CS newbie! Help me with this tourmaline!

[LD]

In terms of photography, I understand the point that cutters are professionals at cutting and spending an inordinate amount of time on photographing gemstones isn't cost effective. I totally understand that BUT photographs are the main selling tool of an internet operation.

Most PSers can take photographs that are almost true to life (some gemstones are the exception) and therefore asking a vendor to see a gemstone on a neutral background (or a photo on the back of a hand) I don't think is too much of an ask. Nearly all of the gemstone selling websites provide at least 2 or 3 views of each stone. Some with different backgrounds as I've described. I would think it takes just as much time to do this than to take 1 photograph that perhaps doesn't represent the stone well (even if the description does) and then have to answer buyers questions. Many people only look at photos and will gloss over the words. The gemstone in this thread is clearly well cut (something that has been acknowledged throughout this thread) but the photo may be somewhat different from the description suggests.

Vendors well known to this forum are excluded from my following comment .............. there are so many vendors that misrepresent their stones by manipulating photos (and even videos) that it's wise for the consumer to be cautious. This is a consumer forum and therefore it is necessary to warn others about potential pitfalls when the only information available to assess is a photograph. If a photo looks like it may not be a good representation then I think it's good practice for the buyer to ask the vendor for further photographs - it's then up to the vendor whether he/she provides that further information.

 

[chrono]

From a buyer's perspective, photography is almost always only deciding factor to buy or not to buy. This is why colour accuracy is very important to the consumer, especially when everyone wants to avoid the hassle and cost of shipping and returning stones. To be fair though, I understand perfectly that if a stone is only $100 thereabouts, it makes little sense for the vendor to take additional pictures by request. One way to a middle ground is when taking the single picture, also provide a profile view which doesn't take any further extra time and effort since the first picture is required anyway. Secondly, using the right type of lighting is a huge bonus - getting light that best emulates true sunlight for colour accuracy can never be a wrong decision. Thirdly, a neutral background that isn't overly dark or light further helps with colour accuracy so that it will neither play up or play down the stone's true colour.

Chris,
Thank you for calling Dan's attention to this thread. It is great to get his thoughts on the tourmaline and photography in general. Let's hope there will be no stone underswiping since the vendor is now clearly outed.

Pandabee,
No matter how you set the stone, the ends will always be darker than the rest of the body. Since it is so when unset, there is nothing you can do to brighten or lighten up the sides unless you put two little LEDS into both ends of the shank.

 

[PrecisionGem]

I can understand the desire for lots of pictures, but gems are very hard to photograph well. Even with several shots, the color and get be totally misrepresented. It's always best to see the stone in person, and then view it under a variety of lighting conditions. Since maybe 80% of my business is in the US, shipping within the US is pretty inexpensive and safe. Most stones can ship insured for $7 or less. So I think it makes sense to just look at the stone in person.

I have the same issues when buying rough. I try to buy most of my rough in person, but there are times I will buy from a photograph. This is typically what I get. This picture, and a weight. The difference here is that you are dealing with shipping from Africa, customs clearance, and costs. It can cost over $60 to get the stones over, and then if they are not to my liking, more expense to return them. So I do feel the pain.

 

[LD]

Gene I absolutely agree and as you know I've said in the past and will say again that your photos are the most realistic of any I have EVER seen. I know exactly what I'm buying when I get a stone from you. In fact, usually the stone is a little better than the photo!!!! So whatever you're doing, you need to bottle! Thank you for sharing the photos you get of the rough. Interestingly you can see the difference in colour quite easily BUT I would think it's a challenge to determine cutting suitability from just one photo.

Speaking generally and back to selling gemstones I don't think lots of photos are required. Just two or three photos of each gem would be good with potentially one as a handshot - no more! A hand shot is a great decider for me as it's less easy to manipulate (although anything's possible of course)! I also agree that no amount of photos can substitute for seeing a gem in person. Although it can be problematic if you then have to wait for refunds to be processed before trying for something different.

 

[chrono]

I seem to be on the "ditto LD" streak today. I concur that Gene's photography seems to be spot on almost all the time, even without handshots. Not only that, the stones look realistic too.

 

[LD]

I seem to be on the "ditto LD" streak today. I concur that Gene's photography seems to be spot on almost all the time, even without handshots. Not only that, the stones look realistic too.

Ditto

(you're not the only one who's doing it Chrono )

 

[pandabee]

So pictures are back..unfortunately they are not the clearest. Hopefully you can still see the color enough through it. I am thinking of just buying it anyway whether it's too dark or not but I would like some last minute opinions before I pull the trigger. Thoughts?

 

[pandabee]

one more:

 

[chrono]

I am thinking of just buying it anyway whether it's too dark or not but I would like some last minute opinions before I pull the trigger.

Why? Is it because you love it or because you feel bad returning it? My policy is that if I don't love it, there's no point in holding on to a stone that I will never set and will never recoup $ even if selling second hand. Best to return for a full refund which the vendor will absolutely understand. This is why there is a refund policy in place. Now, if you love it, darkness and all, that's different.

 

[pandabee]

I am thinking of just buying it anyway whether it's too dark or not but I would like some last minute opinions before I pull the trigger.

Why? Is it because you love it or because you feel bad returning it? My policy is that if I don't love it, there's no point in holding on to a stone that I will never set and will never recoup $ even if selling second hand. Best to return for a full refund which the vendor will absolutely understand. This is why there is a refund policy in place. Now, if you love it, darkness and all, that's different.

I do really like it and I was offered that if I were to return it there would be no hassle. I just wonder if I need to just see the stone in person to see if I really think it is too dark *for me*...is that an unreasonable thought?

 

[chrono]

Nope, not unreasonable at all. I definitely recommend seeing it in person. All you'll be out is the shipping cost. Those pictures tell me nothing at all.

 

[pandabee]

Thanks Chrono!!

 

[pandabee]

Just wanted to update in case anyone else was intrigued by this stone...I received it and unfortunately I don't have any pictures to share as it has been overcast, but it wasn't excessively dark through the C-axis, as was concerned. The color was actually more green-leaning than blue so I did send it back. Now that I've had a taste of colored stones though, I've definitely got the bug!!! I will definitely be on the search for a similar shaped and blue-y stone

 

[minousbijoux]

Thanks for letting us know. Sorry it didn't work out, but now you can continue to enjoy the hunt.

 

[chrono]

Appreciate the update and the short commentary on your observation. This "bug" never seems to go away; consider yourself forewarned.

 

[pandabee]

Not bothered at all by the bug...it's fun to always be on he search for something! Do have a quick question though...what do we think I general of eBay sellers from Thailand selling colored stones? I know there were a couple on the recommended sellers but in general mostly only the individual cutters' websites that are recommended. Some of the eBay sellers I have noticed their cuts are not symmetrical (i.e. the table facets don't line up with the outside edges)

 

[chrono]

I am not bothered if the general appearance is good (not off shaped, no wonky girdle, no flat crowns, nothing with an overly deep pavilion, tiny to zero windowing and such). I don't need perfect meet points because I rarely peer up that close on a consistant basis. In short, I do not actively seek out a precision cut stone. A well cut non-precision cut gemstone is good enough for me.