Looks: set vs unset

[strmrdr]

This is likely old news to the pros but for newbies to the gemstone world like me its important.

Gemstones change looks a lot after being set in my limited experence.
Looking at the gemstone sitting on something or in a package will not give an accruate picture of what it will look like set.
Always try and at the min. look at it being held in tweezers and from the top without backlight.
That will give you a much more accurate idea of what the gemstone will look like set.

In my limited experence they tend to look darker when sitting on something even if its white. If its an off color then it can be an even bigger change from what it will look like set.

 

[valeria101]

You are so right! This Q should go to FAQ

Some would look better, some worse and many radically different - diamonds included.

I doubt you ca call this a trick - it's so staightforward, but my solution is to hold the things culet down between two fingers. The respective pret a porter showcase makes a small shaded groove that equals the conditions of a farely closed setting. Just what you need for a reality check, IMO.

The least realistic look one gets is from stones placed against white or light colored backgrounds or, even worse, on a glss countertop lighted from behid. That's noooo...nsese - unless you need to take pictures.

 

[strmrdr]

These stones brought the point home to me.
They are red flash amethyst 5x5mm trilliants from diamondexpert.com

"Color: Dark Slightly Reddish Purple
Weight: 0.752 ct.
Origin: Arizona, USA
Dimensions: 4.96x4.98x3.30mm; 5.02x5.02x3.30mm"

"These stones are from Arizona's historic Four Peaks mine at 7200 ft. in the Mazatzal mountain range.

The yields are low and most material is color zoned. The spectacular red flash effect is characteristic of this location"

When I first got them they were in a clear topped plastic box he ships gemstones in.
I look at them and said yuck they are black then I moved them under some brighter light well atleast they do flash red.
When I got home from work so I could take a closer look at them I first looked from the side and said yuck again.
One is badly color zoned and the cutlet area is clearish making it look like a dublet.
Then I looked at it from the top while in the tweezers wowsers! nice rich plum color with red flashes and not a hint of zoning from the top these found a new home.
If I hadnt taken them out I would have returned them with a note to Gary saying something like why did you send these nasty stones to me.
I was a little confused as to why he even was offering them compared to the other stones Iv bought from him.

The other gemstones I bought looked different in the same boxes but this was the first that went from total yuck to WOW.
The others went from looks real good to WOW or from WOW to WOW.

I glad I trusted Gary that he wouldnt send me crap to take the time to fully check them out :}