Stone/setting help for a rhodolite garnet

[Jereni]

Hi everyone - I more or less posted this in RockyTalk but it was suggested that this might be the better forum, and it probably is

I'm working on a Christmas gift for my mom and I would love to get some advice. I'd like to make her a RHR with a colored gem. Her engagement ring is an emerald cut diamond set in yellow gold, and I know she likes elongated shapes, plus red/pink are her favorite colors.

So, to that end, I am thinking a rhodolite garnet, a good, rich, reddish-pink or pink-ish red. Currently I found the below stone, and am ordering it to take a look in person. This stone is 10.6 x 8.4mm - in general I'd like the stone to be a healthy size like this, at least 8mm in one direction or the other.


4.45 cts, currently priced at $292

I'm curious for both stone and setting help, including this stone. I've trolled many PS sites in my search, and this was the only rhodolite that really spoke to me, but I'd be curious is anyone else has seen a good, well-saturated pink/red one. My budget for the stone is about $500.

Regarding the setting, I'd like to do something more interesting than just a solitaire, but shy of a halo. I don't really have the budget for a custom halo and I think it'd be too blingy for her anyway. Though I suppose I better hold off on setting talk until I settle on a stone.

 

[Jereni]

Here is the hand shot from the vendor, unfortunately it is rather small. The color of the stone looked consistent between the two photos though, a very deep rich pink-red, which is what I'm going for.

 

[chrono]

I'm surprised you are looking at rhodolites for a red/pink stone because they are more well known for their rich reddish purple colouration. Red is an expensive colour so for the size and budget you've set, this could fit what you are looking for. The colour seen isn't a pure red nor is it well saturated but given your constraints, I'm not sure if you can do any better. I agree that the setting should be held off until you decide on the stone.

 

[Jereni]

Understood - I guess when looking at rhodolites on various sites, to me they typically present more pink-red than purple. But I am learning, I didn't realize they were famous for purple as opposed to pink.

So $500 is not sounding like a good budget? Most of the PS vendors I've been have plenty of rhodolites in this price range at decent sizes. But then again, maybe I am not looking at the most desired specimens, that is entirely possible.

Edited to add: On the above stone - I'm definitely not looking for pure red on this one, so that's not the problem. But if not well-saturated, then I'd want to keep looking.

 

[movie zombie]

until you see it in person you aren't going to know. keep an open mind. respect your budget. but remember that the color stone is the "star" of the show, not the setting or any other adornments. imo. a decent color stone can become overwhelmed by a setting or additional stones and end up looking the poorer because of it. personally? i like it. especially for that price.

 

[chrono]

Rhodolite garnets are typically not expensive so you can get a nice specimen within budget. You just won't get a screaming red stone of over 8 mm for $500 or under.

This is a beautiful rhodolite which shows colouration that is normally expected.
http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=139&idproduct=3870

ETA
Whilst I just read that you don't need a pure red stone, are you open to other secondary colours like orange or purple?

 

[Jereni]

until you see it in person you aren't going to know. keep an open mind. respect your budget. but remember that the color stone is the "star" of the show, not the setting or any other adornments. imo. a decent color stone can become overwhelmed by a setting or additional stones and end up looking the poorer because of it. personally? i like it. especially for that price.

Very good advice I definitely agree, I think I got ahead of myself with this project. I just want the whole thing to really wow her But yes, stone first!

 

[Jereni]

Rhodolite garnets are typically not expensive so you can get a nice specimen within budget. You just won't get a screaming red stone of over 8 mm for $500 or under.

This is a beautiful rhodolite which shows colouration that is normally expected.
http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=139&idproduct=3870

ETA
Whilst I just read that you don't need a pure red stone, are you open to other secondary colours like orange or purple?

Mmmm, that Barry is yummy! That is definitely a color tone I am going for. I'm definitely open to secondary colors in terms of pink and purple. I think what I'm reading as 'pink' would actually be considered purple by others. For example, I like the tone of this gem from Wildfish, they describe it as purple and my immediate reaction was 'PINK!!". Lol.

 

[chrono]

Ah, I get you now. You are indeed looking for a pinkish purple stone and a rhodolite is the perfect choice. In that case, you may want to pass on the first cushion because the saturation may not be what you are after. Email the lapidaries if you don't see anything you like on their website. They do not always list everything they have.

Just as a FYI, a pure pink is actually a light toned red.

 

[Jereni]

Ah, I get you now. You are indeed looking for a pinkish purple stone and a rhodolite is the perfect choice. In that case, you may want to pass on the first cushion because the saturation may not be what you are after. Email the lapidaries if you don't see anything you like on their website. They do not always list everything they have.

Just as a FYI, a pure pink is actually a light toned red.

Got it....yeah thinking over it, I don't know why I was thinking the first one had much red. I later found this stone on wildfishgems, which seems to have more red:


(at $1700, way out of my price range for this project)

The first stone I posted is on its way to me, so I will definitely post comparison pics. Plus there's Intergem tomorrow! So I am hoping to find good options there too.

 

[innerkitten]

I really like re garnets and like the look of the first one you posted. It will be interesting to see what it looks like in person.

 

[movie zombie]

I really like re garnets and like the look of the first one you posted. It will be interesting to see what it looks like in person.

i agree.

 

[chrono]

Ooh....let's see how it looks in person and also observe if it closes up or colour shifts indoors. You are going to have a blast at the Intergem show. Go with the intent to see as many different types of gemstones of varying quality and to get a feel for pricing. Who knows, you might just find the right red garnet for yourself there.

 

[Jereni]

Thanks!!! Yay, I am so excited about the show today - its my first Intergem. Anybody have vendor recommendations? I'm meeting with Jaimeen from Prima Gem, based on others' posts about them, but other than that I was just going to wander....

 

[chrono]

Vance Gems
Africa Gems

 

[innerkitten]

Oooh fun! I hope you find something

 

[minousbijoux]

I am so jealous! I wish Prima and Vance came my way. Have a great time and if you remember, try to see the stones in multiple lighting. Garnets particularly, look great under their jewelry lighting and tend to brown out under fluorescent. See if they'll let you drag a stone around to different lighting in the building...

 

[RAMARAMA]

Hi I am new , I think rhodolite garnet color range: pink with open red: violet color: purple color: purple with red: if open color with good luster then perfect rhodolite garnet prices range 50 to 100 & up per cts otherwise 20 to 40 US$ per cts

 

[LD]

Hi everyone - I more or less posted this in RockyTalk but it was suggested that this might be the better forum, and it probably is

I'm working on a Christmas gift for my mom and I would love to get some advice. I'd like to make her a RHR with a colored gem. Her engagement ring is an emerald cut diamond set in yellow gold, and I know she likes elongated shapes, plus red/pink are her favorite colors.

So, to that end, I am thinking a rhodolite garnet, a good, rich, reddish-pink or pink-ish red. Currently I found the below stone, and am ordering it to take a look in person. This stone is 10.6 x 8.4mm - in general I'd like the stone to be a healthy size like this, at least 8mm in one direction or the other.


4.45 cts, currently priced at $292

I'm curious for both stone and setting help, including this stone. I've trolled many PS sites in my search, and this was the only rhodolite that really spoke to me, but I'd be curious is anyone else has seen a good, well-saturated pink/red one. My budget for the stone is about $500.

Regarding the setting, I'd like to do something more interesting than just a solitaire, but shy of a halo. I don't really have the budget for a custom halo and I think it'd be too blingy for her anyway. Though I suppose I better hold off on setting talk until I settle on a stone.

This is an absolutely gorgeous stone. Are you getting this for a look? It's SLIGHTLY on the dark side but even on the hand shot it has retained it's colour. The cut is really beautiful and whilst you may find a cheaper stone, you're unlikely to find a good size one with this cut for any cheaper. If I were you, I'd go for it.

 

[minousbijoux]

Jereni: weren't you going to go to Intergem? Any good candidates?

 

[Jereni]

This is an absolutely gorgeous stone. Are you getting this for a look? It's SLIGHTLY on the dark side but even on the hand shot it has retained it's colour. The cut is really beautiful and whilst you may find a cheaper stone, you're unlikely to find a good size one with this cut for any cheaper. If I were you, I'd go for it.

I'm so glad you think so! I was hoping this one looked nice - I still have a long way to go in terms of picking out stones based off photos. My latest two tries have been duds. I'm learning so much from this forum since being active on it instead of just a lurker!

The stone is on it's way to me, yes. I'm hoping it will be here Mon or Tues and I will post photos pronto. I think I'm understanding better by what IS and what is NOT saturated - and maybe this one isn't - but I did think the cut looked really awesome. Thanks so much for the feedback!

 

[Jereni]

Jereni: weren't you going to go to Intergem? Any good candidates?

I did and had so much fun! I was thinking about posting a 'report' thread but wasn't sure if anyone would care Though - from what I heard from Jaimeen, this was a very small Intergem, and the one in December is 3 times the size or more. And - here's where I'm such a newbie - I only found 3ish vendors selling loose stones in the whole place. Granted, I didn't walk up and ask every single booth, but only 3 that I saw had loose stones sitting out and obvious.

And no good rhodolites.... at least none that appealed to me in person.

 

[chrono]

Please post your mini report. I'm sure many of us appreciate reading about your experience and what other trends you might have heard about.

 

[VAgemguy]

Hi Jereni, I think I was standing next to you at Prima's booth on Friday! If you are able, you should definitely plan to attend the December show in Chantilly. Many more loose stone vendors will be there, including Vance and others.