tourmaline

[Arkteia]

This stone is 7.62 ct. I would have not bought it because I do not have much experience with tourmalines, were it not for vendor's statement that the stone came from the first strike in Africa in the end of 90-es and was unheated. I did not check it, but probably shall, sooner or later. It is very beautiful in some lights, bright-light-pink, and closes in other lights, the color shift is pretty strong, so I can not say it is universally beautiful. I made some photos, out in the shade and in some lights (not too bright), just for you to see. In worst case scenario, I end up with a 7.62 ct heated/irradiated tourmaline, if the vendor was honest, I have a 7.62 ct untreated tourmaline. I do not expect many compliments, we have an awesome ring posted to day, so beautiful it makes me cry, but just wanted to show it to you...

 

[Lovinggems]

I never thought much about irradiation of tourmaline, is it common? The only one I ever got tested was a rubellite but from reading PS I am not sure if the testing was comprehensive enough.
I like the color shown in the first photo but the second photo shows dark areas. Is this a rare color for Tourmaline? I don't see it very often.

 

[chrono]

It looks orangish pink on my monitor. What is the colour you see IRL? Cutting looks good and the stone shows a lot of brilliance. Well saturated in one picture but not so in another. Is this the shift you are referring to? Hope the vendor didn't tout it as "padparadscha" coloured.

 

[mastercutgems]

Arkteia

I think you have a very lovely gem there.

As for treatment I do not think it is irradiated as it is not as wide spread treatment with tourmaline as many may think. From the description of the color shift and the colors it portrays I would think more than likely Nigeria origin... And my reason for making this opinion on this I have cut hundreds of tourmalines from Nigeria that have that color shift and NONE of them were nuked/heated as they did not even do that stuff back when I bought all those parcels( Late 1980's early 1990's); it was not even a after-thought as tourmalines were not worth the cost of sending them out of country to have them nuked and not know what the results would be and the cost associated with that process... As I bought my parcels in country of origin; not Tucson or over the Internet, etc... but from within 200 miles of the real mine and many of the crystals still had some matrix on them as well; so they were almost right out of the ground into my hands. Just did not happen.

From someone that has collected tourmaline for over 25 years and bought literally many thousands of carats from all over the globe from whence it has been found; as tourmaline was my favorite gem mineral back when I first started as I wanted every color combination, bi, tri, etc. needless to say I got close but found out after 10+ years of collecting I would not get them all as the color combinations are LIMITLESS... Still just my ole southern opinion LOL

I know many think that if there is not a definite tried and true totally flawless test evaluation the labs can give any particular gem; that they will steer away from that gem... Well then they would not have anything in their collections as labs give opinions not hard facts that will say beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is untreated in any way... Same holds for diamonds now as they can make about anything in a lab; from seed diamonds, to seed rubies, sapphires, etc... That is why sometimes you will have conflicting reports from 3 different labs??? Same equipment, same scientific standards... That is also why some of the larger more prestigious labs will not give reports on heated sapphires, aquamarines, etc...

So if in doubt; get it tested to make sure it is basic natural; and enjoy it as that is why most of us buy the things is that they make us happy and they have a lure and optically pleasure the eye/brain...

I have no clue what you paid for it and that is irrelevant to me; it is the fact .. do you like it?

Well I think the cut looks great from the photos and if it has better color results in certain lighting conditions; just hang out in those type lighting conditions when you wear it

Most Respectfully;

Dana Reynolds
ASG Certified Supreme Master Gem Cutter #96cge42

 

[Coco914]

Arkteia -

I think you have yourself a beautiful tourmaline there... I love the bright peach color, as it appears on my monitor. To be honest, the photo of the tourmaline "closed up" doesn't look unpleasant to my eye, either. I don't think it'd bother me in the slightest. The cutting and size are also a nice plus. What do you think you'll do with it? Have any ideas?

 

[innerkitten]

I think it would make a pretty cool ring based on the size and I like the salmon pink color I'm seeing.

 

[JewelFreak]

It's a nice tourmaline, Arkteia, and Dana's info is helpful. I love that salmony color, one of my very favorite in tourms. Size is great & the cut looks good too. Worth setting, imo.

--- Laurie

 

[Arkteia]

LG - thank you for your kind words. As usual, you are very nice. It does not show dark and light areas, it just shifts color depending on the light, and since it is large and is sitting on my hand when I am trying to make photos, light falls unequally on different areas, hence light and dark. As to treatment, from what I have read, indicolites are treatment, too, although I have check on irradiation. I fell for the word "unheated".

Chrono - thank you. The color is peachy-salmon, very delicate, and when it is of that color, it is lovely. Unfortunately, in other lights it looks much darker, like a better kind of a dravite (which, if it is good, is beautiful). I was fascinated by this color shift, which I never saw in tourmalines before.

Dana, dear, long time... A great commentary. The vendor stated that the material was from that strike in Nigeria (he mentioned end of 90-es?). And it is my understanding that most of stones like this nowadays are heated and irradiated to give them this incredibly beautiful red color. The initial Nigerian material might have looked like my stone. And no, the vendor did not charge much for it. He said he had pieces of this material lying around and finally decided to cut them and sell. I mostly bought the piece because I hoped it was unheated.

Innerkitten, thank you for your support, as usual!

 

[Starzin]

Arkteia - it looks to be beautiful large tourmaline of an unusual colour (salmon on my monitor) and well cut. If you paid a good price for it and you like it, that's all that really matters. The colour change and uheated are bonuses. Can't wait to see what you do with this one - you're never afraid of stepping "out of the box" It looks to be lovely colour, large and sparkly - my favourite three!

 

[Barrett]

That is a sweet color!!! I like it!

 

[minousbijoux]

Ark: you are too funny! You say "I do not expect many compliments..." We so often get wrapped in knots if we have a stone that shows less than ideal performance in certain lighting and yet, that is the vast majority of stones. I go back and forth on this in my own head, sometimes saying that I shouldn't settle for anything less than consistently great performance (think $$ signs), and other times thinking that to do so would knock a lot of good stones, with special qualities of their own, out of the running.

I think you have developed quite the eye for great stones. I love the fact that you are a risk taker. And I love padparadscha anything! I'll take it in a spinel, in a sapphire, in a tourmaline. I LOVE the color of your stone. And it is huge. Once again, good job.

 

[blithesome71]

Nice big & lovely Apricot tourmaline *yummy color*

 

[Kim Bruun]

I think it's a really interesting (and big!) gem you have there, Arkteia. I can see what you mean by it closing in some lights. In the first and the third pic, it has that lovely orangish pink of a sunrise (on my monitor), and in the middle pic, there's a little brown to it, resulting in a more coppery colour. At its best, I think it's a pretty stone.

And I concur that Dana's post is great - I always enjoy reading these insights from gem cutters.

 

[Arkteia]

JewelFreak,

I am sorry I do not know how I missed your post earlier. Perhaps it is because my eyesight is poor and I do not always wear eyeglasses... Anyhow, thank you so much for your sweet words. You are too sweet.

To anyone on this forum - if I ever post something that you do not like - it is only my poor eyesight!

 

[Arkteia]

Starzin - thank you so much for your kind words.

Minousbijoux - thank you! No, it is not a pad and was never meant to be. All I asked for was unheated tourmaline. I think Chrono is right in her commentaries, and Dana, too, but I shall either keep it in my collection of unheated stones, or set and only wear in shulight. Or walk so straight that it always faces the sun!

Blithesome71 - thank you!

Barrett - How about some unheated Russian amethysts? Turn of the XIX century?

Kim Bruun - thank you for your kind words!

 

[chrono]

Arkteia,
Chalk this up as a learning stone. It has good size, is well cut and the colour isn't that terrible. I doubt this one was nuked based on the colour shift. It isn't conclusive but it is unlikely. Make this one an outdoor only stone and it'll look fabulous!

 

[Quantz Studios]

Arkteia,
Chalk this up as a learning stone. It has good size, is well cut and the colour isn't that terrible. Make this one an outdoor only stone and it'll look fabulous!

Learning stone? Are you implying Arkteia possibly made a mistake with this purchase?

I personally think it's a gorgeous tourmaline. It's my favorite color of tourmaline. Of all the tourmaline i've cut, this color by far sells the fastest. There's no reason why this cant be a stone to wear and enjoy in all lighting. Arkteia, do you like it? Are you happy with it? That's all that matters.

 

[chrono]

Personally, I find stones that become muddy or brown out under incandescent lighting to be unattractive. Based on what I know about Arkteia's tastes, she has very high standards when it comes to gemstones and shops for gems of very fine quality.

 

[Enerchi]

I'm just a simple soul... That looks like a very nice colour on your skin, Arketia, and I like the size and cut! What are you planning on doing with it? Setting in a ring or pendant or is it to add to a gem collection?

I think the colour is very attractive - very nice!

 

[Arkteia]

OK here is what it is. A stone for my collection.

I have enough beautiful, expensive stones to set. And in the process of finding jewelers who will do the best job. So it is not to be set. And if I wanted to wear it only out in the sun, I'd better hang it on the clothes' line!

But I have stones for a collection, like some andradites, from a topazolite to a beautiful huge demantoid. I do not have many tourmalines, this one is interesting because it is likely unheated, and I am trying to find unheated tourmalines of different colors. Dana once sent me a dravite as a gift with a purchase, dravite is also in a collection. Lots of smaller tourmalines from Tan, etc. This stone is by no means a rare collector's stone, but I shall keep it. A huge salmon-pink tourmaline with significant color shift.

 

[Arkteia]

to everyone on this forum - when I post a stone, I am OK with honest opinions. If I were in awe of it, and wanted everyone to admire it, my post would be like, "I think it is divine!", which was the name of another post I made. I actually think that since it shows such an incredible color shift, in different colors, it would be interesting to see and comment on, because, honestly, it is not the best in evening lights...