Setting Advice for Sapphire Ering

[madabess]

Hi,
I have been reading ps for a long time now and am so thankful for all the advice. I have always loved blue sapphires and want one for my center stone. I fell in love with Mr and Mrs Tropicmaster''s Jeff White stone and am in touch with him about sourcing a stone. So, my first question is how to make sure that I am describing what I like in a stone properly. I originally described what I wanted as around the colour of the linked 6.9mm http://www.whitesgems.com/gallery/SAP023.htm as I felt it looked similar to Mr Tropicmasters avatar. From everything I have looked at I would guess that it could be described as an intense medium blue. I am just trying to make sure that I used a proper example to describe what I liked. My next issue is that I fell in love with Simon g setting NR109 in 18k white gold. My local jeweller has it on display with what the sales lady said was a 2ct round cz and she had the exact ring with a 1ct round diamond. I have not been able to get a straight answer about the center stone range that the setting i meant to accomodate so if anyone know this that be great! The issue we have with the setting is that my bf did not like the setting with the 1ct diamond because he thought that it didn''t look right. I also am not a fan of gaps in a halo setting so opinions on the diameter of sapphire needed to look right in the setting would be really appreciated or even better if someone knows the diameter of the inside of the octagon halo that would let me know if I will be able to get the stone I would like and the setting within budget. Any suggestions on a vendor that has reasonable pricing for their simon G settings would be great too. Or if you know of other settings that are similar to the NR109 that would cost less pleaes pass them along (keeping in mind that I am looking for a halo preferably octagon with a band at least 6mm wide with pave diamonds). My last question is, will Simon G make any adjustments to their settings? for instance, I think the band would look amazing with lighter blue sapphires where the channel set princess diamonds are and I was thinking that a milgrain bezel instead of prongs miht help accomodate a slightly smaller center stone. I''m sorry there is so much in my post... I think I should have started posting sooner but I was confused and not really sure how to word my questions.
Thanks,
Mara

 

[ma re]

Can''t answer all your questions, but I can help you with a few. The color you''re trying to describe - I''d say that''s medium-light blue. Maybe our monitor settings differ, but I don''t really see that color as neither intense, nor as medium blue. There was a photo of a ring posted here not too long ago, with a round sapphire in a halo that I''d say was intense medium blue, but can''t really remember who''s it was (I think it was LovingDiamond''s).

The diameter of a center stone in question is probably around 6.5 mm, cause most 1 ct diamonds are around that diameter. You might have gotten confused because CZ''s are much more dense than diamonds so to be the same diameter CZ needs to be about twice the weight of a diamond (assuming they''ve been cut the same).

If halo is a certain shape and the center stone is another shape, you don''t really have much choice. You can either have gaps between the two, or have the stone overlaping with parts of the halo.

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 10/31/2009 2:53:04 PM
Author:madabess
Hi,

I have been reading ps for a long time now and am so thankful for all the advice. I have always loved blue sapphires and want one for my center stone. I fell in love with Mr and Mrs Tropicmaster''s Jeff White stone and am in touch with him about sourcing a stone. So, my first question is how to make sure that I am describing what I like in a stone properly. I originally described what I wanted as around the colour of the linked 6.9mm http://www.whitesgems.com/gallery/SAP023.htm as I felt it looked similar to Mr Tropicmasters avatar. From everything I have looked at I would guess that it could be described as an intense medium blue. I am just trying to make sure that I used a proper example to describe what I liked. My next issue is that I fell in love with Simon g setting NR109 in 18k white gold. My local jeweller has it on display with what the sales lady said was a 2ct round cz and she had the exact ring with a 1ct round diamond. I have not been able to get a straight answer about the center stone range that the setting i meant to accomodate so if anyone know this that be great! The issue we have with the setting is that my bf did not like the setting with the 1ct diamond because he thought that it didn''t look right. I also am not a fan of gaps in a halo setting so opinions on the diameter of sapphire needed to look right in the setting would be really appreciated or even better if someone knows the diameter of the inside of the octagon halo that would let me know if I will be able to get the stone I would like and the setting within budget. Any suggestions on a vendor that has reasonable pricing for their simon G settings would be great too. Or if you know of other settings that are similar to the NR109 that would cost less pleaes pass them along (keeping in mind that I am looking for a halo preferably octagon with a band at least 6mm wide with pave diamonds). My last question is, will Simon G make any adjustments to their settings? for instance, I think the band would look amazing with lighter blue sapphires where the channel set princess diamonds are and I was thinking that a milgrain bezel instead of prongs miht help accomodate a slightly smaller center stone. I''m sorry there is so much in my post... I think I should have started posting sooner but I was confused and not really sure how to word my questions.

Thanks,

Mara

lots of questions Mara! Ok, so firstly congrats on choosing to go with Jeff, you will not be disappointed.
Now:
1. You need not worry too much about Jeff getting the colour right. As long as you know what you want and can give a description and an example photo, you''ll be fine. He is very good at matching these descriptors to real stones. For example, I also asked for something very close to Tropic''s blue - here is my new JW sapphire
link, I''m sure you''ll agree it''s very close in colour to Tropic''s.
If you''d like further help, this chart is useful and Jeff is familiar with it. (Fyi, I asked for something between "Camelot" and "Prince of Wales".)

2. I''m sorry but your local jeweller or a Simon G rep is really the best person to answer these questions - some on the Rocky Talk or SMTR areas may have had direct experience with Simon G and can answer your questions about customization etc - but the source really will be your best bet.
If you can''t get a straight answer from them and they are not being helpful, I would find a new jeweller who does want to help you.

3. You need to remember that a CZ, diamond and sapphire all have different densities, hence a 1ct RB of each will have different mm measurements each time.
As you can see from the example of Jeff''s stone that you linked, with the ~6.5mm size of a 1ct diamond, to achieve the same effect you will be looking at roughly a 2ct sapphire.
It is best in coloured gems, when speaking to cutters etc to request in mm''s, unlike with diamonds in ct''s.

4. I would strongly recommend against trying to "build" a sapphire for the sake of fitting into a particular setting. The stone should be the star, and you will always be able to find a setting that will complement/accommodate it (considering we are not talking about an odd shaped cut here or anything).
I have never dealt with Simon G, but I''m sure they will offer a range of calibrated sizes.
If you are looking for something in a similar style, I *know* that Beverley K make lovely pieces, and are very open to customization requests - they have a number of similar halo styles you may like.
I would look through the range at Pearlman''s, who btw are also very helpful with these types of queries.

Finally, I like your idea of light blue sapphires on the band quite alot, I agree it would look pretty. If you can''t find a pre-made ring which can be changed, I would suggest going custom. For the price of a Simon G ring, I''m confident you could go to one of the popular PS custom jewellers and have exactly your dream ring made for the same cost (or less).

hope that helps a bit, and good luck!

 

[madabess]

Thank you so much for your replies. I definitely feel better about the colour, I think I was just getting worried with my lack of kowledge and not seeing it in person. Also, the info on cz makes a lot of sense. My local jeweller just wasn''t being responsive so I was getting frustrated with all the different numbers that I had been finding. I live in a smaller town not close to anything so I don''t have a lot of options to view different vendors in person so I was excited to be able to work with someone local but maybe it isn''t menat to be, we''ll see.

Ma Re - thank you for your response. I understand that there will be a "gap" with the different shape halo/stone combo, the "gap" I don''t like is when you can see through the ring and I saw one picture where the stone was small enough that you could see through the ring and I just want to avoid that.

Arjunajane - thank you (I love your sapphire btw, the colour change is amazing!) I have made contact with some other jewellers that hopefully will be more responsive. I agree that the stone should be the main attraction which is why I don''t want to compromise on it or chose a setting that won''t make it look amazing. My bf was concerned that a custom setting would be very expensive. The Simon G setting is about $3400 and definitely on the higher end of the scale that we want to spend on the setting. Do you think a custom setting would be an option with a top budget of $3400?

Thanks!!!
mara

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 11/1/2009 10:18:37 AM
Author: madabess

Thank you so much for your replies. I definitely feel better about the colour, I think I was just getting worried with my lack of kowledge and not seeing it in person. Also, the info on cz makes a lot of sense. My local jeweller just wasn''t being responsive so I was getting frustrated with all the different numbers that I had been finding. I live in a smaller town not close to anything so I don''t have a lot of options to view different vendors in person so I was excited to be able to work with someone local but maybe it isn''t menat to be, we''ll see.

Arjunajane - thank you (I love your sapphire btw, the colour change is amazing!) I have made contact with some other jewellers that hopefully will be more responsive. I agree that the stone should be the main attraction which is why I don''t want to compromise on it or chose a setting that won''t make it look amazing. My bf was concerned that a custom setting would be very expensive. The Simon G setting is about $3400 and definitely on the higher end of the scale that we want to spend on the setting. Do you think a custom setting would be an option with a top budget of $3400?


Thanks!!!

mara

Hey mara, you''re welcome and good for you for seeking help elsewhere. I always feel like we shouldn''t reward poor service with our business, kwim?
Thankyou for your kind comments on my sapphire, I''m confident Jeff will find you your dream one too

Are you asking would a custom setting *just like the Simon G one* be possible for 3.4k?.
I assume you are talking white gold, or is it plat?

I definitely think that is a healthy budget and you can go custom for sure with 3.4k.
I''m not sure of the tcw of that design or what it would cost to make something similar though.

I suggest gathering a number of "inspiration pictures" of different elements of rings that you like, create a document or ppt slide, and asking for a quote.
As I am currently doing custom with Brian Gavin Diamonds and am finding them very helpful and friendly, I can easily recommend them to you for custom (you can see lots of examples of their work both on PS and on their blog).