Setting a topaz; which colour gold for pendant?

[fluffboll]

Hello fellow Pricescopers,
a couple of years ago I bought a loose 5 carat topaz, which has been sitting in a box for far too long. I'm considering making a pendant, but can't decide which colour gold would look best with the stone. Rose or yellow gold? I'm drawn to the simple look of a bezel, maybe turning the stone 180 degrees, like an upside down pyramid with the tip pointing down. The stone is a chameleon, sometimes pinkish orange, sometimes reddish orange. Diamonds or no diamonds around the stone? Any and all suggestions would be appreciated! My apologies for the less than professional pictures...It's much brighter in person.

 

[GliderPoss]

Hmmm I’m leaning towards yellow gold? Red gold would be even better if possible... Lovely stone though.

 

[missy]

Hello fellow Pricescopers,
a couple of years ago I bought a loose 5 carat topaz, which has been sitting in a box for far too long. I'm considering making a pendant, but can't decide which colour gold would look best with the stone. Rose or yellow gold? I'm drawn to the simple look of a bezel, maybe turning the stone 180 degrees, like an upside down pyramid with the tip pointing down. The stone is a chameleon, sometimes pinkish orange, sometimes reddish orange. Diamonds or no diamonds around the stone? Any and all suggestions would be appreciated! My apologies for the less than professional pictures...It's much brighter in person.

That is a lovely stone. Since it changes color that is a tough decision. Because I would be concerned that one of the colors might clash with the metal you are choosing and I might go for a more neutral gold though @HotPozzum does bring up a great suggestion about red gold. That might look amazing. If you do diamonds around the stone it would provide a gorgeous contrast I think and then I might be more in the red gold camp. IDK tough decision but a good one to have. I cannot wait to see what you decide to do with this lovely stone.

 

[fluffboll]

Hi HotPozzum ans Missy, red gold sounds like a winning combo , although I don't think I've seen it IRL. Another cool option might be green gold, as red and green are complementary colours. Or would that just clash with the orange/pink/red of the topaz?

 

[MollyMalone]

I don't know if something other than a gold bezel bordered by diamonds would appeal to you, but I think this topaz would be a fabulous stone for a pendant fashioned from metal clay (a/k/a precious metal clay or PMC). PMC offers a nice range of metallic choices, such as bronze and copper. One example I quickly pulled from Google Images: a bronze metal clay pendant featuring a lemon quartz from this jewelry maker who has an Etsy shop:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/wpcardenas
https://www.etsy.com/listing/109724924/handcrafted-bronze-pendant-with-natural


These Pinterest pages depict a goodly number of PMC jewelry pieces to give you some idea of the possibilities, get your creative thoughts flowing : - )
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/556476097699691688/
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/kkitanim/metal-clay/

 

[Acinom]

What a beautiful stone!
Do you have gold pieces that you can photograph next to your stone? That might help your decision. Red gold sounds great though!

 

[cmd2014]

I might be tempted to do white gold (especially if you plan to do diamonds with it), just so that the colour of the stone is what you notice rather than any interplay between stone and gold tone.

 

[fluffboll]

@MollyMalone: Wow! Such amazing PMC jewellery...definitely something to consider for a statement piece! However, as I'd like the pendant to be something I can wear every day, and the topaz is quite large (in my eyes anyway), I think that a minimalist design would be more suitable/wearable.
@Acinom: Thanks for the suggestion! I have rose, yellow and white gold pieces at home (no red gold though), I'll definitely take some pictures of them with my stone.
@cmd2014: White gold was actually the first metal I considered, but as most of my jewellery is white gold with colourless diamonds, I'd like to try something differnt this time. It's so much trickier matching coloured metals with coloured stones though!

 

[cmd2014]

Provided that the colour is true on my monitor, I think rose gold would be my next choice for your stone if you're looking to do something different. I should pick up on the rosy/warm tones of the stone and emphasize them. I've seen it look wonderful with even more red toned stones (like rhodolite garnet) as well. But holding up existing chains to the stone and seeing it with your own eyes in different light conditions will probably give you the best answer...

 

[Bluegemz]

I vote for rose or yellow gold, 100%. I think the contrast would be gentle and subtle, like a sunset glow. IMO white metal would look more jarring and overpowering because of the contrast. I think it would be best to convey a harmony of color that fits with the subtlety of color in that gorgeous stone.

 

[shinyrocks]

What a beautiful topaz! I personally would do yellow gold to bring a bit of contrast to the pink of the topaz and accentuate it.

 

[fluffboll]

Thanks all for your input! I've decided to contact a jeweller I know who has samples of many types of gold alloys to see which colour looks best.

 

[ringo865]

Post pics of the options!!

 

[missy]

Thanks all for your input! I've decided to contact a jeweller I know who has samples of many types of gold alloys to see which colour looks best.

Yes! Best way to decide. See it in person next to the stone. Good luck and please share pics with us.

 

[fluffboll]

I'll post pictures of the photo session. Alas, I have my eyes on a lovely vintage sapphire ring which is being auctione next week. If I buy it the pendant project will have to be put on hold for a while.
I'll start a new thread about the ring - it is an exquisite setting, but the sapphire is not precision cut, to put it mildly...