Tourmaline

[chrono]

Picture accuracy is extremely difficult (your location is different from the vendor's, the time of day, etc all come into play) which is why good vendors have a review and return policy in play. I also always keep in mind that a vendor's photograph always shows the stone in the best light, so my expectation is almost always lower. A bright stone can be darker and a light stone can be even lighter in person. In terms of clarity, there are various inclusion types ranging from air bubbles to a foreign object. As long as the inclusion is fairly small and doesn't break the surface, I am fine with it.

 

[SparkliesLuver]

I think your question about the c-axis has been thoroughly answered. But here are some examples of what's out there in terms of seafoam and lagoon/indigo:

Ivy uses Indigo, which to me is just a nice indicolite:

http://www.ivynewyork.com/product-category/gemstones/indigo-tourmaline/


Seafoam, to me, definitely has more green than blue:

I look forward to hearing what the outcome is with your new JW tourmaline. It looks lovely, but I completely understand the difference between expectations and reality.

 

[pwsg07]

Cavity is a hole on the surface. The cavity of this stone is on the pavilion close to the girdle. It is surface reaching. That's why I am concerned about the durability since it is closed to the girdle.

Weight is 3.25ct 9.6mmx9.6mm untreated from Namibia. I was offered to have it cut as square cushion shape or round shape. Since I want a very brilliant stone, I wanted round shape. Recently, I was told that the brilliance of a square cushion is very similar to that of the round shape.

 

[pwsg07]

Picture accuracy is extremely difficult (your location is different from the vendor's, the time of day, etc all come into play) which is why good vendors have a review and return policy in play. I also always keep in mind that a vendor's photograph always shows the stone in the best light, so my expectation is almost always lower. A bright stone can be darker and a light stone can be even lighter in person. In terms of clarity, there are various inclusion types ranging from air bubbles to a foreign object. As long as the inclusion is fairly small and doesn't break the surface, I am fine with it.

That's why I never buy any stone from Jeff Davies. I cannot read the colour of his gemstones based on his photos.

I totally agree with you on the clarity. I was misled by the clarity grading system for diamond. I thought I should use the same standard on CS. But IRL it is too strict for CS.

 

[pwsg07]

I think your question about the c-axis has been thoroughly answered. But here are some examples of what's out there in terms of seafoam and lagoon/indigo:

Ivy uses Indigo, which to me is just a nice indicolite:

http://www.ivynewyork.com/product-category/gemstones/indigo-tourmaline/


Seafoam, to me, definitely has more green than blue:

I look forward to hearing what the outcome is with your new JW tourmaline. It looks lovely, but I completely understand the difference between expectations and reality.

The seafoam is very lovely. I have never seen any seafoam tourmaline with such saturation.

 

[pwsg07]

Can the radiation treatment on tourmaline can be detected? What other tourmalines are radiated besides rubellite? Why are Afghan tourmalines highly prized? They don't come in a specific colour.

Does anyone has a more realistic photo of these AGTA Spectrum Award Winning neon blue tourmalines?

 

[SparkliesLuver]

They came from Nomads. These are on their Instagram:

Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/BXmR9ecA_S4/?taken-by=gemsbynomads
Picture: https://www.instagram.com/p/BYGpfRsgqMg/?taken-by=gemsbynomads

 

[elle_71125]

They came from Nomads. These are on their Instagram:

Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/BXmR9ecA_S4/?taken-by=gemsbynomads
Picture: https://www.instagram.com/p/BYGpfRsgqMg/?taken-by=gemsbynomads

Why do they look very blue in one pic and absolutely green in the other pic and video.
Gorgeous in either color but that's a huge variance.

 

[Torres]

Can the radiation treatment on tourmaline can be detected? What other tourmalines are radiated besides rubellite? Why are Afghan tourmalines highly prized? They don't come in a specific colour.

Does anyone has a more realistic photo of these AGTA Spectrum Award Winning neon blue tourmalines?

Yes, the radiation treatment on tourmaline must be detected. If it can't be detected, then all must be considered radiated or all must be considered untreated. Also heat enhance can be detected.

 

[PrecisionGem]

I don’t understand the obsession with an inclusion that reaches the surface vs one that doesn’t. Makes no difference on the integrity of the stone, infact I would preferred it reach the surface in some cases, as now you know it can no longer grow in that direction. Often what people think is a surface reaching inclusion is actually what we call a “natural”. This is a place where outside of the rough stone doesn’t quite get cut a way, leaving a small area that may look like a chip or divit. The cutter has the option of leaving this area, or making the whole stone smaller. Could be the case of having 3 ct stone or 2.5 ct stone. If the area is in an obscure location like the pavilion right near the girdle, it’s now seen face up, has no effect on the strength of the stone, to the choice to not cut smaller is a wise one.

 

[Seaglow]

I've noticed that in very precious materials like colored diamonds and alexandrite where weight matters a lot, many stones are cut symmetrical, so they are still beautiful, but many have a cavity (where a crystal inclusion fell off during cutting or polishing, or part of a fracture fell off) or natural indentation where part of a depression in the rough was left.

In diamonds, GIA can grade up to SI1 even when there is one or two cavities or natural indentations in the crown.

 

[Acinom]

Can the radiation treatment on tourmaline can be detected? What other tourmalines are radiated besides rubellite? Why are Afghan tourmalines highly prized? They don't come in a specific colour.

Does anyone has a more realistic photo of these AGTA Spectrum Award Winning neon blue tourmalines?

I really love the stone from Jeff White. To me, it has a beautiful colour in the pics. I can understand why you are a bit disappointed as you expected a different tone.

I cannot answer your question about Afghan tourmalines in general. But I have one from Gene (@PrecisionGem) and it's worth every single penny. It's such an amazing bluegreen. Quite a striking and unique colour. So, although it had a relatively high price tag (to me) it was worth it because of the quality and beautiful cut.

 

[T L]

Can the radiation treatment on tourmaline can be detected? What other tourmalines are radiated besides rubellite? Why are Afghan tourmalines highly prized? They don't come in a specific colour.

Does anyone has a more realistic photo of these AGTA Spectrum Award Winning neon blue tourmalines?

No, radiation treatment on tourmaline cannot be detected. I think it's mostly done to pink/red tourmaline, so always buy from a reputable dealer who knows his/her sources well when purchasing rubellite or pink tourmaline.

Tourmaline is also fractured filled, especially heavily included material like some paraiba or cuprian types. That can be detected.

Afghan material is highly prized because much of it comes in those sought after bright indicolite or seafoam colors, like shown above. It often lacks the extinction that plagues similar colors of tourmaline. It is very lovely. Of course there is beautiful tourmaline in locations all over the world including in the United States.