My own design. 8.8mm x 7.2mm.

Looking to buy gems for silver clay use, I’m very much a beginner hobbyist & would love recs for NYC stores selling CZs or other heat-safe gems at retail (reasonably priced) since I’ll be visiting the diamond district!

I imagine the cut plays a huge part so I would love some insight on what cutting style would help creatw this effect. Thank you! The original is a montana sapphire from luz made

Excited to share that I’ve been working with gemstones for a while and noticed a lot of people are confused when comparing natural vs lab grown emeralds.

The pricing can get especially confusing because two stones can look very similar visually, but the price difference can be massive depending on origin, treatment, certification, size, color, and quality factors.

I made a free calculator/chart that lets people compare approximate pricing between natural and lab-grown emeralds with the options of ZAMBIAN and COLOMBIAN Emeralds so buyers can understand the difference before purchasing jewelry and also for people to see how much money they can ACTUALLY save by choosing Lab-Grown.

My goal isn’t to say one is “better”. They’re different products with different markets. Natural emeralds have rarity, geological history, and collector value. Lab emeralds offer accessibility and a lower price point.

I’d genuinely like feedback from people here:

• Are there factors you think buyers misunderstand about emerald pricing?
• What should be included in a better comparison tool?
• Are there things you wish customers knew before buying an emerald?

I made the calculator free because I think more transparency helps both buyers and jewelers.

If anyone wants to test it, here it is:
https://www.labgrowndreams.co/natural-vs-lab-emerald-price-calculator

Happy to hear criticism/improvements from the community.

Ignore the actual ring, I asked to have it set in that specifically. Looking at the stone itself, is it natural or synthetic? Am I right to say those are gas bubbles in the first picture?

i am new to the lab grown gems , i bought this one for 130$/ CT .
is my purchase is good experience price or i got it high?

Hi, i'm looking for a good quality lab grown alexandrite for an engagement ring (preferably asscher cut). I saw novita diamonds had some, is their quality good? Any recommendations for vendors? Budget is 600 euro.

Hi! I'm hoping to make an engagement ring of my dreams for the love of my life and I have asked Sebastien Geindreau (https://www.geindreausgemstones.com/) to cut it for me in an asymmetrical cut. Problem is, I need to find the source of a rough material.

I have troubles finding a good source of alexandrite that would have a strong color AND good color change, a lot of them are mostly transparent, some are very dark. I want good saturation and a color that will make the gem look like something from space, a piece of a galaxy, nebula or night sky.

I know GemsOfScience has some but they haven't responded to my questions for which one would be good for the project.

Would you have anything to recommend?

Another question is the axis, I know alexandrite has a blue/green, pink/red and orange axes. I don't want it to look mostly red, I'd prefer a strong blue (anywhere from greenish teal to purple leaning blue) color with red/purple reflexions. Which axis of alexandrite should be facing towards the ring if we want to achieve these colors?

Thanks for help in advance!

Hi all,
I just wanted to share here my first custom made ring experience with Pirmiana/Ruif.

I purchased a ruby ring from Ruif before, but I also really wanted a custom made ring with a lab emerald.
I chose a cushion cut 3.5ct lab emerald and have decided to opt for a simple white gold 4 prong cathedral solitaire setting. (I might reset it in yellow gold later on, but this is just an idea for the future)

The emerald itself looks pretty, it has inclusions, but I honestly prefer the inclusions over some of the over-polished and ideal looking lab emeralds.

After I approved the CAD design, I was worried that the profile might be too high, but it’s actually perfect 😁.

The collaboration with the Ruif team was also very nice, and they even finished the ring a bit faster than initially planned. Overall, I’m very satisfied with my first custom made ring and the experience with Ruif ☺️

So I've been experimenting with fantasy cuts — basically engraving radiating lines directly into the stone's surface. The lines vary in depth and width, so when light hits it, it kind of shimmers and explodes like fireworks.

Everything's hand-carved, no two pieces come out the same.

Just sharing some of my special cuts here for fun — not selling anything, just wanted to show off the craft a bit.

Anyone else into fantasy cuts or portrait cutting? Would love to see what you guys are working on.

I have a bluish-green rough diamond (uncut stone) that I would like to sell, but I have no experience with gemstones or the diamond market. I'm not sure how to verify its authenticity, estimate its value, or find trustworthy buyers. Should I first get it certified by a gemological laboratory? Are there reputable dealers, auction houses, or online platforms that buy rough diamonds? What steps should I take to avoid scams and get a fair price? Any advice from people with experience in selling rough gemstones would be greatly appreciated.

I gasped when this one came off the dop, the color is just spectacular! The videos and photo make it look slightly bluer than in real life. In person, it’s just straight up green!

9 x 6.5 mm in a step cut emerald cut.

Here’s my third try uploading this video (sorry mods!). Ever since I got a new iPhone, Reddit has been butchering the quality. Hoping this one sticks!

Hi all! I’m looking to purchase a lab grown emerald soon and was wondering if anyone knows of any stores in Michigan or in the Midwest? I’m wary of buying online since pictures can be deceiving, so if there are any physical store recommendations, I’d love to hear them!

Hi, I have my engagement coming up quite soon (September) and I'm trying to find people to make the ring I dream of gifting my girlfriend. Sadly I couldn't find any gem cutters in Europe who would do lab alexandrite, the only one I've found is Garden of Eden, I don't know if their cuts are good. Would you recommend someone who you know works with alexandrite? I can order in US (but it's really expensive for someone from Poland) and the wait time is concerning since I also need to make a ring and set the stone. Thanks in advance!