Turquoise addiction...ready to ask for help.

[LLJsmom]

Hi Colored Stone Peeps:

I figured if any people would understand, you guys would. I have a dirty little secret. I have been hoarding gorgeous pieces of Sleeping Beauty turquoise. I just love the Easter egg blue. They make me happy. I've had them for over a year, and I love staring at them, but can't decide how to set them. So I need ideas. Help?? I have enough for a pair of earrings, a statement ring, and a pendant. I am leaning toward the look of fine jewelry, so a white metal. I'm thinking micropave diamond halo, but I also want it to have a modern look too.

However, I have also played around with the idea of a oxidized white gold/platinum diamond halo for the pendant or ring.

The earrings are a challenge because I can only wear platinum, but I cannot have anything heavy. My diamond studs are the only earrings I wear because I am so sensitive about weight on my ears. I would love diamond halo around the turquoise pieces, yet, I want a design that is casual enough for every day wear. And I am concerned about the weight of a halo. I know. Such contradicting requirements.

And lastly, I don't want prongs to hold down the turquoise on any of my pieces. I wonder if that would be possible since these are all cabochons.

I'll just post the pieces and see if you all have any ideas. I have searched for a long time, but just haven't found the exact look I want. And until I find something that I really like, or have a very firm idea of the finished pieces in my head, I can't really proceed with a custom project.

 

[arkieb1]

Use tiny diamonds in a Antique style floral type halo with a scalloped edge the key to reducing bulk and weight is use smallish diamonds. If I find a pic I will post it but off the top of my head think about the Antique halos you have seen around things like opals and other larger stones, cabs and so on.

 

[LLJsmom]

From the top left to right
16x14, 16.8x12.2
Three 12x10


13.6x10.8, 10 round (flat piece)

 

[LLJsmom]

I like how modern and clean this halo is. But I don’t think it will translate with my pieces since mine are domed cabochons.

 

[LLJsmom]

I know I do not want a halo that has larger melee and I DON’T want this look, with all that heavy metal bezel around the stone.


And the diamonds in the lower right corner ring are way too big for the look I want.

 

[LLJsmom]

The pieces that I gravitated towards are of this style. Clean and white metals with diamonds. Although I don’t necessarily need diamonds if I find a style I like enough without it.


I do love the oxidized white gold here, so I may do an additional piece in the spirit of this later. Of course not the whole convertible necklace / tiara, just an piece inspired by this.

 

[LLJsmom]

Use tiny diamonds in a Antique style floral type halo with a scalloped edge the key to reducing bulk and weight is use smallish diamonds. If I find a pic I will post it but off the top of my head think about the Antique halos you have seen around things like opals and other larger stones, cabs and so on.

Thanks @arkieb1 I am trying to stay away from floral halos though. I am hoping for something more modern looking.

 

[LLJsmom]

I think a pendant set like this without prongs.

I am thinking I would like a ring first.

 

[PintoBean]

I think a pendant set like this without prongs.

I am thinking I would like a ring first.

Idk... a ring will be the last piece I'd design for your suite bc your existing diamond ring is your IT ring.

Start with earrings and necklace. I love your inspo pics.

 

[missy]

That is one of my favorite blue colors. Turquoise is an ethereal dreamy out of this world blue and I love your pieces. I love your pendant idea. Bold yet not fussy. Perfect for you. And a ring if you make a fun right hand ring because as @PintoBean wrote your MK is your IT ring (at least for now) but why not wear a beautiful RHR at times when the mood strikes? As for earrings I think it will be too heavy for you and cannot figure out a way you can make earrings work as these are weighty pieces compared to your studs. No matter the setting.

Anyway looking forward to seeing your projects develop @LLJsmom. Its going to be BLUEtiful and Turquoiselicious.

 

[meely]

These are exciting projects! I'm looking forward to seeing what you decide. My turquoise ring is not dissimilar to the halo one you posted although less delicate I will get a photo of the profile later. For the earrings could you combine platinum on the bits that will touch your skin and then white gold elsewhere to make it lighter?

 

[Bluegemz]

I just want to say that those cabochons are beautiful. So pure! I agree with you, that the color of turquoise, especially some Persian and sleeping beauty, Blue Gem and Morenci turquoise makes me happy. It Has become an addiction for me as well. I’m a great admirer. There is a divine quality to the intensity of blue that can only come from turquoise!

I’m sure that all pieces will be beautiful. With turquoise, since the smooth color with gentle shape is the star of the show, the rest can be simple. I’d it were me, I’d focus on the overall shape and proportions which the eye reads. I am hearing that you want a light look, with little metal and a sprinkling of light around the stones. I agree that you don’t need much in the way of diamonds as a contrasting edging.

I can understand wanting a ring first, since you can look down and enjoy it while the others are being made.

 

[LLJsmom]

That is one of my favorite blue colors. Turquoise is an ethereal dreamy out of this world blue and I love your pieces. I love your pendant idea. Bold yet not fussy. Perfect for you. And a ring if you make a fun right hand ring because as @PintoBean wrote your MK is your IT ring (at least for now) but why not wear a beautiful RHR at times when the mood strikes? As for earrings I think it will be too heavy for you and cannot figure out a way you can make earrings work as these are weighty pieces compared to your studs. No matter the setting.

Anyway looking forward to seeing your projects develop @LLJsmom. Its going to be BLUEtiful and Turquoiselicious.

Thank you @missy That is exactly what I was thinking, for when the mood strikes. I want something that will lift my mood even if just something little. Btw, been wearing MK by herself lately and she’s spectacular. What was I thinking?

 

[LLJsmom]

Idk... a ring will be the last piece I'd design for your suite bc your existing diamond ring is your IT ring.

Start with earrings and necklace. I love your inspo pics.

Thanks @PintoBean I may end up starting with the necklace because that is the easiest to design to determine.

 

[LLJsmom]

These are exciting projects! I'm looking forward to seeing what you decide. My turquoise ring is not dissimilar to the halo one you posted although less delicate I will get a photo of the profile later. For the earrings could you combine platinum on the bits that will touch your skin and then white gold elsewhere to make it lighter?

Thanks @meely
I will probably have to go that route. What a PITA for the jeweler though. Do you think ovals studs would look weird? I can’t find a picture of oval studs.

 

[LLJsmom]

I just want to say that those cabochons are beautiful. So pure! I agree with you, that the color of turquoise, especially some Persian and sleeping beauty, Blue Gem and Morenci turquoise makes me happy. It Has become an addiction for me as well. I’m a great admirer. There is a divine quality to the intensity of blue that can only come from turquoise!

I’m sure that all pieces will be beautiful. With turquoise, since the smooth color with gentle shape is the star of the show, the rest can be simple. I’d it were me, I’d focus on the overall shape and proportions which the eye reads. I am hearing that you want a light look, with little metal and a sprinkling of light around the stones. I agree that you don’t need much in the way of diamonds as a contrasting edging.

I can understand wanting a ring first, since you can look down and enjoy it while the others are being made.

Yes @Bluegemz you got the feeling right. It’s hard to articulate cause most of this project is “feeling”. I love how straightforward the blue of turquoise is. It’s not like a faceted gem which changes depending on angle of viewing. It’s just blue every way you look at it. It feels so solid and dependable. That is why I don’t want anything too fussy around it. I like the idea of white gold with VCA like beading around it. Maybe for the earrings so they aren’t too dressy for everyday. Who do you think would be good to make that?

 

[Bluegemz]

Yes @Bluegemz you got the feeling right. It’s hard to articulate cause most of this project is “feeling”. I love how straightforward the blue of turquoise is. It’s not like a faceted gem which changes depending on angle of viewing. It’s just blue every way you look at it. It feels so solid and dependable. That is why I don’t want anything too fussy around it. I like the idea of white gold with VCA like beading around it. Maybe for the earrings so they aren’t too dressy for everyday. Who do you think would be good to make that?

I can imagine it so well by your description. You seem to have it paired down to an essence . Thebeading would be beautiful and simple, which goes with the purity of the stone. I have worked with jewelers in person locally mostly, so I don’t know of jewelers online which would be good for this project.

 

[meely]

Thanks @meely
I will probably have to go that route. What a PITA for the jeweler though. Do you think ovals studs would look weird? I can’t find a picture of oval studs.

I think they would look nice but if they spin they will look asymmetric to each other. Depends if that bugs you.ot not. What about small dangles with a small diamond stud or diamond cluster in your ear. That bit could be in platinum and the dangle and mounting for the oval in white gold.

 

[meely]

So my ring is not as elegant or flowing as your inspiration but I hopefully it shows was a cabochon turquoise might look like in that type of halo setting. My stone is 18 x 6, the ring is a size 6.5.

 

[smitcompton]

Hi,

I have always thought that art deco, with its geometric designs are quite modern. I would consider using a design with diamond traps on the side with something else included. It can still be bezeled, but adorned on the side. I have a ring with a fan motif on the side and I like it very much. It doesn't have to be a halo.
Perhaps you can get your studs to have a removable attachment so that when the turquoise feels heavy you can just remove them from the diamonds studs. Just a thought.

Annette

 

[Arcadian]

First. Some of us(ok probably just me...lol) feel betrayed. How could you. for shame. You hid this??

Second. OMG. those are HAWT!!!

The only issue with doing bezels for these stones would be if the shape of the stone is a little wonky. However someone that is a master at doing bezels, especially on cabs, this shouldn't be an issue. If you're ultra picky and aren't looking for homespun look, you want someone really good at it! bezels on colored stones/cabs are way different than diamonds. The other is that you don't want a super thin bezel or one thats too low. Low looks great but, gotta take the weight of the stone into account. You may be able to do a combination of a low bezel/corner prong or something similar...just something to think about.

I don't know if David Klass has a guy that can do bezels but worth a shot to ask.

 

[LLJsmom]

I think they would look nice but if they spin they will look asymmetric to each other. Depends if that bugs you.ot not. What about small dangles with a small diamond stud or diamond cluster in your ear. That bit could be in platinum and the dangle and mounting for the oval in white gold.

Yes I don’t know if I could do dangles. Maybe? Will it look weird with oval drops?

 

[LLJsmom]

So my ring is not as elegant or flowing as your inspiration but I hopefully it shows was a cabochon turquoise might look like in that type of halo setting. My stone is 18 x 6, the ring is a size 6.5.

rhanks @meely That is a really nice modern setting. Makes me think I may have them set it lower even if it covers up more of the stone.

 

[LLJsmom]

Hi,

I have always thought that art deco, with its geometric designs are quite modern. I would consider using a design with diamond traps on the side with something else included. It can still be bezeled, but adorned on the side. I have a ring with a fan motif on the side and I like it very much. It doesn't have to be a halo.
Perhaps you can get your studs to have a removable attachment so that when the turquoise feels heavy you can just remove them from the diamonds studs. Just a thought.
Annette

Yes a great idea @smitcompton Thanks!

 

[LLJsmom]

First. Some of us(ok probably just me...lol) feel betrayed. How could you. for shame. You hid this??

Second. OMG. those are HAWT!!!

The only issue with doing bezels for these stones would be if the shape of the stone is a little wonky. However someone that is a master at doing bezels, especially on cabs, this shouldn't be an issue. If you're ultra picky and aren't looking for homespun look, you want someone really good at it! bezels on colored stones/cabs are way different than diamonds. The other is that you don't want a super thin bezel or one thats too low. Low looks great but, gotta take the weight of the stone into account. You may be able to do a combination of a low bezel/corner prong or something similar...just something to think about.

I don't know if David Klass has a guy that can do bezels but worth a shot to ask.

Hmmm. I will ask. Thanks for mentioning it.

 

[missy]

Thank you @missy That is exactly what I was thinking, for when the mood strikes. I want something that will lift my mood even if just something little. Btw, been wearing MK by herself lately and she’s spectacular. What was I thinking?

Haha don't worry @LLJsmom. MK knows you will always come back to her though occasionally you may wander...variety *is* the spice of life after all and you may dance with others but as long as she is the one you come home to it's all good. Even if you don't it is all good as long as you love and enjoy what you wear. Better to be fickle with bling than human beings
Bling should = Joy and Happy excitement and NO (bad) stress allowed.


Cannot wait to see what you decide.

 

[Miki Moto]

Hi! I love Persian blue / Sleeping Beauty turquoise. I have one piece if Sleeping Beauty (a ring) that I thought was only treated via the Zachary process. It looked so pure and blue. It was my first turquoise piece. Then I went to the Tucson show and saw other Sleeping Beauty pieces (also true Persian turquoise) and realized mine was way over treated. It was too perfect and turquoise needs to have some tiny flaws. I am sure since you are a collector, you are aware of the various treatments though. I was a newbie.

That said, here are a few pieces I have to give you ideas. These pieces are by Tiffany. I love the curves of the Elsa Perettt ring. I also like the little Color By The Yard dot pendant. I also have the matching earrings so if you like the clean bezel look, you could do something like that. I prefer white metal for turquoise although I see a lot of it matched with YG (e.g. VCA, Schlumberger) Just some ideas.

Good luck to you! You have some fun pieces to work with.

 

[chatoyancy]

From the top left to right
16x14, 16.8x12.2
Three 12x10


13.6x10.8, 10 round (flat piece)

Those are beautiful!! They look perfect.