If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Are some gemstones too fragile for every day use?
Hello,
I am looking for an engagement ring and I've determined that my price- range ($1500) should be enough to allow me to get a decent mounting with a nice bling-y semi-precious stone. Probably I would like something large, shiny and purple or pink. I've been talking to a lot of jewelers about this and one recommended to me that for an engagement ring that will be worn daily I should not do amethyst or kunzite, or topaz because these are too fragile and will scuff and chip with every day use. Out of the stones that we discussed she basically only recommended sapphire, diamonds, and moisannite (ok, ruby too but thats way out of my range). In your opinion, is that a fair assessment or is that just her opinion that will vary from jeweler to jeweler? Thanks so much for helping me out. |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Are some gemstones too fragile for every day use?
"George Mauer" wrote in message
... Hello, I am looking for an engagement ring and I've determined that my price- range ($1500) should be enough to allow me to get a decent mounting with a nice bling-y semi-precious stone. Probably I would like something large, shiny and purple or pink. I've been talking to a lot of jewelers about this and one recommended to me that for an engagement ring that will be worn daily I should not do amethyst or kunzite, or topaz because these are too fragile and will scuff and chip with every day use. Out of the stones that we discussed she basically only recommended sapphire, diamonds, and moisannite (ok, ruby too but thats way out of my range). In your opinion, is that a fair assessment or is that just her opinion that will vary from jeweler to jeweler? Thanks so much for helping me out. I would agree with her and maybe add spinel to the list - it's quite durable and availabe in both pink and purple. But I'm not a professional, so feel free to ask around. __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 3973 (20090329) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Are some gemstones too fragile for every day use?
|
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Are some gemstones too fragile for every day use?
Hope this helps.
Peter Rowe Wow. Boy does it help! Thank you so much Peter and m4816, today's going to be a far more informed trip to the jewlers. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Are some gemstones too fragile for every day use?
On Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:31:09 -0700, in rec.crafts.jewelry George Mauer
wrote: Wow. Boy does it help! Thank you so much Peter and m4816, today's going to be a far more informed trip to the jewlers. You're welcome. By the way, it's spelled "jewelers". Missing that "e" makes it look, well, odd. Almost ... well... ( oh never mind.. :-) ) |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Are some gemstones too fragile for every day use?
On Mar 31, 1:34*pm, Peter W. Rowe
wrote: On Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:31:09 -0700, in rec.crafts.jewelry George Mauer wrote: Wow. *Boy does it help! *Thank you so much Peter and m4816, today's going to be a far more informed trip to the jewlers. You're welcome. *By the way, it's spelled "jewelers". *Missing that "e" makes it look, well, odd. *Almost ... well... * ( oh never mind.. :-) *) Darn spell check, didn't notice the little red line this time. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Are some gemstones too fragile for every day use?
On Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:23:26 -0700, in rec.crafts.jewelry George Mauer
wrote: Darn spell check, didn't notice the little red line this time. On my news/mail client (forte agent), the spell check isn't real time. You have to actually use it before hitting send. Easy to forget. Also easy to let it correct errors, only find afterwards that it got the spelling right for wrong usages, so the correctly spelled words are grammatically odd. Ya just can't win sometimes. cheers Peter |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Are some gemstones too fragile for every day use?
On Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:22:36 -0700, in rec.crafts.jewelry robynahawk
wrote: George - I think you have a Jeweler that actually knows her stuff! This is a link to a Wikipedia Article on the Mohs Scale of Hardness: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohs_sc...neral_hardness One thing to keep in mind about mohs hardenss is that it's simply an order, not a good linear scale. Diamond, at 10, is some 40 times harder than sapphire at 9, depending on how you measure it. And sapphire is harder than beryl by more than the interval between quartz and topaz. Also, hardness is only the measure of how easily the stone can be scratched. It is not the same as toughness, or the resistance to chipping and breaking. Spinel, for example, is a bit softer than sapphire, but it's a good deal tougher and harder to chip. One can illustrate the difference with a piece of glass, and a piece of plastic like nylon. A sharp corner on the glass easily scratches the softer nylon. But drop them both on the floor, and the plastic bounces while the glass shatters. Topaz, as you note, is harder than quartz. But it's not as tough, what with a perfect cleavage direction. When looking for a stone that you want to wear daily - this should be your FIRST resource. Kunzite is a 6.5 - so too soft for everyday wear. If you knock on something it tends to get small feathery fractures inside the stone. When it was introduced (by Tiffany's) it was referred to as the "Evening Stone" as it shouldn't be exposed to sun for extended periods - the color has a tendency to fade. Not just a tendancy. It WILL fade, though how fast depends on the intensity of the light and the duration. Also, like topaz, it too has a direction of perfect cleavage (this is a direction through some types of crytals along which it's much easier to split the crystal.) Quartz (Amethyst) is a 7 - and while it would hold up to frequent wear - it can get scratched up - but then too it is fairly inexpensive and could be replaced when the stone starts to show wear. Topaz is an 8 - the only Topaz that will show wear is the Vapor Deposition Treated "Mystic" varieties as it is a surface treatment. Again - cheap enough to replace. Some is cheap. In the pinkish tones, you can get into the so-called "imperial" topaz, which depending on quality and size, can get at least into the hundreds of dollars per karat. Still likely within the budget, but I don't think I'd call them all exactly cheap. Also, though they are an 8 in hardness, their slight brittleness and that cleavage direction does make them vulnerable to chipping and breakage, even if they don't get too scratched up. Interesting she didn't mention the Beryl Family - also an 8 but more of them are natural colors so less chance of getting that worn look - maybe she just doesn't have any Morganite (more of a peachy pink). Good call. I forgot that one too. Morganites aren't as common as some, nor are they a bright pink, but they are indeed pretty, and so long as you stay out of top quality aquamarines, or any decent quality of emerald, they can be affordable. Personally, I like the golden beryls better. Bright clean lively golden colors, and not excessively priced. As the previous posters have mentioned Spinel is an excellent option - but I have to disagree with Peter - I don't think that Alexandrite is in your price range. However - since you were considering a synthetic stone in Moissanite you may want to look at the Russian Lab Grown Alexandrite - you can get the showy size you are looking for with the added bonus of "color change"! I didn't imply that natural alexandrite was in the price range. I said they're costly. I might have added that in the finest qualities, they can be among the most costly gems you'll find around, if indeed you can even locate a stone in those rare qualities. You can find moderatly priced ones on the net, but frankly, most of them are somewhat less than stunning in appearance. And I'm being tactful with that characterization.... :-) However, as you note, you CAN find good and attractive synthetic alexandrite. The russian ones are nice, as you mention. Personally, I also quite like the Chatham ones. as well. Maybe it's just that "made in the U.S." thing right now... But Tom Chatham is a neat guy, and no doubt appreciates the business. Other inexpensive and showy looks might be a Malaya Garnet - pinky purple - or a Rubellite Tourmaline! Go to your bookstore - get a copy of Gemstones of the World by Walter Schumann (short sweet and easy to read) - and do some research! Another good call. There are also many good sites on the net with decent gemological info for free. Be a bit wary of any who are coupling it with a strong attempt to sell you gems, but nevertheless, there's a lot of good gemological info on the net. Wikipedia has a goodly amount, for example. Peter |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Are some gemstones too fragile for every day use?
On Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:25:21 -0700, Peter W. Rowe
wrote: On Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:23:26 -0700, in rec.crafts.jewelry George Mauer wrote: Darn spell check, didn't notice the little red line this time. On my news/mail client (forte agent), the spell check isn't real time. You have to actually use it before hitting send. Easy to forget. Also easy to let it correct errors, only find afterwards that it got the spelling right for wrong usages, so the correctly spelled words are grammatically odd. Ya just can't win sometimes. cheers Peter There's an option to always spell check before sending any message. In FA 2.00 it is under optionsgeneral preferencesspell checking. |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Quilts - fragile? | Polly Esther[_5_] | Quilting | 4 | January 22nd 09 03:46 AM |
Cut Your Own Gemstones | Dave[_3_] | Beads | 0 | October 17th 07 11:36 PM |
GEMSTONES FROM RUSSIA | ebaygifts | Beads | 0 | April 8th 07 03:53 PM |
Gemstones for Sale | Tking | Marketplace | 0 | October 6th 06 02:44 AM |
OT - a fragile stability achieved | Queen of Squishies | Quilting | 40 | April 11th 05 12:56 AM |