Blue green garnets - rare but worth it??

[Rare gem lover]

Hi everyone!

I can across someone selling a pair of blue green garnets. They are supposed to be super rare and the find is from Tanzania. They don’t change colour. I get really taken by rare stuff so I feel like I should really ask before buying this one! Just this 3 mm pair is reasonably expensive.

Have you ever seen this?

 

[peacechick]

Those are pretty garnets! I haven’t seen anything like them before. Untreated?

I guess the question is whether they are both rare and highly sought after. For example, the quest for a true paraiba or gem silica would be worth it for the right price because the value will only go up. Of course, it’s even better to get in before the rest of the world catches on, like with grandidierite, so who knows? These ones are pretty small though. Would you make earrings?

 

[voce]

I love the color, but wouldn't pay more for it than for blue-green tourmaline, even if they do happen to be rarer. I mean, if you are planning to wear them at some point, it's not like garnet is better than tourmaline when it comes to durability, beauty (they are pretty comparable imho), so why pay more?

 

[partgypsy]

I think you should only buy if you think a good value AND you love it. I wouldn't buy just because you think it will become more rare/expensive in the future. Do you know what you would do with stones if purchased? Are they big enough to be earrings of the size you like?

 

[qubitasaurus]

No probably would buy something a little brighter honestly, but that may just be my personal preference. With tiny stones colour and glow is especially important to me, as otherwise you just barely know they are there. These are pretty, but they don't have it. 3 mm paraiba or glowy blue green emeralds would just make me much happier.

Rare also can just be a marketing ploy -- rare and desirable often equals esculating value. But you need both. If these things are generally that dark, and that small then I dont think there'll ever be wide spread desirability. If they generally are brighter and come in bigger pieces then you're buying the wrong stones -- just in my opinion.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

I have only seen Bekily color change garnets that usually are a dark blue/green in daylight viewing. Do you have plans for this pair if you buy them? From the pics they look nice, but I wonder if they might be dark in real life.

 

[Rare gem lover]

Those are pretty garnets! I haven’t seen anything like them before. Untreated?

I guess the question is whether they are both rare and highly sought after. For example, the quest for a true paraiba or gem silica would be worth it for the right price because the value will only go up. Of course, it’s even better to get in before the rest of the world catches on, like with grandidierite, so who knows? These ones are pretty small though. Would you make earrings?

That’s a good point. They are not that sought after. This particular one is super rare- https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/fall-2017-gemnews-blue-green-pyrope-spessartine

I just personally loved the colour so considered them. But after reading all the comments here I’ve reconsidered.

 

[lilmosun]

I have a small garnet that is blue and shifts to green (or vice versa). It's not a bright teal like your picture and mine is from Kenya not Tanzania. I got it from Earth's Treasury a few years ago and told it was super rare at the time. I LOVE garnets and like collecting little odd/rare stones which I wear in stackers so it was right up my alley.

 

[Rare gem lover]

I have a small garnet that is blue and shifts to green (or vice versa). It's not a bright teal like your picture and mine is from Kenya not Tanzania. I got it from Earth's Treasury a few years ago and told it was super rare at the time. I LOVE garnets and like collecting little odd/rare stones which I wear in stackers so it was right up my alley.

I’d love to see! Please do share a photo? Sounds so nice

 

[Rare gem lover]

I think you should only buy if you think a good value AND you love it. I wouldn't buy just because you think it will become more rare/expensive in the future. Do you know what you would do with stones if purchased? Are they big enough to be earrings of the size you like?

I had a plan to set it with a purple garnet. But I have reconsidered

 

[Rare gem lover]

No probably would buy something a little brighter honestly, but that may just be my personal preference. With tiny stones colour and glow is especially important to me, as otherwise you just barely know they are there. These are pretty, but they don't have it. 3 mm paraiba or glowy blue green emeralds would just make me much happier.

Rare also can just be a marketing ploy -- rare and desirable often equals esculating value. But you need both. If these things are generally that dark, and that small then I dont think there'll ever be wide spread desirability. If they generally are brighter and come in bigger pieces then you're buying the wrong stones -- just in my opinion.

You totally changed my mind. You’re right, they don’t have the glow and will darken. I passed. Thanks so much for your advice

 

[Rare gem lover]

I love the color, but wouldn't pay more for it than for blue-green tourmaline, even if they do happen to be rarer. I mean, if you are planning to wear them at some point, it's not like garnet is better than tourmaline when it comes to durability, beauty (they are pretty comparable imho), so why pay more?

In fact I think Tourmaline is brighter

 

[Rare gem lover]

I have only seen Bekily color change garnets that usually are a dark blue/green in daylight viewing. Do you have plans for this pair if you buy them? From the pics they look nice, but I wonder if they might be dark in real life.

I recieved hand shots which showed they are a bit too dark for me. Thanks for the sound advice

 

[Barrett]

The more blue the better, as we all know, with the truest blues fetching millions. I wouldn't call these blue green garnets..."rare"....necessarily....well, maybe these days they are, as I am not up to date on the current gem markets, nor have I been for a few years now.....
But....
....back when I was "in the know", they could be sourced by numerous folks I knew. The dark blue green stones have been around since 90's, with the pinnacle being the Mada finds at Bekily. CC blue-green ones are found in Kenya, Tanzania, Mada, and some other notable spots, such as Sri lanka, but its really the locations along the Mozambique Orogenic belt(ie. the great rift valley)that have the deposits that can supply the world market. There isn't a big demand for these type garnets, especially with their overly dark appearance.
Lighting can be an issue with these Stones I've heard. So I would make sure and look at them underneath multiple light sources and Kelvin temperatures to see how they perform and look.
.
if I recall correctly, not long ago(5 years?) they had another big strike of some in Tanzania when a farmer dug a hole for an outhouse and ran into an alluvial deposit. I can't remember if they were blue-green color change garnets(I think they were), or what have you. There is so much potential in that part of Africa, for finding stones like these. The Mozam belt is where its at...
If you compare them to other species of gemstones....then yes, they would be considered rare, but it's my opinion that there will be plenty more discoveries in the future. If I were a betting man, I would bet against these type of garnets, because I firmly believe there are going to be more discoveries in the near future.
I feel the opposite about orange spess, demantoid, and blues. Those are ones I would bet on as a sure thing in terms of rarity, with an increase in value pretty much assured.
Tsavorite could go either way, in my opinion. I believe there is plenty of tsavorite yet to be found, but demand will be the deciding factor in that battle.
Of course, there is no need to even mention pyrope or alamandine.
I would pass on them, and go for something truly rare in gemstone kingdom, if that's your sort thing.

 

[lilmosun]

I just read the article. I was also told mine was colored by Vanadium and the article mention Kenya as well...so it could be the same stuff and thank you for the link! Mine is only .4 carats. The stone has a lot of dispersion (and obviously well cut) so there are flashes even at its darkest and I love the color shifts -- green-blue, steel blue, forest green. I personally think it's kind of cool (or I wouldn't have set it) but I think you need to be into that kind of thing over stones with top color.

 

[Rare gem lover]

I just read the article. I was also told mine was colored by Vanadium and the article mention Kenya as well...so it could be the same stuff and thank you for the link! Mine is only .4 carats. The stone has a lot of dispersion (and obviously well cut) so there are flashes even at its darkest and I love the color shifts -- green-blue, steel blue, forest green. I personally think it's kind of cool (or I wouldn't have set it) but I think you need to be into that kind of thing over stones with top color.

Sounds heavenly. I think these were just too small.
Oh do share a photograph!

 

[Rare gem lover]

The more blue the better, as we all know, with the truest blues fetching millions. I wouldn't call these blue green garnets..."rare"....necessarily....well, maybe these days they are, as I am not up to date on the current gem markets, nor have I been for a few years now.....
But....
....back when I was "in the know", they could be sourced by numerous folks I knew. The dark blue green stones have been around since 90's, with the pinnacle being the Mada finds at Bekily. CC blue-green ones are found in Kenya, Tanzania, Mada, and some other notable spots, such as Sri lanka, but its really the locations along the Mozambique Orogenic belt(ie. the great rift valley)that have the deposits that can supply the world market. There isn't a big demand for these type garnets, especially with their overly dark appearance.
Lighting can be an issue with these Stones I've heard. So I would make sure and look at them underneath multiple light sources and Kelvin temperatures to see how they perform and look.
.
if I recall correctly, not long ago(5 years?) they had another big strike of some in Tanzania when a farmer dug a hole for an outhouse and ran into an alluvial deposit. I can't remember if they were blue-green color change garnets(I think they were), or what have you. There is so much potential in that part of Africa, for finding stones like these. The Mozam belt is where its at...
If you compare them to other species of gemstones....then yes, they would be considered rare, but it's my opinion that there will be plenty more discoveries in the future. If I were a betting man, I would bet against these type of garnets, because I firmly believe there are going to be more discoveries in the near future.
I feel the opposite about orange spess, demantoid, and blues. Those are ones I would bet on as a sure thing in terms of rarity, with an increase in value pretty much assured.
Tsavorite could go either way, in my opinion. I believe there is plenty of tsavorite yet to be found, but demand will be the deciding factor in that battle.
Of course, there is no need to even mention pyrope or alamandine.
I would pass on them, and go for something truly rare in gemstone kingdom, if that's your sort thing.

That’s good advice. I think it goes back to what peacechick said. If it’s rare but not sought after the craze won’t amount to anything. And you’re right about the different lighting. It would have bothered by it for sure.

You feel spess will continue to go up? I just see amazing pieces going unsold all the time. Cutters complain orange isn’t popular

 

[Arkteia]

Super. What doesn't nature create... I like them

 

[Arkteia]

That’s good advice. I think it goes back to what peacechick said. If it’s rare but not sought after the craze won’t amount to anything. And you’re right about the different lighting. It would have bothered by it for sure.

You feel spess will continue to go up? I just see amazing pieces going unsold all the time. Cutters complain orange isn’t popular

I remember the moment when I was looking for alexandrites. The prices were incredibly high but even at that time (2010?) most sites said that the price per carat was rising insanely and then saturated, plateaued. Same, probably, happens to all stones. Maybe the gem market is like the housing market; the items that are overpriced are the ones intended for the large middle-class group, not the highest bidders. From that standpoint, tanzanites and diamonds are definitely overpriced and have plateaued. Maybe the spessartites, too, as they are not super rare.

I would like to know what people think of Paraibas and cuprian costs.

 

[voce]

I remember the moment when I was looking for alexandrites. The prices were incredibly high but even at that time (2010?) most sites said that the price per carat was rising insanely and then saturated, plateaued. Same, probably, happens to all stones. Maybe the gem market is like the housing market; the items that are overpriced are the ones intended for the large middle-class group, not the highest bidders. From that standpoint, tanzanites and diamonds are definitely overpriced and have plateaued. Maybe the spessartites, too, as they are not super rare.

I would like to know what people think of Paraibas and cuprian costs.

I definitely agree with your analogy about the housing market and the case that tanzanites and most diamonds are overpriced, plateaued. I have no clue about spessartites; I see them priced higher than a lot of other garnets all the time, but I wouldn't pay that high a price for a color that I don't love as much as I do the reds, greens, and blues.

The Brazilian paraibas, according to all vendors, are nigh impossible to find in high quality, >1ct size unless you're willing (and able) to spend astronomical amounts. I was only able to afford a sub-carat paraiba. I think eventually the prestige for the best specimens may eventually catch up to that of Burmese rubies. It's too hard to tell with cuprians from Africa, since new deposits may show up, but if there are no new deposits discovered, then I predict their prices will rise as well.