What was your first significant gemstone purchase?

[Kelli]

Some of you guys have the most amazing collections! How did you get them started and what got you interested in the first place?

 

[jewelerman]

A .47 ct. round brilliant diamond...VVS2-G....I was 23 and now wear it in a gem east yellow gold gents ring.My first segnificant color...1.30 ct. oval sapphire from my parents for my 22nd birthday.

 

[marcy]

My first major purchase was my emerald RHR.

 

[Linda W]

My first major purchase was my padparadscha sapphire and diamond ring.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

I don''t think I have a "major" gemstone purchase yet.

My BB Mozambique Tourmaline was only $133, and it''s my most expensive, and best cut gemstone, so far.

 

[Kelli]

For real?!?! You have such a great collection. And that is major for me. I don''t know if I''ll ever make a really major purchase. I''d love to have a really great ruby someday, but I''m sure it will be microscopic. Now that I''ve been through all the RB diamond talk about a million times, I''m reaizing there is so much cool stuff to see and learn in the colored stones forum. More fun for me!

 

[Harriet]

My yellow Danburite. It''s not an expensive stone, but it''s very rare.

 

[Pandora II]

Probably a pair of chrome diopside pears. They weren't very expensive - but they were expensive for me at the time.

My most expensive so far was probably my sphene - I normally spend in the $150 - $400 range and this was significantly more expensive. But it is an incredible stone.

 

[Kelli]

Thanks for the replies everyone! Keep them coming

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Date: 9/18/2008 11:22:02 PM
Author: Kelli
For real?!?! You have such a great collection. And that is major for me. I don''t know if I''ll ever make a really major purchase. I''d love to have a really great ruby someday, but I''m sure it will be microscopic. Now that I''ve been through all the RB diamond talk about a million times, I''m reaizing there is so much cool stuff to see and learn in the colored stones forum. More fun for me!

This forum was both the best and the worst thing to happen to me on PS.

OMG, my husband just rolls his eyes when a new gemstone comes in the mail.

I have a load of $20-$50 smaller gemstones, but none of them are of the level that my Barry Bridgestock is cut.

 

[glitterata]

My first loose colored stone purchase was my just under 1.5 ct tsavorite, a nice rich medium green with a couple of not-very-noticeable needle inclusions, which I bought at a police auction for about $200 not long after I found PS. I had no idea garnets came in green! It seemed so weird and exotic, and I loved how it was so much more sparkly than emeralds.

 

[Kelli]

LOL my fiance thinks I''m rediculous too, and I haven''t even really started buying anything yet!

Glitterata you have an amazing collection too! I LOVE the thread of all your diamonds. One day I WILL have an OEC!!!
Speaking of sparkly...... What are the more sparkly gemstones, in terms of fire? I''d like to get something that sparkles almost like a diamond, but has a nice pretty color too

 

[Love in Bloom]

My first significant gemstone was my alligator head ruby, not only because of (in spite of, really) my husband''s ''creative gift giving'', but also because ruby it is my birthstone. It is small but is also the sparkliest true-red stone I have EVER seen!

 

[Kelli]

I have been admiring your ruby ring for a long time! It''s definitely one of my favorites on PS, and is on my (VERY) long term wishlist. I know rubies like that are hard to come by and way out of my budget anytime soon, but I ogle yours all the time!

 

[Gailey]

Well, let''s see. My very first job was in a very high end jewellers in Worcester UK. I fell in love with a 2 stone oval garnet by-pass ring. Of course, at sixteen I couldn''t afford it, but my shop was 3 doors away from another jewllers - Ratners (that will make Pandora chuckle!) and I bought myself a 5 stone oval garnet ring in silver. They were dark red garnets (back in the days when garnets were just garnets!)

My 2nd major purchase was a few years later when I was 21. I bought a small round brilliant diamond in Abergavenny (Wales) and had it set into a plain bezel pendant in 9 ct gold. First custom job, so I guess that was pretty momentous! That was a Christmas present from my 1st husband.

Fast forward 15+ years and I am engaged to husband Mk 2. Not one for jewellery, couldn''t understand why I wanted a ring???? He reluctantly agreed to go halves on a oval yellow topaz bezel set with a diamond halo, so I guess that counts as my purchase - sort of!

Fast forward another 15 years of absolute wedded bliss (albeit a largely jewellery free no man''s land), and DH is springing for a new ER for me - but of course I''m doing all the work putting the project together. But I wouldn''t change the slightest thing about him. More about my latest project in a month or so because we are off back to Blighty to meet our new Granddaughter.

 

[Love in Bloom]

Date: 9/19/2008 11:26:05 PM
Author: Kelli
I have been admiring your ruby ring for a long time! It''s definitely one of my favorites on PS, and is on my (VERY) long term wishlist. I know rubies like that are hard to come by and way out of my budget anytime soon, but I ogle yours all the time!

Why thank you Kelli! Ogle away, hehe, that makes my heart smile. Shhhh...this is for you.

 

[Kelli]

Thanks LIB!! (But it is already in my favorites folder

). I''m happy to look at it again though!

 

[Kelli]

Gailey I''m glad you''re finally getting your e-ring! Post pics!!

 

[FrekeChild]

My 7.41ct supernova oval, silvery topaz from BB. I don''t remember how much it cost, but it wasn''t very expensive. Maybe a little over $100? I had been looking for a gray/silvery gemstone and found this one and I jumped on it. Still need to get it set...

And these ladies over here in the Colored Stones forum are total enablers, and I think it was Movie Zombie that told me if I didn''t buy it, she was going to. Lol.

 

[stryeyes102]

I just got into buying my own stones. So my first major purchase was a portuguese amethyst oval cut by Peter Torraca. (2.51 carat) It wasn''t really expensive but more then i am used to spending in anything jewelry related (yes, its sad i know! lol) But! you all are enablers, *ditto to freke* and definitely getting me out of that mindset!!!

 

[Catmom]

Well, we spent a lot for the times on some very dark mall sapphires [necklace, earrings and bracelet] that I don''t wear now cuz I know better.

My first significant gemstone was my pink sapphire which is set in a pendant now. My most expensive gem is my color change sapphire although my tsav was not too far behind!

 

[Kelli]

No kidding about the enabling! These gems could be more dangerous to my bank account than diamonds! Even the inexpensive ones will surely add up once I get started