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Your favorite cutter and personal opinion

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Date: 5/25/2009 6:05:35 PM
Author: VRBeauty
I have to defer to the experts here, but it seems to me that an amethyst doesn''t inherently have the light return and brilliance that you might get from a sapphire or zircon. In theory, at least, a good concave cut should enhance the light return. So for an amethyst, I think a concave cut might add life to the stone.
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That is a really good point, since the first ring I ever got her was a simple amethyst ring from a local retailer and it was dull and boring, kinda just there.

I want this cut to make it something special, not just a purple blob.
 
All of your stones look great and I really like that garnet I think you need to get that set and wear it.
That concave is just something unique though, I really like it because how many people are gonna have a cut like that?

I''m getting her e-ring from James Allen I looked at that setting before (funny I didn''t recognize it), but I think I''m just gonna buy the stone from them, they got a great selection of H&A diamonds. This is getting into another topic though.
 
Date: 5/25/2009 6:13:56 PM
Author: Ryon
All of your stones look great and I really like that garnet I think you need to get that set and wear it.

That concave is just something unique though, I really like it because how many people are gonna have a cut like that?


I''m getting her e-ring from James Allen I looked at that setting before (funny I didn''t recognize it), but I think I''m just gonna buy the stone from them, they got a great selection of H&A diamonds. This is getting into another topic though.
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Thanks and I absolutely agree - it needs to be set. Funny enough, I found a setting I really like at my local jewelers - but ran out of time, since I''m out of town for the summer. I''ll have to see if there''s anything in the Diamond District here that I like.

I agree about the uniqueness of the concave cut - I''ve never seen anyone in real life have one, and it doesn''t seem that common even on PS. If you like it, go for it - Richard''s stones are truly beautiful and incredibly cut.

I do love the common prong setting, by the way - JA was great to work with (they were really accommodating - they clawed out the prongs for me, and did a great job setting, even though it was a little tricky because the girdle of the sapphire was pretty thin because of the faceting). I''ve recommended the same setting to my best friend from high school for her future e-ring
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Date: 5/25/2009 6:05:35 PM
Author: VRBeauty
I''d go for a slightly more saturated amethyst than the one you posted...
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You beat me to the return key! Anyhow, I''m really liking the color on stone no. 4876 from the clearance section (sorry, I''m having trouble posting a link).

I''ve been drooling over Dan Starr''s beauties for their unique cuts (dansstarrgems.com/). He doesn''t keep a large inventory on his websitesince most of his stones are cut to order, and unfortunately he isn''t showing any nice amethysts right now. But you might want to look at his cuts nonetheless... I''m sure he has access to all manner of rough, and a great cut could also add interest to an amethyst. Just keep in mind that an unusual cut might also rule out a stock setting, if you were planning to go that route.

BTW, Mariedtiger''s pink tourmaline ring introduced me to Dan Starr''s work. Her ring thread is here:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/pink-tourmaline-custom-cut-and-set-in-a-ring-lots-of-pictures.100495/
 
Good luck on getting your gem set


I think we ruled out Dan, and I dont see what stone your reffering to but here is another one that is really nice to throw in the mix

http://www.webgraphicsengineering.com/Gemstones/detail.cfm?zNum=4588

Talk about a killer pink tourmaline..
Somehow I looked over this stone before.

So to start a new discussion Pink Tourmaline (favorite color) vs Amethyst (her birthstone)

I guess the rose quartz and other pink tourmaline are ruled out and its between these 2 stones and what I see from Barry (emailing him)
 
Its 7.1 by 7.1 and I wanted a 7x7 how perfect..
 
go with her favorite color!

Amethyst is my birthstone as well, and I''m really not that enamored with the stone (purple doesn''t do much for me). I''d much rather have something in my favorite color (in my case, blue) than my birthstone.

And that pink tourm is stunning. I was browsing through Richard''s site the other day and that one jumped out at me as well.
 
It has been heated is that a bad thing?
Yeah she wears pink.. just about every day.. Your good help haha.
I don''t think amethyst "jumps out" at her either but I was trying to make it with the right cut.
 
OK if I MUST pick one of the first three you showed me I would pick the amythest but mostly because I don''t like pink. And I do think that the concave cutting probably brings out the brilliance in this stone.

The rose quartz I personally don''t like, just not my color. I might try getting a look at that 3rd stone.

Both stones I like are rather large though -- so it will be a large ring. You''re OK with that right?

HTH
 
Ah I do like #4588 I saw it and thought about buying it, even though pink is way down on my list of favorite colors.

So if you do buy it that would save me some money -- and I like the size much better for a ring than the larger ones you posted.

HTH
 
Date: 5/25/2009 6:49:38 PM
Author: Ryon
It has been heated is that a bad thing?

Yeah she wears pink.. just about every day.. Your good help haha.

I don''t think amethyst ''jumps out'' at her either but I was trying to make it with the right cut.
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No problem! Glad to help!

Speaking of what Stone Hunter was saying, do you know what kind of setting you want to put the stone in? And her finger size?

I think a 7x7 is a great size for both a solitaire or a halo (I have a 7x7 cushion in a halo, which is big on me, but still management).

I think concave with that medium to light shade of pink is stunning. It really shows off the unique faceting, I think - maybe more so than a darker stone, like the amethyst. So I would definitely lean towards the pink tourmaline you just posted for that reason as well.
 
Date: 5/25/2009 6:50:49 PM
Author: Stone Hunter
OK if I MUST pick one of the first three you showed me I would pick the amythest but mostly because I don''t like pink. And I do think that the concave cutting probably brings out the brilliance in this stone.

The rose quartz I personally don''t like, just not my color. I might try getting a look at that 3rd stone.

Both stones I like are rather large though -- so it will be a large ring. You''re OK with that right?

HTH
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I would buy that last pink tourmaline it was nice. The others were just ideas of what those stones would look like. I was going to have Richard try and match the color of one of those stones and make me one in 7x7. Sorry if I didn''t make that clear earlier.

She is a pink fanatic haha, but I really would love to get her birthstone in a nice concave after seeing that darker saphire im sure it would great and be really unique. To be honest, I think concave is the way to go. The people who disagree say its a matter of preference.
 
ETA: Thanks OP I didn't understand that you'd have him cut a smaller stone. I think the pink one will be a stunner.

BEG : How much in mm does a halo add to the size of your stone?
 
Her ring size is a 4 (VERY TINY FINGERS)... I measured her fingers and 7mm seems to be good, it will be large but will manage to stay within a finger width..

For setting I was just going to go to a local jewler (know some holes in the wall) and get one made like a simple tiffany style..

Sound good?
 
I think a halo would be too much to add on, I want the stone to be center of attention
 
I agree that 7mm without a halo is the way to go for a ering. I think 7mm is about the max I would go for a ering before it looks crazy.

No one is dissing the concave cut - it is just a matter of taste. Since it is an ering, you should see how she feels about it. I generally would like something a little more traditional for the ering. Stick to a nice cushion or round. By the way, pink is my favorite. Half my gemstone collection are shades of pink and red.
 
Date: 5/25/2009 7:48:28 PM
Author: CharmyPoo
I agree that 7mm without a halo is the way to go for a ering. I think 7mm is about the max I would go for a ering before it looks crazy.

No one is dissing the concave cut - it is just a matter of taste. Since it is an ering, you should see how she feels about it. I generally would like something a little more traditional for the ering. Stick to a nice cushion or round. By the way, pink is my favorite. Half my gemstone collection are shades of pink and red.
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This will not be her ering, her ering will have a diamond in it .75 D SI1 H&A ;) when I graduate. ( I wish this could be her ering haha )

That is what I mean''t, that nobody said anything bad about it, they just didn''t prefer it. We are thinking the same thing, sorry if I was not clear about what I mean''t.

She loves both amethyst and pink stones. Honestly I can''t go wrong with either one.
 
Im gonna post a new thread and make this easier in a minute
 
Ryon- It seems that you have a whole lot of great options now! I''m sure you''ll be able to create a lovely ring for her.

I think you''ve probably realized now that there isn''t ONE "best" cutter. Each has their niche and special talents. (Though I will admit that Barry is my "favorite." You won''t find a nicer guy and he will go out of his way to find what you''re looking for!0
 
Date: 5/25/2009 8:02:42 PM
Author: icekid
Ryon- It seems that you have a whole lot of great options now! I''m sure you''ll be able to create a lovely ring for her.

I think you''ve probably realized now that there isn''t ONE ''best'' cutter. Each has their niche and special talents. (Though I will admit that Barry is my ''favorite.'' You won''t find a nicer guy and he will go out of his way to find what you''re looking for!0
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Yeah I hope I can, I have had a great experience talking with Richard and I seem to like his cut the most, but I will talk to Barry before rushing into a decision. Barry seems to charge a ton less for rarer stones, but Richard has that unique cut that i''m willing to pay extra for.

Guess I got a lot to think about =(

Might look over some more stones and try to post another thread one day now that I have narrowed things down to 2 great and reliable cutters.

Thanks for all the help to everyone
 
Ryon- If you''re really drawn to concave faceting, Gene does some really cool stones like this as well. He is at precisiongem.com. His prices are more reasonable than Richard, too. Any idea if your girl will like concave cutting too?
 
Yeah I would make sure she actually likes concave faceting before jumping into anything. As I said, I''m not a fan, and I''d actually be pretty upset if FI bought me a piece of jewelry with one in there. But that''s because I like big chunky facets and not little spiky ones.

I have seen them in jewelers cases here, but as everyone knows, I look at everyone''s loose gemstones...and buy most of them.
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Thanks guys you have good points, I will see if she likes concave faceting. Gene has lost a lot of my respect he emailed me back once and never emailed again.... maybe he is just really busy, but richard emails me a story everyday (very informative), maybe since I have had such a great experience talking to him it has infulenced my desicion but im looking in the low hundreds based on my decision with him. You guys keep saying he is a ton more expensive but seriously talk to him and ask him to personaly cut something for you and all the sudden the price is equal with what you see on these other sites you guys have given me.
 
If it''s pink you''re (now
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) looking for, don''t forget spinel. It''s both more durable and more brilliant that most tourmaline.
 
Are you aloud to share prices or is that against the rules?
 
spinel is also really expensive =(

Gene showed me one for 500 or something like that it was nice, but didn''t catch my eyes like some of these others have
 
Gene emailed me back =)
 
Ryon, I've bought two stones from Gene and both are very beautiful. He's always been really nice and pretty responsive, but I've found that he tends to respond to emails pretty late in the evening (hopefully because he's cutting during the day!). I'm glad you got a reply from him now
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Barry is on my list of cutters to purchase from, along with Peter Torraca, but I'm not in the market for new stones often enough. I'm another one who doesn't love concave cuts -- I think they're neat to look at but wouldn't want one for myself. Can't wait to hear what your girlfriend thinks of the different types of stones and cuts!
 
For a special girl and a special ring, I''d very much recommend Richard Homer. I was just at another of his round tables a couple of weeks ago, and spoke to him about the amethyst. He uses top quality materials, and is a top quality cutter, and the results are nothing short of amazing. Photos don''t really convey the flash that you get with concave faceting, and it is especially effective in darker colored material like purple amethyst.
 
Love that last pink toumaline. It is gorgeous!
 
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