Ideas for finding a nice chrome diopside?

[SparklySasquatch]

Thank you for sharing that video! It was very helpful in understanding the quality/price of colors. You are right in that the polar ones I have seen have been "minty" or lighter which should put them on the lower end price-wise. Hmmm...

I fell into a wormhole watching videos from that company and they are very informative and I am not sure they meant it this way, but funny too. It reminds me of my friend - "kooo-shun cut."

 

[T L]

The minty ones are my personal favorite, but not the trade ideal. I find the trade ideal demantoid green to be gorgeous but a touch on the yellow side. I prefer bluish green. Just a personal preference.

Here’s another guide to demantoid from different locations.

Nomad's on Instagram: "Demantoid Garnet Buying Guide: The quintessential garnet for connoisseurs, Demantoid is the rare green variety of Andradite garnet. Here's what to look for: Origin: Demantoid is a rare garnet, only found in a handful of loca

383 likes, 17 comments - gemsbynomads on February 25, 2021: "Demantoid Garnet Buying Guide: The quintessential garnet for connoisseurs, Demantoid is the rare green variety of Andradite garnet. Here's what to look for: Origin: Demantoid is a rare garnet, only found in a handful of locations on...

www.instagram.com

I love my 2.4 carat Namibian, which cameras really fail to capture. It has some inclusions, but the color is divine to me, and it throws off rainbows.

 

[T L]

Up close of Russian next to cushion Namibian, notice the yellower green of the smaller Russian stone. The oval is Namibian, but more of a forest green.

ETA: sorry if I’m a show off, but I rarely get to talk about demantoid with anyone, even in this forum, and it’s one of my favorite gems!! I love green diamonds, and since the Dresden green is my favorite gem in the world, this is as close I will get to owning something like that magnificent gem. Demantoid comes from the word “diamond like.” I know why!!

 

[SparklySasquatch]

TL, thank you so much for posting these photos and sharing all these informative links. Your rings are BEAUTIFUL!

I feel no sensation that you are showing off ! Actually, I quite enjoy it.

Yes, I can see the difference of color between the more "yellow" hues/tones of the Russian gem versus the Namibian one. My goodness, they both sparkle so much!

It would be nice to not be confined by geography in this search but I have a preference for the minty tones.

What is your understanding of these odd pieces called "red demantoids - Andradite Garnet"? Small and cheap, but does it this name make sense to you?

That store Tsarina Gems has a good pedigree (father seems to be the curator of the Ural Geological Museum). They have some very nice pieces but I dare not send a request. I expect it to be in the 10s of thousands...we hope for like half of that.

This ring would have been great!

 

[T L]

TL, thank you so much for posting these photos and sharing all these informative links. Your rings are BEAUTIFUL!

I feel no sensation that you are showing off ! Actually, I quite enjoy it.

Yes, I can see the difference of color between the more "yellow" hues/tones of the Russian gem versus the Namibian one. My goodness, they both sparkle so much!

It would be nice to not be confined by geography in this search but I have a preference for the minty tones.

What is your understanding of these odd pieces called "red demantoids - Andradite Garnet"? Small and cheap, but does it this name make sense to you?

That store Tsarina Gems has a good pedigree (father seems to be the curator of the Ural Geological Museum). They have some very nice pieces but I dare not send a request. I expect it to be in the 10s of thousands...we hope for like half of that.

This ring would have been great!

Tsarina gems is very expensive, but stones a half carat or less are way more affordable. They do have world class pieces though. A gem like my 65 pointer shouldn’t be more than $750 tops as it’s not top color and more of a yellowish green. It’s still very pretty though. I would just avoid gems that are brownish.

Thanks for the kind words

 

[SparklySasquatch]

The brownish ones look rather unpleasant. That I can say with no knowledge (just what I have been educated here) or experience with this gem!

Difficult to find gifts for that tsarina in our life without having to go into tsarina prices!

 

[T L]

Small stone, but top color. Gorgeous ring. This vendor used to be a popular poster here until she joined the trade. She has top notch pieces and many popular reviews.

Most Saturated Color 0.47ct Russian Demantoid Diamond Ring - Etsy

Extremely beautiful Russian demantoid that weighs almost half carat, it has the most saturated green color yet does not affect the brilliance and high RI look of it. Absolute the best quality stone. The color is very eye catching and the overall look of this ring is classic and elegant. Stone

www.etsy.com

There's also Cecile Raley on Etsy, who specializes in small demantoids and cluster style rings. If you search this forum for the pricescoper "Voce," you will see many of her designs are very popular and beautiful. @voce is one of her best customers.

And finally. . .

I've never purchased from this dealer, but this is a gorgeous stone at a fair price.

This item is unavailable - Etsy

Find the perfect handmade gift, vintage & on-trend clothes, unique jewelry, and more… lots more.

www.etsy.com

 

[T L]

The brownish ones look rather unpleasant. That I can say with no knowledge (just what I have been educated here) or experience with this gem!

Difficult to find gifts for that tsarina in our life without having to go into tsarina prices!

I had Tsarina send me some quotes, and let's just say, I almost spit out what I was drinking when I read the prices. They were all above a carat though. They have one ring with the largest most beautiful demantoid I've seen outside the one at the Smithsonian, and that ring is $180K if I remember correctly. If I only won the lottery. I think the demantoid was around seven carats.

ETA: It's slightly under six carats. There's videos of it on their website. Sigh.

@russiandemantoid on Instagram: "Undisguised richness of green color and brilliance is embodied in the king of garnets - Demantoid ⠀ ✨One-of-the-kind Ring with truly rare 5.82 ct Russian Demantoid ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #tsarinajewels #giftideas #demantoid #deman

63 likes, 0 comments - russiandemantoid on September 15, 2021: "Undisguised richness of green color and brilliance is embodied in the king of garnets - Demantoid ⠀ ✨One-of-the-kind Ring with truly rare 5.82 ct Russian Demantoid ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #tsarinajewels #giftideas #demantoid #demantoidring...

www.instagram.com

 

[T L]

This one you liked is the exact same color as my Russian one, so it's not top color, but obviously very pretty. It's yellowish green. The chrome green ones are the best, but demantoid is one of those gems that is beautiful even if it's not trade ideal color.

@russiandemantoid on Instagram: "When the flower blooms - elegant flower-shaped Ring featured striking green Demantoid in the center and delicately accented by Diamonds and Demantoid melee✨ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #tsarinajewels #giftideas #demantoid #demantoidrin

69 likes, 3 comments - russiandemantoid on September 23, 2021: "When the flower blooms - elegant flower-shaped Ring featured striking green Demantoid in the center and delicately accented by Diamonds and Demantoid melee✨ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #tsarinajewels #giftideas #demantoid #demantoidring...

www.instagram.com

 

[CBianco]

And finally. . .

I've never purchased from this dealer, but this is a gorgeous stone at a fair price.

This item is unavailable - Etsy

Find the perfect handmade gift, vintage & on-trend clothes, unique jewelry, and more… lots more.

www.etsy.com

@TL I just got a video from the seller of 0.62, would you say this is a good color for demantoid? Is it slightly on the darker side?

Edit: Darn the uploaded video is less saturated than what it was originally

 

[CBianco]

So sorry to threadjack @SparklySasquatch I'm hoping to get some opinions from @T L

The 0.62 with 2 more stones from the same etsy seller. I think I actually prefer the bottom one

I've also gotten some quotes from Tsarina Jewels but they are crazy expensive even for 0.5ct stones!

 

[T L]

So sorry to threadjack @SparklySasquatch I'm hoping to get some opinions from @T L

The 0.62 with 2 more stones from the same etsy seller. I think I actually prefer the bottom one

I've also gotten some quotes from Tsarina Jewels but they are crazy expensive even for 0.5ct stones!

Are you purchasing directly from the Russian Federation? If so, I don’t know if the current geopolitical issues in Europe would make it easy to ship, but I could be wrong. Maybe someone can comment?

That is typical chrome green material that is highly prized. I think there are some dealers close to home (if you’re in the United States) that might have similar material. I like the bottom stone the best.

Slightly more off topic (apologies to OP), but I prefer more blue in my demantoid, but that color you chose is more trade ideal than some of the blue green gems. Tsarina has a ring with a nearly 6 carat cushion stone I absolutely adore, but it looks Namibian. Eye Candy below!

 

[demantoidz]

TL mentioned potential issues with buying from Russia now. Still, here's a seller based in Russia (selling currently mined stuff) is ILATMINERALS on Etsy. They sometimes get smaller chrome greens, they tend to have fair prices, eg (sold):

This item is unavailable - Etsy

Find the perfect handmade gift, vintage & on-trend clothes, unique jewelry, and more… lots more.

www.etsy.com

 

[CBianco]

Are you purchasing directly from the Russian Federation? If so, I don’t know if the current geopolitical issues in Europe would make it easy to ship, but I could be wrong. Maybe someone can comment?

That is typical chrome green material that is highly prized. I think there are some dealers close to home (if you’re in the United States) that might have similar material. I like the bottom stone the best.

Slightly more off topic (apologies to OP), but I prefer more blue in my demantoid, but that color you chose is more trade ideal than some of the blue green gems. Tsarina has a ring with a nearly 6 carat cushion stone I absolutely adore, but it looks Namibian. Eye Candy below!

I'm a bit concerned too with the situation in Eastern Europe and how it may or may not affect anything if I decide to purchase, so I'll have to ask the seller for that aspect.

I had been looking for a small vivid saturated green, so I think the bottom one falls more in line with regards to that. The seller did note the 0.62 would probably be darker than what im looking for as well. And I also prefer slightly yellow vs blue undertones too, if any. Personal taste of course.

There were a few dealers in the US that I contacted but don't think anyone had what I'm looking for at the moment. I'm in no rush, just wanted to gather some opinions, so thank you! Garnets are my birthstone too so I just want a good demantoid