Costco Gem

[y2kitty]

They call this "slightly reddish orange"

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Produc...=0&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Perfect description. It is mostly brown, but slightly reddish orange

 

[Aoife]

Very, very slightly. Very.

Such a deal.

Sheesh.

 

[T L]

Well, at least they didn't call it a "mandarin" garnet, as many jewelers, especially television jewelers, would. It is a typical orangy brown spessartite, nothing special or particularly valuable. I like the setting though.

As for the IGI, another typical over inflated appraisal, that they're known for in the trade.

 

[Aoife]

Well, at least they didn't call it a "mandarin" garnet, as many jewelers, especially television jewelers, would. It is a typical orangy brown spessartite, nothing special or particularly valuable. I like the setting though.

As for the IGI, another typical over inflated appraisal, that they're known for in the trade.

Didn't we have a thread once that listed many of the gemological labs, with their pros and cons, reputation, and what they could and couldn't test for? I vaguely remember the thread, but couldn't find it the other day through the search function.

I agree that the setting is pretty, but that price for a murky brown spess is just jaw-dropping. You'd clearly be paying primarily for the setting, and for that price, you could get something custom or semi-custom.

 

[y2kitty]

The other spess they have is nicer.

 

[T L]

Well, at least they didn't call it a "mandarin" garnet, as many jewelers, especially television jewelers, would. It is a typical orangy brown spessartite, nothing special or particularly valuable. I like the setting though.

As for the IGI, another typical over inflated appraisal, that they're known for in the trade.

Didn't we have a thread once that listed many of the gemological labs, with their pros and cons, reputation, and what they could and couldn't test for? I vaguely remember the thread, but couldn't find it the other day through the search function.

I agree that the setting is pretty, but that price for a murky brown spess is just jaw-dropping. You'd clearly be paying primarily for the setting, and for that price, you could get something custom or semi-custom.

Costco is NOT where I would buy a colored gem. I could see some uneducated consumers getting a fair retail price on a diamond ring there (although I also don't think their diamond pricing is so great either), but no way, no how, colored stones. They are on par with Zales as far as I'm concerned.

 

[T L]

The other spess they have is nicer.

Still the same hue, although lighter in tone though.