What to know and where to buy emerald ring
December 28, 2010 3:50 PM Subscribe
What should I know about buying an emerald ring? Where should I buy it online or in the Dallas area? Please help
Where should my significant other and I buy an emerald ring? I'd like a nice emerald ring but the only thing I know about them is that they're pretty and that I don't want a lab-made one (looks a little too perfect).
I was thinking about buying one online and I saw a few that I liked on Angara site - any experience buying from them? Any online retailer that you'd recommend?
The S.O. pointed out that because an emerald's color varies, we're better off getting one from a brick and mortar store. But I'm afraid the prices will be much higher and they'll be harder to find. Know of any place to find emeralds in Dallas?
So, what should I know before buying an emerald and where should I buy one?
Where should my significant other and I buy an emerald ring? I'd like a nice emerald ring but the only thing I know about them is that they're pretty and that I don't want a lab-made one (looks a little too perfect).
I was thinking about buying one online and I saw a few that I liked on Angara site - any experience buying from them? Any online retailer that you'd recommend?
The S.O. pointed out that because an emerald's color varies, we're better off getting one from a brick and mortar store. But I'm afraid the prices will be much higher and they'll be harder to find. Know of any place to find emeralds in Dallas?
So, what should I know before buying an emerald and where should I buy one?
I had a very small emerald eons ago. One thing that you should verify, but definitely check before buying is that as stones go, emeralds are on the more fragile side. I remember hearing that they can develop cracks from severe temperature changes and mine got chipped and I don't remember being particularly rough with it.
posted by kaybdc at 5:35 PM on December 28, 2010
posted by kaybdc at 5:35 PM on December 28, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks BusyBusyBusy, I thought that thread was very helpful concerning alternative green stones, but not as helpful concerning genuine emeralds.
Thanks, kaybdc - good to know! :)
posted by Neekee at 6:25 PM on December 28, 2010
Thanks, kaybdc - good to know! :)
posted by Neekee at 6:25 PM on December 28, 2010
I bought my wife emerald earring and a matching necklace years ago. To make a long story short, the guy who custom made jewellery at the store explained that emeralds come in a range of different shades of green. He took some out of a drawer ( stones only) and showed me. There were many different cuts and shades of green. Very, very beautiful. If I was buying again I would definitely want to see it before hand. Different prices, colours, cuts and all of them gorgeous.
posted by Taurid at 9:36 PM on December 28, 2010
posted by Taurid at 9:36 PM on December 28, 2010
I am the person that started the thread that was linked to earlier.
As Taurid said, emeralds come in a wide variety of colours. This makes buying an emerald online a gamble, because it is safe to assume that the picture displayed on a website won't be representative of the acutal colour.
Something that you should really think about though is how included you want the emerald. You can by an opaque stone for just about nothing, and an almost perfectly transparent mined stone if you are willing to pay the price. I've seen lots of mined emeralds that are less included than the lab created stones I have had a look at. Just because an emerald is clear to the eye doesn't mean that it is grown.
If you are looking for a single emerald, I would reccomend that you make a long list of the jewellers in your city. Every week, call a certain number of them up and ask whether they can show you a selection of emeralds. Make appointments with those that can for the weekend, and repeat this until you find a stone you like that you can afford. It will take a while, but I think this is your best bet.
posted by Ctrl_Alt_ep at 12:58 PM on December 30, 2010
As Taurid said, emeralds come in a wide variety of colours. This makes buying an emerald online a gamble, because it is safe to assume that the picture displayed on a website won't be representative of the acutal colour.
Something that you should really think about though is how included you want the emerald. You can by an opaque stone for just about nothing, and an almost perfectly transparent mined stone if you are willing to pay the price. I've seen lots of mined emeralds that are less included than the lab created stones I have had a look at. Just because an emerald is clear to the eye doesn't mean that it is grown.
If you are looking for a single emerald, I would reccomend that you make a long list of the jewellers in your city. Every week, call a certain number of them up and ask whether they can show you a selection of emeralds. Make appointments with those that can for the weekend, and repeat this until you find a stone you like that you can afford. It will take a while, but I think this is your best bet.
posted by Ctrl_Alt_ep at 12:58 PM on December 30, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by BusyBusyBusy at 4:22 PM on December 28, 2010