I know what you mean Min. I've been looking for this blasted ring for ages. Sometimes the chase is fun but others I just think I'll give up now.
Oh that ring is lovely Nellie
I've really had a bit of a push lately. I thought I had it nailed with Eugene but he let me down. So I went back to Richard who did my engagement ring. I've talked to him before about wanting this ring but never asked him about making it. I should have. Because he's told me to some degree its a pipe dream. He explained it to me again yesterday. I want a square cut ideally. Well the nature of the stone doesn't lend itself to square. Its naturally oblong when its formed. Like an oblong stick of rock. So that's why most rings you see in smoky quartz are emerald cut. Anything that isn't is more modern and will likely be machine cut. And of course smoky quartz really isn't in fashion at all. Richard says its heyday was the 70s and although its never gone away completely its not mainstream at all. And rarely set with diamonds.
He's got, on approval, a stunning sky blue topaz ring. Its set high with a lower surround of weeny diamonds. Its in white gold. The central stone emerald cut and is 9 x 12 I think so its not a stonker. He's now going back to the designer to see if it can be cast in Rose gold. He already knows the designer has smoky quartz stones so that's not a problem.
And interestingly he's also recommended 9ct to get a better colour match for smoky quartz. He thinks it needs to look more copper and less pink.
I do like Richard. He doesn't just see ££££ when I walk in. He wants me to have what I want but not necessarily at all costs.
So we shall see. Maybe if I had spoken to Richard about making it years ago the search may have been over by now. Ah well.
Now see that's smokey topaz. I'm not sure I even know what that is. Very pretty design though. Interesting that the only things I've seen that could work are all from the US. They know summat our jewellers don't.
Snarly likes Dogpile.com as a search engine as it brings up different CanAm sites to Google. Found these; the first is from QVC USA, Lori Bonn, but discontinued.
Well chickies ... the smoky quartz ring is go, go, go!!
To have that ring made for me in rose gold and set with a smoky quartz will be £50 more than the standard ring in white gold with a blue topaz, so there's a pretty minimal price tag to get what I really, really want. Richard is going to order in some smoky quartz stones for me to choose ... although he has said he doubts there will be a massive amount of choice. I definitely want it towards the darker end of the spectrum. Some stones can be quite pale and that isn't what I want at all.
This ring will be something that I could wear every day as it's not a massive in your face central stone.
I already have more than the price of the ring tucked away and have been sitting on the money for a while now.
Gosh I'm excited!!
When I go in to choose I'll take a pic of the blue topaz ring so you can see what I'm wittering about.
It's just a littleBittyThing. But Snarly loves it. Looked suitably surprised when Thnarly 'gifted' me. Attachment DeletedAttachment Deleted On its own and alongside daJuliette (Smarties with heart clackers - as OurTinks would describe it)