Leuco- and Pastellgrossular

[Marlow]

O.K. - this is a colored stone forum but this is almost pure grossular - rare and beautiful - from Eastafrica and one Merelani Mint.

The largest round is 1,76 ct ( windowed but I would never recut it - it is IF and quite large). The "pastell" Grossular are mostly in the U-Z
color range compared to diamonds.

 

[ephsea]

I'm curious, as I've eyed these - rough seems to be available and reasonable. They're not much to look at in pictures (camera shy?), really. How do they look to you in hand/under different lights?

 

[Marlow]

They are difficult to capture - it is daylight ( indirect light) the background is a white paper.

I had a lot of reflections of my hand - I try to make a pic with more direct - but not with a flash light .

Rough is not expensive - real colorless and bigger ones are rare.

 

[LoversKites]

I'm a fan! I love the green and I hear the leuco ones are quite uncommon in nice quality. Thanks for sharing Your collections are awesome.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I love leucos! And am happy to own one as well.
Cut by Peter Torraca

More photos here
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/padparadscha-spinel-and-leuco-garnet.179206/

 

[FrekeChild]

I've played with two of them. They are very difficult to photograph, as they reflect everything in the environment. But they look a lot like diamonds - the dispersion is amazing in them!

 

[Marlow]

I love leucos! And am happy to own one as well.
Cut by Peter Torraca

More photos here
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/padparadscha-spinel-and-leuco-garnet.179206/

Wonderful asscher!!! Wish my large one has such a perfect cut!!!

It is funny - some have a green hint, some yellow and goldenbrown.
The large two round and the small rounds in front are Leucos - the rest is pastel imo.
I don't wear juwels - but a "reverse" halo would be nice - Leucogarnet with small Mint or Tsavos - same RI - cut be nice.

I tried more pics with direct light - no way!!!

 

[FrekeChild]

That brings up a good question Marlow - where is the line between Leuco/colorless and pastel drawn? Your opinion, of course, since this is not going to be written in stone of course. (Haha! Pun unintentional)

 

[pregcurious]

How are the sparkle of leucos compared to diamond? edit: just saw your answer

 

[FrekeChild]

Preg, I would take video of the one I currently have in my possession, along with a diamond, but the only diamond I have is an I color, so it looks pretty tinted next to it. I suppose I still could if you wanted to see it?

 

[Marlow]

Easy answer - like D-Z diamond and fancy light yellow/brown/green

I have my stone in glass lid boxes with white inserts - if I see a hint of color from 1,5 m it is "pastel" - no color it is Leuco.
I have two little 0,10-0,11 ct which are really colorless and two large rounds which are a M ( compared to pics of diamond)
Some vendor would sell the rest (trilliant, oval...) as a Leuco but I call them pastel grossular - sounds nicer then near-colorless

There are some nice pastel Pyrop and Malaya ( faint pink) -

http://gemstonemagnetism.com/garnets_pg_3.html

Please look at page 2 and 4 (pastel pyrope - very beautiful)

In daylight the " color " is a bit stronger - in incandescend light they look colorless.

 

[chrono]

Perhaps size has something to do with it too; a smaller stone has a higher chance of being truly colourless whilst a larger stone has a tendency to want to hold on to a bit of colour.

 

[Marlow]

Perhaps size has something to do with it too; a smaller stone has a higher chance of being truly colourless whilst a larger stone has a tendency to want to hold on to a bit of colour.