Tanzanite feedback please

[Matt_95]

Hey all, I am looking fr a tanzanite for a tie pin, a vendor I have bought previously has a few for sale, can I please get some feedback on them please?

This first one is 0.5 carats, 5.5mmx4x3.8mm, eye clean. There looks to be an inclusion or crack in the pavilion, should this be concerning? It is $66.30.

 

[Matt_95]

This one is also 0.5 carats, 5.5x4mm, doesn't state the depth and no photos of the pavilion, eye clean. I think I prefer the color of the previous one, and does this one have a window? There are a few others however they are not a shape that I like or look to have windows.

 

[pregcurious]

Do you like the color? I think you're asking how it compares to what is considered top color...the look grayish, and are not very saturated.

I am partial to this tanzanite:

 

[Matt_95]

I don't mind the color, I prefer them to be closer to purple than blue, I have had little luck finding smaller more saturated tanzanite, I had assumed that they need more size to get those really nice saturated colours. Is that correct?
This is the colour I like in them.

 

[davi_el_mejor]

The price is on the high end of reasonable IMO. The first one is hands down better than the second. Both stones can be found on ebay for about half what you are being offered, but then that's your gamble and not the vendor, so it's a your call.

My money would be on this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-25ct-Pear-Cut-Natural-Bluish-Purple-Tanzanite-/251320992231?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item3a83e601e7

and these as back ups:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-53ct-Pear-Cut-Natural-Bluish-Purple-Tanzanite-/350858080329?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item51b0c57049

http://www.ebay.com/itm/0-63ct-Pear-Cut-Natural-Bluish-Purple-Tanzanite-/350855015050?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item51b096aa8a

 

[Matt_95]

Thank you very much for those links! I very much prefer all three of those to the two I posted, that first one is exactly what I like, the only thing that might bother me about it is the inclusions. Do you think they would be very noticeable in person?
I hadn't thought to look beyond Australia for them, are those gems likely to be as they are represented?

 

[davi_el_mejor]

I have bought quite a few stones (ok... a lot) from Tan and have never been disappointed. Especially the tanzanites. The stone is likely to have a bit more presence (nothing wrong with that ) than in his listings. As for inclusions, that's subjective. I wouldn't notice them first off, but as time grew on and I kept staring at it, I would notice them, but they wouldn't distract me. I like a few inclusions in the stone. Lets me know they came from the Earth, ya know?


An example of Tans tanzanite. I recently purchased this 1.01 ct from him

http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemDescV4&item=251292775285&t=1370280577000&tid=10&category=4195&seller=odysseygem&excSoj=1&rptdesc=1&excTrk=1&lsite=0

Totally in love with it in hand. It has a bit more purple IRL (PS kills colors sometimes). More like his video, minus the darkness of the stone (that's his camera being reflected). In his photos you can see the inclusions, but honestly I haven't found them since I've had it.

 

[Matt_95]

That settles it, I will definitely try to get the first one you posted, I won't be able to see it while I am wearing it to notice inclusions and I doubt anyone is going to be getting close enough to it to see them as well. I can't watch the video on my iPad so I will have to have a look on my computer in the morning.

That gem is a beauty, I think being on PS is going to make be broke!

What did you mean by "PS kills colours sometimes"?

Thank you so much for your help.

 

[pregcurious]

I think what Davi meant by "PS kills colors" is that when you post a picture on PS, some people have the experience that the colors in photos come out different than expected (e.g. a different color, saturation)

 

[Matt_95]

Thank you vey much for that explanation, I have experienced that also on other websites.

 

[chrono]

The first tanzanite Davi posted is the nicest of all those under consideration and I would get it as well. I have purchased at least 4 stones from Tan and found them as represented.

 

[Matt_95]

Thank you very much, I will be trying to win that one, especially wince you can both vouch for the vendor.

A slightly unrelated question, is it true that the supply of tanzanite will run dry in the next few decades? Or is that just marketing hype?

 

[Matt_95]

Thanks for all the help everyone! I won the auction, I'll post pictures when it arrives.

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Awesome! Patiently waiting... It takes three weeks +/- to get from Thailand to the East Coast US, hopefully faster for you!

 

[minousbijoux]

Thanks for all the help everyone! I won the auction, I'll post pictures when it arrives.

Really happy to hear this! Now that you've won it, I can tell you that I call Davi the stone whisperer because he has the most uncanny ability to find amazingly beautiful stones for bargain prices. He really has talent. You have chosen a mentor wisely.

 

[Matt_95]

I cannot wait to have it in hand, I am really crossing my fingers that the inclusions are not too noticeable to my eye. Australia is closer to Thailand than the US is so hopefully it will be here soon!

Well I must say, I am very happy I have gotten Davi's help then! Thank you very much again.

I am having trouble finding images of what I want to do when it arrives, I've attached the closest pictures I have been able to find. I pretty much just want it to be a solitaire in stirling silver, do you think it will be hard to find someone who could do this for me?

 

[Matt_95]

What do you think of this stone? I really like the look of it, tanzanite is my girlfriends birthstone (and my own), so I am considering purchasing a second one and having one put into a pendant for her. Any thoughts on it? It has what is called a bow tie doesn't it? It doesn't concern me, I am just seeing if I have recognized that properly.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-04ct-Oval-Cut-Natural-Bluish-Purple-Tanzanite-/370881122056?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item565a3ccf08

 

[davi_el_mejor]

It has a minimal bow tie and a slight window. It would probably be more lavender blue than purple blue, like I think the pear you purchased would be.

Looking through the rest of his auctions, the only two I would bid on are the one you posted and this one http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-46ct-Cushion-Cut-Natural-Violetish-Blue-Tanzanite-/330999604235?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item4d111d240b

 

[Matt_95]

Thank you once again, that stone you linked is a good looker as well. I might just sit on it for a bit, I've been put on a strict budget for birthday and Christmas and I haven't decided what to do with it yet. Thanks again.

 

[Matt_95]

When I o to get this stone set, is there anything I should be asking or looking it for in selecting a jeweler to do this for me?

 

[pregcurious]

I would pick a jeweler/bench who has experience setting colored stones (diamonds are harder).

 

[chrono]

The pin setting shown is a straightforward design and should not be an issue. Just make sure that the jeweller is experienced with softer stones lest the tanzanite be damaged during the setting process.

 

[Matt_95]

Thanks very much, I will start to look around for someone with experience setting colored stones.

 

[Lebs27]

Thanks for posting the links to various tazanites on ebay. I am on Kanadahar Air Field in Afghanistan. I was getting ready to spend $120 a carat for a nice quality tazanite from one of the shops (not the bazaar). I see on ebay I can get a better quality one for a fraction of the cost. You've saved me some $$$, thank you!

 

[Lebs27]

So looking at vendors on Ebay I came across this stone.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-71ct-Pear-Cut-Natural-Bluish-Purple-Tanzanite-/331004516750?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item4d1168198e

The main question I had was regarding heating. I see some tanzanites with no heat treatment & some with "gentle heat". What effect does this have on value or does it?

 

[chrono]

99% of tanzanite is heated and it appears that this treatment doesn't affect pricing.

 

[Lebs27]

Another question I forgot to ask. The rumor being passed around here is that the primary mine in Tanzania is going to be shutting down next year. So soldiers here are buying up tanzanite with the hopes of holding and reselling back in the states. In the Kabul area these can be picked up for about $50 a carat and in Kandahar for double that. Are my buddies getting scammed? It seems like it may be especially given the prices I see on Ebay for nice tanzanites.

 

[chrono]

We hear this rumour year after year after year after year. You get my drift? Don't you agree it's a simple and quick way to get uneducated buyers to buy lots of stones that they cannot return since they are leaving the country with little chance of coming back?

 

[T L]

We hear this rumour year after year after year after year. You get my drift? Don't you agree it's a simple and quick way to get uneducated buyers to buy lots of stones that they cannot return since they are leaving the country with little chance of coming back?

I've been hearing that rumor for the past 20 years.

 

[smitcompton]

Hi all,

Oh, that rumor. I checked the Tanzanite One site several yrs ago and found a geologic survey that had been done. There is plenty of tanzanite there according to the mining survey. Some may be deeper in the ground, and so be more expensive to mine, but there's plenty of tanzanite there to mine.

Its hard to separate the mine sites where they do mine out stones quickly from rumors about mine closings. It was said the argyle diamond mines were closing in Australia, but it looks like that is also not happening.


Annette