Recent Purchases - Including STUNNING Blue Zircon

[clairebc]

I got into gemstones in 2022 and have acquired a small collection, but none are set! My goal for 2023 is to set at least three of them.

In addition to what's below, I have a Mahenge garnet, rubellite tourmaline ("old stock" from the1990s!), and a purple-pink to blue-green color change garnet on order with Jeff White

4.25 ct Blue Zircon (Cambodia) - cut by Lisa Elser
Its so gorgeous in the sunlight, pictures don't do it justice. Sparkles like crazy, Zircon's dispersion is wild! This will definitely be going in a ring, maybe a solitaire with double claw prongs? Or a three stone with diamond side stones?



1.9 ct Iolite (Tanzania) - cut by Lisa Elser
I couldn't get could picture so including the vendor image, but its lovely in person!



5.77 ct London Blue Topaz (Brazil) - cut by Lisa Elser
I'm thinking this would make a nice pendant.



0.23 ct Mahenge Spinel (Tanzania) - cut by Michelle Mai (mvmgems)
0.28 ct Umba Sapphire (Tanzania) - cut by Michelle Mai (mvmgems)
Small but mighty! The spinel is so glowy. I think I'll either set them separately in solitaires for little stacker rings, or maybe together in a three stone with a diamond in the middle?



0.89 ct Tourmaline - cut by Steve Wallner (Westview Gems)
Another small but mighty one, its super vibrant! I love the different shades of green in this.



1.06 ct Songea Sapphire (Tanzania) - cut by Gene Flanigan (Precision Gem)
I already posted this one in another thread. It was an impulse buy! Very cool color change that I could not capture on camera. It's purple under indoor lighting (first picture), and teal-ish in natural light (second picture - camera did not pick it up!).

 

[LilAlex]

Lovely collection! Sounds like you have your work cut out for you!

 

[Timor]

That zircon sure sparkles! Beautiful collection and can’t wait to see what you do with them.

 

[oncrutchesrightnow]

Love how the zircon has a slight change in undertonedepending on the lighting.

 

[elle_71125]

They’re all so gorgeous! I can’t wait to see them set, but especially that zircon. Looking forward to seeing what you do with them.

 

[icy_jade]

Welcome to the CS forum and look forward to seeing how you set your gems!

 

[88_star]

I love a good zircon, it's unreal seeing the dispersion IRL the first time! Personally I love zircon in a good 3 stone with diamond sides, especially if you have some other solitaires (the stackers with the mvm gems sound very cute and versatile). Topaz shape seems perfect for a pendant. Good choices, can't wait to see how they are set!

 

[clairebc]

@LilAlex Thank you! And yes, I do. Hopefully, quite a few of them will be in Stuller settings, which will cut down on the "work"

@Timor Thanks! I think Zircon may be my new fav.

@oncrutchesrightnow Until I took it out in the sun I thought of it as a lighter blue stone, but in the direct natural light, it deepens up so much. Quite the opposite of some other stones.

@elle_71125 Thank you! And I'm sure people say this all the time, but the ring in your profile pic is gorgeous.

@icy_jade Thanks, I'm glad to be here. I figured I'd been reading everyone's posts for so long, I should post my own stuff!

@88_star When I took these pics it was my first time really seeing the dispersion with my own eyes! And yes, I think a 3 stone with diamonds would really do it justice. I'll probably get started with the little stackers since they'd be the easiest (and cheapest!) to do.

Now I just have to stop buying gems so I can get to setting what I have!!

I'm so pumped for my gems from Jeff. Mahenge garnet, rubellite tourm, and color change garnet have been on my wishlist so I had to snap them up. I was worried I'd missed out on the mahenge garnets! I wish I got started 5 years ago

 

[jenzgemz]

Such incredible stones! That Zircon is a stunner. Everyone's taste is different, I see it as a centerpiece in a cluster ring, like the designs on Instagram from anpeateliercph_jewellery, they have some incredible creations. They are out of Copenhagen though, so for me it's inspiration only.

Would love to see your Mahenge garnet! Just set mine last weekend at the Tucson show.

 

[Double E]

You got very high quality gems!

 

[clairebc]

@jenzgemz Thank you! Wow they make some great pieces, too bad I'm not in Denmark, so will be inspiration only for me as well! This will be my first time choosing a design for a ring rather than just buying one, so I'm gathering all the inspo I can. I'll be sure to post the garnet when I get it!!

@Double E Thank you! All the lapidaries I've bought from do beautiful work.

 

[clairebc]

Does anyone have any thoughts on what shape of diamond side stones would look good with this 4.25 ct zircon?

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

I got into gemstones in 2022 and have acquired a small collection, but none are set! My goal for 2023 is to set at least three of them.

In addition to what's below, I have a Mahenge garnet, rubellite tourmaline ("old stock" from the1990s!), and a purple-pink to blue-green color change garnet on order with Jeff White

4.25 ct Blue Zircon (Cambodia) - cut by Lisa Elser
Its so gorgeous in the sunlight, pictures don't do it justice. Sparkles like crazy, Zircon's dispersion is wild! This will definitely be going in a ring, maybe a solitaire with double claw prongs? Or a three stone with diamond side stones?



1.9 ct Iolite (Tanzania) - cut by Lisa Elser
I couldn't get could picture so including the vendor image, but its lovely in person!



5.77 ct London Blue Topaz (Brazil) - cut by Lisa Elser
I'm thinking this would make a nice pendant.



0.23 ct Mahenge Spinel (Tanzania) - cut by Michelle Mai (mvmgems)
0.28 ct Umba Sapphire (Tanzania) - cut by Michelle Mai (mvmgems)
Small but mighty! The spinel is so glowy. I think I'll either set them separately in solitaires for little stacker rings, or maybe together in a three stone with a diamond in the middle?



0.89 ct Tourmaline - cut by Steve Wallner (Westview Gems)
Another small but mighty one, its super vibrant! I love the different shades of green in this.



1.06 ct Songea Sapphire (Tanzania) - cut by Gene Flanigan (Precision Gem)
I already posted this one in another thread. It was an impulse buy! Very cool color change that I could not capture on camera. It's purple under indoor lighting (first picture), and teal-ish in natural light (second picture - camera did not pick it up!).

Doing the normal cruise by and *brakes squealing*


Holy crap, you came out swinging! I guess you did.
That's a collection, right there.

 

[clairebc]

@ItsMainelyYou Thank you for your kind words! I went a little crazy haha. Easy to do when I keep coming across so many beautiful things!

 

[clairebc]

I've made some progress in getting settings! I picked up a few used/new old stock ones for cheap on ebay/etsy.

Also if anyone is into 1950s type settings, I picked up a few from MBarr Jewelry, they're still having a 25% off sale on their new old stock settings: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MBarrJewe...r-name&listing_id=1204668802&search_query=NOS

I'm thinking this one i got on ebay will be for the sapphire from Gene:


This next one fits both the tiny purple sapphire and mahenge spinel from mvm gems:


I messed up and bought one a millimeter two small for the above two gems! I was thinking I might buy a little Bekily color change garnet to stick in it. I also think it would also look really nice with a OEC, but I haven't been able to source one myself yet -- reaching out to my jeweler about this! This one fits a gem around 2.8 mm, possibly a little bigger.


I guess I'm also trying to figure out if I like colored gems in these 1950s style settings. I *think* I do.

 

[clairebc]

Just got back my sapphire from Gene, set into the mount from Ebay! Was hoping the setting would accommodate claw prongs (it didn't!!), but still love it with the button prongs.

Wasn't expecting to get this back today, only dropped it off a few hours ago! The setting also looks a lot snazzier after a polish and rhodium plate.

 

[clairebc]

Just got back my sapphire from Gene, set into the mount from Ebay! Was hoping the setting would accommodate claw prongs (it didn't!!), but still love it with the button prongs.

Wasn't expecting to get this back today, only dropped it off a few hours ago! The setting also looks a lot snazzier after a polish and rhodium plate.

Why does my bathroom of all places have the best lighting??

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

Why does my bathroom of all places have the best lighting??

My grocery store does. Odd, isn’t it?

 

[voce]

A big haul! Congratulations! Please get a blue sapphire to go in between the pink spinel and purple sapphire from Michelle Mai. Those gems would imo both look better next to a blue sapphire than any other color I can think of, including colors diamond.

 

[momofive]

Very pretty And the setting cleaned up nicely!

 

[T L]

Why does my bathroom of all places have the best lighting??

Very pretty! It’s a nice high setting for stacking with a blingy band. The stone is lovely.

 

[clairebc]

@Mrsz1ppy I know right?? Luckily it looks nice in my office too - where I sadly spend too much of my time!

@voce OOOOOH I like that idea. I'm also not *loving* either in the setting I have now. I'll keep my eye out for something - not sure if her commissions are open anymore!!

@momofive Thanks! I almost cheaped out and asked them not to polish and rhodium plate, but luckily thought better of it!

@T L Thank you! It was even higher before! I asked them to lower it a bit. Now I'm inspired to buy a blingy band