Colour Preference

[Catmom]

I like the medium darks better. There''s something about the richness of color in a medium dark as well as that slight bluish tinge.

 

[omieluv]

Medium dark vote. After viewing Harriet and Pandora''s Tsav''s and comparing with medium stones, I just find the medium dark color to be rich in color and a bit mysterious. Of course, I know nothing of colored gems, so my preference is based on what draws me to the stone and nothing more. Medium stones can be very pretty as well, so it just depends on what you of course are drawn to.

 

[coatimundi_org]

In general--medium.

 

[Gailey]

Me too - medium - dark

 

[Harriet]

I have a pair of rounds that are medium. I liked them until I saw what is now my medium-dark cushion.

 

[simplysplendid]

I generally prefer medium to medium dark. That said, I agree that your oval looks more like a medium than medium dark. As for your tsavs, I prefer the oval to the octagon. I find that this type of octagon cut tends to look like there are windows when it is viewed at at even the slightest angle.

 

[chrono]

Date: 3/8/2009 6:00:53 PM
Author: simplysplendid
I generally prefer medium to medium dark. That said, I agree that your oval looks more like a medium than medium dark. As for your tsavs, I prefer the oval to the octagon. I find that this type of octagon cut tends to look like there are windows when it is viewed at at even the slightest angle.

You bring up an interesting point about the perceived window when viewed at an angle. Does this happen to garnets too? I thought it should have a decently high RI to offset this?

 

[laurel25]

I like them both, but the cut of the octagon stone is really, really pretty. I''d go for that one!

 

[secondhandnews]

I''m not a pro on the colors since I''m a newbie to the colored stone world but I do like the octagon shape. Look forward to seeing the new choices! I love looking at all the different pretty gems! Learning a lot as well.

 

[AmberGretchen]

I would really have to see the stones, but I suspect its a personal preference question more than anything. I chose stones closer to medium for my 5-stone ring, because I was trying to match a specific color, but I''m honestly not sure which I''d go for for a project where I just wanted a really nice tsavorite.

 

[simplysplendid]

Date: 3/8/2009 8:08:00 PM
Author: Chrono

Date: 3/8/2009 6:00:53 PM
Author: simplysplendid
I generally prefer medium to medium dark. That said, I agree that your oval looks more like a medium than medium dark. As for your tsavs, I prefer the oval to the octagon. I find that this type of octagon cut tends to look like there are windows when it is viewed at at even the slightest angle.

You bring up an interesting point about the perceived window when viewed at an angle. Does this happen to garnets too? I thought it should have a decently high RI to offset this?

Hello!

I''m not sure about garnets, I don''t own one in the octagon cut. I have a tourmaline in the octagon cut and while the colour is really pretty, the "windows" bother me a little. I am guessing that the windows on the octagon cut will bother you. If the other two tsavs aren''t any better looking than these two, then I will definitely choose the oval that you have posted.

 

[Gailey]

Here's my malaya garnet from John B at Gemrite. The top row are vendor's pictures and the bottom ones are mine.

 

[Gailey]

Sorry - wrong thread!

 

[chrono]

SS,
It makes sense that you are seeing windows in your step cut tourmaline. Tourmalines, due to their low RI, will show this easily and often. As far as I know, garnets are less prone to the window tilt factor.

 

[innerkitten]

have you decided?

 

[LtlFirecracker]

I initially voted medium because you have more options to set it. But after seeing the pics, I like the oval cut stone better. BTW, my stone is medium dark, and I love it, it just took a bit of time to find a nice open setting for it.

 

[chrono]

No, I haven''t decided but Firecracker brought up a good reminder about the stone darkening a shade when set, which is a consideration as well.

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 3/8/2009 4:28:20 PM
Author: coatimundi
In general--medium.

Ditto

 

[beaujolais]

The octagon shape but the color of the med-dark.

 

[marcy]

I voted for the medium but both are lovely.

 

[chrono]

Date: 3/9/2009 9:29:08 PM
Author: sonomacounty
The octagon shape but the color of the med-dark.

That''s EXACTLY what I want.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 3/9/2009 9:25:37 PM
Author: Chrono
No, I haven''t decided but Firecracker brought up a good reminder about the stone darkening a shade when set, which is a consideration as well.

I don''t think Ltlfirecracker was implying that every stone darkens when set. I think she was saying that you''d have to find the right setting.

 

[beaujolais]

Oh dear, I''m so sorry. I didn''t mean to "torture" you. That always happens to me (the color/shape dilemma).

 

[simplysplendid]

Date: 3/9/2009 8:20:51 PM
Author: Chrono
SS,
It makes sense that you are seeing windows in your step cut tourmaline. Tourmalines, due to their low RI, will show this easily and often. As far as I know, garnets are less prone to the window tilt factor.

Ah.. I see.. thank you for the explanation, as you can see, I still have a lot to learn about coloured gemstones despite having loved them for so long..

 

[secondhandnews]

That's EXACTLY what I want.

LOL! I know what you mean. I get something in my head and that's exactly what I want. My advice is don't force it - you will know/feel it's the right stone. Yeah, I know, not much help, huh? As for the possible windows with the octagon cut, could someone advise as to whether the depth of the color would have any impact on this?

But I still like the octagon cut...................

 

[Cind11]

Date: 3/11/2009 11:45:13 AM
Author: secondhandnews
That''s EXACTLY what I want.

LOL! I know what you mean. I get something in my head and that''s exactly what I want. My advice is don''t force it - you will know/feel it''s the right stone. Yeah, I know, not much help, huh? As for the possible windows with the octagon cut, could someone advise as to whether the depth of the color would have any impact on this?

But I still like the octagon cut...................

Hmm, this is interesting. I just bought a Malaya garnet from Gene at precisiongem. It is cut in an octagon shape called a French button. This is what he had to say about it as far as windowing:

"The cut on this is called a French Button, which works very well for ganets and allows you to tilt the stone to any angle with out a window."

Apparently, an octagon shape must lend itself to windowing in garnets too. Don''t know about the depth of color question though.

 

[colormyworld]

Chrono could you post the the depth of the two stones. I have a feeling the the oval is cut deeper. Which would effect the color seen.

 

[chrono]

CMW,
I am afraid I don''t have the depth information on hand. I''ll have to ask the vendor.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 3/11/2009 11:45:13 AM
Author: secondhandnews
That''s EXACTLY what I want.

LOL! I know what you mean. I get something in my head and that''s exactly what I want. My advice is don''t force it - you will know/feel it''s the right stone. Yeah, I know, not much help, huh? As for the possible windows with the octagon cut, could someone advise as to whether the depth of the color would have any impact on this?

But I still like the octagon cut...................

It is helpful!