Tourmaline in Legacy setting Thoughts?

[katebar]

I am making enquiries with gem sellers regarding a RHR for my big 50!. I fell in love with Isabelle''s tiffany Legacy and would like to do a similar piece using green or golden stones.
One merchant has some Afghani Mint Toumaline that looked lovely and are the right size 2.5.
He has also recommend a Mali Garnet that looks stunning.
Thoughts on having a tourmaline would be appreciated.
I would like a sapphire or tsarovite but I think these are getting beyond my budget as the setting would be over $4000

 

[Linda W]

I think it would look beautiful.

Linda

 

[Harriet]

A mint tourmaline would be beautiful.

 

[Kaleigh]

The mint tourmaline sounds yummy!!! What a fun project!!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

My feeling is that if I were spending $4000 on a setting, I would want a very fine gemstone. So I would do a sapphire or tsavorite or something else very special.

 

[katebar]

Thanks Linda and Harriet I respect your esteemed opinion as card carrying members of the colored stone club!
Diamond seeker I hear what your saying. The tourmaline is a 1/4 of the price of the setting

. So I need to reconsider the setting or the stone I think.
I am probably paying for this my self as my DH hasn''t quite come on board the "Yes I do need more jewellery train"

.
So will see what happens!

 

[coda72]

I am seriously considering having a green tourmaline set into an $2000 setting. But my tourmaline is more of a sentimental value because I got the stone right after my now husband asked me to marry him. In the end, you should get the setting you want. If a tourmaline is what you want to set in it, what difference does it make? You can always exchange the tourmaline for another stone at a later date if you want.

 

[Harriet]

With all due respect, DS,
Afghani mint Tourmalines are hard to come by and can be extremely beautiful. They glow if they are strongly saturated..

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 3/1/2008 4:16:35 AM
Author: Harriet
With all due respect, DS,
Afghani mint Tourmalines are hard to come by and can be extremely beautiful. They glow if they are strongly saturated..

I know, Harriet. I love all gemstones. I just have a thing about if a setting is going to cost thousands, I think the stone''s value ought to be in line with the setting. And durability is a real issue to me, too. I''d want hardness at 8-9 to set in a $3000-5000 setting since we even hear of diamonds and sapphires chipping accidentally. I think you''d experience facet wear on a stone with 7 to 7.5 hardness if you wore it often.

I do have some inexpensive gemstone rings, but the settings are also inexpensive. This is just my personal preference. I realize some people put $20 blue topaz stones in $1000+ settings. It just doesn''t make sense to me personally.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 2/29/2008 7:55:36 PM
Author: katebar
Thanks Linda and Harriet I respect your esteemed opinion as card carrying members of the colored stone club!
Diamond seeker I hear what your saying. The tourmaline is a 1/4 of the price of the setting

. So I need to reconsider the setting or the stone I think.
I am probably paying for this my self as my DH hasn''t quite come on board the ''Yes I do need more jewellery train''

.
So will see what happens!

A mint stone sounds yummers.

 

[movie zombie]

i am a HUGE fan of high quality mali garnet. i personally think there is more brilliance/sparkle to a well cut garnet than a tourmaline. i also agree with the above that the cost of the stone should be in line with the cost of the setting. imo, the stone is more important. i think it is wonderful you are doing this project for your 50th. imo, no one can make a date special for us but ourselves.

movie zombie

 

[Harriet]

katebar,
If durability is a concern (and hardness is but one factor), take a look at spinels. But, you''d still run into the the-setting-costs-more-than-the-stone problem, unless you buy a red. It may be worth noting that Tiffany itself uses less expensive stones in their Legacies, e.g. aquas.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

That is true, they do have less expensive stones in the real Legacy. But recently, someone called attention to a Legacy ring with an aqua on ebay. I think the ring was only about a year old, but the description said that there was a little wear to the crown facets. I just would be unhappy spending thousands of dollars for a ring that would have visible wear to the facets. That may not bother other people. I guess I am a little picky about that! A spinel would at least be more durable.

 

[Ellen]

I think the wear factor would also depend on how often it''s worn. Being a RHR, it won''t quite get the abuse an Ering would, unless of course Kate wears it every day. Kate, you gonna wear it that often?

 

[katebar]

Thanks for your input Coda. I have never really looked at tourmalines before but that seem a lot of bang for your buck!+ i like your idea of upgrading so as to speak to something later.
movie zombie I will bear in mind what you said about the garnet. I want a yellow stone or green and didn''t realise they came in this colour way. I may in fact modify the setting but I am also getting a quote from a local jeweller here which may come in cheaper than the vatche that Wink has suggested. I am proud to buy ''me'' a special birthday gift god knows I''ve earnt it! But DH and I are planning a trip to New York later in the year and so I am getting spoilt any way.
Thanks Harriet once again the ring I tried on at Tiffany''s was an aqua and I remember that ebay auction too. Ellen I won''t be wearing it everyday but I always wear an RHR on my middle finger which is sort of my statement piece. Usually a modern semi precious costume piece but I like to mix an match.
Diamond seeker thanks for input I appreciate it and am taking on board your comments.

 

[Harriet]

Kate,
At 6.5-7.5, garnets are even softer than tourmalines. Btw, do you have a pic of the mint? I'm partial to them myself.
P.S. If you have time while you're here, let me know.
P.P.S. You'll come bearing Tim Tams, right?

 

[PrettyBlues]

mmmm, tim tams

 

[Harriet]

Yummy, heh? Which kind?

 

[PrettyBlues]

You can''t go past the classic really, although I do love the caramel ones as well... decisions, decisions!

 

[Harriet]

Do you have access to them? (Sorry for the threadjack.)

 

[PrettyBlues]

Yep, sure do. I am currently living in Sydney, so I could have them everyday if I wanted

But of course I don''t

I take it you don''t have access to them?

 

[Harriet]

Ah, my favourite city. Unfortunately, I no longer live there, but in Tim Tam-less NY.

 

[katebar]

I''ll upload a pic harriet. I would love to catch up with you in New York that would be awesome.
Tim tams ordered and ready to go!

 

[PrettyBlues]

Yeah I will be timtam-less in a years time as well, when I move back home to Montreal

*And sorry for the random thread jack!*

 

[Harriet]

Date: 3/2/2008 9:11:43 PM
Author: katebar
I'll upload a pic harriet. I would love to catch up with you in New York that would be awesome.
Tim tams ordered and ready to go!

Nice cutting! Looking forward to meeting you. Thanks for the Tim Tams.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 3/2/2008 9:13:37 PM
Author: PrettyBlues
Yeah I will be timtam-less in a years time as well, when I move back home to Montreal

*And sorry for the random thread jack!*

Well, eat away!

 

[Skippy123]

Wow, what a fun project. I am in the same camp as Diamondseeker as far as stones go. I am excited for you sweet and lovely Katebar!!!

Happy Birthday, when is it?!!!

 

[coda72]

Well, I went ahead and ordered my custom made setting for my green tourmaline. Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[tradergirl]

I bought a really pretty concave cut tourmaline from Mr. Homer and am sending it to Maytal to be put in a setting which is quite similar to the one on the SMTR thread currently. The stone cost $600 (it was $800 but he gave me a discount, very nice man) and the setting is more than 5x that. I don't care. I think it will be pretty. I wanted that certain color (kind of a purplish red) and that was that. The tourmaline is 3 ct. and this is for MY 45th birthday.

 

[katebar]

Date: 3/3/2008 9:33:59 AM
Author: Skippy123
Wow, what a fun project. I am in the same camp as Diamondseeker as far as stones go. I am excited for you sweet and lovely Katebar!!!

Happy Birthday, when is it?!!!

Hey Skippy welcome back from your fab Parisian jaunt (the pics are to die for

).
Yes not sure what to do about Stone vs setting October is the big 5O