It’s winter now so beach time (we don’t go in summer because it’s crowded but we go in winter) and I need safe stones to wear to the beach! Some of the more questionable ones that I want to check on: Tsav Spess tourmaline Spinel Yay or nay? Do I just keep wearing diamonds, sapphires and jadeite ..read more

Hello all, I'm tentatively planning a design for my black opal. I have a sort of unique halo in mind, but I keep going back and forth as to which would be safer... bezel setting or prong setting. Naturally, a bezel would provide more protection in the long run, but I worry about the actual setting process. I'm fairly new to opals (as far as owning, but I've studied them). Do most folks bezel? Is that pretty standard with opals? Or do most prong set? Orrr is it split? TIA! Autumn ..read more

I updated the Antique forum but not here - these are my latest two rubies and I love them. The weird shaped one came from an auction in the UK and the daisy one from France. It's 7 pm on the east coast, so this is how they look indoors and outdoors ..read more

Considering this 5.7mm garnet for a bezel ring but I'm not sure if it would look nice in yellow gold. Would love some honest opinions before I pull the trigger ..read more

Hey friends, could anyone help me with the rough value of this 58ct ruby ..read more

I shall post pictures with this soon. So I have a ring that's been passed down on my mom's side. It was in a 14k band, found out recently the two diamonds on the side were CV's. Super sad. But the beauty of the show is the CS. It is a purple stone, apparently grade A, in normal light. Has the reflexes of red in sunlight. Turns a little darker in other settings, hard to describe the color, like a smokey purple color. I took it in to Jared's to tell me what kind of stone this is. I always... Read more ..read more

I heard someone say that Czarite/ Zultanite/ Turkizite will be the next Russian Alexandrite. I cannot see the appeal of the stone, however. How about you ..read more

Heh, so I spoke about liking stones that were not so top drawer. Here is my incoming native cut, rather wonky orange brown 2.27 spinel pendant. I'm still excited! I think it does "read" as a garnet. Color: orange brown Weight: 2.27cts Size: 8.8x6.1x4.6mm Natural: Unheated, untreated, no oil Origin: Vietnam ..read more

Do they get darker? Lighter? Brighter? My sapphire from Alex Weber arrived (2.51ct cushion cut), and its great in *perfect* lighting. The rest of the time it blacks out. It has no inclusions to speak of, and in the right light (10am - 2pm directly under the sky light in my stair case) it's gorgeous. Apart from that? Not so great. Would I be better with a recut? From who? I bought it at an auction, I can't return it, and I just want it to be better than this. This is my one and... Read more ..read more

I bought this sapphire from the late and dearly loved Barry Bridgestock back in 2017. It's 1.41 ct, unheated, from Tanzania and shows off his delightful faceting. His vendor picture from back then, sigh, just looking at this gives me feels. It lived in a rose gold and silver bezel ring for awhile, but the plan was always to reset her when a worthy setting came along. Recently I bought a vintage Traub Orange Blossom setting and I knew it was meant to be. Had to change out the... Read more ..read more