small peridot - what to do?

[sillyberry]

Hi everyone! I have a small peridot stone that is currently in an earring - I very very very sadly lost its mate. The stone has great sentimental value to me, so even though it likely isn''t great quality (I honestly have no idea) I want to turn it into something.

Since it is small, I was thinking some type of very dainty right hand ring - maybe a lotus? Or a swirly pattern? I''ve never had jewelry custom made, so I''m not sure where to begin or even what the price range should be.

Would the lovely denizens of the Colored Stones forum please help? I''m happy to answer any questions that would help tailor advice.

Thanks so much!!!

 

[sillyberry]

One more picture -

 

[chrono]

The poor thing could use some cleaning or a wee bit of polishing to bring it back to life. Going with the Lotus or even a bezeled stacker will be perfect for the size if you already have other stackers.

 

[sillyberry]

I wore the earrings for almost 10 years and sadly never cleaned them...not even sure how! I''m new to the whole jewelry thing. I assume google will tell me - I''ll see what I can do

)

I have no other rings, so no stackers. People on PS seem to like HeartsofWater for lotus rings. Is that a good place to start? I''m in Chicago if anyone has site-specific recommendations.

Thanks again!!!

 

[sillyberry]

I took some warm soapy water and a toothbrush to the little thing, but I''m not sure it did much. I''ll have to see what happens in natural light (if the sun ever comes out again until April...)

Regardless, this is more fun than reading con law!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I think it''d look lovely in a little lotus seed ring.

Or if you don''t like small stones, you could have it bezeled into a wider band.

Or save it for a multi-stone pendant down the road. There are a lot of options!!

 

[jstarfireb]

It would make a beautiful baby lotus ring! The lotus design is a copyright of Heart of Water Jewels, so that''s pretty much the only place to get one, unless you can have a local jeweler replicate it. But I think that design is unique and intricate enough that only the original will do.

 

[chrono]

If going the bezeled route with a peridot, you may have to shop around for a good jeweller. Most will refuse it for fear of chipping or damaging a soft gemstone.

 

[sillyberry]

The earrings were a gift from my late father -- and the only jewelry he ever bought me -- so while the stone might not be what I would want if I were starting with a blank slate, I really want a way to keep the stone close to me. And, knock on wood, this one will stick around forever.

I think a lil bitty lotus would be quite nice.

I''ll contact HofW and let you know how it goes - thanks muchly!

 

[jstarfireb]

Not sure if you''ve seen this, but here''s a thread I started a while ago to celebrate the lotus. You can see there are some teeny tiny ones as well as really big ones! Mine is 4mm, and I think the sapphire on the second page is 4.5 or so. What I mean to say is that the lotus can be done very nicely with teeny tiny stones.

 

[Barrett]

denizens of colored stones..hehe..oh so true..maybe a nose stud

..just playing..let us know what you do with it

 

[ma re]

It may be just me and my personal taste, but I''d set this one in a more ornate and/or imaginative setting as it''s clarity prevents it from sparkling much, so if you go a simplistic route like with a lotus, the whole piece might end up kind of...not interesting (cause it''s also a small stone too). Maybe if you think of some symbol that would remind you of your father and try to incorporate it into this design... Hope this helps

 

[sillyberry]

Hmm. Here is a setting I liked from Green Lake Jewelry. Is that something like you were thinking?

 

[Stone Hunter]

I''m so sorry that you lost it''s mate.

I''d probably save it for a pendant with other stones. Make it into a stacker ring like the baby lotus and put a couple of bands or other rings with it. OR I''d have a 3rd hole put in my ear and wear it without resetting it. Seriously!

 

[ma re]

Date: 9/30/2009 7:14:09 PM
Author: sillyberry
Hmm. Here is a setting I liked from Green Lake Jewelry. Is that something like you were thinking?

Not a bad idea. You can also do something like a silver band with the peridot bezel set and have gold filigree design around it. Or how about an engraved band.

 

[sillyberry]

Thanks for your comments everyone.

Stone Hunter, I''m not much a jewelry person (am I allowed to say that on this forum?!?!?), so I don''t plan on getting other rings to go with it. I also used to have 7 holes in my ears, but have let all but the bottom two close, so no more of that.

Sally got back to me, so I''m going to go ahead with a baby lotus. I know the stone isn''t much of anything -- particularly compared to the beauties shown around here! -- but the sentimental value makes it beautiful to me. I like the simple look of the baby lotus. I''ll probably wear the ring some of the time and keep in on a chain around my neck some of the time. Plus, I really want a ring to attach to my bouquet when I get married.

Again, thanks for all your help!!! I truly do appreciate it.