I know my bridesmaid would love a gem stone (not diamond) as a gift, we plan to buy her one as a thank you and she can have a piece of jewellery made from it to her taste, what size stone should I be looking for (probably a ring size or small-ish pendant), and please can anyone advise about clarity, I have no idea where to start!! Thank you for the advice....
2007-06-13 05:53:18 · 5 answers · asked by sparkleythings_4you 7 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
I am SURE she would love this as she is my best friend and we DO talk about things lol...I would not be getting her something she would not want, she has talked about designing her own jewellery for YEARS, and yes, I will be paying for the finished product as well as the stone.
2007-06-13 06:06:15 · update #1
I appreciate that this is not to everyone's taste, but it is something that SHE wants, and it is her desire to design a piece of jewellery, not me forcing her to.
2007-06-13 06:10:20 · update #2
Apparently the quality of the gemstone is graded differently if you buy it loose from a jeweler or if you get it through a wholesale jewelry supplier. You can see differences in color, cut, and clarity when you compare a super cheap gemstone to one that costs more.
The first link contains general education about purchasing gemstones. The second link explains the GIA grading system. The third link is for the company that I go through to purchase gemstones. Their descriptions are completely accurate, and they ship quickly. Of course, when you shop online you don't get to see the gemstone before you buy it, but this is a trustworthy site.
If you are going to buy from Fire Mountain Gems, make sure you know what size gemstone you want. You will want to get A grade here. There is a section with loose faceted gemstones, and some of them are a bit small. Not sure what color you are looking for, but the citrine comes in larger sizes and is very inexpensive. Maybe take a look at the amethyst, or at the gemstone beads section. You will probably want at least 6mm unless you are buying multiple stones. (6mm is minimum for a ring, but you may want to consider a briolette or something larger for a pendant)
This is a wholesaler in the sense that the more you buy, the cheaper everything is, but you do not need a business license or anything like that.
2007-06-13 07:25:08 · answer #1 · answered by lei 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you sure your bridesmaid would like this gift? I would HATE that gift, I'm sorry. It's the fitting that's the expensive part, not the gem stone. You're basically forcing her to buy a ring/necklace setting because otherwise what is she to do with a loose gem stone? Please consider buying the stone already in a setting.
ETA: If you're sure she'd like this and she'd use it to design her own jewelry, look into a selection of semi-precious gemstones (amythest, citrine, etc.) rather than one stone. They don't have to be large, and don't worry about the clarity. That usually doesn't matter in handmade jewelry. Google "loose gemstones" and search ebay to find pre-packaged selections. That's what my jeweler friend does.
2007-06-13 06:00:12 · answer #2 · answered by Pink Denial 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
A loose gemstone is a wonderful gift! How cool! I always give my son a loose stone for Christmas and/or Birthday - so it makes perfect sense to me.
Stones have meanings - such as diamonds for eternity and pearls for mourning etc. So pick out one that symbolizes your friendship with your MOH.
Check out this site for the meanings of some precious and semiprecious stones.
http://www.meaningoflife.i12.com/gems.htm
I'm sure there are other sites with more stones/meanings out there.
2007-06-13 06:36:41 · answer #3 · answered by Barbara B 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
when i buy diamonds...i try to buy VVS (very, very slightly included{ {deposits of carbon}) i think clarity is only important in a diamond..because they are white and if you get a low grade clarity..you can see little black specs of carbon in it..and that stops the light shining in..and hence, affects the diamonds ability to sparkle.
i bought a ruby ring & a sapphire ring and didnt even ask about the clarity of the gems...as they looked beautiful..and i promise...i am addicted to jewellery so if anything was wrong - i would notice it immediately.
i think a half a carat is a nice petite size..or if you can afford it - one carat. they would look nice as a ring or pendant.
2007-06-13 06:11:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Pink, I agree w/ you but she can always give her some MONEY to have it fitted.
I think it's a wonderful gift idea. You might want to start small, like a 6-carat or something. I'm no jeweler, sorry. xP;;
2007-06-13 06:02:57 · answer #5 · answered by Beth 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋