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Need Help With Real Tanzanite

R

requiemofdemise

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 11, 2012
Messages
8
Hello,

I am trying to buy my wife a Tanzanite Ring. It is her favorite gemstone. I have read up on charts and what would be real, but I still have a hard time trusting certain places.

These are the current sites I've looked at.

http://www.amazon.com/Tanzanite-Topaz-Plated-Sterling-Silver/dp/B0069VM3TK/ref=sr_1_70?s=jewelry&ie=UTF8&qid=1355267019&sr=1-70&keywords=tanzanite+ring

http://www.sears.com/jewelrydays-ring-with-0.52ctw-precious-stones-genuine-tanzanites/p-SPM7038028513?prdNo=23&blockNo=73&blockType=G73#desc

http://www.amazon.com/Tanzanite-Yellow-Plated-Sterling-Silver/dp/B008RCELRQ/ref=sr_1_146?s=jewelry&ie=UTF8&qid=1355268062&sr=1-146&keywords=tanzanite+ring

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA18G0GY5609

The 'Savings" seem pretty amazing, if they are real.

Does anyone know if these are real Tanzanites or if they are fake?
Any feedback would be great thanks.
 
RoD,
My 5 sec assessment:
1. Those are stock pictures so the ring you'll receive may not look exact.
2. Some are of lower quality (pale and light in saturation)
3. Some have cut issues (bow tie and windowing)

Are they real? Likely to be. Why so inexpensive? It's for the reasons above, including using silver settings instead of gold.

Sorry, but I have to go now.
 
Thank you so much Chrono.
 
Are these options representative of the type of tanzanite your wife has seen and loves, or has she seen the good stuff?
If I may presume to deduce your budget from the selection I can tell you you will not get the good stuff. However, if you are not pressed for time (I fear that with the holodays upon us you may be) you could possibly find a lovely stone from one of the recommended ebay sellers, especially one called Tan, you could end up with a fine, but included stone perhaps to have put in a silver setting by an etsy craftperson and have an impressive tanzanite piece for not too much.
 
If you're looking for a nice but inexpensive tanzanite ring, I'd look on Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/search?q=tanzanite%20ring&order=most_relevant&view_type=gallery&ship_to=US

The reason I'd recommend Etsy is that usually the pictures on the listing are of the actual ring you will receive, rather than stock pictures where your item may not look much like the one in the picture. I've been burned by that before. If you order from some place with just a stock picture, be sure that it has a good return policy and check out the item before giving it so you make sure it meets your expectations.

This is a nice stacking ring from a seller I've bought from several times before:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/104764298/unheated-tanzanite-stacking-ring?ga_search_query=tanzanite

Here's a really pretty one, though a cabochon rather than a faceted stone:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/110488881/tanzanite-ring-lavender-blue-tansanite?ref=v1_other_2

http://www.etsy.com/listing/98896641/tanzanite-ring?ref=sr_gallery_29&ga_search_query=tanzanite+ring&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_max=150&ga_search_type=all

I've also liked the few things I've gotten from ice.com and have found their quality to be reliably okay.
 
Why would they be marked 80-90% off. Are they fake? Are they really 800$+ and they are legitimately on sale?

I went to Etsy and those are beautiful. But Im stuck at price value. Im seeing some that "Were" 400$ or 800$ and is now 50-100$ OR flat out 70-80$ on Etsy. Im so lost. Ive spent hours of research..I just want a real tanzanite.
 
They are drastically marked down now because the original price was grossly inflated and this is the time when people are shopping for Xmas gifts. Nothing grabs a person's attention better than the word "clearance" or "80% sale". $800 for a ring like that is plain highway robbery.

Price value depends on you. I do think they are real tanzanite but the quality is extremely poor and you are likely to get something that does not look as good as pictured (my caution about stock pictures).
 
Hello Chrono and thank you.

Would you be able to check these out for me?

http://shadora.com/products/sterling-silver-2-carat-tw-tanzanite-and-1-slash-7-carat-tw-diamond-ring#

http://www.etsy.com/listing/117745940/the-ring-gem-stone-silver-925-sterling?ref=sr_gallery_27&ga_search_query=tanzanite&ga_order=price_asc&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_min=50&ga_max=100&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_includes%5B0%5D=materials&ga_page=3

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ladies-Solid-Sterling-Silver-Natural-Tanzanite-English-Victorian-Trilogy-Ring-/160938696317?pt=US_Fine_Rings&hash=item2578b19e7d

and

http://www.etsy.com/listing/104764298/unheated-tanzanite-stacking-ring?ga_search_query=tanzanite

Im sorry to ask of so much. It's been a tough year for my wife and I , I only have up to 100$ to spend on this, and I want to make the best impression I can.

(its her birthstone too)
 
Not a problem; just glad to be able to help.

Option 1: Stock picture. I doubt the stones, accent diamonds or workmanship will look this nice IRL.
Option 2: Not familiar with this Etsy vendor but I am just a tad doubtful. Tanzanite is usually heated and never diffused so I don't know why the seller listed this as unheated. I would bet that it is heated but that's not a big point. Some inclusions across the crown, which I don't know if it will be noticeable in person. The dark background also plays up the colour. Perhaps those with more familiarity with this Etsy vendor will chime in.
Option 3: Not recommended at all. Very pale and not generally recognizable as tanzanite (very low quality)
Option 4: Not the nicest tanzanite around BUT considering the budget, this is my pick out of the 4 options presented.

Must it be a ring?
 
I'd like it to be a ring. I know I wont be able to afford a mid-grade or higher.
Im currently now on thinking of trying to just buy a stone...ah I have no idea what I'm doing.

She's always been a fan of Tanzanite. She's a big spiritual person also, and always wanted one. It's probably one of the most important things I can give to her (material wise).
 
Another advantage of the Etsy stacker tanzanite is that it protects the stone best. Tanzanite is a gem type that is more prone to chipping so while the crown is exposed, at least the girdle is covered, especially for a ring. To get the stone separately, you'll have to factor in your own setting plus the setting fee. Not only that, should something happen to the stone during the setting process, you are on your own (jeweller bears no responsibility).
 
I am currently on AfricanGems.com and AGLGems.com, looking at loose gemstones (Tanzanite).
The gemstones themselves seem a great price (For less than 100$) but yea I can see it costing alot in the long run.


AAA Tanzanite Oval Cut 5.00 x 3.00mm Grade AAA 0.25 $ 42
 
There is no standardized grading of A, AA, AAA so it is up to the individual vendor to set their criteria which no one but they themselves know what it means.
 
She does collect gemstones, how about if I bought a piece of raw Tanzanite?
 
You can also get uncut tanzanite set in jewelry - the Etsy vendor Jim Colony has some nice pieces (I just didn't link to them because I didn't know if they were something you'd like). I've bought from him before and been very pleased. He MAY be able to rush a custom order for you if there's not something you want on his shop. Yvonne Raley (of Cecile Raley Designs) may be able to do that as well.
 
If you can afford a bit more for a loose Tanzanite, maybe take a look at GemRite - John has a beautifully cut untreated Tanzanite on sale for $135 - http://www.gemrite.com/products/tanzanite-1-12-cts. Another option is at PrecisionGem - Gene has a very cool looking shield-shape unheated Tanzanite on sale for $150 - (see Gem 1302 at bottom of page http://precisiongem.com/Gemstones/rapidcart/Tanzanite.html). Both of these vendors are extremely reputable and have reasonable return policies (GemRite has 14-day return policy, and PrecisionGem has 7-day return policy).

Then maybe for Valentine's Day or your wife's birthday in 2013, you could have the Tanzanite put into a ring setting - maybe a simple sterling silver ring created by reputable etsy vendor Daniel M Jewelry - http://www.etsy.com/listing/68547159/rainbow-bezel-rings - or something more elaborate pending on your budget.

One other option is to contact Daniel M Jewelry and check with Dan & Caren as to whether they might be able to find you a nicely-colored Tanzanite - maybe a 5mm round which should be affordable - and put it into a silver bezel ring made in your wife's finger size... depending on whether they can find a suitable Tanzanite, this might be feasible if you contact them right away and let them know your budget and that it is for Christmas.
 
Go to facebook and find a guy under the name Sci Ence (two words "Sci" then "Ence")
He has some good well priced crystals if you want to go that route.
 
Hi RoD,
It's really sweet of you to be getting her a tanzanite ring if she loves it and it's her birthstone. I got a nice 1/2 ct round one on ebay a few years ago for under $50. It wasn't very dark, but really had that violet blue colour that can only be one thing. I'm sorry, I know that's not much help, but there are some good deals out there. Let me echo everyone else though - make sure you buy from somewhere with a good return policy.
 
I second the suggestion to contact Caren and Dan of DanielM jewelry on etsy. Here is their site:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/danielmjewelry

I say this because I have worked with them on three projects and have always been pleased with the value they offer, the communication, and the turnaround time. They do a lot of work with silver, and they are very open to working with lower budgets. If you look at the things they stock in their online store, you'll see that it's not fancy, expensive stuff. I don't know if it would be possible for them to make you a tanzanite ring for $100 or less, BUT it never hurts to ask!! The benefit to using them is being able to trust them. IF they can do it, you'll get a well-made piece with a pretty stone for a good price. They wouldn't use a bad stone - it won't be the absolute best tanzanite color, but it'll be pretty, and likely far better than the stones in many of the other options you've posted. Instead, they'd tell you it just couldn't be done with them, for that budget. So: ask! :)
 
Third recommendation for DanielM's Caren and Dan - they're very happy to work with lower budgets and have excellent customer service and communication. Have never received a piece I didn't like from them...
 
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