I think my tsav is lost or stolen! :-(

[FrekeChild]

No asschers aren't usually plagued by half and half extinction, but all cuts can have their issues, it's just a matter of getting a decent cut stone, no matter the shape.

 

[chrono]

I don't think I've asscher cut stones do this type of extinction but I've seen some with strange light play going on as well. Just as Freke mentioned, each type of shape have their own cut issues.

 

[Arkteia]

Congratulations on finally getting it. Too bad that it is half and half extinction, the color is really nice. I kept some of such stones, because of their color, and put them into pendants. The extinction seems to be less noticeable.

 

[LD]

Not all ovals have this extinction it really depends on the cut. Don't give up on them.

 

[OTL]

It is a pity if you have to return the stone. Especially after you think it is lost and got it finally. To me I'd be OK with the half half extinction, and from my little experience, camera increases that effect, it shouldn't be half half when you see it.Or is it? Frankly I have never seen an oval that doesn't have this or that extinction issues. Either half half, or bow tie, unless they cut it with a window it will always have here and there, more or less extinction.

 

[chrono]

I am a happy owner of an oval that does not show this half and half extinction under any circumstances. I also own one oval that shows this half and half all the time, no matter which way you turn it around. Whether it shows this or not, depends on the style or design of cut chosen for a particular stone. No bowtie on either stones. No windows on either stones. On mine, both stones are spinels, one blue and one red.

 

[minousbijoux]

That is frustrating when you get it in hand and it doesn't meet your expectations. I'm sorry AmeliaG, but my only consolation is welcome to the club - we've all been there.

 

[AmeliaG]

Aww, I'm not complaining ladies. It was a good learning experience. Better to face this now than with the sapphire later.

Arkteia, I'm wondering if the extinction is noticeable because the color is so light and bright and the stone is well cut. There is such a difference between the light and dark sides which I think is accentuated by the stone's light color and the sparkliness of the cut. With a darker stone, I don't think the difference would be as noticeable.

OTL, I put my camera away (meaning my iPad and just looked at the stone in varying types of light. The stone definitely looks dark in over half of it. I waited til today to send it back to make sure but I'm as sure as I can be that its not a camera trick.

Thanks Chrono and LD for saying not to give up on ovals. It seems like the most common cut for tsavorites! I was perusing some of the gemcutter sites this morning. I'm wondering if looking for a darker color would help.

Chrono, any advice for picking an oval with minimal extinction?

Thanks minousbijoux, for the commiseration. Frustration loves company, huh?

 

[chrono]

I'm afraid I've also seen this in dark blue sapphires and dark green tourmalines so it isn't limited to light coloured stones. It seemed just as noticeable to my eye. For the most part, I am able to see this from a vendor's photograph, more easily seen in hand shots where it is less likely to be staged. I've seen this in both precision cut and non precision cut stones. The only oval design I've seen without this consistently is the Supernova design. I'm sure there must be other designs that work the same way.

 

[OTL]

Aww, I'm not complaining ladies. It was a good learning experience. Better to face this now than with the sapphire later.

Arkteia, I'm wondering if the extinction is noticeable because the color is so light and bright and the stone is well cut. There is such a difference between the light and dark sides which I think is accentuated by the stone's light color and the sparkliness of the cut. With a darker stone, I don't think the difference would be as noticeable.

OTL, I put my camera away (meaning my iPad and just looked at the stone in varying types of light. The stone definitely looks dark in over half of it. I waited til today to send it back to make sure but I'm as sure as I can be that its not a camera trick.

Thanks Chrono and LD for saying not to give up on ovals. It seems like the most common cut for tsavorites! I was perusing some of the gemcutter sites this morning. I'm wondering if looking for a darker color would help.

Chrono, any advice for picking an oval with minimal extinction?

Thanks minousbijoux, for the commiseration. Frustration loves company, huh?

In that case you should return it. I just found even though my ovals don't look that way, but on camera they will look like they have half half distinction, that's why I assume yours is similar,but if you can't accept it with your eye. You should definitely return it.

 

[minousbijoux]

It is one more question in your lexicon now - so when you approach the vendors, make sure to ask. I have had some vendors be less than forthcoming in their responses about 1/2 and 1/2 extinction, but for the most part, they share their info...

I do find that its folks like Chrono, with an amazingly experienced and discerning eye, who makes it look easy as not surprisingly, none of her stones exhibit this common characteristic...

I have a sapphire that I wear periodically that is one of the first pieces of jewelry I had made. I wear it periodically despite the perfect 1/2 and 1/2 as its a lightish stone and still has color despite the extinction. I also wear it as a pretty reminder of the progress I've made in my stone knowledge...

 

[chrono]

I'd forgotten to answer one of your questions with regards to stone shape. Ovals will be the most common gemstone shape because most rough are suited to that, so lapidaries will try to preserve as much of the material as they can by doing so. With patience, you'll find rounds (least common) and cushion tsavorites.

ETA
I went back to your original thread and looked at the vendor's pictures again and could not see a hint of the 1/2 and 1/2 extinction. I'm sorry.

 

[AmeliaG]

Thanks Chrono for the clarification. So I guess I'll take it on a stone by stone basis.

Now I found two other stones to ask you guys feedback on. Should I keep it in this thread or start a new one? I probably should have posted the pics in the original Tsav thread to keep all the stone-related posts together because this thread title doesn't reflect the topic anymore.

Or I could ask the moderator to join these two threads and then post the new stones in the combined thread.

 

[Starzin]

I'm sorry for your disappointment however the good thing to come out of it is that you have now seen extinction IRL so will be more able to notice it in pictures. Even though some of them are so well done they don't show the extinction (as Chrono states yours didn't), Minous is right in that you now have an important question to ask before buying. It's just more of the "buyer beware" thing isn't it?

 

[chrono]

Amelia,
I think it's fine to leave your tsavorite threads as they are but it's a good idea to start a new one for the 2 new stones.