Stone size for a new project?

[fatafelice]

All of this talk about (and amazing pictures of!) spessartites is inspiring me!

I want to re-create the ring in my avatar with a spess as the center (the color would be perfect!), but I don''t know what size stone I should be looking for. I wear a ring size 6 if I wear it on my right ring finger. From the only two pictures of this ring I have, the ring looks as if it would be wider than one finger. I have been looking at an 8mm stone, but when I crunched the numbers, to get all 8 sapphires around it would mean that they would have to be about 2mm x 3mm. That seems too small to me, but I''m not very good at math! What do you all think? Any pictures of similar style rings with some dimensions?

I''m including the pictures I have of this ring and I''ll try to put in a picture of my hand...just in case anyone wants the reference!

 

[fatafelice]

Ewww! I don''t think I''ve ever photographed my hand before! Excuse the icky nails!

 

[belle]

fatafelice,
i have always loved the ring in your avatar and i think a spess would be perfect for the center stone

so, i hope you don''t mind

i thought i would try it on to get an idea of the size

(i wear a 6 as well!

)

if you want the ring to be large-ish...i think you could go with a bigger center stone of 12mm with the sides being 3x4mm....that is based on the l/w being 20mm, which is the size i used in the picture. i should note however....i stink at math

so i could be more than way off with this!!
have you presented this project to your jeweler yet? i''m sure he/she would be able to give you a much more accurate estimate of the size stones you will need.
best of luck to you!! please keep us posted with your progress!!

i really like this ring!!

 

[fatafelice]

Belle: Thank you SO much! It really helps to see a visual, but I''m not great at photoshop...It looks so nice on your hand, maybe you should think about having one made as well!!!

I definitely want the ring to be large-ish. I don''t think there is a point to having a ring like that if it is tiny! I don''t have a jeweler here that I would trust to do custom work, though BF and I are going to look at diamonds at a place this week that is supposed to have a good custom desinger. I have just been looking around for a nice spessartite...just in case!

I know I can find a spessartite on my own...Should I leave the process of finding the matched sapphires to whoever my jeweler ends up being? It seems that finding the right color/size/shape -- all matching -- would be a very hard.

Thanks for the input!

 

[valeria101]

Date: 6/6/2005 5:45:13 AM
Author: fatafelice


I definitely want the ring to be large-ish. I don't think there is a point to having a ring like that if it is tiny!

It sounds like the total width of the flower could be at most 15mm - and that includes room for the bezel and prongs. The center being bezel set, it would not sit over the girdles of the sidestones at all. Unless you would have it prong set as well.

Since this ring is so much about the stones, I would much rather have one person (the jeweler or a cuter) source them all. The garnet should not be a problem because of the relatively small size (2-3 cts is not uncommon for them) but finding matched sapphires of good color might not happen soon. Not that such stones do not exist, but they are rarely offered retail.

This one will surely be a fun piece !

Have you seen this page on "Loonewoodminer" 's site ? The colors in the ring picture strongly resemble Australian sapphire to begin with. Perhaps they could provide an orange center as well - I see some spessartite and rare yellow tourmaline rough on the site (link). If I understand it right, this shop cuts their own stones, so matching shapes and sizes for your ring should be readily feasible - and this cannot be said about every jewelery shop since not many would start working with rough gems for every piece of jewelry

We'd wish !

About size and proportions... have you seen this one at Fay's ? She gives detailed measurements and there is a hand picture to help "feel" the piece, as usual. Quite impressive:

 

[MJO]

Date: 6/6/2005 5:45:13 AM
Author: fatafelice
Belle: Thank you SO much! It really helps to see a visual, but I''m not great at photoshop...It looks so nice on your hand, maybe you should think about having one made as well!!!

I definitely want the ring to be large-ish. I don''t think there is a point to having a ring like that if it is tiny! I don''t have a jeweler here that I would trust to do custom work, though BF and I are going to look at diamonds at a place this week that is supposed to have a good custom desinger. I have just been looking around for a nice spessartite...just in case!

I know I can find a spessartite on my own...Should I leave the process of finding the matched sapphires to whoever my jeweler ends up being? It seems that finding the right color/size/shape -- all matching -- would be a very hard.

Thanks for the input!

Hello Fatafelice,

This is a 10mm round step cut 7.12ct mandarin on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10224&item=5001916299

I have dealt with Judi alot and have never had a problem. If you don''t like the stone she takes it back with no problems. I have to disclose that I have also had her sell some of my stones when I decided to put them up for sale. That is because I trust her. This stone is not one of mine.

 

[belle]

Date: 6/6/2005 5:45:13 AM
Author: fatafelice
Belle: Thank you SO much! It really helps to see a visual, but I''m not great at photoshop...It looks so nice on your hand, maybe you should think about having one made as well!!!

I definitely want the ring to be large-ish. I don''t think there is a point to having a ring like that if it is tiny! I don''t have a jeweler here that I would trust to do custom work, though BF and I are going to look at diamonds at a place this week that is supposed to have a good custom desinger. I have just been looking around for a nice spessartite...just in case!

I know I can find a spessartite on my own...Should I leave the process of finding the matched sapphires to whoever my jeweler ends up being? It seems that finding the right color/size/shape -- all matching -- would be a very hard.

Thanks for the input!

you''re welcome

i don''t photoshop well either, but i really wanted to *try* this ring on! i sure did think about having one like it made! really, i have always admired it!

it''s a good excuse for a new spess too!

i do think you should have a jeweler source the sidestones for you. that way your assure uniform size/color.
ana had some great ideas for finding them, hopefully you won''t have too much trouble and you can be on your way to making your ring soon!

have fun looking at diamonds this week!

i hope you can find a jeweler to recreate this lovely piece!

 

[MINE!!]

That is a really cool project. I am pretty partial to madarin garnets...

I have no real imput except that I cannot wait to see the finished product!

 

[movie zombie]

lonewoodminer had some spess rough that i think he sold to michael e? both are pricescopers. if i were looking for sapphires i''d definitely check with lonewoodminer. reading pricescope threads leads me to believe that his sapphires of good quality and good value re price.

mjo, that''s a pretty spess! but lots of $$$ for eBay. i notice it only lists as 10mm: no reference to carat or clarity. i''d want a lot more info before i''d put the $$$ up for an eBay stone. but your recommendation and the fact that i can get in touch with the vendor would make me inclined to check it out. at 10mm it may well be over 2-3 carats.

i''d be inclined to get the spess myself as it is the center piece of this little piece of art. and while it would be easier to have a jeweler get the sapphires due to the matching question, i''d be inclined to check with lonewoodminer before going that route. but i''d definitely go that route to save time and trouble if lonewoodminder couldn''t provide what i was looking for.

peace, movie zombie

 

[velouriaL]

I''m excited about this project! It''s going to be gogeous!

 

[Kaleigh]

Me too, what a fun project!!! belle you are getting too good at those photo shop skill girl!!!

 

[valeria101]

Date: 6/6/2005 11:37:04 AM
Author: movie zombie

at 10mm it may well be over 2-3 carats.

Sure thing ! I was thinking 7-8mm for some reason, but that allot smaller than the photoshop sugests. 10-11mm should be well above 5 cts (6-7 more likely). Something is telling me that rounds will not be easy to locate, even smaller than that. I would rather start asking to have one cut on order from the start.

Here's one - nice color, but smaller.

Ebay is full of surprises, as usual. As long as "what you see is what you get" is feasible and a slight brownish tint not the end of the world, I'd give it a try. Does anyone know a thing about this shop ? That is a roundish cushion cut and this straight step cut round... surely like their presentation: it doesn't hide completely the overcast orange that justifies (IMO) the price.

Surely there is better and more expensive, but I would need to see these before calling them "ugly" for any reason.

Between those going for a couple hundred at most and this (look for the 8.63 cts round down the page) I would be in trouble choosing - not because 8 carat orange garnet would not be rare and desirable, but... well, that's ten times the price and not the cheerful orange I would be looking for - exactly what MJO chose. I am not very surprised that the details listed with that stone are schetchy - that color would usually be good reason to forgive some inclusions and the price is high enough to indicate that neither seller or buyer would go forth with the transaction without prior communication and trustworthy return policy. Assuming the picture was posted in good faith, that's quite a find

 

[MINE!!]

Oh VAL!! That color is scrumptous!!!

 

[belle]

i like the round very much!!

(that''s a cool flash video of it spinning on the seller''s site too!

) it''s about the right size.....

nice find ana!!

 

[valeria101]

Date: 6/6/2005 1:32:12 PM
Author: belle

nice find ana!

Oh well, I think the video is more realistic than the glamorous photos - the round does not look all that bright (brownish color and flat crown). If anything, the ten fold price difference between MJO's catch of the day and those two, does not do much justice to the less expensive piece - it is a large, clean and desirable piece after all. Just in the eye of this beholder, of course. I wish there was some side by side comparison of such stones showing the range of colors and value for orange garnet (or anythong else, really). If it is too much to ask for such samples in flesh, at least in pictures it shouldn't be that hard...

The sellers are totally unkown to me. Their calling colored stones "IF-VVS" needs a grain of salt. Hopefully the return policy does not.

As far as I can remember, "Bagpuss" has a ring close to this - ovals surrounding a colored center. If you like bezel setings, the way these ovals are set looks great. In any event this ring will be custom, so it doesn't hurt to try out versions. perhaps the jeweler making this ring will have yet another one totally different !

 

[MJO]

Date: 6/6/2005 11:37:04 AM
Author: movie zombie
lonewoodminer had some spess rough that i think he sold to michael e? both are pricescopers. if i were looking for sapphires i''d definitely check with lonewoodminer. reading pricescope threads leads me to believe that his sapphires of good quality and good value re price.

mjo, that''s a pretty spess! but lots of $$$ for eBay. i notice it only lists as 10mm: no reference to carat or clarity. i''d want a lot more info before i''d put the $$$ up for an eBay stone. but your recommendation and the fact that i can get in touch with the vendor would make me inclined to check it out. at 10mm it may well be over 2-3 carats.

i''d be inclined to get the spess myself as it is the center piece of this little piece of art. and while it would be easier to have a jeweler get the sapphires due to the matching question, i''d be inclined to check with lonewoodminer before going that route. but i''d definitely go that route to save time and trouble if lonewoodminder couldn''t provide what i was looking for.

peace, movie zombie

Hi MZ,

The stone is 7.12ct sand faces up clean according to the description. Most Namibian stones are not completely eye clean. When Judi puts sunkist orange the color is ussually fanta orange. She is where I got my Extra fine 10ct+ Mandarins from a couple of years ago. Some of her better stones aren''t even listed on ebay she calls me when there is something special.

 

[MJO]

Date: 6/6/2005 12:25:16 PM
Author: valeria101

Date: 6/6/2005 11:37:04 AM
Author: movie zombie

at 10mm it may well be over 2-3 carats.

Sure thing ! I was thinking 7-8mm for some reason, but that allot smaller than the photoshop sugests. 10-11mm should be well above 5 cts (6-7 more likely). Something is telling me that rounds will not be easy to locate, even smaller than that. I would rather start asking to have one cut on order from the start.

Here''s one - nice color, but smaller.

Ebay is full of surprises, as usual. As long as ''what you see is what you get'' is feasible and a slight brownish tint not the end of the world, I''d give it a try. Does anyone know a thing about this shop ? That is a roundish cushion cut and this straight step cut round... surely like their presentation: it doesn''t hide completely the overcast orange that justifies (IMO) the price.

Surely there is better and more expensive, but I would need to see these before calling them ''ugly'' for any reason.

Between those going for a couple hundred at most and this (look for the 8.63 cts round down the page) I would be in trouble choosing - not because 8 carat orange garnet would not be rare and desirable, but... well, that''s ten times the price and not the cheerful orange I would be looking for - exactly what MJO chose. I am not very surprised that the details listed with that stone are schetchy - that color would usually be good reason to forgive some inclusions and the price is high enough to indicate that neither seller or buyer would go forth with the transaction without prior communication and trustworthy return policy. Assuming the picture was posted in good faith, that''s quite a find

Hi Ana,

The problem with getting one cut for you is there is a shortage of clean rough capable of cutting a large round stone. The reason I buy stones already cut even if the cutting isn''t that good is because you can see all the flaws already and then have the stone recut to your specs if you can cut out those flaws. I have purchased over 100cts of mandarin from Judi and they are the best ones I own. Even the small 1-2ct stones glow. Also have one other person I know that has smaller 2ct oval mandarins of close to fanta orange for about $100/ct.

 

[fatafelice]

Thanks everyone for so much input! I am excited about this too (since the engagement ring thing is going pretty slow right now...

) But don''t get your hopes up for immediate gratification...I''m a teacher and it is summer (no paychecks for two months!

). If I could just find a center stone, I would feel like things were moving in the right direction.

Oh, Ana! I love that round and I don''t know how I missed it!!! I have an automatic search for round mandarin garnets, so I''m not sure how that happened... anyway, I know it is not the very best garnet out there, but it could be just right for my budget. The seller that originally listed my inspiration ring wanted around $800 (below original reserve) and described it as a citrine with sapphires in platinum. I don''t mind spending over that, but I don''t think I can push the budget high enough to cover the beautiful stone that MJO posted! That little round may end up making smaller ring over all, but it has the right "look." Then I could be sure to get nice sapphires!

Now, I''m going to be very cranky if someone else around here tries to outbid me on that garnet!

Also, what do you all think about white gold instead of plantinum? I really love platinum, but since this is sort of a fun gift for myself, I can''t really justify the expense. What do you think this setting would cost in custom white gold vs. platinum?

Lastly, I have def. been looking around on lonewoodminers website! The stones there are beautiful! Even if I get a local jeweler, I will suggest trying to go through them.

 

[movie zombie]

mjo, thanks for the info re the spess....by far it sounds like the best stone. however, not everyone has the budget for a spectacular spess and there are good stones out there worth having. however, might i suggest that anyone wanting to by color stones read the following thread:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-four-cs-of-connoisseurship.28593/

there really is a difference in spess stones and ''water'' is one of them.

buying color stones is like buying diamonds: not everyone has the budget for a D IF diamond nor does everyone even like the D IF diamond! same with spess.

Mine has a lovely richard homer concave cut spess. i went with a richard wise 8.18 ''diamond'' cut spess. they are totally different in color, tone, hue, and cut. but they are both lovely.

i think that''s why i love spess so much! there is such diversity color, tone, clarity, etc.

and i really love the idea of blue sapphire with the spess! the wow factor should be off the charts!

peace, movie zombie

 

[MINE!!]

Hey! Great link MZ. Thanks.

I agree.. I love the many different ''flavors'' of the spess. It can definitely help one express thier individual personality!

I think that your ring is going to be beautiful!!

 

[valeria101]

MZ, the last thing I want is to sound snobish. Whoever decided which color of garnet gets top prices today, didn't ask my opinion either...

FF, I am not going to bid on the two. Between gold and plat, I would definitely favor gold for such a ring because it is allot more likely to get fine work out of it - gold can be worked around the stones, platinum cannot. Yellow gold should bring out the best of the warm, orange stone; perhaps have it set in YG with the rest of the setting white ?

Looking at the original post I was wondering if that stone is citrine: it looks like, but it is unusual to see citrine next to sapphire. In all honesty, those sapphires are nothing to write home about

I surely hope you can obtain better, more distinct blue rtaher than muddy-grayish ones for your ring.

Don't remind me about summer pay: all my family is in academia

 

[movie zombie]

valeria 101, i never think you''re a snob re anything! you are a font of information re stones of all kinds and i love reading your posts.

re your comment re gold and it being easier to work with: could you expand on that a bit? what are the issues of using high karat gold for the entire ring? are their issues with high karat gold and the setting for the stone itself?

just like diamonds, i''d sacrifice size for quality for both the spess and the sapphires. i''d even consider not matching the sapphires.

peace, movie zombie