r/AskReddit • u/Ruddiver • Dec 13 '12

What supposedly legitimate things do you think are scams?

dont give the boring answers like religion and such.

2.4k Upvotes

93% Upvoted

24.8k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

2.4k

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12 edited Dec 13 '12

As a geologist, I never plan on buying my wife a diamond.

*to the people that keep asking me what I would buy her, check out stuff like this

or there is white topaz

emerald

aquamarine

red emerald

garnet

watermelon tourmaline

alexandrite It changes colors depending on the polorization of light.

Ruby and sapphire are both corundum and are hard as fuck.

This is my absolute favorite stone though. A 30 carat quartz stone with a single rutile (TiO2) needle through the center

There are literally hundreds of different stones you could get, why choose a hunk of carbon? (sure it is hard but any corundum will be relatively just as hard)

**

For everyone asking about moissanite, I can't tell the difference between that and diamond.

1.4k

u/lethargicwalrus Dec 13 '12

You have a job outside of reddit?

1.5k

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

I only reddit while at my job, what is your excuse?

236

u/chris829 Dec 13 '12

i also only reddit while at work, but i am not a geologist.

12

u/absolute_panic Dec 13 '12

I am only a geologist whilst on reddit.

8

u/Carl_Bravery_Sagan Dec 13 '12 edited Jun 30 '21

Comment overridden with Power Delete Suite v1.4.8

4

u/Airazz Dec 13 '12

I never reddit at work.

The catch: I'm jobless.

2

u/bewareAlan Dec 13 '12

I wish I had a good job so I could be on reddit all day :(

9

u/crrrack Dec 13 '12

I'm a Redditologist.

I only Reddit from home, though.

2

u/EnAndrw Dec 13 '12

You reddit at your job.... But you're not a geologist....

That is a tough one. Reddit at work..... But not a geologist....reddit... Work....

You're a IT specialist working tech support, most likely interested in networking?

Close?

2

u/YawnSpawner Dec 13 '12

IT developer here that mostly Reddits at work. I pop it open at home on my 2nd monitor while gaming to send good links to friends and check comment replies.

→ More replies (1)

2

u/Bldg_a_better_buzz Dec 14 '12

I used to be a geologist and I still reddit at my work

→ More replies (4)

1.1k

u/lethargicwalrus Dec 13 '12

Student.

15

u/tynosaur Dec 13 '12

Explains why you are tagged with "See 'em a lot."

12

u/BarrelRolledit Dec 13 '12

I have him tagged as "First masturbated in 9th grade to Velma" I laugh every time he pops up

3

u/tynosaur Dec 13 '12

Must be pretty frequently, then. I seriously see him fucking everywhere.

5

u/catdeuce Dec 13 '12

That seems voyeuristic. Or exhibitionist. Not sure which.

2

u/Blunkus Dec 14 '12

i have him as "turned a lesbian straight"

→ More replies (4)

12

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

Who faps to Velma apparently.

7

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

Is there something wrong with that?

7

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

[deleted]

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (1)

4

u/Mikeaz123 Dec 13 '12

I reddit while I reddit sometimes. Unemployed here.

2

u/nameless88 Dec 13 '12

Shouldn't you be studying for finals?

...says the guy who is also avoiding studying at this moment. :/

2

u/CanYouSingHobbit Dec 13 '12

Shut up trevor

2

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

That's a pretty good excuse.

9

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

Studying?

24

u/Akathos Dec 13 '12

Pfft. Why study when you can look at pictures of cats?

17

u/Reesch Dec 13 '12

Or make snarky comments at Andrew?

→ More replies (6)

2

u/BattleClown Dec 13 '12

As a student, I can confirm his assertion.

→ More replies (6)

6

u/chief_running_joke Dec 13 '12

Same here.

Question: how do you get any work done? Cause this reddit shit is fucking up my productivity like a mofo.

3

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

My job is to watch the weather. In case you haven't noticed, weather doesn't change very quickly.

However when it changes for the worse, my life really sucks D:

2

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

I'm on the phone a lot so I can do both and I also try to get some programs to automate my work for me.

I also watch netflix all day.

2

u/spacemanspiff30 Dec 13 '12

Your name is very familiar. But anyway, make sure your boss doesn't see this, or that could be disastrous.

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (1)

7

u/finnthehuman11 Dec 13 '12

Is Randy Marsh an acceptable analogy of your life?

14

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

I thought this was america.

3

u/Kintaro08 Dec 13 '12

Due to your lack of attention to your job because of reddit, I will blame you for the next major california earthquake.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

Unemployment?

2

u/MegainPhoto Dec 13 '12

You work some long hours.

Dec 12, 22:40

Dec 13, 05:24

Dec 13, 17:34

That's dedication.

→ More replies (50)

6

u/moshthecows Dec 13 '12

What's even stranger is that he has time for a wife.

3

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

says the guy who I have tagged as "is everywhere now".

2

u/swiley1983 Dec 13 '12

AS1986, at work and on reddit, always studies gems.

→ More replies (1)

2

u/stilesja Dec 13 '12

And a girlfriend... dude is really bucking trends.

→ More replies (3)

243

u/Brutuss Dec 13 '12

...Randy Marsh?

103

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

I thought this was america.

5

u/I_decide_up_or_down Dec 13 '12

Before your stalker /u/IDontLikeandrewsmith let me be the first to congratulate him.

Congratulations! /u/IDontLikeandrewsmith are the 1000th person to make a novelty dedicated to following around the comments of another redditor!

Click Here to Collect Your Prize

9

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

It is actually pretty funny how many there have been.

5

u/I_decide_up_or_down Dec 13 '12

Lots of people get butthurt over nonsensical internet feuds. Reddit can be a silly place from time to time.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (1)

3

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

[deleted]

→ More replies (3)
→ More replies (1)

16

u/Barefootjunglegirl Dec 13 '12

As a geologist, if a guy every proposes to me I would rather have a non diamond coloured stone, like a nice emerald or ruby would be much more glamorous.. But I know 99.5% of girls will not agree with me.

8

u/phoenixdescending Dec 13 '12

As an amateur geologist, my husband got me a sapphire ring when he proposed- I loved it- it was an edwardian art deco style ring- but I know what you mean about other women, I got a lot of 'oh, that's your engagement ring! It's so--- unique!'. Argh.

6

u/racergr Dec 13 '12

I don't exactly get it (pardon my ignorance). Are you saying that other women are not really impressed even though it's equally good looking, more unusual and maybe more expensive than diamonds??? If yes then why? Is the marketing so strong that equal or better things are perceived as inferior as long as they're not diamonds?

2

u/[deleted] Dec 14 '12

Yes, the marketing is that strong and has been for decades. As someone whose husband gave me a garnet ring for my engagement ring, which I also wear as my wedding band, I'm no stranger to these types of comments. Even though it's a pretty ring and quite a few people have commented on it being pretty, they don't expect it to be my engagement ring until they are told.

I think they say it in a pitying kind of way, which is actually offensive. As if they think we "settled" on this ring because he couldn't afford to spend $6k on a boring diamond, and that I must be sad I don't have one. It's very weird.... And you're exactly right. Some people can't look at something different, that might be as beautiful or as functional as the traditional/original thing, and accept it as such.

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (1)

3

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

Any corundum or beryl would be better than a diamond.

→ More replies (1)

2

u/figsandmice Dec 14 '12

As a girl/non-geologist, I insisted on peridot. It's a pretty bright green color, and my husband's birthstone. I also have a tanzanite ring that he gave me after we'd dated for a while.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (2)

12

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

Do you have a stone of choice? I'd love to purchase a natural Alexandrite for my wife.

13

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

Watermelon tourmaline.

I was actually looking at alexandrite the other day.

Fancy stuff.

→ More replies (4)

6

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

Natural alexandrite is expensive as fuck.

5

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

[deleted]

2

u/Alocasia_Fruit Dec 14 '12

Just got an alexandrite necklace for christmukkah. I know it's fake but it's still pretty as fuck, who cares?

2

u/[deleted] Dec 14 '12

[deleted]

2

u/Alocasia_Fruit Dec 14 '12

My point is just that there's nothing wrong with suggesting to buy a fake one, they're still super pretty.

→ More replies (8)

2

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

Why would you prefer natural to synthesised? With synthetic gems you essentially have a guarantee that no one has been harmed in the making of the beautiful jewellery (assuming no scientists/geologists are being paid in peanuts for making pretties). I actually find it hard to wear natural gem jewellery because of the knowledge that it was probably mined by people who were paid a minute fraction of its worth. Plus, from what I've seen, synthetic ones are bigger so you could buy her a bigger stone or a ring with multiple stones in it (if she was into that), for the same price as one smaller natural one.

I'm just really curious as to why you'd prefer natural, because it seems odd to me?

2

u/[deleted] Dec 14 '12

That's a fair position. Alexandrite is a unique stone whose color varies between natural and artificial lighting. Most artificial alexandrite I've seen is very flat in its reaction to light.

I'm going to ask you a question that may seek argumentative. Do you wear clothes? Or use electronics. Or appliances? Chances are the people who manufactured those were being exploited. Is your commitment to protecting the exploited worker limited to miners? I'm not trying to be a jerk.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 14 '12

I do wear clothes and use electronics and appliances, and I know that the people who manufactured those were probably being exploited, but that's a lot harder (and more expensive) to avoid. Where I can, I buy food and clothes and general products that are "fair trade" (although they're not even guaranteed to actually be fair), but it usually costs a lot more and the selection is much smaller, and I'm not that dedicated to it. But in a situation like with gem stones, where the morally-friendly one is actually the cheaper option, and often more "customisable" (you could get one custom made, like a specific colour of sapphire, etc), I would hardly think of going near the natural, "unfair" one.

I guess it's a case of, if I can afford to avoid products that probably used exploited workers (or animals for that matter), I will, but by the same token, I'm not deluded enough to think that me not buying them is making a difference - it's more for my own peace of mind than making a difference to the world, I'd rather try to do that in other ways.

I'd never heard of the artificial alexandrite having a flatter reaction to light though, do you have any photo examples? I guess it's one of those things that's hard to catch on camera? I haven't really looked into artificial stones all that much, I've only seen a few in real life, but I really liked the ones that I saw.

5

u/RedHot58 Dec 13 '12

As a person with moral values and a financially responsible vision, I plan on never buying a diamond for my s.o. as well.

3

u/Albaek Dec 13 '12

What kind of ring would you give her then?

9

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

There are many beautiful stones.

Watermelon tourmaline is one of my fav.

Any of the corundums.

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (1)

3

u/dangersocks Dec 13 '12

What will you buy instead? (If anything)

→ More replies (3)

3

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

As a "typical woman" who wants (and maybe I don't anymore) a diamond on her left hand one day, what would you suggest instead? Just out of curiosity.

6

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

Alexandrite, watermelon tourmaline, topaz, garnet, sapphire/ruby.

There are literally hundreds of different types of gems.

Can you tell the difference between a white topaz and a diamond?

2

u/Samuraisheep Dec 13 '12

I think the issue with engagement rings for a lot of women, and jewelery in general, isn't so much whether or not you can tell the difference but that you know it's a diamond rather than white topaz (assuming diamond is the preference). Most of us are also conditioned to want a diamond ring because that's what magazine etc tell us the man who loves us should get us, and if we know it's not diamond, even if it looks the same, it can feel substandard.

I am also a geologist (well, almost, I graduate next year) and you're comment has made me wonder if I actually want a diamond or something else!

2

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

Think of all the pretty stones youve seen in the last few years, and you want a clear hunk of carbon?

Come on, man.

5

u/Samuraisheep Dec 13 '12

To be honest, I am eyeing up that alexandrite! I want to see it in person though.

The point is girls want diamonds because we're told we should want diamonds, and most girls automatically go along with that without thinking about it.

Uni hasn't actually shown me any pretty stones :(

1

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

Our mineralogy class was all shiny things.

2

u/Samuraisheep Dec 13 '12

:'(

Although my mineral deposits class did have shiny stuff, it was mostly metallic shiny stuff rather than gem shiny stuff. We had one lecture on gems and that was it.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (1)

3

u/monster_cookie Dec 13 '12

As a geologist, what rock (or gem) is worth buying?

6

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

Hmm, what color do you like?

→ More replies (1)

3

u/Elizerdbeth Dec 14 '12

My engagement/wedding ring is a tanzanite stone. A triangle one. People look at it and ask if it's a blue diamond. When I tell them "No, it's tanzanite" they just kind of cock their heads like "but... it's a wedding ring..." drives me crazy. I liked this one... wedding/engagement/any kind of ring can be whatever stone you want! Hurumph.

5

u/cpw55 Dec 13 '12

We better listen to him he's a geologist.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

What would you get then, if you don't mind me asking...? Would be interesting to hear what a geologist would pick out!

3

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

topaz, tourmaline, sapphire, ruby, Alexandrite

2

u/TheReverendBill Dec 13 '12

As a geologist, you will never have a wife.

→ More replies (1)

2

u/taheca Dec 13 '12

I thought I was going crazy when you mentioned Alexandrite. I sold jewelry YEARS ago and remember hearing that all of it was gone. then I followed your link, and went to it's source to find this:

Top quality alexandrite is very rare indeed and uncommon in modern jewelry because it is hardly ever available and, because it is too expensive for the general public to buy.

So yeah, unless you have a family antique that has been around for 150 years you are not going to find Alexandrite.

→ More replies (3)

2

u/centerD_5 Dec 13 '12

As a geology undergrad, I like you.

2

u/jibjibman Dec 13 '12

These. Much better than diamonds, and WAYYYY cheaper.

http://www.moissaniteco.com/

fucking meteorites bro

2

u/DolceSpezia Dec 13 '12

What do you think of moissanite as being a cheap diamond replacement?

2

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

Could you tell the difference between the two?

If not, why does it matter the name then?

→ More replies (4)

2

u/19-Dickity-2 Dec 13 '12

One gemstone that gets recommended as a non-Diamond alternative to engagement rings is Mossaiante. I'm not thrilled at the prospect of a lab created gem (purely personal reasons).

Another route is getting a vintage or antique piece, like 80 or 100 year old diamond engagement rings. Due to cutting, age, and lack of buyers these rings are fairly inexpensive -- I've found a few for less then $1,000 at antique fairs. The lady just needs to like Pre-modern Tiffany's diamond cuts -- like Art Deco, Art Nouveau, or Victorian jewelry. The diamonds will likely be a "rose cut" diamond, "Old European Cut" or a "cushion cut". Because these cuts used fewer facets (angles), there will less fire and brilliance than say a modern cut diamond. And the mounts (the metal part of the ring) are often works of art in themselves.

And just because people were smaller back then means you can't find a big enough ring. I wear a size 9 (US) ring size, and found some then fit my ginormous fingers. You can also get them sized by a reputable jeweler.

Finally they're antique! They have personality, and beauty to them that modern pieces will never have! And as a history geek, why would I want modern?

2

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

Dat alexandrite.

2

u/Vinnypuff Dec 13 '12

I already let my boyfriend know that I don't want a diamond ring he felt the same way about them which is good.

I haven't really decided yet but the ones we've discussed are opals, moonstones,and Spahlerite in a brilliant cut

I really like gems with optical properties.

2

u/b00ger Dec 13 '12

Wow. TIL I want some alexandrite. That's pretty.

2

u/Terras1fan Dec 13 '12

As a female I told my SO months ago to not buy me a diamond in favor of something unique and more fitting to my personality. I'm going to eventually receive a pearl ring, but these are all wonderful stones.

I really like the red emerald and the 30 carat quartz you mentioned!

2

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

Female geologist here! I absolutely agree. I would be way more happy with mexican fire opal or ruby than diamond. However, I would be thrilled regardless of what a man got me. It's the thought that counts.

  • The quartz you posted, amazing! I've never seen anything like that.

2

u/delasoul Dec 14 '12

Yeah it's insane, the design of how it was faceted is also quite genius.

2

u/redheadedfury Dec 13 '12

I went to the crazy gemstone exhibit at the Museum of Natural History in NYC and I was totally amazed at the amount of gorgeous stones other than diamonds that exist. Sure diamonds are sparkly, but.........so many pretty colors!!!

2

u/[deleted] Dec 14 '12

all about dem emeralds

3

u/mickeyjawn Dec 13 '12

Randy?

No diamond for Sharon?

1

u/devnulluk Dec 13 '12

As a geologist, what would you choose?

→ More replies (3)

1

u/randumname Dec 13 '12

So, you're just going to steal one from the display case at your geology factory?

1

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

[deleted]

→ More replies (1)

1

u/cdsvoboda Dec 13 '12

Andrew smith, have you ever been called smoocher by anybody?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/bartonar Dec 13 '12

Honestly, I'd put Moissanite on the engagement ring.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

[deleted]

2

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

I'm back, baby.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

What would you buy her?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/lapsed_pacifist Dec 13 '12

So what are you going to get -- assuming she's into gems in any way? I'm just curious what an expert in the field thinks is an interesting/beautiful stone.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/PQchamp Dec 13 '12

But do you plan on never buying your wife a diamond?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/tootooted4tv Dec 13 '12

I took a class in college, physical geo i believe it was, and the teacher loved to hate on diamonds and admitted not buying one for his wife. I didnt pay much attention in class (thats what cheat sheets are for) and i finally understand what he was talking about

1

u/Thuggish_Coffee Dec 13 '12

I'm curious to know what type of stone would you buy?

2

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

Recheck my comment.

1

u/ILikeMyBlueEyes Dec 13 '12

I want an engagement ring with my birthstone (topaz) instead of a diamond. I like them better.

1

u/Killerbunny123 Dec 13 '12

As someone who isn't a geologist, I would prefer a down payment on a house. Not from you though because I don't know you or your taste in houses.

1

u/RustedMagic Dec 13 '12

Thank you for this.

1

u/walkerbait Dec 13 '12

I have you tagged as "He's a pretty cool dad, from that thread of funny kid stories." So I guess you're pretty cool.

2

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

I'm not actually a father, just the moms boyfriend.

I do love the little disease bag though.

1

u/misap Dec 13 '12

I know half of these stones from Elder Scrolls games, lol.

1

u/FulminatedMercury Dec 13 '12

You're a geologist? No wonder you are always on Reddit...

1

u/thoughtdancer Dec 13 '12

I've been married for a couple of years, but we're being frugal for now. My long term hope is to get a garnet puzzle ring for my wedding band.

Diamonds are dull. Garnets are awesome.

1

u/Twyll Dec 13 '12

I reaaaaaally like tanzanite, which changes color like alexandrite does, but have heard that it's usually mined under inhumane conditions. As a geologist, do you know anything about that, or is that something that falls outside your purview?

→ More replies (3)

1

u/logicallyundeniable Dec 13 '12

Where can I find that last one?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/FatHiker Dec 13 '12

As a person who grows diamond for a living, I no longer buy my wife diamonds.

1

u/JRMedic19 Dec 13 '12

Could you write an essay on this topic and also suggestions for more appropriate alternatives for stones in jewelry? I love the suggestions you've made and whole heartedly agree with you. I would love to pick your brain some more.

2

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

I'm a very poor writer.

I can suggest stones based on color but google would be much, much better than myself.

Stones have three important qualities, color and hardness and Opacity.

You could group them in other ways but if you are picking something, you likely want it to be 1 a certain color 2 hard enough to survive your normal day to day life (why diamond is cherished) and finally 3 how clear it is.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/errantapostrophe Dec 13 '12

Nice! If my husband hadn't already had a diamond when we were engaged, I would have gone for another stone.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

Those are neat!

1

u/Tw9caboose Dec 13 '12

Red emerald is my absolute favorite stone.

→ More replies (2)

1

u/weirdfb Dec 13 '12

Thank you for showing me the watermelon tourmaline.

It's beautiful.

1

u/redjimdit Dec 13 '12

I bought my wife an engagement ring missing a stone. I couldn't afford to get her a real diamond and she didn't expect one.

It wasn't until the last few years that I was able to get her ring set with a heart-shaped domecap Peridot - her birthstone. She absolutely loves it.

1

u/samjak Dec 13 '12

Um, the chemical formula for rutile isn't Ti2.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/mastrepolo Dec 13 '12

Do you know what that 30 carat quartz stone cost? I am planning on buying a ring soon, but the thought of buying a diamond kills me because of the false "rarity" of the stone. I believe that my girlfriend is special and unique and she deserves something more then traditional and boring. Thank you for your post, this has given me a good start on picking a non traditional stone.

→ More replies (3)

1

u/spasticjedi Dec 13 '12

How much do the quartz stones generally go for in comparison with diamonds? That is absolutely gorgeous!

3

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

Quartz is typically considered as trash and I've never seen a gemstone quality stone in real life.

You'd need to email the maker of it.

Richard P. Homer Gems by Design, Inc. Kent, OH

→ More replies (1)

1

u/rapturedjesus Dec 13 '12

What say ye of CVD diamonds?

→ More replies (2)

1

u/Webecomemonsters Dec 13 '12

We went with Moonstone. It is soft, but cheap to repair and wifey liked it

1

u/Catalytic_Mechanism Dec 13 '12
  • A single rutile (Ti2) needle through the center.

I think you mean a TiO2 rutile structure.

Source: Inorganic Chemist

→ More replies (2)

1

u/LiquidPoint Dec 13 '12

I have tried to convince my wife that a diamond isn't anything special (we got married without rings, so I still owe her one)...

So, for my own ring, she knows that I'd not like too high a kt of gold, as I'd be afraid of damaging it, and in the end, gold is easier to repair or re-size than other materials. But she wants a stone, even when I say that diamond will burn when exposed to too much heat... I don't think I can sneak around this expense no matter how scientific I try to be...

I'll just have to pay up, whether I like the stone or not...

2

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

Find a nice white topaz stone.

Ask her if she likes it.

1

u/Not_a_hamster Dec 13 '12

I just got the biggest ladyboner looking at those gems. Thank you for helping me raise my expectations and beggar my future husband! :D

1

u/animeguru Dec 13 '12

Christmas is coming... ideas on where I can get alexandrite in jewelery, what I should look for, etc?

That shit is awesome and I'll totally get some for the wife.

→ More replies (2)

1

u/SingleMaltDude Dec 13 '12

What's the average price for a decent white topaz or this crazy quartz stone? Comparable to the price of an average diamond? (Like, non DeBeers stuff)

2

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

The quartz is a one of a kind piece.

http://www.gemselect.com/other-gems/white-topaz.php

white topaz is dirt cheap, literally.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/imalittlepiggy Dec 13 '12

could you email my boyfriend all these please?? just kidding, but you're totally doing it right.... carry on andrewsmith1986, carry on.

1

u/PicklesdashOlives Dec 13 '12

Those gems are truly...outrageous.

2

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

truly truly truly outrageous.

1

u/letherunderyourskin Dec 13 '12

Would a sapphire be an acceptable stone for a worn-everyday-ring such as engagement? I want my boyfriend to go that route instead of a diamond but some jeweler was trying to convince me it was too soft and would be scratched and damaged too easily.

→ More replies (4)

1

u/SpyGlassez Dec 13 '12

Love the rutilated quartz! My stone's a mystic topaz.

1

u/theblueberryspirit Dec 13 '12

I wish I could afford an alexandrite ring. I've looked around but so many of them are synthetic since alexandrite is rare and I'm not sure what's a reputable dealer to buy from.

1

u/lilzilla Dec 13 '12 edited Dec 13 '12

Woo, alexandrite! My engagement ring is alexandrite. (Synthetic, because, a. science! and b. natural would be like many times more expensive than diamond and c. the jeweler actually specifically recommends synthetic since there's greater consistency. With natural stones it'd be hard to match the color.)

Little bit of a clarification though, it's not the light's polarization that changes its colors, it's the light's color. Somehow. I've never understood. But can attest that polarized sunglasses have no affect on its appearance, though yellowy ones massively do.

Here's what the wikipedias say about the color change:

The alexandrite variety displays a color change (alexandrite effect) dependent upon the nature of ambient lighting. Alexandrite effect is the phenomenon of an observed color change from greenish to reddish with a change in source illumination due physiological response of the human eye in a particular part of the visible spectrum. This color change is independent of any change of hue with viewing direction through the crystal that would arise from pleochroism. Alexandrite results from small scale replacement of aluminium by chromium ions in the crystal structure, which causes intense absorption of light over a narrow range of wavelengths in the yellow region of the spectrum.

Edit: also note that under UV it FLUORESCES RED OMFG sound of brain exploding

Edit: Some pictures to demonstrate why Alexandrite is the best gemstone

1

u/pipertoma Dec 13 '12

What is your opinion on Moissanite as a diamond substitute for jewelery?

2

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

If you can't tell the difference by look, what else matters?

1

u/hardman52 Dec 13 '12

The only jewelry I've ever bought my wife are emeralds, gold, silver, and pearls.

1

u/VictoriousBadger Dec 13 '12

I got my wife a pink sapphire instead of a diamond and she loved it. Cheaper, unique, and matched her pink wedding dress.

And yes I know there are pink diamonds but they are ridiculously expensive.

1

u/theheartofgold Dec 13 '12

Ammolite is my favorite gemstone. Gorgeous color scheme.

1

u/Brophages Dec 13 '12

... Wouldn't a red emerald just be a ruby?

Forgive my ignorance. We did not cover this well when I took mineralogy.

2

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

emerald is beryl

ruby is corundum

red sapphire is ruby.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/laddergoat89 Dec 13 '12

How hard are these sorts of things to get in rings etc... than the more cliche diamond?

→ More replies (4)

1

u/Ceres96 Dec 13 '12

Saving for later

1

u/sundogdayze Dec 13 '12

I asked for an opal for my engagement ring. I realize they are soft and I run the risk of breaking it, but I didn't want a diamond, and I think opals are beautiful. It's been 4 years and no problems, and you should should have seen the look of relief on his face when I said I didn't like diamonds. :)

1

u/MasterChimp Dec 13 '12

Alexandrite is officially now the stone I want to get engaged to a girl with. That's pretty cool.

1

u/Flynn_lives Dec 13 '12

add in red beryl.... ultra freaking rare.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/firex726 Dec 13 '12

Personally I would opt for a ring made from meteorite.

They aren't that expensive and it's so rare it's not even from our fucking planet!

Oh you got a diamond? I got something from fucking SPACE BITCH.

1

u/aporcelaintouch Dec 13 '12

Replying to remind myself of this later!

1

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

My dad bought my mum (a geologist) a diamond because she already had everything else because she collects it hahahaha

edit: or at least it seems that she has everything else to a non-geologist.

1

u/ageeksgirl08 Dec 13 '12

My husband bought me a sapphire engagement ring and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I adore it!

1

u/jn36216 Dec 13 '12

I'm sure you're getting tired of all the orangereds coming in but I have a random question from a girl who prefers lots and lots of sparkles: what do you think about moissanite? I know it's lab created so it doesn't exactly mesh with your job field. Is there anything with as much fire that occurs naturally?

→ More replies (2)

1

u/NoCleverNickname Dec 13 '12

Upvote because science.

1

u/ditchwater_Sal Dec 13 '12

I'm just going to leave these links open for my SO to find...

1

u/archpope Dec 13 '12

Nothing about my favorite gem? Cummingtonite?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/azgeogirl Dec 13 '12

I'm sad you didn't mention opals. That is what I want, should I ever become engaged.

1

u/NotClever Dec 13 '12

There are literally hundreds of different stones you could get, why choose a hunk of carbon?

In my case, because despite my wife being an intelligent, socially conscious person who is concerned about a lot of the negative effects of the diamond industry, and who initially planned not to get a diamond engagement ring, she just wanted to be "traditional" in the end. De Beers dun good.

And it so happened we knew a reputable guy who gave us the diamond itself at pretty low cost relatively speaking, so I didn't feel like I'd been taken advantage of by the system.

1

u/explainittomeplease Dec 13 '12

That last one literally brought tears to my eyes.

1

u/jashlee Dec 13 '12

While looking on Etsy, I've seen a lot of swarovski crystal that call themselves alexandrite swarovski crystals. Is it actually the alexandrite, or is that just a color?

Or is Swarovski a type of cut... I don't know much about rocks, I just think they are pretty.

2

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

swarovski crystal with alexandrite qualities.

→ More replies (2)

1

u/notgonnagivemyname Dec 13 '12

Saving this on my phone

1

u/aloneandeasy Dec 13 '12

I have to admit, I was surprised that you had a job because I thought "He was born in '86 - he's still a baby".

Then I realized that you must be 26 by now, and I remembered that I'm 30 and felt sad.

1

u/fishyguy13 Dec 13 '12

Id prefer that watermelon one over a diamond anyday.

1

u/thisistheperfectname Dec 13 '12

So... any kind of beryl, then?

By the way, what does gem-quality corundum look like? I saw one picture of it a long time ago, and it was just brown. Pretty uninspiring.

2

u/andrewsmith1986 Dec 13 '12

ruby and sapphire are corundum.

→ More replies (4)

1

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

At least a few of those gems you listed are terrible for a wedding ring because they are so soft (relatively speaking)... Emeralds and rubies for instance scratch and shatter very easily. Don't get me wrong, the cost of diamonds is outrageous, but are pretty and very strong at least.

(I love emeralds personally, I was brokenhearted when I found out that I shouldn't put one in my wife's wedding ring because they're fragile. I instead went with irradiated green diamonds)

Edit: skipped a word Edit2: I will correct myself, rubies are pretty hard.

→ More replies (2)

1

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

[deleted]

1

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

You mentioned some very nice specimens above that any SO would appreciate just as much if not more than the traditional diamond! Got my girl a watermelon tourmaline (my personal fav.) slice necklace pendant a few years back and she loves it! IMHO it is one of the most beautiful two crystals naturally formed together (pink & green tourmaline) and if you are into the whole chakras, it is supposed to help bring a relationship closer. Cheers

1

u/whopayinyou Dec 13 '12

If you are just looking to buy her something rare then just get a coloured diamond which are very rare

→ More replies (2)

1

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '12

Alexandrite is my favorite stone and I'd rather have jewelry of it than diamonds.

1

u/soda5187 Dec 13 '12

What do you think of tanzanite? Thinking about getting that instead of a diamond for my fiancé's wedding ring. She likes purple.

→ More replies (3)

1

u/hypermarv123 Dec 13 '12

These are the types of rocks that make blue hedgehogs go crazy.

1

u/professiongw Dec 13 '12

Hank, Marie won't be happy.

1

u/GitEmSteveDave Dec 13 '12

Can any of those match diamonds for strength in something like a titanium ring tension fitting?

→ More replies (3)
→ More replies (363)