Gem Trader January Drop!

[velouriaL]

Kinda like that sleeper pad. I like how he seems to feel self-conscious about the the cert and kinda deprecates the stone. It's cute.

The color on the little cobalt spinel. YOWZA! Ditto the Mozambique tourmaline.

Seems like there are some good deals to be had this month. Someone here has gotta buy this stuff!

 

[chrono]

I've put my name in as usual but we'll see. I've only gotten lucky twice; hope to extend it to a 3rd time.

 

[LD]

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[corundum_conundrum]

I dig the cobalt. It would be my pick of the litter, depending on how the inclusions look IRL.



I'm not so enamored of the "pad." I would agree with Brad's assessment of it rather than AGL, and in this case it would seem one would be paying for the official "pad" cert as much as for the stone...

 

[Aerix]

I liked the alexandrite, but my bling funds are a little low right now and ah, I'm usually too late when it comes to putting my name in for these things!

 

[airplay355]

Please someone buy that sapphire so I don't...please please please.

 

[LD]

I've put my name in as usual but we'll see. I've only gotten lucky twice; hope to extend it to a 3rd time.

For the spinel per chance? Good luck anyway!

 

[ChrisA222]

As much as I'd love a Cobalt Spinel...can't bring myself to spend $1K on a half ct stone...its just too small. I think I could look past the inclusions..but I cannot look past the size. But, it is certainly a great color!

I liked the Moz Tourmaline too...but didn't dig the inclusions...so I had to rule that one out, too.

Im getting a little bit better at...not buying every single stone that I like. LOL...this new being selective thing is starting to work for me. We shall see.

I will say this...if I didnt have the Sapphire in my ring (my avatar) I would have been all over that blue Sapphire! (even though its being shown up by the color of the little Spinel!)

 

[SB621]

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Did they say pad???

Also not looking!!!!!!!1

Wait what kind of pad? Is it pretty?

Wait don't tell me I don't want to know...lalalalalalalal

 

[minousbijoux]

I absolutely loved looking this time! I've gotten to the point where I am feeling temporarily sated (in a good way) and therefore can look, enjoy and not even try and buy! What a great feeling!!! Yippee! To those of you trying to get something: I wish all your Gem Trader dreams come true!

 

[chrono]

The saturation on the pear spinel is too light for me but I am hoping to "win" 2 items. To be truthful, I passed over the padparadscha sapphire, completely ignoring it without realizing what it is. I only went back for a look after reading about it here and I have to say I'm not impressed as well.

 

[LD]

I hesitated over the pear spinel but it's not as saturated as I'd want - same reasons as you Chrono. However the "cobalt" spinel I NEARLY pulled the trigger but then decided I had to be sensible so didn't! The colour is phenomenal and as for those inclusions? No problem!

Sarahbear - the Padparadscha? Not for me hun! I'm not a big fan although I do have one that's yummy but I never wear it so what's the point!

 

[OTL]

I am also getting a lot better at not buying everything I sort of like..In fact I think I am getting too much better it's been hard for me to buy any new stones or like any new stones for a while. I started to even thinking of letting go some stones...Had changed my focus to gold jewelleries...lol....

This month's drop, only the 2ct sapphire got me hesitate for 2 seconds, then decide it is priced for a reason. Not high saturation and possibly deep cut, because of the table size.

 

[jstarfireb]

I sent an email inquiring about the cat's eye alexandrite as soon as his email went out , so hopefully I got it. But I haven't heard back from him yet and it's been several hours...

 

[VapidLapid]

I was awfully tempted by the cobalt. The size was the only drawback. Plus I had made an offer earlier today on another spinel and have not yet heard back. I did not want to have to buy both in one month, this month particularly, having bought some antique planes, some fancy wood and some garnet and Zamethyst rough. The color on that cobalt is just exquisite, and looks lively too. like the blue in the illuminations of the book of hours of catherine of cleve. At this point in my life I don't know if the inclusions are in the stone or in my eyes!

 

[velouriaL]

I never ever buy annnnything so I can lookieloo all day and all night... and do-- and have-- for years!

I liked the alex a lot too. Can't wait to see if anyone here winds up with anything.

Although I understand that pads are supposed to be "delicate," I find that I often prefer more saturated orange-pinks, which seem to miss being graded as pads. My guess is that I'm not alone. Still, I do think that sapphire has its charms.

 

[JewelFreak]

The cobalt was tempting...but like everybody else, too small for me. I'm only buying stones that I can't stand not to live with anymore. It hurts, but it's a sort of good hurt.

 

[VapidLapid]

Many stones are marked "reserved" but the cobalt is not one of them. Is that a function of the size v. cost ratio?

 

[iLander]

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LOL! LD, this made me laugh out loud! Thanks for that!

 

[iLander]

I liked the blue sapphire, but other than that, meh.

I'm really picky, which is why I only have 5 colored stones. It's gotta be pretty darn good, or Back it goes.

 

[SB621]

ok I broke down and looked. I actually like the sapphire. I think it is priced well for what it is. I would have scooped that up and put in it a 3 stone....then never wore it...and then probably end up selling it on DB like I have the rest of my collection. Wow I'm getting really good as this restraint thing

And as for the pad I was so under impressed it was upsetting.

 

[jstarfireb]

I can't believe it. I missed the Alex even though I responded within 2 minutes of Brad's email. So disappointed...

 

[stargurl78]

That cobalt spinel was the only thing that caught my eye, it is gorgeous! I hope a PSer snagged that one. I didn't even attempt to go for it because I'm trying to be good!

 

[minousbijoux]

The cobalt is beautiful, the sapphire is a great bargain, and the AGL approved padparadscha is nothing to write home about...

 

[chrono]

Alas, I did not win my two picks but Brad has put me on the waiting list should the lucky buyers change their minds but I think it will be highly unlikely. Oh well, money left in my wallet is always a good thing. I hope PSers who snagged anything from this drop starts a thread on their new gems.

 

[minousbijoux]

I'm sorry you didn't get your stones but it means they're still out there somewhere waiting for you...

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

I liked the blue sapphire, but other than that, meh.

I'm really picky, which is why I only have 5 colored stones. It's gotta be pretty darn good, or Back it goes.

That is a great way to build your collection. I wish I learned to do this sooner then later.

 

[jstarfireb]

I can't believe it. I missed the Alex even though I responded within 2 minutes of Brad's email. So disappointed...

Good news for me! Brad found another very nice cat's eye alex from the same parcel. It's slightly smaller at 4.1mm rather than 4.3, but the color change is gorgeous and I doubt I'll notice the size difference. It will be going into a stacking ring.

 

[pandabee]

I can't believe it. I missed the Alex even though I responded within 2 minutes of Brad's email. So disappointed...

Good news for me! Brad found another very nice cat's eye alex from the same parcel. It's slightly smaller at 4.1mm rather than 4.3, but the color change is gorgeous and I doubt I'll notice the size difference. It will be going into a stacking ring.

OOH how neat!! Color change and a cat's eye? Great combination!!!

 

[jstarfireb]

Yeah, I don't have any cat's eye stones, so I'm really looking forward to seeing this!