no Barry stone but bought an ebay cheapie!

[katiedid]

I didn''t make it in time to Barry''s new stones, but I won an ebay auction for a pink tourmaline last night. I''m not expecting much - it was VERY inexpensive. It says it''s 1.75 ct, 7.8 mm, it''s pink and clean. It''s coming from Thailand so it''ll take a while to get to me. Here''s a photos!

 

[cellentani]

Yea for a cheap stone! I''ve been really tempted to try some of those eBay stones. The color is very pretty - can''t wait to see it when you get it.

 

[katiedid]

thanks cellentani! Like I said, if it''s even decent, I''ll be surprised! I thought the color was pretty. And if it looks ok, I''ll have it set in a sterling stacking ring which will also be very inexpensive.

 

[katiedid]

Here''s a bottos up shot.

 

[katiedid]

I cannot spell this morning! Need more coffee!!

 

[cellentani]

Hey katiedid, I know what you mean about the coffee - mine''s sitting right here beside me. Of course, that didn''t keep me from putting both contacts in one eye this morning! About your stone, are you thinking of an etsy vendor for the setting? I know they''ve been popular lately.

 

[T L]

Hi Katiedid!
I should warn you about pink tourmaline on ebay. A lot of it is heated than nuked to turn it pink. I don''t know if this one is, but you have to be careful, especially of Thai dealers who sell tons of nuked pink tourmaline. If you want a good ebay dealer that sells stones on parr with Dan Stair, but for cheaper, go to ebay seller vallejo916. His pictures stink, but whatever he has is natural in color and he facets it himself, and he cuts just as good as Dan IMHO.

 

[katiedid]

Thanks TL, based on what you said, I''m pretty sure this is one that''s been nuked. Oh well... I looked at vallejo''s too - very nice!

 

[cellentani]

Going to get more coffee, then straight to eBay...

 

[T L]

I won this 1.2 ct spinel on ebay for $9.99 - so I am in the same boat as you. I'm saving for a setting for my cuprian, so no gemstones from Barry at the moment. Here's my little fun purchase. Even if it turns out to be a dud, at least it was cheap!!

 

[katiedid]

That''s pretty! My nuked pink tourmaline was $16.90.

 

[T L]

Are you looking for a nice soft pink tourmaline?

 

[katiedid]

I don''t really know what I''m looking for! I just saw it and it was cheap and looked pretty. I really want one of Dan''s chunky cut violetish blueish stones. But as you know, he''s more expensive... By the way, how do you find sellers on ebay? I tried to find vallejo916...

 

[marcy]

Very pretty.

 

[T L]

Ebay isn''t the most intuitive site, but click on the teeny tiny unnoticable "Advanced Search" button at the top right hand of the home page. Someone needs to make that button more visible! That helps you search for stores, members and other things.

Here''s his current listings

http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/vallejo916_W0QQ_dmdZ1

His pictures are just awful, so if you''re curious about what a stone looks like, just email him via ebay. I like that his stuff isn''t treated and it''s custom faceted.

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 5/2/2009 10:04:26 AM
Author: tourmaline_lover
Ebay isn''t the most intuitive site, but click on the teeny tiny unnoticable ''Advanced Search'' button at the top right hand of the home page. Someone needs to make that button more visible! That helps you search for stores, members and other things.

Here''s his current listings

http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/vallejo916_W0QQ_dmdZ1

His pictures are just awful, so if you''re curious about what a stone looks like, just email him via ebay. I like that his stuff isn''t treated and it''s custom faceted.

ha ha, I was just looking at his stuff and started a thread TL - must''ve bumped brains

come give me your thoughts in the thread!

 

[Lady_Disdain]

For cheap stones on ebay, I usually go with TipTop gems. David is straightfoward about treatments, synthetics and fakes. I got some nice cheapies from him, although some stones are rather dark.

If you need something more specific, e-mail him.

 

[chrono]

Even if it turns out to be a dud, $17 isn''t too bad.

 

[katiedid]

That''s what I figure! If it''s ugly, I''ll just toss it in my jewelry box and not bother to set it.

 

[T L]

Date: 5/3/2009 8:46:21 AM
Author: katiedid
That''s what I figure! If it''s ugly, I''ll just toss it in my jewelry box and not bother to set it.

I sometimes buy a cheap stone first to feel out an ebay seller to see accuracy of color vs picture, and cutting, etc. . . It''s funny because the S&H on my spinel was more than the spinel itself!!

 

[katiedid]

Yep, the S&H was $10 on a stone that was only $16.90!