Tanzanite Gemstone Color, Cut - Is this less than ideal?

[GreenTrees]

I am thinking about purchasing a tanzanite gemstone and need some guidance as to whether I should purchase the gemstone. I only want to buy one (for a pendant) and want that one to be as ideal in cut, color, and clarity as possible.

Above is a photo of the tanzanite gemstone. I wasn't able to upload a video to this website, so I put a video of the gemstone on youtube. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdByCrZkiL8&feature=youtu.be .

The cut dimensions are 25 mm length, 19.2 mm width, and 12.2 mm depth (51.92 ct). How is this cut? I thought there could be windowing from the video, but the seller told me there is no windowing, and that it just looks like there could be windowing due to the angle of the video. The photo above doesn't seem to show any windowing.

I was told that the clarity is IF, so we can assume for now that there are no inclusions at 10x.

What is the color? saturation? hue? My guess is that the color is violetish Blue with a medium dark hue 6 and a saturation 5. Is that correct? Is this color ideal? Less than ideal? Not enough violet color? Too much violet color?

Any issues with this tanzanite gemstone? What should one expect to pay per ct for this gemstone?

Thanks for all your help!
GT

 

[chrono]

The tanzanite looks well cut and what you are seeing is a tilt window from the side view. Being that it is a step cut, this is more easily seen. Gemstones' clarity only needs to be eye clean. When someone says it is IF, I tend to worry if there is a possibility of it being a synthetic. Colouration looks decent but I would prefer more blue as a personal preference. If not married to the cut, I also prefer something a bit flashier for a livelier stone.

 

[GreenTrees]

Thank you for replying, Chrono. The seller just received back a GIA report for the gemstone. The GIA report states that there are no internal inclusions. Color is violetish blue. I realized after doing some research that it's hard to know what the color really is from the video, as the color really depends on the lighting. Blue results from fluorescent lighting, and violet from incondescent lighting. Apparently, the seller included both types of lighting, but it's hard to know whether the gemstone received more incondescent lighting or more fluorescenting lighting during the video.

 

[JewelFreak]

It's a nice color imo & the cut is good, but it might be dark once set. I don't see windowing, except some tilt window, which is normal -- you see more of a tilt window with that cut than some others. I do agree with Chrono that you'd get more life in it from a different cut. If you really like it, the only way to be sure is to take a look IRL -- be sure the return policy is acceptable.

--- Laurie

 

[GreenTrees]

Hey Guys,
The AGL report came back. I need some guidance about whether to buy this gemstone or hold out for something better. As JewelFreak and Chrono suggested, the cut is good, but not outstanding. The AGL report has a cutting grade of 4-5 and a finish grade of 4-5. So, both the cut and the finish are between good and very good. See the report below. The scan is of lower quality, so you can't see the writing under the Accu-Vu imaging. I'm trying to get a better quality scan.



So, my question is, given the great color (grading of 2.5, which I've heard is difficult to obtain) is this about as good as I'll be able to find in a tanzanite? I actually prefer emerald cuts, so I don't mind this type of cut. I'd like to set into a pendant. What does it mean to have a brilliancy average of 100%? Is the brilliancy average of 100% hard to obtain or easy to obtain for tanzanite? Any idea why the cutting grade would be 4-5? Is this because of the L/W ratio, which is 1.326, or the depth %? (I have no idea what is ideal for an emerald cut.) Lastly, can anyone tell me what is a fair price to pay for this gemstone? How much per carat?

Thank you all for your help.

 

[AGBF]

So, my question is, given the great color (grading of 2.5, which I've heard is difficult to obtain) is this about as good as I'll be able to find in a tanzanite? I actually prefer emerald cuts, so I don't mind this type of cut. I'd like to set into a pendant.

What does it mean to have a brilliancy average of 100%? Is the brilliancy average of 100% hard to obtain or easy to obtain for tanzanite? Any idea why the cutting grade would be 4-5? Is this because of the L/W ratio, which is 1.326, or the depth %? (I have no idea what is ideal for an emerald cut.) Lastly, can anyone tell me what is a fair price to pay for this gemstone? How much per carat?

I cannot help you with questions such as what it means to have a brilliancy average of 100% or tell you whether this is easy or hard to obtain for tanzanite. Neither can I tell you why the cut is a 4-5. (I could not have eyeballed that stone and told you it was well-cut as Chrono and Laurie did.)

I did do a great deal of looking at tanzanite from quality purveyors of tanzanite when I was searching for the perfect stone with which to make my own ring about ten years ago, however, and I think you hit on a stone with fabulous color. And with colored stones, it's all about color. Your stone could be a sapphire (as could mine). Many people, including jewelers, often mistake my tanzanite for a sapphire if they just see it in passing. I take that as a compliment because it means that it does not have the look of bleached out, pale lilac that cheap tanzanite so often does!

Deb/AGBF

 

[chrono]

If you like this stone a lot, I would see it in person, using the return / review policy provided there is sufficient time and no restocking fee. The colour is good enough for me to forgive the cut. Perfection is almost impossible when buying gemstones. Furthermore, there is no guarantee you'll find a colour this nice in an emerald cut.

 

[minousbijoux]

It looks to be a really lovely stone and on that basis, I would get it. Your questions about whether this is the best quality are good questions, but my question back to you would be why are you asking them (and I don't mean that in a perjorative, or condescending way at all).

If you are asking because you want this tanzanite to be investment grade thinking its a good investment, I would say please do not buy it for that reason. The supply of tanzanite is strong and it will be years (if at all) before it increases in value significantly.

If you are asking because you want to know whether there are other specimens that would be even higher quality with better cutting, I would say that you might be able to find one but you will probably have to scour the internet and gem shows to find one. Before committing to this one, you might want to take a look at Lapigems, Primagems and ebay (for a while tanzanite, even some very good quality, could be found via reputable sellers on ebay - though I haven't looked lately - but I doubt the cutting would be better than what you've found).

I really like your stone though I too wonder how it will perform in a setting and whether it will be too dark in most lighting. Any way the vendor can take a handshot just in normal outside daylight?

 

[smitcompton]

Hi,

May I ask how you plan on wearing this stone?. It is 51 cts and so holds the color very well. I think decent tanzanite is now back selling at $400 er carat for normal size tanzanite. Larger sizes may sell for more $600.00 per ctw. Once gemstones get too large the price begins to go down again. Larger 10-20 cts could be in the 1000.00 range , but, as I said, if its very large it may go down.

Loving Diamonds,LD, knows a great deal about tanzanite. I hope she responds.

Annette

I also don't understand why you had a GIA report, and then went and got an AGL report? on a 51 ct stone? Expensive no?
I find the stone a bit dark.

 

[LD]

The colour is the best for Tanzanite - I have to be honest and say it's a tad too dark for me BUT this is the colour you want Tanzanites to be.

As Smit has said, once you get over a certain size, the price per carat can actually drop a little so I don't know what the Vendor is asking but that may be an important factor.

In terms of size, have you thought this out ie how it will look on your neckline once it's set into jewellery? That big a stone (unless the setting is designed well) will flip and twist. So that's a consideration for you.

I have an 18ct stone (that I've never done anything with) because it's too big for me. It's the same colour, clarity and cut as yours. So you can visualise the size of yours, mine is in the photo below. Mine also has a tilt window but in this cut and size you WILL see one - that can't be helped.

At the end of the day, forget the stats, if you like it then get the vendor to send it to you for a look - THEN make your decision. There is absolutely no substitute for your eyes!

 

[AGBF]

Your stone is fabulous, LD. I don't know how you can bear to leave it unset!

Hugs,
Deb

 

[GreenTrees]

Hi All,
Thanks for all of your responses. I'll try to answer all of your questions here.

With respect to minousbijoux's question, I enjoy collecting gemstones, and I make pendants out of all of them. I have decided that I will get only one type of each gemstone, except for the gemstones that come in various colors (e.g., tourmaline). So, the reason why I'm asking is because I want my one and only one tanzanite gemstone to be as good as I can reasonably get. I'm definitely not thinking of this purchase as an investment, as I don't really plan to sell the gemstone (would rather pass down).

With respect to Annette's question, I would like to set the gemstone in a pendant, perhaps in a pendant similar to the pendant below:



To be honest, LD brings up a good point. I haven't really thought about whether this pendant will twist around. Part of the reason why I like the step cut is because I thought it would twist less. By the way, LD, your tanzanite is very pretty.

As for why I got two certificates, the seller paid for the GIA certificate, but I wanted the AGL certificate. We agreed to split the cost for the AGL, assuming I buy the gemstone. Actually, I already paid for the gemstone. If the gemstone graded a 3 color, 3 cut, or 2 color, 4 cut, I agreed I would buy the gemstone and pay for half of the AGL report. However, the gemstone graded 2.5, 4-5, so now I need to figure out whether to buy or ask for a refund. If I buy, I will pay for half the AGL report. The AGL tanzanite report is less expensive than other reports because the origin doesn't need to be determined.

Thank you all again for all of your comments. They were very helpful. I like the suggestion of Chrono to see the gemstone in person. Actually, I had my jeweler in New York (who I trust very much) look at the gemstone, and he told me it was a very nice gemstone, and suggested I buy it. I'm leaning towards keeping the gemstone because of the great color. I'm still awaiting the details from the part of the report that I can't read. Have a great remaining weekend!

GT

 

[LD]

I'm afraid the design of the pendant you've chosen is guaranteed to spin. The way around this is to take the round loop connector off the top all together. Fuse the upper part (the round diamond bit) to the lower part (so it's for decoration only and doesn't move) and then either have a chain connected to each of the top corners or have a long bail that runs across the top right the way from left to right that you can thread a chain through.

 

[minousbijoux]

Greentrees, it sounds like you've thought it through and really, it would be tragic if you did not at least see this stone in person.

As for spinning, I think LD has a great solution for you. There are many pendants floating around PS that have been made the way LD recommends so I'm sure if you asked for examples, they would be plentiful.

 

[PrecisionGem]

At the end of the day, forget the stats, if you like it then get the vendor to send it to you for a look - THEN make your decision. There is absolutely no substitute for your eyes!

Amen!

 

[GreenTrees]

LD, minousbijoux, PrecisionGem,
You all make good points. I really like LD's recommendation. You're absolutely right about the spinning. I didn't think about that. I'll make sure to have a connector on each top side through which the chain inserts. I think I'll get rid of the circle of diamonds altogether (the diamonds extending from the top). Also, I'll take your advice and if I decide to proceed, I'll have the seller send to me, and I'll make the final decision with the gemstone in hand.

Thank you all again for your advice!

GT

 

[minousbijoux]

Please come back and show us what you end up doing. We love pictures and eye candy!

 

[chrono]

Beautiful design and I hope you'll get a chance to see the tanzanite in person (and post pictures of us to drool at too). The stone and pendant will be very heavy so the more support you build into the setting, the less twisting you'll experience. Either a wider bale or double loop (each loop closer to each corner).