My first gems--trail and error

[Picabia]

So I finally received a few gemstones purchased on ebay. I know they leave a lot to be desired, but I'm having fun putting together a little collection!

I'm not quite sure how to photograph them yet, so the colors in these images don't really reflect how they look in real life (for reference, the wood they're resting on is more brown than gray). The last picture is the closest I suppose, but it's still washed out.

The two green stones are demantoid garnets (1.10 and .99 cts). The 1.10 is very included and has a greenish brown color, but the slightly smaller one is a bright green bordering on emerald mintiness with no visible inclusions. I'm actually worried that one is fake since it was so cheap, though it has a really big table I guess.

The brown one is a 1.6+ mali garnet. I know brown is considered super undesirable, but we love it. In real life it looks like cognac and I'm actually tempted to set it.

Just wanted to share. If anyone has any pointers for me (or any reservations about the stones) I'm all ears (err, eyes I guess, since this is the internet).

 

[T L]

You are correct that they are not the most desirable colors. Many people would consider those "learner" stones for a novice gem collector. They're still better than my learning stones which looked like Ivanka Trump's black "spinal" ring (see thread on this page). The most important thing IMO to collecting colored gems is to understand how color, hue and saturation works, and what makes one color more desirable than another. The second most important thing, which I actually think is just as important to any serious collector, is to understand all the treatments out there on the different gem species. From there you can learn about cutting, clarity, etc. . .

Once you learn about color, you have to like the most desirable colors, but knowing these things does help in making decisions about gemstone purchases. Good luck on your future purchases, and continue to learn and grow!!

 

[Picabia]

Thanks T-Lover. I'll keep reading/learning. I'm starting with garnets because I understand that they aren't usually treated, correct?

As far as color goes, is the biggest problem with the one on the right that it appears washed out? Because it's much more green in person. Or do you think the table is unacceptable?
Thanks!

 

[T L]

Thanks T-Lover. I'll keep reading/learning. I'm starting with garnets because I understand that they aren't usually treated, correct?

As far as color goes, is the biggest problem with the one on the right that it appears washed out? Because it's much more green in person. Or do you think the table is unacceptable?
Thanks!

I can tell you that for me, and other people, green is one of the toughest colors to photograph properly. If it appears more washed out in the photo, it could be the fact that your camera just has certain limitations, like mine does. The cutting on the stones is not very good, but for me, color is more important than cutting. Other people find they cannot live without a finely cut stone or a well done precision cut, no matter the color. You have to find what's important to you, but in the gem trade, color is primarily the number one determination of value.

True, garnets, as far as I know, are not treated, except demantoids, which are sometimes heated. Heating typically removes a modifier (unwanted grey or brown color in a gem) so I can accept that kind of treatment than one than radically alters the gem like irradiation, invasive filling, coating or heating with diffusion treatment.

 

[Barrett]

will never learn unless you jump in feet first so congrats on the new/learner stones..it's probably good that folks first stones are less desirable colors or poorly cut or what have you..helps you see both sides of the coin..not bad for your first or some of your first stones..most folks would be buying sapphires or one of the big 3/4..make sure you buy from reputable vendors on ebay..nothing worse than not knowing or finding out later on one of the stones you bought was fake/glass/synthetic..try ole gemburionline or odysseygem he sells stones under auction that you can win from $9 up to $50+ which are easily affordable plus what you win is what you will get