spess came in the mail today...

[enbcfsobe]

inspired by lauren the partier''s dark red spess, i picked up this one from dan stair. the holiday made me wait, but now it''s here! can''t wait to take it home and get my own pictures. i''m really digging the dark red in person -- it has that burning ember type look to it.
it is around 7mm. i was originally thinking of doing a full wg bezel setting for a ring, but now that i''m seeing it in person i''m not sure that would be the most flattering. it really is most flashy around the edges, and i feel like blocking them off would make the stone darker and lose that lovely flash. i still think i''d like to do a ring in wg -- it''s such a pretty stone to look at and play with that even though i don''t wear rings (other than my ering), this might inspire me. i think it would make a pretty pendant, too, but then i wouldn''t be able to see it. at the same time, i don''t want it in something where it will be too prone to breaking!
any thoughts?

 

[Elmorton]

What about a half bezel??? Such a gorgeous stone!!!

 

[enbcfsobe]

thanks! i''m not finding many half bezels available in this size. i''m hoping to get a stock setting to keep it reasonably priced.

what do you think about this one? i''m not sure how i feel about the blocky "head" but i really like the band. i would get it without the stones set in the band but couldn''t find a pic of that version with the round head. anyone know if jamesallen sets colored stones?

 

[enbcfsobe]

another view...

 

[enbcfsobe]

or maybe something more traditional like this one from stuller?

 

[Sparkles22]

Date: 2/20/2008 4:28:27 PM
Author: enbcfsobe
thanks! i''m not finding many half bezels available in this size. i''m hoping to get a stock setting to keep it reasonably priced.

what do you think about this one? i''m not sure how i feel about the blocky ''head'' but i really like the band. i would get it without the stones set in the band but couldn''t find a pic of that version with the round head. anyone know if jamesallen sets colored stones?

I really like this one and think it would look beautiful with that stone. I think I may make the prongs/basket less chunky. I can''t wait to see what you do!

 

[beaujolais]

Beautiful. Most reds don''t work for me but this one does.

The top setting. It''s more antique like. The bottom is just too plain.

White or yellow gold?

 

[enbcfsobe]

sonoma -- i don''t like reds either. ruby is my birthstone and i''ve never liked it, even rhinestone versions. this one just called to me, and i''m so glad i bought it! it is even better in person, imho. it reminds me of really deep red roses, like black magic.

 

[Sparkles22]

I''ve always liked blue stones, but lately I''ve been into reds and pinks. That is the perfect color red, I love the deepness of the color!

 

[Dogmom]

Beautiful stone! I love Dan''s work and he is so nice to deal with, too. Would you consider setting it in yg? I think with the stone''s lovely warmth, the yg would really compliment it.

 

[beaujolais]

this one just called to me,>

I understand why.

 

[Diamond*Dana]

Gorgeous stone, that is some color! However you set it, it will be gorgeous!

 

[enbcfsobe]

sooo...JA will set outside stones for a fee, and they were super responsive! now i just need to decide if this is what i want to go with. i''m still not sure about the chunkiness of the "head" of the ring and prongs. on one hand, it is added protection for the stone. i''m just not sure how it will look IRL. i''m not sure how much the design can be altered -- i think its supposed to be almost like a 4-part bezel rather than prongs.
i''m also torn about whether to spend the extra $ for the version with the diamonds in the band. it seems silly, though they do add some sparkle to it. here is the plain band, but i can only find a pic with the princess head.

 

[enbcfsobe]

oops. pic.

 

[Sparkles22]

I like the unique shape of it so much, I don''t necessary think it needs the diamonds. I would do diamonds if I was using the spress for an e-ring though.

 

[enbcfsobe]

thanks, sparkles. i'm leaning towards the plain version, too, as it will be a rhr.

to confuse the issue, here's another option... i wasn't going to do yg, but this looks so cute! it doesn't look nearly as secure as the seed one, though.

 

[movie zombie]

can you change the head that holds the stone? i too like the rope look of the yellow gold setting. however, a spess really should have its girdle protected a bit more than that setting will allow.

movie zombie

 

[marcy]

Very pretty stone. I think it will be gorgeous no matter what setting you pick.

 

[enbcfsobe]

Date: 2/22/2008 1:13:10 AM
Author: movie zombie
can you change the head that holds the stone? i too like the rope look of the yellow gold setting. however, a spess really should have its girdle protected a bit more than that setting will allow.

movie zombie

hmm -- i doubt it, and i think trying might just result in the rope becoming an icky blob. maybe the seed setting is a better bet for that reason. the shape of the head on that one is a lot more protective. i love your ring, btw!

 

[RevolutionGems]

Enbee, this is completely off the subject here. I am a big cat fan and I just have to ask, Russian Blue?

 

[enbcfsobe]

Date: 2/22/2008 11:34:25 AM
Author: Revolution
Enbee, this is completely off the subject here. I am a big cat fan and I just have to ask, Russian Blue?

just a very pretty former street cat who looks like one! she has the same type of coat -- solid grey with a white undercoat. we have a thing for grey kitties. we just adopted a second cat that is a slightly darker grey with one tiny white spot.

ETA: she has very green eyes, though it is hard to see in the picture.

 

[movie zombie]

Date: 2/22/2008 10:45:18 AM
Author: enbcfsobe

i love your ring, btw!

thanks!

i really like that twisted setting though.

movie zombie

 

[enbcfsobe]

mz, i love the rope setting, too. i am keeping it on file, maybe for a spinel or sapphire that wouldn''t need as much protection... i think a heavier head on that band would look sortof unbalanced. the seed band i think provides some protection for the stone without being a complete bezel, so i''ll probably go in that direction or look for something locally. if it wasn''t snowing i''d take it to my jeweler in the suburbs tomorrow. maybe i''ll try someplace more local instead...

 

[Sparkles22]

I still like the other setting, better than the ropes. I do think a YG setting would really bring out the beauty of the stone, if you''re considering YG. I like the white metals personally, but there is something I am just draw to when I see a red stone in YG, yum!

 

[babysteps]

I''m just learning about colored stones so am completely uninformed - just wanted to say that I LOVE the color on this stone, I think it''s so rich.

 

[enbcfsobe]

thanks, sparkles! that setting isn''t available in yg... i agree about the warmth of it, but i do also think i''d wear a wg ring much more. even though i mix white and yellow metals, i think i''d feel weird wearing a plat ring on one had and a yg on the other. i just don''t think i''d wear it as much. still deciding, though. one thing i did think of was a tulip setting, though i''m still really drawn to the pretty band on the JA setting.

thanks to you too babysteps! i still have a lot to learn, too. the folks around here are so super helpful (sometimes verging on enabling

). there is plenty to read and watch and learn. luckily there are plenty of inexpensive options for colored stones, so the stakes are a little less daunting than with diamonds. that said, the "rules" are much less clear for how to choose. luckily everyone here is happy to give their opinions and advice!