Fanta Orange Zircon??

[chictomato]

Hi there! What do you think of this Orange zircon? I had not seen it in person, but it was described by my jeweler as a top quality fanta orange zircon. Its almost 3 carats. Untreated. I like the color. Selling at 425 USD. Is it fairly priced? No return policy. Is an orange color like this zircon hard to come by? TIA

 

[T L]

Date: 4/8/2010 10:35:24 PM
Author:chictomato
Hi there! What do you think of this Orange zircon? I had not seen it in person, but it was described by my jeweler as a top quality fanta orange zircon. Its almost 3 carats. Untreated. I like the color. Selling at 425 USD. Is it fairly priced? No return policy. Is an orange color like this zircon hard to come by? TIA

I would not buy a stone with no return policy, sorry. The color is pretty, but the photo can be doctored to make it look much better than it is. I have not seen a zircon that color, but I would require a lab memo on it to prove it's untreated, and it's a real zircon if that's truly the color, especially in lieu of the no return policy. BTW, it looks to be slightly sleepy.

 

[VapidLapid]

I am suspicious, too, not only for the color oddity, but I cannot see any traces of birefringence which would be strong in a zircon. Even if oriented squarely perpendicular to the table it would still be present through the crown facets, and here it is not. In the picture anyway. A no return policy is always trumped by my no buy policy!

 

[T L]

You''re right Vapid. If I had to guess what that was, because it''s slightly sleepy and orange, I would guess fire opal. They do sometimes facet them. What is the mm size?

 

[VapidLapid]

There ARE orange zircons, and they really can be that fanta(sy) kind of color. I see some being offered right now by some rough dealers I know. I love zircons, love looking at them when they''re well cut (surprise!) but I dont have any and am unlikely to. Though hard, they are brittle and that translates as not durable. They chip if you even just think a harsh thought, so they''re definitely not for me!

 

[Barrett]

wow..that color sure is tops..i agree with vapid and TL about being suspicious..price seems right for a little zircon if that color is correct..thats a top color stone right there..blinded

 

[chictomato]

Hi thanks to all the replies! Its approx 8mmX6mm depth. Will be accompanied with Singapore NGI report, stating that its 100% natural zircon. I am tempted to go for it, any more points I should note? ya its always this no return policy that holds me back, but well there is an exchange policy though. I had just purchase the Chrysoberyl that is really pretty, but its only 5.8mm, hence I an exchanging for this orange Zircon. This jeweler has prove to be reliable, so far

 

[chrono]

Very interesting and pretty stone, with my first impression of it being an opal because of the “look” of the stone. I’m always leery of a no return policy but since you have the opportunity to see it up close first hand, check it out thoroughly before making your decision. Does the cert/memo say anything about the zircon being treated? Note that zircons are brittle so there’s a high risk of facet wear and chipping, especially at those pointy tips.

 

[Edward Bristol]

Why would any decent seller not have a return policy? I think it is even illegal.

 

[chrono]

Date: 4/9/2010 9:05:54 AM
Author: Edward Bristol
Why would any decent seller not have a return policy? I think it is even illegal.

Ed,
I believe this might be legal in Asia? I''ve come across this very often when shopping in Asia.

 

[vsol]

Based on the carat weight and dimensions I am going to say Zircon is likely. That seems heavy for the size and zircon is a heavier stone. Especially heavier than opal which I would peg at closer to 2ct for the size. But, like everyone else is saying, return policies are standard. If it's a rare high quality perfectly cut stone, the jeweler should stand by it. The stone does look well cut too from what I can from the photo (assuming it is non-doctored). If you have done plenty of business with the jeweler in the past and know they are reputable then it might be safe...

 

[Pandora II]

Beautiful looking stone.

I''d been wary of buying a zircon that shape unless I was just going to put it in a box, they don''t even need pointy bits to chip like crazy...

 

[T L]

Date: 4/9/2010 10:15:07 AM
Author: Pandora II
Beautiful looking stone.

I''d been wary of buying a zircon that shape unless I was just going to put it in a box, they don''t even need pointy bits to chip like crazy...

Good point.

 

[Arcadian]

It looks lovely, I have an orange zircon that a few have mistaken for a spess, though not as light as the OP''s picture. My orange zircon blacks out in direct sunlight (but will still sparkle). indirect its totally fine, lowlight it glows. Holds its color fine in incandescent light as well.

Have to admit I would be a bit leary of it actually being that color. Also, the return policy for me is a no no. I would have to feel it in my bones that its a great stone to buy without a return policy.



-A

 

[Barrett]

some good points about the fire opal..I have had some rough that looked very close in color to that..a no return policy..can you use paypal..return policy or not paypal makes sure you are protected

 

[platinumrock]

YAY on the gorgeous Fanta color, zircon or not.

BOO on the no return policy. What''s the big deal?

 

[chictomato]

Hi there thanks to all the replies! I was attracted to the color and cut of this high zircon. I thought that being on the moh scale of 7 they should be more resistant to chipping? Cos if it that brittle and prone to chip I will probably give it a miss and settle for the other Red Tanzanian Almandite of a similar size and cut. Is Almandite a tougher stone, where does it stand on the moh scale? Its described as a deep red, will it 'black out'? It was described no brown hue in it, no colorshift, the color is saturated (as typical for almandite) but not black. It appears red in every light situation with many flashes. What do you think? is that a better choice than the orange zircon? TIA

 

[Barrett]

if that truly is an orange zircon and the color is spot on i would snatch that puppy up..thats a fantastic colored stone..if you are worried about chipping don''t do a ring...I don''t even look at zircons so i can''t really compare it to others but that color to me is tops

 

[chictomato]

Date: 4/10/2010 2:34:45 AM
Author: amethystguy
if that truly is an orange zircon and the color is spot on i would snatch that puppy up..thats a fantastic colored stone..if you are worried about chipping don't do a ring...I don't even look at zircons so i can't really compare it to others but that color to me is tops

Thanks Amethystguy for the super fast response I do agree on the color but I do not want a brittle stone...there you go..do take a look at this red almandite, will it make a much better ring stone?

 

[ma re]

Date: 4/10/2010 2:28:55 AM
Author: chictomato

I thought that being on the moh scale of 7 they should be more resistant to chipping?
...
Is Almandite a tougher stone, where does it stand on the moh scale?

That''s one of the most common misunderstandings when it comes to gemstones. Hardness and toughness are two different things, and Moh''s hardness tells you only about hardness and nothing else. Hardness is resistance to scratching, not chipping, shattering, cleaving, breaking etc. So it only tells you how resistant to surface scratches the stone is, while that material can have many other properties.

I read somewhere an interesting explanation. Take a glass ball and a rubber one. Try to scratch the surface of each. The rubber one will, of course, scratch much more easily than the glass one because it''s lower on the hardness scale. But try dropping them from some height. Of course, the glass one will shatter into a million pieces, while the rubber one will just bounce away - escaping any damage even if it''s much less hard (i.e. much softer).

Some not very hard gemstones, like jadeite, can be very tough and very difficult to damage, but still quite easy to scratch. Also, many experts claim that spinel is a much more durable stone than a diamond, eventhough it''s softer, because it doesen''t have distinct cleavage plains, so it would split that much harder into smaller pieces upon impact.

Hope this helps

 

[virgoruby]

Date: 4/10/2010 3:39:24 AM
Author: ma re

Date: 4/10/2010 2:28:55 AM

Author: chictomato


I thought that being on the moh scale of 7 they should be more resistant to chipping?

...

Is Almandite a tougher stone, where does it stand on the moh scale?

That''s one of the most common misunderstandings when it comes to gemstones. Hardness and toughness are two different things, and Moh''s hardness tells you only about hardness and nothing else. Hardness is resistance to scratching, not chipping, shattering, cleaving, breaking etc. So it only tells you how resistant to surface scratches the stone is, while that material can have many other properties.


I read somewhere an interesting explanation. Take a glass ball and a rubber one. Try to scratch the surface of each. The rubber one will, of course, scratch much more easily than the glass one because it''s lower on the hardness scale. But try dropping them from some height. Of course, the glass one will shatter into a million pieces, while the rubber one will just bounce away - escaping any damage even if it''s much less hard (i.e. much softer).


Some not very hard gemstones, like jadeite, can be very tough and very difficult to damage, but still quite easy to scratch. Also, many experts claim that spinel is a much more durable stone than a diamond, eventhough it''s softer, because it doesen''t have distinct cleavage plains, so it would split that much harder into smaller pieces upon impact.


Hope this helps

Ma re, Thanks so much for your comprehensive explanation (& always sharing your wealth of knowledge with us)!

 

[chictomato]

YES! Tks mare, that''s certainly some useful info

So decision time, the red or orange?

 

[chictomato]

By the way, is almandine garnet one of the most abundance in supply in the garnet family?

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 4/10/2010 6:40:18 AM
Author: chictomato
By the way, is almandine garnet one of the most abundance in supply in the garnet family?

Most of what you see marked as Garnet in jewellers shops is Almandine garnet. However, there are fine examples and crappy examples!

Most garnets are about a 7.5 on the Mohs, they are also relatively tough and don''t have cleavage. That said, they do need to be babied in a ring and they''re not a 24/7 stone.

My worry with that particular stone is that it will look very dark IRL and even more so once set.

 

[DistinctionJewelry]

The orange zircon is by far the more unusual stone and would be my choice

 

[Barrett]

yea..the garnet you can find anywhere at anytime..tons of them around..that zircon, although not a zircon expert, seems to me like a stone you don''t see to often..colorwise. Snatch it up..so i know it''s in good hands

 

[brandy_z28]

Date: 4/10/2010 8:36:07 PM
Author: amethystguy
yea..the garnet you can find anywhere at anytime..tons of them around..that zircon, although not a zircon expert, seems to me like a stone you don''t see to often..colorwise. Snatch it up..so i know it''s in good hands

I second amethystguy. It appears to have a very nice and interesting color. Since there''s no returns I''d definitely insist on seeing it in person before committing though. I''d love to see that zircon set in a pendant.

 

[gsellis]

New note--- see bottom

This is a very unusual cut. I would almost suspect that this is computer generated as the photo has perfect consistancy, shading, and lighting and seems to exhibit radiosity. I see that none of you picked up on the other oddity. Want a hint? How many sides does it have? The index gear should have a factor of the number of sides. I know of 3 77 index gears myself. The Ultra-Tec is the most common. Graves has one, but Peter has not gotten them numbered yet, so they have not shipped. I think the other is Facette.

Ask the innocent question, "How does it have 7 sides" and see what the answer it. The answer could be that they have a special cut using a 77 index gear.

Edit - and I could be way off on the CGI... Spent too much time in the animation forums...

OK, I was just looking through my database and there are some 7 sided cuts done with off gears. I found one that the sides are 96-14-27-41-55-69-82 So it is not symetric, but may look it. On a 64, the sides are 64-10-19-28-36-45-54. Again, a little asymetric, but 7 sided. It you stare at it, it is hard to pick out the couple of degrees difference in the sides. I think I will try building that one. Radiant on the bottom with a sort of standard crown.

 

[Barrett]

Good eye there, Mr. Ellis..i hadn't thought of the number of sides and which gear it would take

 

[chrono]

Almadine garnets are common although many tend to be overly dark and brownish. I''d rather the zircon as a specimen or set as a pendant. As for the pictures, my guess is that it''s the real thing but very possibly photoshopped for colour adjustment/accuracy.