red red wine...

[T L]

I've recently rediscovered the delicious beauty of a nice red wine... I'm totally on a kick. Of course, every time I drink a glass, all I can think of is wanting a stone in that color. I know it's a lot more affordable and easier to come by than a true red, but I also know there's a fine line between a burgundy/merlot/old-fashioned-Christmas-red and the crappy brownish junk they sell in malls. How hard will it be to find one in a decent size (maybe 8-11 mm) that holds its color at least decently in most lighting? I don't want one that appears black in anything but direct sunlight.

Thanks in advance for your knowledge and help!

Most garnets they sell at the malls are pyrope garnets, which are a dark orangy red, and some are very dark, or brownish.

I think what you want is a rhodolite garnet, and some, called umbalites (from the Umba valley in Tanzania) can be a very pretty wine color, although not as red, but more of a reddish purple.

LD has a very beautiful one (see below pic) from Gene (precisiongem.com).

Red or purple family garnets tend to "black out" in certain lighting, so you have to be careful. I prefer lighter toned ones. You should always ask the vendor about the color shift or "extinction" in various lighting.

 

[Kelli]

That one looks cool- almost has a split-color thing going on. The one I bought is a Rhodolite from Tanzania according to the listing, and is more red than any secondary color, but the secondary color mentioned was purple. Whatever that means.

The thing is, for this particular purchase I really don't want a lighter tone. Usually I would because I know they're brighter, but I don't think a lighter tome would have the wine-like look I was going for. I'm guessing if I want a dark tone, finding one that doesn't black out would be like looking for the holy grail?

 

[LD]

Umbalite garnets are mostly wine colour but some can be too dark. This one of mine is a little too dark for my taste. See photo.

You are right about the stone that TL mentioned of mine but it's a fairly unique stone in that sometimes it looks purple, sometimes has some blue, sometimes grape, sometimes wine and sometimes two tone!

 

[Kelli]

Now see, I really do like that one you just pictured. I think in most cases I would avoid something overly dark but the more I think about it, the more I think this one should be dark. Something too bright wouldn't give me that glass of wine appearance I originally set out for. I'm still looking in case I don't like the one I ordered though. I emailed Gene from precisiongem to see if he had anymore of the "Lindi" garnet rough. He said he didn't but that he had some nice Rhodolite. I don't know if I've seen Umbalite anywhere.

 

[Kelli]

Would you guys consider this http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=7&idproduct=3870 to be wine-colored? I think that it may be a little bit more pink than I was originally going for, but for some reason it's totally calling my name. I also wonder if he'd be willing to sell me the stone without the pendant setting... If not I could probably just scrap the setting or find a different stone for it. I really want a ring for whatever garnet I settle on.

 

[Kelli]

Here's the pic for those who don't like clicking links

 

[Kelli]

I think it's the emerald cut that tells me I NEED it.

 

[minousbijoux]

I love the cutting the color and the pendant so I'm with you 100% - buy it, buy it, buy it! But do ask him how it does in fluroescent lighting and whether it closes up at all. Imo, emerald cuts are good cuts for the material.

 

[Kelli]

Considering I already have another one on the way, I'll wait and see if I like it before I buy this one. It seems like this one's been there a while so hopefully it won't disappear before I have time to make up my mind! I really do like the emerald cut.

 

[Kelli]

But thank you for your input. I hope the other one gets here as quickly as boerumbiddy's did!