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Sanity check: Is this watermelon tourmaline an obvious fake?

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nobrainer440

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 22, 2013
Messages
7
So I've been looking for a nice big watermelon tourmaline lately for a pendant necklace for my wife. I was actually looking for flat slabs, but I came across this interesting asymmetrical faceted one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281034588029

I really like it, but I've read about some fakes out there that are quartz or some other stone that have been colored by CVD, and I wanted to ask a second opinion before I made an offer on this. I'm quite new to colored gems. Does it look genuine? I thought it looked pretty good, but the sharpness and straightness of the transitions between the pink and green areas looked a little unusual/unnatural to me, so I thought I'd ask and make sure this isn't an obvious telltale sign of being a fake, especially since it's so large.

Also, I'm new to this forum, so I don't know the typical etiquette in cases like this, but I'd really hate for someone to snatch this out from under me if this happened to be a great deal. So I know I can't stop you, but... please don't.
 
Re: Sanity check: Is this watermelon tourmaline an obvious f

It looks ok but the sharp edge at the bottom looks like it's been broken and polished again. Typically when you see watermelons, you want them to have the green edge going all the way around.

I also can't make any sense of the measurements. I'm not sure how it can be 1 and a quarter inches by 15/16"????? If this is 15/16" then it's going to be one heck of a pendant and you may need a neck brace to wear it!

I have no clue how much these are now but presume you've done some research to compare

EDIT: I've just found this one. I love the colours in this and it's much cheaper but almost the same carat weight as the one you were looking at. http://www.ebay.com/itm/21-8CT-Pink-Red-Bi-color-Watermelon-Tourmaline-Facet-Rough-Specimen-YRT981-/400385910070?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item5d38dc2536
 
Re: Sanity check: Is this watermelon tourmaline an obvious f

Thanks for the input, LD!

Yeah, I agree it may be just a polished broken piece of a larger stone, but I sort of like the asymmetry.

I think the measurement is 1-1/4" vertically, 15/16" horizontally, and at 25 carats, that would make it about 1/8" thick.

I've done a little shopping around, and the "buy it now" price does seem a little steep, but I think I could make an offer that would be reasonable.

I'm also watching that other listing you posted. I'm sure it'll go for quite a bit cheaper, but it's not cut or polished, and ideally I'd like something to give my wife for Valentine's Day. Not sure how happy she'd be with a still-rough stone.
 
Re: Sanity check: Is this watermelon tourmaline an obvious f

Genuine-ness aside -- & I agree it looks ok from the pics -- I like LD's example much better. The first one isn't as saturated & has more brown, though it's hard to compare photos taken under different conditions & with different cameras. It's personal, but I'm just not too crazy about the first stone.

--- Laurie
 
Re: Sanity check: Is this watermelon tourmaline an obvious f

The colour on the first isn't as pretty as the second, more included and looks "rough" or mineral-y. You can either have the second one wire wrapped or a thin rim of metal all around it.
 
Re: Sanity check: Is this watermelon tourmaline an obvious f

I am sorry.
I wouldnt care about the first one being real as it is plain ugly.
The second is backlit with an off camera light and amped up in photoshop.
 
Re: Sanity check: Is this watermelon tourmaline an obvious f

Thanks, Laurie and Chrono! I agree, I think the color and saturation on that other stone is nicer (though to me, it appears the lighting and color/contrast adjustment in the photos is greatly exaggerating them). However, it's still rough, and I'd want to get it polished. And since the photos don't show the 3D shape of the stone very well, I'm not sure exactly how that would go. Plus, I'm looking for something for Valentine's Day, and I don't think I could get something cut and polished in time.

If I don't get this one, does anyone have suggestions where I might find a nice big (15+ carat) watermelon tourmaline slice (polished) for under a couple hundred bucks? I've been trolling etsy and eBay for a few weeks, but have only found a few nice large pieces. Like I said, I'm new to this, so I don't really know where else I should be looking.
 
Re: Sanity check: Is this watermelon tourmaline an obvious f

The first one is also on etsy but only $205

This is more money but is nicer and bigger, 56mmx45mmx2.5

http://www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com/jhbnyc/gifs/51780.htm



This one is a little more $ and would still need to be polished, which would take the 11mm thickness down probably by half

http://prettyrock.com/php/facet-rough-detail.php?q=variety&v=watermelon%20tourmaline&item=3908&type=facet-rough&return=/php/facet-rough-variety-watermelon-tourmaline.php%3F



eta: these are obviously backlit

seedless.jpg

watermelon-tourmaline-04242007-1-4.jpg
 
Re: Sanity check: Is this watermelon tourmaline an obvious f

Thanks, VapidLapid. Those look nice, but are out of my price range for now.
 
Re: Sanity check: Is this watermelon tourmaline an obvious f

Silly question probably but why don't you get something smaller that doesn't need polishing? For example I have these and the two matching ones will either go in a pendant or earrings. (Picture doesn't do them justice and has wiped out all the colour).

The larger ones are approximately 2" in diameter.

tourmaline_watermelon2.jpg
 
Re: Sanity check: Is this watermelon tourmaline an obvious f

VapidLapid, thanks for the suggestion of PristineGemstones on etsy. Looks like they have some pretty good selection.

LD, I suppose it doesn't absolutely need to be polished, but I do want it more or less slab-shaped, with a relatively flat, clear front. And I really do want something reasonably large, at least in the 1" diameter ballpark. Yours look pretty nice. Are they for sale?
 
Re: Sanity check: Is this watermelon tourmaline an obvious f

nobrainer440|1358887796|3361930 said:
VapidLapid, thanks for the suggestion of PristineGemstones on etsy. Looks like they have some pretty good selection.

LD, I suppose it doesn't absolutely need to be polished, but I do want it more or less slab-shaped, with a relatively flat, clear front. And I really do want something reasonably large, at least in the 1" diameter ballpark. Yours look pretty nice. Are they for sale?
Click to expand...


No I'm sorry they're not. I'm pretty certain you could find something similar though. If you're only looking for a diameter of 1" or maybe a bit more then it shouldn't be too difficult. I'm afraid I can't remember where I bought mine but I'll have a look around and see what i can find.
 
Re: Sanity check: Is this watermelon tourmaline an obvious f

A couple of options that may be worth considering:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/41721602/22x18x4mm-watermelon-tourmaline-slices-2?ref=sr_gallery_9&ga_search_type=all&ga_includes%5B0%5D=materials&ga_page=1&ga_search_query=watermelon+tourmaline&ga_facet=watermelon+tourmaline&ga_view_type=gallery

http://www.etsy.com/listing/120019202/watermelon-tourmaline-necklace?ref=sr_gallery_25&ga_search_type=all&ga_includes%5B0%5D=materials&ga_page=1&ga_search_query=watermelon+tourmaline&ga_facet=watermelon+tourmaline&ga_view_type=gallery

http://www.etsy.com/listing/109352240/watermelon-tourmaline-slice-25-carats?ref=sr_gallery_40&ga_search_type=all&ga_includes%5B0%5D=materials&ga_page=2&ga_search_query=watermelon+tourmaline&ga_facet=watermelon+tourmaline&ga_view_type=gallery

I've not bought from any of these sellers but it may be worth having a look at Etsy because there are a few on there.
 
Re: Sanity check: Is this watermelon tourmaline an obvious f

LD's last suggestion is nice. Obviously backlit & possibly color enhanced, but might be worth taking a look at. Seems to be clear. You can't beat that price, either!

--- Laurie
 
Re: Sanity check: Is this watermelon tourmaline an obvious f

Given that you want size, and nice, but have a time constraint, and good ones seem scarce today I think it is a good choice. You can always try to negotiate, if that fails then you can pay the asking price, or walk away. I don't think the asking price is bad after looking around at them.
 
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