Need a Minty Fresh Taste Today?

[chrono]

I couldn't resist a quick walk outdoors with the sun coming out and a light refreshing breeze blowing. Hmmm....let's see what's poking me in my pockets. What do you know? It's my new mint garnet with a handy iPhone close by.

Stats you say?
2.76 carats, 10.9 x 7.2 mm

It's not a perfect stone because it has a minor cut issue but considering the size, colour, clarity and price, I cannot complain. It can be recut with a 0.2 to 0.3 ct loss to close the small window but since the window is not obvious on the hand, I'm willing to accept it as it is. It sparkles beautifully outdoors as expected. What I did NOT expect was rainbow fireworks showing yellow, blue, green and even pink. I suppose the lighter tone allows this to be observed more easily than my tsavorite. So far, I have been unable to capture this fireworks on my phone but I will persist.

And now, the tell part will be followed by the show.

 

[chrono]

The following pictures show how it compares to my medium light to medium toned tsavorite. The vendor is honest enough to sell this at a mint garnet pricing. Both are actually quite close in carat weight and measurement. The tsavorite is 2.15 ct and measures 7 x 7 mm.

 

[JewelFreak]

Chrono, what a beautiful pair of sisters! They sure brightened up my day.

--- Laurie

 

[chrono]

Please excuse all the crap on the garnets. I must have oily fingers today from my sunscreen. Here's the green garnets side by side in my office.

 

[iLander]

Lovely colors!

 

[jbkhere]

OMG I love LOVE them both. But you know I'm partial to pears! Beautiful colors on you! Congrats!!!

 

[ChrisA222]

Chrono...you KNOW what I am going to say....

Love the color though!! But c'mon!!! Its killing me...KILLING ME!!!

 

[Enerchi]

Beautiful!! Do you seriously leave that gorgeous baby unattended in your pockets??? and forget about it??? Wow - you are an adventurous soul!!!

I love the tsav --- what are its future plans? Happy to keep it safe on my finger, if you are looking for help...

 

[erinl]

Where did you find this beautiful stone?

 

[soberguy]

Yummy!

 

[NKOTB]

WOW, what a colour!!!

 

[chrono]

Chrono...you KNOW what I am going to say....

Love the color though!! But c'mon!!! Its killing me...KILLING ME!!!

Chris,
This is just for you. Take a deep breath and try not to pass out. Believe it or not, that's the front view, not the back. And before you ask, no, it's not mine.

 

[chrono]

Thank you to all the ladies and gents who commented on my new garnet. I am concerned about recutting for several reasons.

1. What if the saturation is decreased?
2. Face up size stays the same but the stone will drop under the 2.5 carat mark which I'm concerned might affect its value in addition to the potential loss in saturation.

Cost is not an issue because the vendor will touch it up at no cost to me. Also, with the window not being obvious plus seems to disappear on the hand, I think it might be best to leave it alone. Opinions? Dish it out! I can handle it.

 

[OTL]

Chrono, that's very attractive. Love the cushion more. I'm starting to appreciate cushion...mind if share the vendor?

Chris, come on, I'm still thinking about stealing the TGT mint tourmaline you have. Mind if share the photo?

Very freshing in the morning seeing this "minty" thread

 

[kenny]

Delicious!
I love green gems.

 

[chrono]

Beautiful!! Do you seriously leave that gorgeous baby unattended in your pockets??? and forget about it??? Wow - you are an adventurous soul!!!

I love the tsav --- what are its future plans? Happy to keep it safe on my finger, if you are looking for help...

Enerchi,
I'd almost forgotten to answer your question as I had a business lunch to attend. I did have the garnets in my pocket but they were safely nestled in the gem case. I would never risk loose gems in my pocket. It was just a teaser since Gene and another lapidary talked about carrying their rough around in their pockets, thinking and waiting for some sort of inspiration to strike in another thread. Not only that, there's no way I can ever forget I'm carrying something worth thousands of dollars in my pocket! I am not THAT adventurous.

 

[chrono]

The cushion is from Swala which was purchased a few years ago. The pear is from Jaimeen of Prima Gems. I'm very surprised to note how high grossularite garnet pricing has increased! Although I spied a pretty mint garnet pear on his website, a hand shot showed a pale sickly looking garnet which was disappointing. After going back and forth several times with questions and emailing him a picture of my expectation, he came up with 2 potential picks. He was honest enough to keep pricing on this one unchanged as it was old stock. He has another pretty oval of similar carat weight priced $1000 more because he bought it recently at current prices. When I get back to the office, I'll post the vendor's pictures which are clearer and more colour accurate.

 

[VAgemguy]

I thought that merelani was from Prima! I have been coveting one of his mint garnets also for a while now. He has some really nice material. Maybe at the next Intergem...

 

[chrono]

Whatever you decide on, don't wait too long to buy a mint garnet. Pricing is ridiculously high to the point I may not purchase another one in the future.

 

[minousbijoux]

Chrono: your pics are SO much nicer than Prima's! Congratulations on what looks to be a well saturated, bluish green garnet! Excellent and its so nice to see what you're up to

 

[VAgemguy]

Whatever you decide on, don't wait too long to buy a mint garnet. Pricing is ridiculously high to the point I may not purchase another one in the future.

The ones I've been considering have been in the $600-700 per carat range, which isn't bad for the good stuff. Vance has some nice ones too.

 

[VapidLapid]

It is a lovely stone. I would go for the recut though. The piece doesn't look zoned or uneven in color density so I wouldnt think the color would change, unlike one of those sapphires where taking .02 off the pavillion can remove the only spot of color.

 

[chrono]

MB,
I wish I can take very clear and crisp pictures like Jaimeen and just about every other PSer. Sadly, you cannot make out the facet pattern in any of my pictures.

VAGem,
Pricing like that to me is pretty scary. That's about the price I paid for my tsavorite so to fork out just as much or more for a lighter toned gossular garnet is a bit difficult to swallow.

VL,
I am not a perfectionist cut type of person so since the window disappears on my hand, I'm fine with that. As you can see, it's not easy to spot the window in my pictures but if you know what to look for, you'll see it easily. I'm happy enough with a good non-precision cut if the colour is great, price just right and the issues not too shabby.

 

[VAgemguy]

VAGem,
Pricing like that to me is pretty scary. That's about the price I paid for my tsavorite so to fork out just as much or more for a lighter toned gossular garnet is a bit difficult to swallow.

Agreed. To be fair though, the one I'm considering is 3+ carats, and top color (for a merelani), so I think the price is driven by those factors. What approx. price p/c was yours (if you are comfortable sharing)?

 

[chrono]

I'm not sure if I should share pricing since it's very low. Let's just say it's below $600/ct.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I only have a modest 6mmish mint garnet round from Barry and an asscher leuco grossular from torraca that's I think around the 1.5ct mark. But the current prices scare me from buying bigger or more.

 

[LD]

WOW. Absolutely gorgeous. Love the colour and with a good setting the window will minimise. I adore pears and this would look sensational with two small white pear accents!!!

 

[Justin_Cutter]

Yay something minty green!!! Chrono, do you plan to set this? The window doesn't seem bad at all in your hand.

~Justin

 

[ChrisA222]

Chrono---you are killing me...I am really trying to hold it in....

OTL--the stone hasn't left the gem jar...I wont ever set it. It was a good buy though...so I wouldn't want to sell it, and I'd feel bad selling it at a profit..

So OTL, how about a trade of some kind? ALways like to trade. Its easy to get a hold of me, **edited by moderator. please do not violate our policies by posting personal contact information**

 

[txgreeneyes]

Wow! Very nice!!

Love garnets! Before PS, I never knew there were garnets of other colors beside red. These two are gorgeous!