Setting a Tourmaline with a crack like inclusion

[Rare gem lover]

Hi everyone!

I have a beautiful blue green tourmaline trillion. I love it but its got a bit of a crack. That being said, I really really want to set it! I can get silver rings made for very little but I do not know if I should. I have to keep it anyway so may as well set it.

I figured if I set it in a bezel with the whole stone enveloped, it would stay in place? I would love your advice on how to manage it. Do you have such a stone set? What could happen once I set it? Whats the worst case scenario?

 

[Rare gem lover]

View attachment 649574

Hi everyone!

I have a beautiful blue green tourmaline trillion. I love it but its got a bit of a crack. That being said, I really really want to set it! I can get silver rings made for very little but I do not know if I should. I have to keep it anyway so may as well set it.

I figured if I set it in a bezel with the whole stone enveloped, it would stay in place? I would love your advice on how to manage it. Do you have such a stone set? What could happen once I set it? Whats the worst case scenario?

Here is the Tourmaline ! But for the crack, it is incredible and has this glow about it. Face up you can’t really see it

 

[Rare gem lover]

Here is what it looks like face up (bad lighting). The crack isn't too obvious and it still looks pretty.

 

[Seaglow]

If you have a loupe, can you see if the crack is surface reaching?

 

[peacechick]

View attachment 649574

Here is the Tourmaline ! But for the crack, it is incredible and has this glow about it. Face up you can’t really see it

It is a really pretty stone, but wow the crack is pretty long. I don’t have any advice. I think a pendant is safest if it could actually be set but I know you won’t prefer that option. In ring form, it could shatter if you smack it by accident.

 

[Burmesedaze]

I'd set it in silver and enjoy it for as long as it lasts without overthinking, since there are always other gems to be acquired. It might surprise you pleasantly on the longevity, who knows?

 

[Rare gem lover]

I'd set it in silver and enjoy it for as long as it lasts without overthinking, since there are always other gems to be acquired. It might surprise you pleasantly on the longevity, who knows?

Haha you said EXACTLY what I want to say to myself! !!

 

[Rare gem lover]

If you have a loupe, can you see if the crack is surface reaching?

I don’t have a loupe but it does look close to the surface but just not touching. What do you that could mean? Sorry I’m such a dodo about this!

 

[Rare gem lover]

It is a really pretty stone, but wow the crack is pretty long. I don’t have any advice. I think a pendant is safest if it could actually be set but I know you won’t prefer that option. In ring form, it could shatter if you smack it by accident.

That’s fair but you know me and how little I like wearing pendants. But I may just do that. I’ll put it in silver.

To be honest I’m super duper careful of my rings, I don’t ever smack them. I’m pretty sure if I’m every in a car accident, my reflexes just before would be to protect my hand rather than my face!!

 

[Arcadian]

See if its even safe to set. some jewelers won't set stones like that because they can be a bit of a liability. As long as your guy knows its ok and if it breaks it breaks. set it in something cheap and pretty and enjoy!

 

[elle_71125]

That’s fair but you know me and how little I like wearing pendants. But I may just do that. I’ll put it in silver.

To be honest I’m super duper careful of my rings, I don’t ever smack them. I’m pretty sure if I’m every in a car accident, my reflexes just before would be to protect my hand rather than my face!!

Heaven forbid you ever find yourself in such a situation but this had me laughing out loud.

 

[bludiva]

i had a similar dilemma recently and ended up setting my cracked tourmaline in a pendant. turned out better than expected, i say go for it!

 

[dk168]

For personal experience and preference, I do not like claw or prong set for the main stone in a ring.
If the stone is not suitable for bezel set in a ring, then I would consider having it set as a pendant in a claw/prong setting as it would be less likely to be damaged by having one of the claws/prongs caught in clothing etc...

DK

 

[voce]

A bezel is more protective of the stone, but I wouldn't put a damaged/cracked stone inside a bezel, because if the damage progresses, the money spent on the bezel setting is wasted. On the other hand, with a prong setting, you can take the stone out and replace the stone with another one and reuse the setting.

 

[Seaglow]

I don’t have a loupe but it does look close to the surface but just not touching. What do you that could mean? Sorry I’m such a dodo about this!

It’s the risk of the stone enduring pressure at the goldsmith’s bench without splitting into two because the fracture is quite big and located across and at the shallower part of the stone.

 

[Rare gem lover]

I realise I’m okay to waste the setting in silver if the stone doesn’t last too long. But in case the inclusion is surface reaching then I believe it would be difficult to bezel set. What setting do you feel would be most easy for a bench? Also- yes I will make it a pendant to prolong its life.

 

[ringo865]

Ask your jeweler if s/he has recommendations about how or whether to set it. They’ll have a loupe and will know the risk/return ratio.

It’s a really pretty stone.

 

[Rare gem lover]

Ask your jeweler if s/he has recommendations about how or whether to set it. They’ll have a loupe and will know the risk/return ratio.

It’s a really pretty stone.

That’s true, ill do that.

But Sadly so many jewellers don’t know what they are doing. Especially for this one I will just be going with a low cost option in silver. I totally trust you guys more!