 

[foxinsox]

I think there may be an option 6 - measure your alex carefully and see if a vendor like JuliaB or David Klass can make you a custom halo using those measurements then get a local jeweller to set it for you. I think Acinom did that with one of her stones very successfully. There’s obviously a risk with the setting process but it might be an option?

 

[Bron357]

oh Golly @Bron357 is it that expensive? Is that for custom made stuff? I've always bought the settings from Hong Kong/China when I needed a generic setting and it's not too bad! They tend to vary between shops.

The super annoying shop has really bright white sparkly diamonds in their settings at decent prices.

Yes, I paid $6,500 for my engagement re set with added 14 x 3 pointers. Store rents here in Sydney are really high and our Labour costs seem much higher too.
I have bought a Hongkong diamond setting before (for a loose Moissanite) and it was quite good but I got charged $250 just for it to be set. Grrr.

 

[Bron357]

And a lab report before you set it?

http://www.lotusgemology.com/index.php/library/articles/298-emeralds-from-russia-a-closer-look

If scroll a bit down you see two rings with alexandrites around 1 ct.

Oooh, looks like my baby has the same inclusions. Maybe it is Russian then. This photo was for Julia as there is a tiny blemish on a top right facet above the girdle so a bezel set might be too risky.

 

[Bron357]

And baby also does a nice blue ?????

 

[Nosean]

My russian 1,33 ct alexandrite. Included, strong change.

The microscope pic was made by Dr. Schmetzer - orientation to see the growth pattern - the deeper red area is dueto a higher chrome content. Several mica inclusions typical for phlogopite shist hosted Alexandrite.

 

[Bron357]

My russian 1,33 ct alexandrite. Included, strong change.

The microscope pic was made by Dr. Schmetzer - orientation to see the growth pattern - the deeper red area is dueto a higher chrome content. Several mica inclusions typical for phlogopite shist hosted Alexandrite.

Amazing. I can get a deepish green, a teal green, a light blueish, a purple, a purple with red and a pink colour depending on the light source and strength. They are such fascinating gems.