Uh oh... Internet binge ahead!

[sapphiresal]

So, I've been spending too much time with y'all, and your beautiful things, following too many links to too many vendors and pressing that pesky little "add to cart" button too many times...

Here are the results.


My favourite


Hmm...


The frenzy!

I've also got an emerald, a demantoid and an amethyst on the way from Jeff Davies.

Yup, this problem is getting serious. Now, which to set and how? I've dropped the yellow pear into the jeweller today to get a YG bezel and a 5 point WG set diamond friend to hang him from, but the others... They were inexpensive stones and I don't want to spend a fortune setting them, but I was thinking the beryl pears upside down with the umbalites hanging north/south below? Bezel, YG? I'm not fussy about clashing stones or metals, so any and all advice gratefully accepted...

 

[smitcompton]

Hi,

I'm glad you are enjoying yourself so much, but i suggest you slow down. Your first two photos show stones with big windows. The second photo shows a stone with a hole in the middle with little color to it. IMO not good choices. What's the rush. If you are going to pay to set the stones, don't you think they should be worthy of setting? Buy a few good stones to set. leave the rest.

Sorry I couldn't be more encourAGING.


aNNETTE

 

[blingbunny10]

Hi,

I'm glad you are enjoying yourself so much, but i suggest you slow down. Your first two photos show stones with big windows. The second photo shows a stone with a hole in the middle with little color to it. IMO not good choices. What's the rush. If you are going to pay to set the stones, don't you think they should be worthy of setting? Buy a few good stones to set. leave the rest.

Sorry I couldn't be more encourAGING.


aNNETTE

smitcompton - I don't mean to offend, but to gently point this out - You are right on the technical aspects, but I think you forget that part of the appeal of gems is emotional. To suggest that stones are not "worthy of setting" is kind of hurtful, imo. This is why I posted some months ago that I found Colored Stones to be, well, overly blunt and less than welcoming, and why I tend to come and go rather than become a reg.

If a buyer has an emotional response to a stone and finds it beautiful, I think they should absolutely have the right to buy and enjoy the stone! I've fallen in love with plenty of stones that weren't "trade ideal" and I don't care because they look good TO ME and they were less expensive, to boot.

I've also learned some things over time and my tastes have changed and developed, as I'm sure sapphiresal's will over time.

sapphiresal - It seems like you are just getting into gem buying and it's definitely an exciting time for you! You are still in that initial "honeymoon stage," lol. I got into colored gems relatively recently as well, and I appreciate your sharing with us. Please DO set what you love and will enjoy.

 

[smitcompton]

Hi,

Your point is well taken. I do not do this lightly. I do figure that our poster wants to learn. I would have wished for someone to point out my early poor purchases. Its hard for me to sugar coat this. I don't usually critique others stones, but this one I did.
I apologize if I hurt your feelings.


Annette

 

[minousbijoux]

ss: I love your beryl pear! The color is lovely - I guess I'm just not familiar with yellow beryl so it intrigues me. The cutting looks very, very good. I do not see a window, but a small tilt window given the angle of the stone. Beryl is a lower RI stone, so it shows a tilt window more easily than others. But its tiny and will not be noticed, I'm sure. I find it totally appealing - love the color, the cutting and its plumpiness! The other stones are a bit harder to see from your photos, but it looks like you are well on your way. You have chosen well to start your collection in terms of color, shape and cutting, and can learn a lot about what is important to you from these stones. If we haven't scared you away, I would LOVE to see the stones from Jeff when they arrive! His cutting is great, as are many of his stones.

 

[pregcurious]

I like the yellow beryl pear quite a bit also. I haven't purchased from Jeff, so if you have the time, could you please let us know how accurate his pictures and video are? Can you post his original pictures? I have read his pictures can make some stones look lighter in color, but I have no experience. Please help us!

 

[Kelli]

I don't see a window in the first stone either, just slight tilt which is normal. I think that one's my favorite of all of them. I almost bought a yellow beryl recently too and your pic makes me wish I had.

Also, if you love these stones and want to wear them, by all means set them! I set everything I like enough to keep because I think wearing them is much more fun than keeping them in a box at home or carrying them around in my purse. Buying and seeing them when they arrive is half the fun, especially when you're just getting started. It seems like some people forget sometimes that this isn't rocket science or raising children or other serious business; it's discovering what you like and having fun. Unless you're in the business, just enjoy yourself. You can sell later if and when your tastes change.

 

[VapidLapid]

I too, think the heliodor looks great. A tilt window in that section of a pear is to be expected, especially in low RI stones. It looks bright and yellow.
it is hard to tell much from the photos since the stones are so small in the frame and not quite sharp. The tourmaline also is a sweet color. Tourmaline often comes in long slender crystals that only lend themselves to these rectangle cuts that show well on the ends, but have long midsections that don't play as well.

 

[sapphiresal]

Hi guys, thanks for all the replies!

Firstly, I'd like to reassure you all that I'm pretty thick skinned and not too traumatized to come back I appreciate the honest comments on the stones and, to be honest I was looking for thoughts on whether there was anything really worth setting in the bunch - particularly if anyone has seen pretty and inexpensive ways to set smaller stones.

As to the stones themselves, if I didn't, I should have mentioned that my camera skills are quite terrible. That poor yellow pear has been done a great disservice as it really doesn't have a window, but does have a tilt window that I have a knack for capturing in photos. iRl, it is really quite beautiful - which is why it got the send out straight away.

And thankyou VL for the info about the tourmaline. I was a bit disappointed with it when I got it, but I didn't know about the crystal and cutting issues with tourmaline. it is still a very pretty colour and, for the price, not worth sending back (particularly as I am in Australia).

Which raises something that may also set minds to rest - I am happy to know that these are my learner stones and I have been limiting my budget accordingly. All of the stones above cost me about $400 in total, and I am learning heaps from them! So I am very happy to hear thoughts and comments on their good and bad points - it's all part of the process

I will definitely post photos of the Jeff Davies stones when they arrive - the difference between vendor photos and in hand is something I am still struggling to get my head around.

Thanks guys and keep it coming - you really can't offend me!

 

[minousbijoux]

Hi guys, thanks for all the replies!

Firstly, I'd like to reassure you all that I'm pretty thick skinned and not too traumatized to come back I appreciate the honest comments on the stones and, to be honest I was looking for thoughts on whether there was anything really worth setting in the bunch - particularly if anyone has seen pretty and inexpensive ways to set smaller stones.

As to the stones themselves, if I didn't, I should have mentioned that my camera skills are quite terrible. That poor yellow pear has been done a great disservice as it really doesn't have a window, but does have a tilt window that I have a knack for capturing in photos. iRl, it is really quite beautiful - which is why it got the send out straight away.

And thankyou VL for the info about the tourmaline. I was a bit disappointed with it when I got it, but I didn't know about the crystal and cutting issues with tourmaline. it is still a very pretty colour and, for the price, not worth sending back (particularly as I am in Australia).

Which raises something that may also set minds to rest - I am happy to know that these are my learner stones and I have been limiting my budget accordingly. All of the stones above cost me about $400 in total, and I am learning heaps from them! So I am very happy to hear thoughts and comments on their good and bad points - it's all part of the process

I will definitely post photos of the Jeff Davies stones when they arrive - the difference between vendor photos and in hand is something I am still struggling to get my head around.

Thanks guys and keep it coming - you really can't offend me!

Oh, in that case, they're all ugly as hell!

I'm happy to hear you can roll with our ways. Smitcompton is right to warn you not to set stones with noticeable windows or with other eye visible flaws until you've lived with them for a while to know how they sit with you. I absolutely made the mistake of rushing in early on to set stones, only to eventually outgrow the ring because I didn't like the stone much - too much grey, too much extinction, blacks out in fluorescent light, etc.

But you did well - that is no lie - and you will learn so much from these stones.

 

[pregcurious]

You gotta buy to learn, and you're wise to start with lower cost stones. It's good to live with a stone for while as your tastes will evolve.