Help me shop? Tourmalines and a Garnet

[T L]

You really have to be careful with red family garnets. While they have uniform color, unlike the c-axis situation with tourmaline, they really tend to black out, especially larger stones.

 

[Bojambles]

You really have to be careful with red family garnets. While they have uniform color, unlike the c-axis situation with tourmaline, they really tend to black out, especially larger stones.

Hi TL,

I will get indoor photos of the two pairs posted soon to check the blacking out.

Thank you very much for your help on all my threads, could I trouble you again to share your opinion on this other pair?

My camera is artificially deepening the contrast so the garnets are not that dark in real life in any of these photos, assume 1 to 2 tones lighter in most of these cases.

Would you say that this is typical? It seems from other threads that unless garnets are chrome, they end up showing this effect?

The colour also changes dramatically when they are rotated on the palm.

Indoors:







Outdoors







Outdoors - shaded

 

[minousbijoux]

I went through a red garnet phase and ended up destashing all but one because of the browning out they do in indoor and fluorescent lighting situations. So maddening to have a beautifully colored stone that would just so often retreat to drab. It looks like your garnet earrings are doing that and it would drive me nuts - unless they look substantially better to you in real life.

 

[T L]

Hi TL,

I will get indoor photos of the two pairs posted soon to check the blacking out.

Thank you very much for your help on all my threads, could I trouble you again to share your opinion on this other pair?

My camera is artificially deepening the contrast so the garnets are not that dark in real life in any of these photos, assume 1 to 2 tones lighter in most of these cases.

Would you say that this is typical? It seems from other threads that unless garnets are chrome, they end up showing this effect?

The colour also changes dramatically when they are rotated on the palm.

Indoors:







Outdoors







Outdoors - shaded

You’re welcome!

I’m not sure what effect you’re talking about? The change in color, or how your camera is photographing them?

 

[Bojambles]

You’re welcome!

I’m not sure what effect you’re talking about? The change in color, or how your camera is photographing them?

The change in colour. My photos make it look very drastic but whilst they are dark, they did not go that dark.

Wondering what degree is acceptable and if different stones of the same garnet type may perform slightly differently. Or do I need to get a garnet with chromium or another "glowing" element to help that. I've seen a nice example of chrome garnets around this site

 

[Bojambles]

I went through a red garnet phase and ended up destashing all but one because of the browning out they do in indoor and fluorescent lighting situations. So maddening to have a beautifully colored stone that would just so often retreat to drab. It looks like your garnet earrings are doing that and it would drive me nuts - unless they look substantially better to you in real life.

Fair point, I think there is potential for me to eventually get frustrated enough to stop wearing them. They look somewhat better irl but I guess the real test will come when I've worn them a few times in the office / in a shopping mall and get a feel for how consistently they behave?

It's sad though, I really love the colour of umbalite and other rhodolites that show that lovely blend of pink / red and purple. I suppose a sapphire of a similar colour would be extremely expensive, not to mention rare

 

[T L]

The change in colour. My photos make it look very drastic but whilst they are dark, they did not go that dark.

Wondering what degree is acceptable and if different stones of the same garnet type may perform slightly differently. Or do I need to get a garnet with chromium or another "glowing" element to help that. I've seen a nice example of chrome garnets around this site

It’s probably your camera. I have horrid problems with green gems and my iPhone camera, but some people can capture them perfectly.