Sparkly things was Re: [rescue] cheap gps for time reference

[Amy]

On Wed, 10 Jul 2002, Joshua D Boyd wrote:
> Well, what I'm finding is that rings are darn cheap.  And certain
> jewels aren't too bad (like saphires, her favorite).  When one sees
> jaw dropping ring prices, most of that is the diamond(s) (and/or
> labor), so I'm doing pretty well to have one usefull for a center
> diamond.

Settings are fairly affordable, yes. However, depending on the quality of
the stone, a single sapphire can be more expensive than the same carat
weight in an average diamond. You get what you pay for with rocks so it's
best to see a very large selection. Be wary that the stones have been treated
(i.e. irradiated to enhance color, oiled to reduce the flaws, or heated).
A lot of corundum out there has been treated and put on the market these
days and it'd be worth your while to ask, as an irradiated or heated stone
will fade in sunlight and oil, of course, will disappear the first time
she gets in the shower and puts soap on her hands.

The best sapphires still originate from Thailand. Any reputable jeweler
can tell you the origin of any loose stone they sell. If they use
catchphrases like "Ceylon Blue", run like hell cause it's just marketing
bullshit. The color of a good sapphire should always be a deep cornflower
blue wth a lot of fire and few visible flaws. Darker sapphires that have no
sparkle aren't worth anything, nor are they pretty. Have the jeweler show
you the best sapphire they have in the house and then look at one that's
in an in-stock ring. There'll be a big difference in quality.

> What I see as ideal here is a simple ring with just one stone in it.

Mine is a deep, flawless and colorless 2-carat center in a basket setting
(an older type of setting not seen anymore) with five .20 diamonds on
either side. The 'matching' band is just twelve .20 carat stones set
'anniversary-style' across it. Both are set in platinum and it wears the
best of all the metals (hell, it's a 70 year-old ring). It sounds
over-the-top but its really simple and elegant. (I certainly couldn't have
afforded such a ring as this on my own...thank god for once-affluent
relatives)

Also, when you do finish the ring, get it appraised and insured separately
from anything else you own (i.e. when you buy a house, don't put it on
your house policy cause most house policies only cover up to 5k worth of
jewelry). I think we pay an extra 50 dollars a year to cover mine, and it
appraised out at 45,000 last year.

As for the engagement ring Bill got for me, it's a 4-carat emerald-cut
sapphire in white gold. I rarely wear it (I'm hard on rings and sapphires
are more brittle than diamonds).

The only ring that's ever tempted me so much that I havd to walk out of
the jeweler's was a 3 carat beautiful ruby ring. Only 15 thousand dollars.
*grin* It was just a ruby and the plain setting. Gorgeous, really really
gorgeous.

--a