where can I find small garnet half moons or baguettes?

[kcoursolle]

Hi there,
I''ve posted on the diamond boards quite a bit, but I''ve never posted anything in colored stones!! However, I think you are just the people to ask for this. I am going to try to put together a spessartite garnet (red to red/orange color) three stone ring in white gold with split prongs on the center stone. I am thinking about two options...and you all will have to telll me whether this is impossible or not, so far I haven''t had much luck with my search. I haven''t had trouble finding center stones, but rather the smaller side stones I can''t really find. Ideally, I wouuld like to order something precut rather than getting something custom cut, because I don''t want this ring to get too expensive. Here are my two options, and I''d really be fine with any of these depending on what side stones I could find.

Option 1) Large oval center spessartite garnet about 2 carats, and .25 to .5 half moon sides all similar color.

Option 2) Large rectangular center or cushion center about 2 carats, and .25 to .5 baguette sides all of similar color.

As far as color similarity, I would like it to be pretty similar, but it doesn''t have to be perfect. Also, I would like a decent cut, but factory stones would be fine for the cheaper side stones. I would however, like the side stones have very similar proportions to each other. Thanks for all of your help, I really appreciate it. I don''t think I could find these without you guys.

 

[valeria101]

I doubt you will get away w/o custom cut, especially for fancy shaped sides (i.e. not the usual ovals!). However, if you work out the ring with a jeweler that can already provide custom cut colored stones, this bit of the project may not be as pricey as you might expect. The setting sounds like custom work too to accommodate such stones and the sides should not be too much compared to that. If by any chance a ready made setting is feasible, then the savings would more than cover the cost of fitted sides.

... not that this scenario would automatically fit the pricing scheme of every jewelry shop. You might want to ask a jeweler outright.

Just an idea. The project sounds delightful, btw!

... and it reminds me strongly of how THIS ring came to be. Two pairs of side-stones (trillions, then changed to round sapphires) were custom cut for the job. The ring was made for a Pricescoper's Jubilee cut diamonds - can't remember who right now, you could run a search along these coordinates if you wish.



I can't say I have been looking around allot for side stones like that, but you may find some relevant options at a shop called www.creativegem.com. If you do, it may save $100 or two... but you may want to weight if and how that may impact the finished look of a much more expensive piece.

My 2c.

 

[kcoursolle]

That''s what I was afraid of...Thanks for you input. I suspected I might have to go custom for a job like this. I could get some quotes, but I think custom might be out of range for now, but maybe in a while. Are there any other beautiful redish/redish-orange, or dark red stones that come in smaller cuts? I am not particularly attached to the sidestones as much as the center, but I would like them to match at least somewhat...although a monochromatic look might actually look cool.

 

[movie zombie]

spessartite lover here! my avatar is an 8.18 spess. honestly, pictures doesn''t do it justice.

anyway, color stones as you already know are not like diamonds and while there are ''specialty'' cuts, there is a premium for them, especially from the better cutters. in all my searching i''ve not seen baguettes but it is possible they exist. how about using smaller rounds or ovals grouped for the effect? same could be done to get a half moon effect for the sides: little itty bitty spess specks....

i actually saw a citrine....once....that was so orange and beautiful that i made the jeweler show me the tag as i thought it was spess. orange sapphire exists [probably all heated is my guess] and some zircon can look more orange than red.

ajsgems has a bunch of spess but i''ve not ordered from them. also check out precisiongem: gene has some interesting spess cut in interesting shapes. palagems.com has some gorgeous spess online right now. i do remember seeing smaller stones grouped together for sale but that was some time ago. it is possible these vendors have more inventory than listed online.

and if you''re into the eBay route: http://stores.ebay.com/Judis-Gems_GARNET_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ8QQftidZ2QQtZkm

i''m not much for getting color stones from eBay but judi is honest and has sold some things to many pricescopers, including MJO who posts regularly. again, she''s always got a moving inventory and its not always listed online. she does sell items that never make it onto eBay.

color stones aren''t always calibrated for existing mountings and often require custom setting....but not always. but a simple custom setting doesn''t necessarily cost lots.

i think your project is interesting and possible if you''re not under the gun regarding time are willing to use smaller side stones in a creative way to replicate the shapes you want. have you set a total budget for your project?


movie zombie

 

[kcoursolle]

Zombie, thanks for your response! Time is definitely not an issue. I am completely willing to search around for up to a year for the stones alone and take my time on the setting as well. This is just going to be a hopefully fairly cheap ongoing project just because it''s kind of fun to create jewelry and I think this ring would be really pretty. I haven''t decided on a specific budget yet because I''m still researching stones and settings. Got any idea about what it should be?? Since I don''t want any diamonds in my setting and it will just be 14k white gold, I don''t really think I should spend more than a few hundred on this. Perhaps if I buy the right sized stones I could get something premade from an online vendor or a casting co. For the center stone, I''m a bit more picky about quality. I would like a decent cut and gorgeous color (dark redish orange preferable with little brown). I would also be willing to go down to 1.5 carats for the center stone because I have small fingers (4.5). I am not as concerned about the quality of the side stones, but I do want them to look good with the center stone and match ok with color and proportion.

I hadn''t thought of going the pear or oval route or the clustered small stone route...but I think I might come around to this if nobody turns up any baguettes or half moons. I would also be open to traps...but less open to trillions. I would probably compromise and get pears as side stones if they were very thin pears and matched. Also, I would probably be happy with thinner barrel shaped ovals to go with the cushion, but then I''d skip the rectangular center stone if I can''t do baguettes. In general, I''m having a hard time finding smaller stones. Most seem to be over .75. I checked out creative gems without too much luck...although it''s a pretty cool website and I bookmarked it, and I will check out your ebay seller next. I hadn''t thought of going the ebay route...but some of the stones are cheap enough to take a risk, and some have a return policy I suppose.

 

[valeria101]

Re. pre-made settings. Wink's website mentions three such catalogs online (Adwar, Stuller and Leo Ingwer). There must be others. IMO, these are definitely going to limit the choice of gem size and shape and given that a custom setting would mean a good price jump, it may be worth browsing some options for the setting first. There are no prices on such wholesale only catalogs, however, aside the custom ring I linked below there are a few at Wink's. Not many... I would rather avoid baguettes - they tend to be rather dull in colored stones and not often flattering (they are, IMO, if brilliance does not matter much and the color is quite fine). Chances are most three-stone settings will be for three stones of the same shape and calibrated sizes (a mysterious set of proportions I don't know by heart). Mostly rounds and squares... Anyway. The least involved option may be to look for a center stone, get some idea of what color the sides should be, select a setting and call a jeweler with the order. Not that there is a dearth of matched colored sides, but not many get listed 'retail' anyway (and if so, your jeweler would still get a better price).

Some ideas of websites for stones... try Customgemstones, Precisiongem... Judy's gems (Ebay) , Americanthai (Ebay and independent site), Gemline (same). AJSgems and Multicolour... Whildfishgems (making jewelry too), Aussiesapphire.com.au (great for calibrated sidestones).

For matched sidestones you may find gemsfromearth.com interesting (they partner with Dutton Diamonds - where the ring may come from). The little cute fancy color spinels are quite a sight: how about three cushion cut ones, say ?

(these particular) pinks & purples sounds inspiring... fro this side of the screen

More fancy spinel - see Gemcal and 'Matatora' ended up with her gray-blue spinel set in the diamond pendant from this unlikely place and had another from a mix & match website called gemwow (the content is quite a bit better than the name!). Perhaps not everyone likes the cold shades of fancy spinels... but I do. And although my tastes might be a bit particular, I found more than one follower - especially if they are either jaded with or not yet accustomed to reject anything but the traditionally preferred (and hence highly priced) gem colors. What made me fall for these stones was a large ring with a gray stone (don't know if it was spinel or some synthetic!) set between two small round cabs - on a coworker's hand. The contrast looked awesome and the casual piece of jewelry made quite an impression... as you can see. I do not have a picture, but could probably make one up from memory if someone is curious about it

Hope some of this 'meddley' helps ...

PS. I hope the folks from the 'Kigdom of red spinel' don't hate me by now for posting their fancy 'calibrateds' all the time. The pictures are quite a sight!

Date: 4/25/2006 5:40:17 AM
Author: kcoursolle

I am not as concerned about the quality of the side stones, but I do want them to look good with the center stone and match ok with color and proportion.

Good match between them, good cut, pleasant color and nice match with the center... that about all the quality concerns that come to mind about these and you did mention all in these posts

What else?

Red and orange garnets should not be too expensive in this size. Tourmaline and spinel come second, I would think.

I sort of remember a set of calibrated spessartite at ww.kashmirblue.com from among the sellers posting around here.

 

[PrecisionGem]

I don''t think you are going to be able to do this project for a few hundred dollars. Decent spesspartite garnet will cost a few hundred per ct., plus the custom ring setting, will put this project over $500 quickly.

 

[movie zombie]

Date: 4/25/2006 10:01:19 AM
Author: PrecisionGem
I don''t think you are going to be able to do this project for a few hundred dollars. Decent spesspartite garnet will cost a few hundred per ct., plus the custom ring setting, will put this project over $500 quickly.

agreed: decent stones go for a few hundred per carat; great/world class stones go for lots more. however, other than the center stone, you are looking for rather small side stones so that should help with the costs.

i do think you''ll be disappointed if the side stones aren''t the same or close to the same quality and color as the center stone. the difference in quality in spess is really noticeable. unless cut well it can look like nothing more than colored glass.

personally, i think a nice round or oval or square center stone with a trilliant on each side would be gorgeous but it''s not my project.

since you''re not in a hurry, you can have a vendor or vendors keep an eye out for you.

just an idea: i picked up a couple of piecs of spess rough from aussiesapphire but have yet to have them cut here in the US. it was inexpensive enough that i decided to give it a try for fun. i won''t be out big bucks as i''m not trying to complete a project. andrew is a really nice guy and used to participate here. i''m sure if you contact him he''ll be honest about any rough he has and the capabilities of the cutters he works with. might be worth a try if the costs are something you''re comfortable with. he will also tell you if he thinks you''d be better off having the rough cut here. then you''d have to find a cutter. be aware that lots of stone is lost in the cutting process, something like 2/3''s i believe. however, you might enjoy the process. like i said, i''m doing it for fun and learning: i''m not sure i''d be doing it if i had a project in mind.....

if you wanted to go high end world class spess, i know richard wise [rwwise.com] has some small spess available that is not pictured on his website that would be wonderful as a center stone. but expect to pay high end world class prices. he also has a .68 carat orange sapphire [also not pictured at his website] that is 6.2x4.5 in size for sale but it is almost $700.



movie zombie

 

[kcoursolle]

Thanks for all of your help. I think I am going to focus on the center stone for now and worry about the rest later. I should clarify about my budget. The few hundred dollars was for the setting, plus a couple of hundred for the center stone, and probably a little on top of that for the side stones and the labor.

I checked out all of those links and absolutely loved Daniel J''s work! I sent him an email to see if he would be doing any garnets or would consider custom work. He had a couple of beautiful garnets that weren''t the right size or shape, but gorgeous. I also think his prices are pretty reasonable for quality cuts as well.

As far as the side stones...I might go custom...or...I found a website that has half moon CZ''s in any color/shape. I think I might just put those in temporarily if I can''t find anything and go custom later with the half moons. This will give me time to figure it all out. I was also toying with the idea of using white half moons, because they might be easier to find??...or maybe not...who knows. I think I should just wait on the side stones or go CZ until I find exactly what I''m looking for.

I''ll keep you all posted on my center stone search!!

By the way, has anyone had experience with Daniel J?