Advice on lagoon tourmalines cut in Pakistan, offered on IG

[Polyhex]

(this is my first thread, I hope it's formatted correctly)

I have been looking at a number of vendors located in Pakistan which have beautiful lagoon green/blue tourmalines. Many of them are cut in what appear to be reasonably well-executed Yavorskyy style cushion and oval shapes. If I can find stones that perform well in indoor light and don't turn black, I would like to get a number of them in different sizes. I am being offered anywhere from $70-$200/ct pricing for stones in 4ct - 15ct range.

I have bought one so far, a 4.25ct. It has not arrived yet. It is returnable and protected through Paypal. This one is from Afghanistan but versions with almost the same color and cut are also being advertised from Brazil and I think Africa. I believe all are actually cut in Pakistan.

Outdoor photos:


Indoor photos:




I have a few questions...

Does anyone have these bicolored green/blue lagoon tourmalines? How do you like them?

Advice on choosing tourmalines that are still beautifully colored indoors?

The vendors are saying no treatment. Is that a reasonable answer for this type of stone and the cost?

Anyone else ordered from these IG vendors in Pakistan?

 

[T L]

That looks like regular bluish green tourmaline me. At least it seems like a fair price. It could black out in the sun though. I thought lagoon tourmaline was more like a very slightly greenish BLUE with a semi glow.

 

[Polyhex]

That looks like regular bluish green tourmaline me. At least it seems like a fair price. It could black out in the sun though. I thought lagoon tourmaline was more like a very slightly greenish BLUE with a semi glow.

Thank you for your advice! I have no idea if the "lagoon" terminology is correct or if it's a marketing mislabeling. But it is this color combination with blue in the center and grassy green on the edges that I really like. I appreciate the tip on blacking out in the sun, I will definitely examine it there. I love the color but I am a little intimidated by how people report that tourmaline often does not look good in other lighting.

Here's another example in another cut style. This one is significantly more expensive.

 

[T L]

Yes, some people abuse marketing names like padparadcha and paraiba. Buy what you like and make sure you pay a fair price.

Also, with gems, especially tourmaline, get photos in various light sources. They can go black, grey and/or brownish.

 

[Polyhex]

What would the color on this largeish (12ct) but included stone be called?

Outdoor photo


Outdoor video still


Indoors

 

[Polyhex]

This is the variance in what Yavorskyy is calling "lagoon." They don't seem to be the same colors at all?

 

[2Neesers]

I bought a tourmaline from an Instagram seller in Pakistan once. My experience was that the cut and color of the stone wasn’t as pretty in person as in the photos and video I was sent. I planned to return it, but when I looked in to returning it, I found that loose stones aren’t allowed to be shipped in to the country and could be confiscated. Maybe that has changed, but I don’t think it has and just thought I should mention it. I have also heard that PayPal isn’t covering gem/jewelry disputes like they used to, so just use caution when purchasing from non-vetted vendors. Hopefully you will love your stone, it looks very pretty in the photo.
I have a bicolored blue/green tourmaline cut by Gene that I bought pre-loved that doesn’t black out. They are out there, but can be harder to find.

 

[T L]

I think the term “lagoon” doesn’t have any set rules, like padparadcha does, do it’s used very loosely to describe blue green, greenish blue, or bluish green tourmaline.

The ones above appear to be color shifters, going greener or more blue in various lighting. This is pretty common for tourmaline in this blue green family of hues. I would just make sure they don’t black out or go too greyish.

@Polyhex, that stone is bluish green to me.

 

[AV_]

If the color looks like the photos, it is very nice. The name is not that common, you will see this type called 'blue-green' elsewhere & it is recognized. The step cut is FANTASTIC!

 

[AV_]

See item #9081 here WWW

 

[VCJL]

(this is my first thread, I hope it's formatted correctly)

I have been looking at a number of vendors located in Pakistan which have beautiful lagoon green/blue tourmalines. Many of them are cut in what appear to be reasonably well-executed Yavorskyy style cushion and oval shapes. If I can find stones that perform well in indoor light and don't turn black, I would like to get a number of them in different sizes. I am being offered anywhere from $70-$200/ct pricing for stones in 4ct - 15ct range.

I have bought one so far, a 4.25ct. It has not arrived yet. It is returnable and protected through Paypal. This one is from Afghanistan but versions with almost the same color and cut are also being advertised from Brazil and I think Africa. I believe all are actually cut in Pakistan.

Outdoor photos:


Indoor photos:




I have a few questions...

Does anyone have these bicolored green/blue lagoon tourmalines? How do you like them?

Advice on choosing tourmalines that are still beautifully colored indoors?

The vendors are saying no treatment. Is that a reasonable answer for this type of stone and the cost?

Anyone else ordered from these IG vendors in Pakistan?

Did you received your gem and was it to expectations?

 

[fredflintstone]

(this is my first thread, I hope it's formatted correctly)

I have been looking at a number of vendors located in Pakistan which have beautiful lagoon green/blue tourmalines. Many of them are cut in what appear to be reasonably well-executed Yavorskyy style cushion and oval shapes. If I can find stones that perform well in indoor light and don't turn black, I would like to get a number of them in different sizes. I am being offered anywhere from $70-$200/ct pricing for stones in 4ct - 15ct range.

I have bought one so far, a 4.25ct. It has not arrived yet. It is returnable and protected through Paypal. This one is from Afghanistan but versions with almost the same color and cut are also being advertised from Brazil and I think Africa. I believe all are actually cut in Pakistan.

Outdoor photos:


Indoor photos:




I have a few questions...

Does anyone have these bicolored green/blue lagoon tourmalines? How do you like them?

Advice on choosing tourmalines that are still beautifully colored indoors?

The vendors are saying no treatment. Is that a reasonable answer for this type of stone and the cost?

Anyone else ordered from these IG vendors in Pakistan?

The terminology varies. There is a definite blue factor to the stone. Not just a green Tourmaline. Many of these are $200.00 a carat from Pakistan dealers.

Good thing you paid with PayPal because quite a few of these vendors over there are brokering stones that are not theirs. Either a family member, friend, or even a Peshawar marketplace stone they seen and got permission to sale. Many times, if you want to return a stone, they have already spent your money and it is an extreme hassle to get your money back. So just beware.

 

[fredflintstone]

I bought a tourmaline from an Instagram seller in Pakistan once. My experience was that the cut and color of the stone wasn’t as pretty in person as in the photos and video I was sent. I planned to return it, but when I looked in to returning it, I found that loose stones aren’t allowed to be shipped in to the country and could be confiscated. Maybe that has changed, but I don’t think it has and just thought I should mention it. I have also heard that PayPal isn’t covering gem/jewelry disputes like they used to, so just use caution when purchasing from non-vetted vendors. Hopefully you will love your stone, it looks very pretty in the photo.
I have a bicolored blue/green tourmaline cut by Gene that I bought pre-loved that doesn’t black out. They are out there, but can be harder to find.

You can send them back to Pakistan, but you cannot declare as a "precious gemstone" and you cannot insure it for its full value less customs there become suspicious.

Declare as a mineral specimen or synthetic gemstone. Sometimes "semi-precious gemstone" works too. You must read a countries restriction and prohibitions.