Setting for a teeny tiny sapphire

[SapphireLover]

I bought the teeny tiny round sapphire that was on Barry''s site last month. Its a lightish blue with bits of lilac in. It is 0.32 carats and is 4.4mm across, so it really is teeny tiny. It was super cheap ($50) and I got it as I wanted to see what a Barry stone looks like. Now I have the problem of finding something to do with it.

As it was so cheap, I''d like to set it cheaply, but don''t know what to do with it. Ideas that I have had are sending it to kyleannemetals when she gets back from summer camp, so she can bezel it and put it on one of her rope bands, asking Juliakaytaylor to do one of her James Meyer inspired bezels or getting a plain pave 5mm setting from LOGR. I don''t think these ideas are going to be 100% right as it is so small it might look silly bezelled (although it would make it look a little larger). I think the LOGR might look a bit off as the stone is 4.4mm and the setting is for a 5mm stone. I could also speak to Sally about a custom lotus setting for it, but again, I am worried the sapphire might look swamped in it.

Any ideas? How have people set their teeny tiny stones?

Also- sorry for the rubbish pic- it was taken on my iphone.

 

[Kismet]

I''d put it in an antique looking setting like the one attached. That one in particular is from Janeliunas Jewelry.

 

[chrono]

I believe this one setting from LOGR is for a 4.5 mm stone so it should fit AND give the illusion of the stone looking larger.

 

[SapphireLover]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I would like something a bit simpler though. I think that LOGR is out of my price bracket as well!

 

[chrono]

SL,
Roughly what''s your budget? I think that LOGR is about $400.

 

[SapphireLover]

About $150! I don''t want to have spend $400 on a $50 stone. It doesn''t make sense.

 

[jmtomaui]

What about a very simple gold band with the sapphire "gypsy" set into it? I don''t know if gypsy is the right terminology but set into the band. There is no head, no bezel, just the sapphire set flush into the band?

The band would be inexpensive enough and the benchwork somewhat minimal?

 

[Fly Girl]

A very affordable setting is this Stuller pendant which is available in sterling silver.

http://www.stuller.com/products/product.aspx?gid=17582&page=8

 

[SapphireLover]

I am in the UK and we can''t get hold of Stuller settings, which is all very strange if you ask me!

 

[Lovinggems]

Maybe you can set it in silver or try Etsy?

Btw I love the ring in your avatar!

 

[kas baby]

I don''t think it would look weird in the lotus (and if you did it in silver I''m almost 100% positive you could make your budget) here is one a PSer has, and I believe it''s on the smaller side... https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-alexandrite-lotus-is-done.120658/

Sally has a listing for a ''baby lotus,'' and they look pretty darn good with stacking bands. Here is the ''show us your lotus rings'' thread https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-us-your-lotus-rings.120874/

(pst. Chrono I love the LOGR you posted

)

 

[SapphireLover]

LovingGems- Thank you! Its my ering. I love it.

Kas-baby- What a good idea- I''ll send Sally a message. I love the aqua pendant she made for me and get so many compliments on it all the time.

 

[brandy_z28]

I really love that setting Chrono posted from LOGR. That''s the one that got away from me! I was very sad...I believe it went for $180 in their auction. I wouldn''t worry so much about how little the stone cost, but about how much you like the stone. I think you can readily make a cheap/small stone look like a million bucks with the right setting.

 

[chrono]

Date: 8/20/2009 11:48:57 AM
Author: brandy_z28
I really love that setting Chrono posted from LOGR. That''s the one that got away from me! I was very sad...I believe it went for $180 in their auction. I wouldn''t worry so much about how little the stone cost, but about how much you like the stone. I think you can readily make a cheap/small stone look like a million bucks with the right setting.

No kidding! $180 is a bargain! I''ll have to try the auction one of these days.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Date: 8/20/2009 8:41:13 AM
Author: jmtomaui
What about a very simple gold band with the sapphire ''gypsy'' set into it? I don''t know if gypsy is the right terminology but set into the band. There is no head, no bezel, just the sapphire set flush into the band?

The band would be inexpensive enough and the benchwork somewhat minimal?

This is what I would do, with a brushed satin finish. It can be called a gypsy or a flush setting (there are small differences, but close enough).

An alternative would be to tube set it (a type of bezel that is built from, obviously, a pice of silver tubing) on a thin band for stacking. I did this with a a 0.2ct iolite on silver and it looks pretty cute (oooh, the dreaded word! but it is cute, specially with a pink baby tourmaline cab beside it).

 

[MakingTheGrade]

The LOGR is really pretty, though I prefer simpler styles as well. I''d second the suggestion of etsy. I have a 5mm stone in a lotus which I adore, and there are a lot of vendors that could source stones to make a trio of stackers for you incorporating your stone if you like that style.

 

[jstarfireb]

Baby lotus baby lotus baby lotus!!!

But I''m biased, since I just got one and I love it.

 

[Nomsdeplume]

Date: 8/20/2009 12:44:18 PM
Author: jstarfireb
Baby lotus baby lotus baby lotus!!!

But I''m biased, since I just got one and I love it.

Plus one for the baby lotus!

 

[D&T]

Ditto on Sally,,, Did you start a thread on this little guy?

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Any possibility you might want to get one or two other small stones and do simple bezeled stackers? Mine are 4.8, 5.3 and 5.5 mm, but I think your 4.4 would look stunning with a couple other similarly sized stones.

If not, then I second (third? nth?) the idea of a baby lotus - she makes her shanks super thin if you want (mine is about 1 mm) so proportion-wise, it should work.

 

[SapphireLover]

Thanks for the inspiration, I have decided to go for the baby lotus. MakingTheGrade, your little pad sapphire lotus makes my heart flutter. I''d love to see hand shots.

I spoke to Julia Kay about one of her designs and also to Sally, but have decided to go with Sally. One of the main factors is price and because Julia is in the USA, I am guaranteed to get customs charges. Both do amazingly beautiful work and both are a dream to convo with on Etsy. I''m going to ship the sapphire off to Sally and get her to set it properly. I will get the camera out, I promise, as soon as I can.

Thanks for all the suggestions folks.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Date: 8/21/2009 2:18:33 PM
Author: SapphireLover
Thanks for the inspiration, I have decided to go for the baby lotus. MakingTheGrade, your little pad sapphire lotus makes my heart flutter. I''d love to see hand shots.

Hehe, always happy to share photos of the pad!
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-pad-saga-comes-to-a-close.115970/

 

[kas baby]

woohoo! can''t wait to see it set!

 

[chrono]

The lotus is going to look great with the sapphire. I''ve a fondness for that setting.

 

[SapphireLover]

Sally just posted these pictures of my little baby lotus ring with the teeny tiny sapphire! She apologised that its got a tiny smudge on and needs cleaning up. I can''t wait to have it on my fingers!

 

[SapphireLover]

It looks a bit darker in the setting, which I am glad about!

 

[cushioncutnut]

OMG! It turned out just lovely in that Gorgeous lotus setting!!! So very pretty and unique!! I bet you can''t wait to get it!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Stone Hunter]

WOW I''m loving it in that setting. The White colored metal (Silver?) is just perfect for it. Can''t wait to hear what you think of the color in person, now that it''s been set.

Cograts!!

 

[D&T]

Beautiful ring! it looks great! can''t wait to see it on your finger

 

[chrono]

The lotus really complements the stone and the proportion is just right.