Largosmom
Brilliant_Rock
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Paraiba Tourmaline Q
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rosetta
Ideal_Rock
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No-o, I won''t see a difference. The only way I can see a difference in your photo is because you mentioned Paraiba being windowed.Date: 2/2/2010 6:20:28 AM
Author: LovingDiamonds
You guys really make me giggle!
It''s NOT an investment - trust me! Yes, I could sell this particular one for probably 10 times the purchase price (which was very low) - on the right day to the right buyer BUT if the market were to be flooded with neon, clean Paraiba Tourmalines tomorrow, or another find with exceptionally wonderful gemstones came on the market, it wouldn''t be an investment as I would probably only recoup what I''d paid (perhaps more). The market is sooooooo fickle and moves up and down constantly. I never ever buy for investment. I buy for the love of the gemstone.Date: 2/1/2010 7:46:59 PM
Author: crasru
Date: 2/1/2010 2:59:42 PM
Author: LovingDiamonds
No you''re thinking of my certified 18.34ct pendant - which also needs a recut and also has a wndow!This one?
18.35? I think I read yesterday that gems are not an investment? Even with a window, it is a straight candidate for Sotheby''s. Or, if Sotheby''s reject it for some reason, Christie would grab this.
By the way, in answer to your question about whether to buy off Ebay? I doubt very very much whether you''ll find a true neon PT on there. You''ll find nicely coloured (occasionally well saturated) Curprite Tourmalines but whether any of them would achieve the Paraiba title is debatable. Everybody thinks they have a PT and that it ''glows'' and is ''neon'' and I''ve seen many people who have such specimens but then when you show them a real PT they say ''oh, ok I can see the difference!'' To give you some perspective, I''ve probably seen over 1,000 ''paraiba'' tourmalines and kept only a handful!
This is how people get fooled also. On the left is an Apatite, on the right, a Paraiba Tourmaline. You''re seeing them side by side but imagine you hadn''t seen one before, or had only seen a handful - would you honestly know the difference if the Apatite was delivered to you? This is actually quite a dark Apatite but they come much lighter so you can see how they can be passed off as Tourmaline.
LD, forgive me if I am constantly challenging you with this question, and I do see the market going up and down, but look at Hematita alexes! There are probably nicer Indian ones around, and they are cheaper, but I disagree with R. Wise''s saying that "gems have no pedigree" because the price for Brazilian alexes is much higher! It is sort of a "gold standard". Same with Paraibas - and even if yours did not have such a beautiful color, it would still be a rarity just by virtue of being huge! Same with Kashmir or Burmese sapphires. I have seen only two Kashmirs in my life, and both of them instantly caught my attention - both were beautiful although one of them was heated. Burmese, however, were very different, and I have seen some coming from Sri Lanka looking better than Burmese! And yet Kashmir and Burmese ones command a premium. Same with Paraibas - the ones from original mine will cost more just because now they are such a rarity.
This being said, I am not going to diversify my portfolio with gems. I am buying some, just for fun, and never compete with anyone because do not have spare time to learn. I haven''t yet bought a decent diamond although I have been offered many just because I feel I can not do it without serious education. Probably should visit diamond PS as well. I am now in the process of reading Matlin''s book on diamonds. But unless you saw a 100 diamonds, at least, you still know nothing.
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I''m really sorry to keep disagreeing with you and I hope you don''t think it''s personal but I have to agree with Richard Wise. The value of an Alex is predominately in its colour change, size, clarity and then cut. Unless it''s Russian (and can be proved to be so) there is very little premium applied for locality. The "gold standard" is NOT Brazilian, it''s Russian. If Russian and it has all the other qualities of an "investment" piece of Alexandrite, then a premium will be included for locality. However, a poor Russian stone is a poor Russian stone and an Indian or Brazilian one may well be worth more!Date: 2/2/2010 11:32:27 AM
Author: crasru
No-o, I won''t see a difference. The only way I can see a difference in your photo is because you mentioned Paraiba being windowed.Date: 2/2/2010 6:20:28 AM
Author: LovingDiamonds
You guys really make me giggle!
It''s NOT an investment - trust me! Yes, I could sell this particular one for probably 10 times the purchase price (which was very low) - on the right day to the right buyer BUT if the market were to be flooded with neon, clean Paraiba Tourmalines tomorrow, or another find with exceptionally wonderful gemstones came on the market, it wouldn''t be an investment as I would probably only recoup what I''d paid (perhaps more). The market is sooooooo fickle and moves up and down constantly. I never ever buy for investment. I buy for the love of the gemstone.Date: 2/1/2010 7:46:59 PM
Author: crasru
Date: 2/1/2010 2:59:42 PM
Author: LovingDiamonds
No you''re thinking of my certified 18.34ct pendant - which also needs a recut and also has a wndow!This one?
18.35? I think I read yesterday that gems are not an investment? Even with a window, it is a straight candidate for Sotheby''s. Or, if Sotheby''s reject it for some reason, Christie would grab this.
By the way, in answer to your question about whether to buy off Ebay? I doubt very very much whether you''ll find a true neon PT on there. You''ll find nicely coloured (occasionally well saturated) Curprite Tourmalines but whether any of them would achieve the Paraiba title is debatable. Everybody thinks they have a PT and that it ''glows'' and is ''neon'' and I''ve seen many people who have such specimens but then when you show them a real PT they say ''oh, ok I can see the difference!'' To give you some perspective, I''ve probably seen over 1,000 ''paraiba'' tourmalines and kept only a handful!
This is how people get fooled also. On the left is an Apatite, on the right, a Paraiba Tourmaline. You''re seeing them side by side but imagine you hadn''t seen one before, or had only seen a handful - would you honestly know the difference if the Apatite was delivered to you? This is actually quite a dark Apatite but they come much lighter so you can see how they can be passed off as Tourmaline.
LD, forgive me if I am constantly challenging you with this question, and I do see the market going up and down, but look at Hematita alexes! There are probably nicer Indian ones around, and they are cheaper, but I disagree with R. Wise''s saying that ''gems have no pedigree'' because the price for Brazilian alexes is much higher! It is sort of a ''gold standard''. Same with Paraibas - and even if yours did not have such a beautiful color, it would still be a rarity just by virtue of being huge! Same with Kashmir or Burmese sapphires. I have seen only two Kashmirs in my life, and both of them instantly caught my attention - both were beautiful although one of them was heated. Burmese, however, were very different, and I have seen some coming from Sri Lanka looking better than Burmese! And yet Kashmir and Burmese ones command a premium. Same with Paraibas - the ones from original mine will cost more just because now they are such a rarity.
This being said, I am not going to diversify my portfolio with gems. I am buying some, just for fun, and never compete with anyone because do not have spare time to learn. I haven''t yet bought a decent diamond although I have been offered many just because I feel I can not do it without serious education. Probably should visit diamond PS as well. I am now in the process of reading Matlin''s book on diamonds. But unless you saw a 100 diamonds, at least, you still know nothing.
There are good and bad gemstones from every locality. It is false to say that the same gemstone family from X will outstrip the same from Y. Gemstones should be valued on their individual beauty.
In the same way, there are some bleurgh stones from the original Paraiba Tourmaline Brazilian find that won''t attract as much attention as an outstanding piece from Mozambique (assuming you are in the camp that believes that the chemical composition of the gemstone entitles it to be called a Paraiba Tourmaline).
Diamonds actually are far easier to buy! There is an international grading system, people understand cut, colour, clarity far better and there is much less open to interpretation! Coloured gemstones are far more challenging because there are many more variables.
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Oh, nothing is personal at all. Re. the Mozambique camp - I have read both opinions and don''t know which side to take. I presume if I saw a Brazilian paraiba and a paraiba from Mozambique side-by-side (both certified), I''d choose a better-looking one, all other things being equal. Since there is so much controversy about Paraibas and their color as well, I think TL and someone else (Jeff?) posted a link to an article here, so I shall just keep on reading. Re. diamonds, I have been offered so many "below the marked price", I do not know what to make of it.Date: 2/2/2010 11:45:17 AM
Author: LovingDiamonds
I''m really sorry to keep disagreeing with you and I hope you don''t think it''s personal but I have to agree with Richard Wise. The value of an Alex is predominately in its colour change, size, clarity and then cut. Unless it''s Russian (and can be proved to be so) there is very little premium applied for locality. The ''gold standard'' is NOT Brazilian, it''s Russian. If Russian and it has all the other qualities of an ''investment'' piece of Alexandrite, then a premium will be included for locality. However, a poor Russian stone is a poor Russian stone and an Indian or Brazilian one may well be worth more!Date: 2/2/2010 11:32:27 AM
Author: crasru
No-o, I won''t see a difference. The only way I can see a difference in your photo is because you mentioned Paraiba being windowed.Date: 2/2/2010 6:20:28 AM
Author: LovingDiamonds
You guys really make me giggle!
It''s NOT an investment - trust me! Yes, I could sell this particular one for probably 10 times the purchase price (which was very low) - on the right day to the right buyer BUT if the market were to be flooded with neon, clean Paraiba Tourmalines tomorrow, or another find with exceptionally wonderful gemstones came on the market, it wouldn''t be an investment as I would probably only recoup what I''d paid (perhaps more). The market is sooooooo fickle and moves up and down constantly. I never ever buy for investment. I buy for the love of the gemstone.Date: 2/1/2010 7:46:59 PM
Author: crasru
Date: 2/1/2010 2:59:42 PM
Author: LovingDiamonds
No you''re thinking of my certified 18.34ct pendant - which also needs a recut and also has a wndow!This one?
18.35? I think I read yesterday that gems are not an investment? Even with a window, it is a straight candidate for Sotheby''s. Or, if Sotheby''s reject it for some reason, Christie would grab this.
By the way, in answer to your question about whether to buy off Ebay? I doubt very very much whether you''ll find a true neon PT on there. You''ll find nicely coloured (occasionally well saturated) Curprite Tourmalines but whether any of them would achieve the Paraiba title is debatable. Everybody thinks they have a PT and that it ''glows'' and is ''neon'' and I''ve seen many people who have such specimens but then when you show them a real PT they say ''oh, ok I can see the difference!'' To give you some perspective, I''ve probably seen over 1,000 ''paraiba'' tourmalines and kept only a handful!
This is how people get fooled also. On the left is an Apatite, on the right, a Paraiba Tourmaline. You''re seeing them side by side but imagine you hadn''t seen one before, or had only seen a handful - would you honestly know the difference if the Apatite was delivered to you? This is actually quite a dark Apatite but they come much lighter so you can see how they can be passed off as Tourmaline.
LD, forgive me if I am constantly challenging you with this question, and I do see the market going up and down, but look at Hematita alexes! There are probably nicer Indian ones around, and they are cheaper, but I disagree with R. Wise''s saying that ''gems have no pedigree'' because the price for Brazilian alexes is much higher! It is sort of a ''gold standard''. Same with Paraibas - and even if yours did not have such a beautiful color, it would still be a rarity just by virtue of being huge! Same with Kashmir or Burmese sapphires. I have seen only two Kashmirs in my life, and both of them instantly caught my attention - both were beautiful although one of them was heated. Burmese, however, were very different, and I have seen some coming from Sri Lanka looking better than Burmese! And yet Kashmir and Burmese ones command a premium. Same with Paraibas - the ones from original mine will cost more just because now they are such a rarity.
This being said, I am not going to diversify my portfolio with gems. I am buying some, just for fun, and never compete with anyone because do not have spare time to learn. I haven''t yet bought a decent diamond although I have been offered many just because I feel I can not do it without serious education. Probably should visit diamond PS as well. I am now in the process of reading Matlin''s book on diamonds. But unless you saw a 100 diamonds, at least, you still know nothing.
There are good and bad gemstones from every locality. It is false to say that the same gemstone family from X will outstrip the same from Y. Gemstones should be valued on their individual beauty.
In the same way, there are some bleurgh stones from the original Paraiba Tourmaline Brazilian find that won''t attract as much attention as an outstanding piece from Mozambique (assuming you are in the camp that believes that the chemical composition of the gemstone entitles it to be called a Paraiba Tourmaline).
Diamonds actually are far easier to buy! There is an international grading system, people understand cut, colour, clarity far better and there is much less open to interpretation! Coloured gemstones are far more challenging because there are many more variables.
ok, my stone from ebay came. it''s pretty.
I took it to a jeweler down here but he didn''t have his refraction machine, so he only looked under the mag. and said he thought MAYBE he saw flux.
I then took it to another jeweler and she did have the refraction machine, i asked if she could look at it and she said "i suppose i could" and took it to the back, came out shortly thereafter and said that it was indeed paraiba tourmaline. she did mention that she didn''t do a whole lot of tests, just a quick look in the refractor machine. honestly, i''m not sure what she did, so i think i''ll have a 3rd opinion this weekend.
it is 1.14 carats and i paid $280, which, in retrospect, was way too much i think. especially after seeing rockhuggers loot and the prices from his vendor (which was where i had previously been looking at for a stone)
oh well. i''ll post some pics tonight of it.
I took it to a jeweler down here but he didn''t have his refraction machine, so he only looked under the mag. and said he thought MAYBE he saw flux.
I then took it to another jeweler and she did have the refraction machine, i asked if she could look at it and she said "i suppose i could" and took it to the back, came out shortly thereafter and said that it was indeed paraiba tourmaline. she did mention that she didn''t do a whole lot of tests, just a quick look in the refractor machine. honestly, i''m not sure what she did, so i think i''ll have a 3rd opinion this weekend.
it is 1.14 carats and i paid $280, which, in retrospect, was way too much i think. especially after seeing rockhuggers loot and the prices from his vendor (which was where i had previously been looking at for a stone)
oh well. i''ll post some pics tonight of it.
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Flux???????????????????????????
Ok - you really need to sit down with a gemologist and ask them how they''re testing and what for. In the meantime, please post up photos for us to see otherwise we''ll be calling you a bad Pricescoper!
One thing .... please this is SO important. You pay for what you get. For a true Paraiba Tourmaline you''ll be paying $thousands NOT hundreds. If you''re paying less, there''s normally a reason.
Ok - you really need to sit down with a gemologist and ask them how they''re testing and what for. In the meantime, please post up photos for us to see otherwise we''ll be calling you a bad Pricescoper!
One thing .... please this is SO important. You pay for what you get. For a true Paraiba Tourmaline you''ll be paying $thousands NOT hundreds. If you''re paying less, there''s normally a reason.
yeah, the one guy only had his scope, and he was young and wasn''t that sure. the 2nd place, when she went to the back and claimed to use the refractor, said it was fine. therefore, i think a 3rd is necessary. (if i take a pic now, it will be a cell phone pic, but i''ll be home in 2 hours and can take pics then with a real camera).
the stone pic, on ebay, was blue. it is MUCH more green in person, which is a shame, because i wanted more blue.
the stone pic, on ebay, was blue. it is MUCH more green in person, which is a shame, because i wanted more blue.
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and the ebay photo, which is clearly blue.
and yes, i realize the photo looks totally photoshopped, etc, and i took a risk. but to not even be blue at all?? lesson learned. and i'm out of $300.
eta: i'm looking at it again, on it's white bed and it's more blue again?? wtf?? it keeps changing on me.
and yes, i realize the photo looks totally photoshopped, etc, and i took a risk. but to not even be blue at all?? lesson learned. and i'm out of $300.
eta: i'm looking at it again, on it's white bed and it's more blue again?? wtf?? it keeps changing on me.
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in darker, indirect lighting, it's more blue. do you think that $300 is too much for this stone?? it is 1.14 carat, 6mmx8mm. it has a big black inclusion on the base, that only shows up from the front on certain angles.
eta: sorry for how long this post has become. i feel so annoying, so apologies.
eta: sorry for how long this post has become. i feel so annoying, so apologies.
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Honestly...and not to be mean...I think you should return it. I dont think it is worth what you paid (at least not in ebay world). It isnt very clear, and if it has a big black inclusion it DEFF isnt worth 300$. If you LOVED it then I would say keep it...but you dont sound happy at all and sound like you are trying to convince yourself to like it. I still recommend thaigemscity. A NICE, CLEAR, BLUE cuprian tourmaline that size in ebay land should cost you 200$ tops.
I say ebayland because the prices there are different then ''real world''.
Again, not to be mean at all, but I want to offer my honest opinion.
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contact them first and tell them the item is not as described (the photo showed blue) and you want to return it. If they say no, tell them you will open a claim and then file negitive feedback, if they refund you willingly (including shipping), you will still leave postive (I have done this many times and it usually works). If they still say no, open a paypal claim under item not as described. Tell paypal they photoshopped and you didnt get the item you saw in the picture. Wait a week and chances are you will get your money back. Half the time you dont even need to return the stone...expecially if the other party doesnt respond.
I bought a 1.5ct diamond and wanted to return it because it was chipped. They said no, and paypal gave me my money back and told me I didnt need to return the item because the seller didnt respond. Well now my hubby has a free 1.5ct diamond (although chipped, he doesnt care) in his ear.
I bought a 1.5ct diamond and wanted to return it because it was chipped. They said no, and paypal gave me my money back and told me I didnt need to return the item because the seller didnt respond. Well now my hubby has a free 1.5ct diamond (although chipped, he doesnt care) in his ear.
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ok. *sigh* i hate confrontation. i'll see what i can do.
rock hugger you are funny and if there are lots of cuprian PTs out there in the $0-300ish range, then show me! cause i can't find any nice ones where i've looked.
i'm trying to re-create the double halo that was posted on page 2. that ring seriously makes me drool.
rock hugger you are funny
and if there are lots of cuprian PTs out there in the $0-300ish range, then show me! cause i can't find any nice ones where i've looked.i'm trying to re-create the double halo that was posted on page 2. that ring seriously makes me drool.
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I will look for you. Keep a look out on PS for the next few days, cause I will find YOU a BEAUTIFUL cuprian. You just gotta know where to look. Ebay takes time to learn and know who sells what. Believe it or not, my 70cts of paraibas didnt cost a whole lot more then your stone. I will find you a wonderful deal too!
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