Post # 1
Member
10 posts
Newbee
Hello Bees!
After lurking on the waiting boards for a while, I got engaged in December after around two years of dating and living together. We had a lovely engagement and I couldn’t be happier or more excited about the future.
However, due to logistics that I won’t bore you with, we’re going ring shopping after the fact.
I’d like to get something vintage, and I’d prefer a non-diamond gemstone, perhaps aquamarine.
Do you have any suggestions on where to start, bearing these two attributes in mind (vintage, and aquamarine)?
If you have a non-diamond or vintage ring, where did you find it?
Thanks a million for any advice!
Post # 3
Member
614 posts
Busy bee
@Juju2014: Check out this site! There are TONS of options!
http://www.gemselect.com/aquamarine/aquamarine.php
I personally love Aqua, because it’s my birth stone!
Post # 4
Member
8429 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
- Wedding: March 2014 - A castle
@Juju2014: I know of a bee that has a beautiful aquamarine she chose based on the color of her DH’s eyes, so maybe she can chime in? I forgot her user name! 
Anywas, aquamarines are a softer stone, so if you are hard on your hands you might want to consider a light blue sapphire. Sapphires don’t only come in deep blue, but a range of different blues and are hard enough for every day wear. There are lots of people who sell loose sapphires online, Etsy is a good place to start. Check out the sapphires this seller has to offer! Dewingedpixie has a gorgeous purple sapphire that she got from kirkawa, I am sure they can source light blues 🙂 HTH!
Post # 5
Member
614 posts
Busy bee
Post # 6
Member
10 posts
Newbee
Wow, thank you so much, these are great links and tips! I didn’t realize aqua was so much softer, and certainly didn’t know the first place to look to find it. I’d definitely consider lighter saphire, it would be nice to be able to pass on the ring to the next generation without having it completely roughed up.
Since I’m a jewlerry newbie, could I also ask how the process of ordering a custom ring from either a traditional retailer or Etsy works? Do I just need to know my size and they take care of the rest? Is there anything to watch for in terms of quality?
Post # 7
Member
8429 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
- Wedding: March 2014 - A castle
@Juju2014: Great questions! It really depends on the jeweler you are going to work with – how much customization you can add to your ring (if you want to). If you like a setting exactly the way it is then usually you just list what metal you would like and your finger size, check out using paypal. There is a way to send messages to the sellers to ask questions, or leave a little note. Quality will vary widely depending on seller as well, so read the reviews and check them often because sometimes people can be bribed to change their experience from neg/neutral to positive (I’ve seen it happen on ebay, not sure about etsy). You’ll definitely want to watch out for quality in the setting if you plan to get a lot of pave. I actually ended up with a second e-ring because the first lost so many pave stones.
Post # 8
Member
3232 posts
Sugar bee
I love Gemvara since it allows you to customize your ring. Here are some examples with a vintage inspired settings with aquamarines.
http://www.gemvara.com/Aquamarine-Vintage-Inspired-Engagement-Rings/jewelry/b/?cat=Ring&gem=Aquamarine&pts=18&sty=Engagement
Post # 9
Member
1262 posts
Bumble bee
First off Congrats!!! Second, let’s set the record straight for the 100th time regarding gemstone hardness. Aquamarine are not considered a “soft” gemstone…they are 7.5-8 on the mohs hardness scale. So while they are softer then a diamond or sapphire they are durable enough for daily wear….I don’t understand why it seems like people have to always bring up the “softness” of it.
Anywho…I love aquamarine and like others suggested Etsy is a great place to look for aqua rings…:)
Congrats again and good luck finding something you like!!
Post # 10
Member
10 posts
Newbee
@FutureDrAtkins
Great and much appreciated answers! 🙂 Good point – I’ve definitely seen the bad reviews disappear from Yelp before, but wouldn’t have thought to assume the same might happenon Etsy. It seems like a big risk buying a stone sight unseen, but none of the retailers seem to stock anything near what I have in mind. Thanks for the warning about pave stones. *off to look up what those are, LOL* (Kidding, I gather they’re the smaller ones along the setting. Very pretty.)
@NovaRising That’s a very user-friendly site. I also like that they do some shopper education, right on the (virtual) spot. Thanks so much!
@megan331979 Thank you!!!
And thanks for the ‘reality check’ on softness, or rather hardness. 🙂 *off to look up ‘mohs scale’* Btw, the ring in your avatar photo is beautiful.
I’ve learned more about rings from you ladies in the last hour than in all my years combined!
Post # 11
Member
8429 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
- Wedding: March 2014 - A castle
@Juju2014: By The Way, the moh’s scale isn’t linear. For example, cutting hardness goes from 175 at 8, to 1000 at 9, to 140000 at 10. Just something else to keep in mind. If you work with a jeweler, you can have them pick your stone. I had my ring custom made and got a video of my stone before it was set.
Post # 12
Member
279 posts
Helper bee
@Juju2014 I would also try rubylane. I have bought two stunning right hand rings from the site. One estate Swiss blue topaz and a antique white sapphire. They have vintage and antique aquamarine rings as well. I am on the hunt for one as well but since these are RHR’s I don’t have the budget for the ones I really love. I would highly suggest rubylane for vintage non diamond rings.
Post # 13
Member
10 posts
Newbee
@FutureDrAtkins:
Hmmm, the fact it’s exponential seems relevant! I don’t know if I’ll end up wearing the ring absolutely every day forever (in the past, I’ve found rings uncomfortable…) but I’d like to be able to pass it on to the (hoped for) next generation, ideally not in totally roughed up state. 😉
Post # 14
Member
10 posts
Newbee
@Lizabean: Oh wow, that’s a massive site. Beautiful jewlery and other vintage objects! I am guessing many of the rings will be out of our price range too but some seem quite reasonable (assuming they’re ok in quality). Thankya!
Post # 15
Member
279 posts
Helper bee
@Juju2014: you might find some great deals. My blue topaz was under 100 and the sapphire was under 200. Congrats…good luck and happy hunting!
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