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As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.

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Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.

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There are other changes as well.

Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:

We go on to the joy and through the tears
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Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.

It's time to move on and move forward.

PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.

But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.

So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.

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Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!

If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.

So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!

Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!

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Old 07-23-2015, 04:54 PM   #1
PghPiratesGirl
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Loose Gemstones

I am not sure what category this falls under, so please move if I have placed it in the incorrect department.
My fiancé and I have the jeweler chosen which we want to create our engagement ring.. but they are a diamond jeweler, so they don't carry the center stone we want.. But since the center stone (trillion cut) will be surrounded by diamonds, if we buy the stone loose, they will create the ring we want with it.
The stone we are looking for is tanzanite. It's a beautiful blue/purple stone.
Do any of you have experience buying loose gemstones? And where have you bought from?
thanks in advance!
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Old 07-23-2015, 05:09 PM   #2
TinkerbellJenn99
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I'm not sure if Jared sells loose stones... that would be my only guess.
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Old 07-23-2015, 08:01 PM   #3
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Any reputable jeweler ordinarily sells loose stones. It's simply a matter of finding one that has a stone you want. I lost the stone from a ring once and simply returned to that jeweler to see what they had that would fit my setting.

Tanzanite may be a challenge. When I bought a ring and pendant with nice tanzanite stones about ten years ago, I was advised that the supply might be exhausted in another several years. That may have been a sales pitch; I don't know.
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Old 07-23-2015, 08:04 PM   #4
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I would go to the Jeweler's building in Boston, but that's a bit of a hike for you. Does your jeweler have any recommendations?
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Old 07-24-2015, 09:15 AM   #5
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My jeweler didn't have any suggestions, but then again.. I just called them briefly to ask if they would still create a ring for me if the main stone isn't a diamond.
I found a whole bunch online, but I'm not really down with the idea of not seeing it for myself.. so I will have to start looking around here locally this weekend.
thanks for all your help, ladies!
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Old 07-24-2015, 10:55 AM   #6
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I my engagement ring came from The Shane Company. Over the years I have found them to be a GREAT jeweler. Last year they even replaced my setting FOR FREE because there was not enough gold in the band to size it (again for free). They have locations all over the country so see if one is near enough to you. They really work with their customers to make them happy and will stand by their products. I did see this on their site: Round Tanzanite and Round Diamond Halo Ring at Shane Co.
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Old 07-24-2015, 11:23 AM   #7
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That is so super thoughtful of you to look for me! I really appreciate it!
That is indeed a beautiful ring!!
We actually are planning on having my ring custom made because there was a ring I found a couple years ago that is no longer available that I would like to replicate. It's a trillion cut tanzanite, surrounded by diamonds and it looks like estate jewelry. It is so beautiful. And since this is not my nor my fiancé's first wedding, we want to be more "us" and not like the traditional diamond ring.
We did go looking at a jewelry store last night just to find out my ring size (I didn't even know that!) and also see what size center stone would look good on my finger.
We decided on 2.5 carats for the center stone. So at least we now know what size loose stone we are going to look for.
The jeweler we are having the ring made at is kind of legendary around here, and so we are sticking with them.
But I do so appreciate your reply!!

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Originally Posted by GATechGal View Post
I my engagement ring came from The Shane Company. Over the years I have found them to be a GREAT jeweler. Last year they even replaced my setting FOR FREE because there was not enough gold in the band to size it (again for free). They have locations all over the country so see if one is near enough to you. They really work with their customers to make them happy and will stand by their products. I did see this on their site: Round Tanzanite and Round Diamond Halo Ring at Shane Co.
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Old 07-24-2015, 12:55 PM   #8
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Gem and Mineral shows normally have loose stones as well. You can get cut or uncut usually at a better price than at a regular jeweler.
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Old 07-24-2015, 01:32 PM   #9
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Oh! I hadn't even thought of that! I will have to see if there are any near us anytime soon! Thank you for the suggestion!!

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Gem and Mineral shows normally have loose stones as well. You can get cut or uncut usually at a better price than at a regular jeweler.
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