Sold some gems to fund settings.... Then bought THIS.

[blingbunny10]

Oops.

I just couldn't resist. Do you think this stone will be too dark?

Vendor comments:
Origin: Zambia
Weight: 6.09 carat
Color: extremely intense purple blue and red flash
It is unreal in color... Some of the pieces are intense blue on one axis and royal purple on the other. Some people have asked if it was a Tanzanite as it does have that intensity... I do not see this stuff offered any longer and I am glad I got what I did when I did. If this gem did not have the tiny inclusion on the table it would be twice this amount as the color is that intense and just find them anywhere else. I know the Jackson Crossroads Amethyst is very nice and I have that rough also and have cut the material; but it does not come close to this in being unusual and so intense... Sorry Terry Ledford my dear friend that owns the JXR mine; but this stuff is the bomb...

 

[minousbijoux]

It has potential to be very pretty, if you don't mind dark stones. Unfortunately, my experience with his stones is that he takes them outside in daylight (a good thing, don't get me wrong) with the effect that the photo he provides is usually at its brightest color. In hand, it often looks a bit darker unless its in bright light. But what I see looks to be a beautiful, deeply saturated purple.

 

[vickygigi]

Beautiful!!! I love the color. I'd take a darker stone over a light one any day of the week. I think you did good!

 

[chrono]

Good saturation and hue but the tone looks dark. It's a stone that will need a very open setting or it will end up looking even darker once set.

 

[ChrisA222]

My opinion---definately going to be very dark. I just got one which is very similar...I love it personally, but you all probably know my tastes. If it is like my new one (uraguayan, but similar tone) it is far darker, and richer, than my JXR pieces which are more of a medium to medium dark.

This is what mine looked like (vendor pic) and IRL it is a very dark, rich, purple. It isn't black/inky, its very saturated and very purple, but dark.

 

[minousbijoux]

...and Chris, I could be wrong, but yours looks lighter than OP's, don't you think?

 

[ChrisA222]

Nope.

 

[VapidLapid]

maybe it's just a little closer to being in focus. They're both dismayingly dark to me

 

[T L]

Been there, done that, and I always say, "I'm sticking to buying a setting" and then I buy a gem. Enjoy, very pretty, and well cut too.

 

[ChrisA222]

VL is right---they are both dark. Although I find that far from "dismaying". After going crazy finding some really nice JXRs, Ive sold them all (they ranged from medium to medium dark, bluish-purple), because I am much happier with the dismayingly-dark Uraguayan stone thats pictured. I just wanted the OP to know that it is dark, whether you like dark stones (like me) or you don't.

 

[minousbijoux]

VL is right---they are both dark. Although I find that far from "dismaying". After going crazy finding some really nice JXRs, Ive sold them all (they ranged from medium to medium dark, bluish-purple), because I am much happier with the dismayingly-dark Uraguayan stone thats pictured. I just wanted the OP to know that it is dark, whether you like dark stones (like me) or you don't.

One person's "dismaying" is another person's treasure!

 

[blingbunny10]

VL is right---they are both dark. Although I find that far from "dismaying". After going crazy finding some really nice JXRs, Ive sold them all (they ranged from medium to medium dark, bluish-purple), because I am much happier with the dismayingly-dark Uraguayan stone thats pictured. I just wanted the OP to know that it is dark, whether you like dark stones (like me) or you don't.

Chris - the amethyst you posted looks good to me, too! Hope you like the new spinel, btw.

It's kind of funny posting on both the RockyTalky and Colored Stones forums. In RockyTalky, it's ok to have non-standard preferences like warmer colors even though they are usually less expensive all things considered.... In Colored Stones, I've noticed that non-standard preferences (like grey tones or more richly colored, saturated stones) are simply considered wrong in many cases. Lol. Oh well. More for me! I will have to post pics of this new amethyst one of these days.

 

[blingbunny10]

VL is right---they are both dark. Although I find that far from "dismaying". After going crazy finding some really nice JXRs, Ive sold them all (they ranged from medium to medium dark, bluish-purple), because I am much happier with the dismayingly-dark Uraguayan stone thats pictured. I just wanted the OP to know that it is dark, whether you like dark stones (like me) or you don't.

One person's "dismaying" is another person's treasure!

Very true!

 

[minousbijoux]

VL is right---they are both dark. Although I find that far from "dismaying". After going crazy finding some really nice JXRs, Ive sold them all (they ranged from medium to medium dark, bluish-purple), because I am much happier with the dismayingly-dark Uraguayan stone thats pictured. I just wanted the OP to know that it is dark, whether you like dark stones (like me) or you don't.

Chris - the amethyst you posted looks good to me, too! Hope you like the new spinel, btw.

It's kind of funny posting on both the RockyTalky and Colored Stones forums. In RockyTalky, it's ok to have non-standard preferences like warmer colors even though they are usually less expensive all things considered.... In Colored Stones, I've noticed that non-standard preferences (like grey tones or more richly colored, saturated stones) are simply considered wrong in many cases. Lol. Oh well. More for me! I will have to post pics of this new amethyst one of these days.

Blingbunny, would you mind saying more? This is really tough to hear and makes me sad if people are made to feel this way.

There are many people who come here seeking approval for their recently purchased stones. Many of them ask for our opinions. When people here say we think the stone is grey or dark or included, it is our interpretation of what we see. No one says there is anything wrong with a dark stone, and, as we've repeatedly seen, there are those among us here who love them. I might say that the stone is too dark for me. That is not saying the stone is wrong, it is just not my personal preference. And as I've said in other threads, I applaud those that like dark stones because they will get them at a relative discount in comparison to the trade ideal.

The problem comes when newcomers want to know a value judgement - How did I do in buying that stone? Would you buy the stone? How much do you think the stone is worth? In this case, it is true that a judgement of the stone is typically forthcoming and, in the case of dark stones, it is explained that they are generally not considered the trade ideal. Does this mean they were wrong to buy the stone? Not if they are buying for themselves because they like dark stones. But if they are buying with some hope that they can flip the stone and make a profit, well then it is pointed out to them as one of the stones "defects" or shortcomings, so from that perspective, I guess they could be perceived as wrong for choosing a dark tone. But is this what you meant or something else? I would like to hear your perspective, as I really don't want to be inadvertently scaring folks away...TIA

 

[VapidLapid]

maybe it's just a little closer to being in focus. They're both dismayingly dark to me

 

[blingbunny10]

VL is right---they are both dark. Although I find that far from "dismaying". After going crazy finding some really nice JXRs, Ive sold them all (they ranged from medium to medium dark, bluish-purple), because I am much happier with the dismayingly-dark Uraguayan stone thats pictured. I just wanted the OP to know that it is dark, whether you like dark stones (like me) or you don't.

Chris - the amethyst you posted looks good to me, too! Hope you like the new spinel, btw.

It's kind of funny posting on both the RockyTalky and Colored Stones forums. In RockyTalky, it's ok to have non-standard preferences like warmer colors even though they are usually less expensive all things considered.... In Colored Stones, I've noticed that non-standard preferences (like grey tones or more richly colored, saturated stones) are simply considered wrong in many cases. Lol. Oh well. More for me! I will have to post pics of this new amethyst one of these days.

Blingbunny, would you mind saying more? This is really tough to hear and makes me sad if people are made to feel this way.

There are many people who come here seeking approval for their recently purchased stones. Many of them ask for our opinions. When people here say we think the stone is grey or dark or included, it is our interpretation of what we see. No one says there is anything wrong with a dark stone, and, as we've repeatedly seen, there are those among us here who love them. I might say that the stone is too dark for me. That is not saying the stone is wrong, it is just not my personal preference. And as I've said in other threads, I applaud those that like dark stones because they will get them at a relative discount in comparison to the trade ideal.

The problem comes when newcomers want to know a value judgement - How did I do in buying that stone? Would you buy the stone? How much do you think the stone is worth? In this case, it is true that a judgement of the stone is typically forthcoming and, in the case of dark stones, it is explained that they are generally not considered the trade ideal. Does this mean they were wrong to buy the stone? Not if they are buying for themselves because they like dark stones. But if they are buying with some hope that they can flip the stone and make a profit, well then it is pointed out to them as one of the stones "defects" or shortcomings, so from that perspective, I guess they could be perceived as wrong for choosing a dark tone. But is this what you meant or something else? I would like to hear your perspective, as I really don't want to be inadvertently scaring folks away...TIA

Hi minous - Thanks for the thoughtful response. What I'm saying about the Colored Stones forum wasn't in direct response to this thread. I'm happy with the stone posted above and nothing anyone has said in this thread has been unkind, just an expression of personal preference, as you said.

It's just something I've observed in browsing CS over the past few months and I thought of it when ChrisA posted re: dark stones. I do see a difference between the diamond vs. colored stones forums, and I've seen more perceived arguments and hurt feelings, ie. drama. Maybe the diamond forums tend to attract only positive comments because many diamond purchases have to do with engagement rings, and most of the gemstones here are "just for fun" and thus garter a variety of (honest) opinions? Or maybe as you said, the problem is that new gemstone buyers giddily post their purchases.... and thus become emotional because they feel defensive/disappointed? I don't know. I'm relatively new to the gemstones side of PS, and was actually a bit shocked when I read some of the older exchanges on CS! Anyhoo, I don't mean to start any drama here!

 

[minousbijoux]

No honey, I didn't mean to imply at all that you were causing any drama! To the contrary, I thought your observation a good one, but wanted to make sure that we were not perceived as unfriendly, unwelcoming, or downright rude. I know we have occasional drama, but I do think we all legitimately care and no one sets out to intentionally hurt anyone else.

I guess I'm sensitive to this because a while ago there was a dustup resulting in hurt feelings and a strange piling on of multiple people who had been silent for a while on this forum. From my perspective, it seemed like several of these people had been inadvertently hurt by comments made here, but hadn't said anything until they saw an opportunity and jumped in. It was a low point for me, as I love this forum and want things to be even-keeled and comfortable for all well-intentioned posters. When you described the difference between CS and RT, I wanted to make sure it wasn't a serious concern and fair criticism that warranted a change in behavior.

BB: I really thank you for your comment and for responding to me.

 

[chrono]

Many of us here take our coloured stones very seriously, be it a serious piece or a fun piece. What makes coloured stone buying very much different from diamonds is that there is no set formula. All the Cs are much harder to evaluate and prioritize. It is because of those reasons that sometimes, some of us will hold different opinions. It is easy to find the right diamond e-ring is a matter of days to weeks but in the CS world, this search will take weeks to years. Even the evaluation of the Cs are somewhat subjective and this is where most of us become very passionate in our discussion. It is disheartening to read that others might view this as "wrongness" but there's no cut and dry answer for the most part. Even if all the Cs are very clear, in the end, beauty is subjective and only in the eyes of the beholder.

I find it so much easier to help in RT because diamond buying follows specific cut charts and learning how to interpret IS and ASET. Easy but boring. Coloured stones are fun because two stones are never identical, and often although one might be of higher quality than the other, there is no wrongness in choosing one over the other as long as the buyer understands and knows exactly what they want and are getting.

 

[FrekeChild]

What Chrono said. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

Which is why my penchant for pure gray stones is awesome!