new to colored gemstones... pink tourmaline questions

[missy]

Hi, I am considering a pink tourmaline gemstone for a diamond halo pendant. Is this a good gemstone to be put into a pendant?
I like a lot of different pink colors but am thinking of a fairly bright pink to go with my pale skin.

This would be my first PS planned gemstone project so I would like to make sure I am not making any major mistakes. I have contacted one of the PS gem experts and also contacted 2 vendors for quotes for halo settings and would appreciate opinions on using pink tourmaline as the gemstone and if the halo setting would look good with it. Size I am considering right now is 8.5 mm cushion.

Thanks!!

 

[chrono]

Tourmaline is an excellent choice, particularly a bright pink that will stand out from afar. I don't know who else you contacted but Bob Kast is the go to lapidary for pink tourmalines. He seems to be able to get the very neon ones although 8.5 is fairly large. I've also seen Gene Flanigan cut some large pink tourmalines of around that size not too long ago so he may have some rough left.

 

[missy]

Thank you Chrono- I was speaking with Barry of ACS.
I'm excited for this project and am open to different shapes. I just want something that is lively and as you say stands out. I am also flexible on the size. I was just considering a stone Barry has that is 8.5 mm.

 

[LD]

I have an issue with pink tourmaline. I'm speaking very generally now but the majority of it on the market has a tendancy to go quite brown in incandescent lighting. I really really really don't like it and so avoid pink tourmaline almost always.

Now then, having said that, Barry is a fabulous vendor and will be honest with you so I would definitely ask the question and then take it from there!

 

[minousbijoux]

Mwah hah hah, we've wooed you over to the dark side, huh Missy? So great to see you getting into CS. While I agree with LD about the browning out, I still love them, and have had two that don't brown out - one from Barry (now sold) and a pair of rubellites I bought from Bob Kast that were the most saturated color and gorgeous.

I think it sounds like a great project and its easy enough to ask whether it holds its color in various lighting. If I were making a pendant, I would want a stone from Barry or Gene (disclosure: am not familiar with Dan Stair's cutting, but many highly recommend him), as they have the best luster and prettiest colors I've seen.

 

[minousbijoux]

Is this like the color you seek? Chrono made such an amazing ring with this combination:

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/what-is-old-is-made-new-pink-tournaline-in-art-deco-setting.182487/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/what-is-old-is-made-new-pink-tournaline-in-art-deco-setting.182487/[/URL]

 

[chrono]

My pink tourmaline and rubellite are from Bob Kast. The first one he sent me had gorgeous outdoor colour but became too orange and muddy indoors. After talking to him about this, he cut me another one that did not shift and one that became redder indoors. Do ask the lapidary that you work with if you don't want this shift.

 

[missy]

I have an issue with pink tourmaline. I'm speaking very generally now but the majority of it on the market has a tendancy to go quite brown in incandescent lighting. I really really really don't like it and so avoid pink tourmaline almost always.

Now then, having said that, Barry is a fabulous vendor and will be honest with you so I would definitely ask the question and then take it from there!

Thank you for chiming in LD. I was not aware of this possibility and am so glad you brought it up. I will definitely ask Barry about it. You are so right-Barry is amazing. He is lovely- and so honest. I totally trust him because he is such a good guy. I would love to buy a gem from him.

LD- just curious-what would gemstone you recommend for a nice rich pink color (instead of tourmaline)?

Mwah hah hah, we've wooed you over to the dark side, huh Missy? So great to see you getting into CS. While I agree with LD about the browning out, I still love them, and have had two that don't brown out - one from Barry (now sold) and a pair of rubellites I bought from Bob Kast that were the most saturated color and gorgeous.

I think it sounds like a great project and its easy enough to ask whether it holds its color in various lighting. If I were making a pendant, I would want a stone from Barry or Gene (disclosure: am not familiar with Dan Stair's cutting, but many highly recommend him), as they have the best luster and prettiest colors I've seen.

Thank you for this minous. I will definitely ask about different lighting situations. Barry mentioned that it looks very rich in both incandescent and natural lighting so that's good. Not sure if there are other lighting situations I need to be aware of. It's hard because I am so "green" (haha) when it comes to colored gemstones and even though I have been reading this section (huge thank you to all the amazing PS colored gemstone connoisseurs!!!) I still have so much to learn! I am wondering if I shouldn't put this purchase on hold till I absorb more knowledge.

Thanks again Chrono- I will make sure to ask about this before I purchase.

What to do, what to do...

Anyone have a favorite gemstone setter? I read through all the recommendations in this section- such a great pinned thread LD-huge thank you again for that! I have reached out to 2 and still waiting on quotes. Another complication is that the jewelers who do the setting won't take responsibility if the stone is damaged since it's not their stone and I do understand that- but it adds another unknown and difficulty factor. I wish the gemstone experts also did settings. It would be so great if they did but I guess they want to spend their time (and rightfully so) doing what they do best- cutting amazing gems.

 

[chrono]

You are in good hands with Barry. He is honest about the pros and cons of the stones he sells and as an added bonus, he also sets stones in simple prong settings.