STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

alb · Marc Jacobs

Another post about fine jewelry

kenzie · Chanel

I think it could be replicated. As far as finding a jeweler, just check in your area for local jewelers. Most of them do custom work.

alb · Marc Jacobs

Thanks, Nyla--I'll definitely do that if I don't get any personal reccommendations.

asf · Kate Spade

what a sweet hubby! i think that's a great idea.

i know taru's mom is a gemologist, i'm sure she would have some recommendations.

my birthstone is an emerald, too, in case you find a two-fer deal!

kenzie · Chanel

asf wrote:

what a sweet hubby! i think that's a great idea. i know taru's mom is a gemologist, i'm sure she would have some recommendations.

Oh that's a good idea. And aren't you in the DC area, too, alb? Unless Taru's mom doesn't live in DC, then that might not be helpful. But I'm sure she would still have some recs.

-- Edited by NylaBelle at 14:59, 2005-08-30

itsapinkthing · Coach

alb - one suggesstion becareful using a large emerald such as a center stone, Emeralds are one of the weaker natural gemstones and you would hate to damage an heirloom. Just an FYI. Emerald is my birthstone and it's hard for me to find nice natural stones in larger sizes because of this. Any good jeweler will tell you this, and perhaps help you find a mounting type that will best protect the stone.

bumblebee · Coach

itsapinkthing is right--that's what i was going to post about, too. my birthstone is emerald, too, and i have quite a few pieces, but they are all smaller stones. emeralds are very very hard to find in larger sizes because they are not as strong as other stones, and therefore extremely expensive, too (quite a bit more than diamonds, karat for karat).

the ring i got most recently is set in a recessed setting so that none of the edges will catch, because it is a bigger stone. you can't really set them in open settings like the one you posted, because they are so fragile and will scratch.

there is such a thing as factory emeralds, and they can be made in much larger sizes and have a beautiful, true and even green color (sometimes hard to get in natural stones). i don't really understand how that whole thing works, but you might want to ask a good jeweler.

alb · Marc Jacobs

Thanks everyone. I contacted a jeweler that I found online and he told me basically the same thing about it being difficult to place an emerald in that setting. He also said that there might be a copyright issue if a jeweler were to copy that setting exactly. However, he did give me a referral to a jeweler that's closer to where I live, so I will call them. I don't know what to do about the emerald problem though. I haven't found much online that I like, but perhaps I need to keep looking. For those of you with emerald birthstones, where have you found your pieces?

I thought about Taru's mom-- If I remember correctly her parents live in a little resort town sort of near dc. Anyway, Taru if you see this and you think your mom would be interested, let me know! I did read your interview of her in the weekly stitch and that was very helpful!

halleybird · Hermes

I love the one you picked, but I agree about emeralds.

My stepmom has an emerald birthstone, and she usually buys her nice stuff in settings like this (sorry, I don't know jewelry terms...bezel?) so the stone is more protected:

Sapphire and Diamond Ring (sorry, couldn't find an emerald example)

Kari · Dooney & Bourke

Hey alb -

I think you and your hubby have a great idea. Have you looked around any antique shops or vintage jewelry stores.

It is kind of a shot in the dark, but when Adam and I were in Hot Springs, AR, we went in to this antique jewelry store and I found the absolutely most gorgeous emerald (my birthstone too) ring in there. Of course that was 3 years ago, and we were way too poor to get it.

It is worth a shot, I think if you happen to know of any stores in the DC area...or it might be worth a trip to NYC?

alb · Marc Jacobs

Thanks Halleybird, for posting that example. I've seen a few emerald rings with that setting. Kari--yes I have looked at antique rings online and think that is the way I'll go. On that note, what does everyone think about these (most are antique or vintage):

this antique emerald engagement ring:

http://www.faycullen.com/rings/800/c307r2ed.html

I usually don't like art deco, but I like this one, although I'm not sure how I feel about it being only from the 90’s:

http://www.topazery.com/antique-jewelry-item-rg1328.htm

This one which is sold already (since yesterday), but I still want your opinion compared to the 90’s one above and the others:

http://www.topazery.com/antique-jewelry-item-rg1065.htm

love this, but it’s a sapphire (which is my birthstone). I *could* get this and get an emerald ring later, but it’s somewhat similar to the one my mom got when I was born which I will inherit eventually so should I skip this one? (I love it though!):

http://www.langantiques.com/detail.php

Or if I decide to go with a sapphire, I could also get this new one:

http://www.ylang-ylang.com/item.cfm?ShopBy=Designers&DesignerID=37&ItemID=6824

Opinions? TIA!

kenzie · Chanel

I couldn't see a few of the pictures, but I like the first one (it's very earthy and kind of looks like tree branches) and the last one is my favorite (but that's probably b/c I like sapphires better than emeralds.

alb · Marc Jacobs

Thanks, Nylabelle, for your opinion. I agree with you about liking sapphires better than emeralds. Any other opinions out there?

asf · Kate Spade

i couldn't get the pic for the first sapphire ring to work, but of the others i like the sold one best! (of course). i really like the emerald engagement ring, too, but i'm not crazy about the other emerald. the second sapphire ring is pretty too, but the band is a little too delicate-looking for my taste.

hth!

Misty · Dooney & Bourke

I like the one that was sold yesterday and the last sapphire ring. What a nice hubby A is. You're so lucky!

alb · Marc Jacobs

Thanks, asf and Misty! Yeah, A has his moments where he tries to be romantic and I'm appreciative of that (but definitely not all the time though)!

-- Edited by alb at 10:02, 2005-09-01