Tourmaline_lover - how was your pad tourmaline?

[mariedtiger]

Hi Tourmaline_lover,

I followed the thread about your padpadradscha colored tourmaline with interest. You mentioned a recut in another thread and not wanting to threadjack, I thought I''d ask you like this. Was the color as awesome in person as in the vendor''s pictures? Do you have any pictures? I''m so curious, it looked so nice

 

[T L]

Date: 1/13/2009 1:07:52 AM
Author:mariedtiger
Hi Tourmaline_lover,

I followed the thread about your padpadradscha colored tourmaline with interest. You mentioned a recut in another thread and not wanting to threadjack, I thought I''d ask you like this. Was the color as awesome in person as in the vendor''s pictures? Do you have any pictures? I''m so curious, it looked so nice

The color in the vendor''s video was a bit more orange yellow. Unfortunately, when I recieved it, there was a more substantial brown modifier, which is oh so common in peachy tourmalines, but I took a chance based on the fact that I thought it would have more yellow in it. The window is really huge as I suspected as well. Here''s a a pic. I did not post a pic because I didn''t think this stone would make the PS''ers "ooooh and ahhhh" and I''m only posting a pic because you asked about this stone. I''m not buying anything else from this vendor.

I have decided it''s not worth a recut and I''m keeping it as part of my loose collection since I only paid $24 for it. It''s a 4 carat stone.

 

[T L]

Here's another a bit further away where my camera can't cast a shadow. Now I do think a recut would do a lot for this stone, but I don't think it's worth it for the price I paid. Recuts are expensive.

 

[mochi]

TL, I have a peach tourmaline cut in Portuguese style. I have posted this stone on PS (my first colored stone purchase). Would love to set in in a ring but the white gold just seems to make the stone look washed out, the gold and rose gold just blends in with the stone....

 

[T L]

What I find, especially with tourmalines, that if a stone has a heavy brown modifier, it will look washed out no matter what the setting. Brownish diamonds are a bit different because they''re so highly refractive and they have modifiers that come out well with the right color gold, like my brownish pink. However, I really cannot tolerate any brown in a tourmaline because of this. I typically look for lighter colors of tourmaline because the brown isn''t so heavy in them, but this stone is not the case.

 

[mochi]

I don''t see much bwn in my peach tourmaline, but it really glows. I really love it, maybe because it''s my first loose colored gem and it''s such so darn pretty. I''d hate to keep it in the box. I wonder if I should see if I can get it bezel set by WF?? I just don''t have any idea what color metal to use for this particular stone to bring out the beauty.

 

[T L]

Do you have a good picture of it?

 

[mochi]

This is the picture from Gary. Unfortunately it''s raining and over cast today, so I won''t be able to get a good picture. But here is a link to the older post regarding the stone.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/playing-with-my-camera.98390/

 

[mariedtiger]

Thanks so much for taking the time to satisfy my curiosity.

I like it in the second picture, but see what you mean about the window. I think it would be a nice stone when recut, but if you don''t like the color, it''s probably not worth the money. Thankyou for the info on tourmalines. I like learning about them, because I feel a bit insecure about how to choose a tourmaline that I like, since the ones I''ve bought haven''t been total successes.

I''m looking at some at AJSgems right now, but don''t know if I dare buy them as I don''t trust my judgement on tourmalines.

 

[T L]

Mochi,
Your tourmaline looks exactly like the color of mine. I think my stone might be worth a recut after all!! However, from your photo, I do see a brown modifier, and that lends a challenge when trying to set a tourmaline. Your stone is very pretty.

 

[mochi]

I think you''re right, TL. Do you think a bezel would make the brown more prominant? This is the setting that I''m looking at for this stone.

 

[T L]

I think others might disagree with me, but I wouldn''t put a stone with any brown hues in a bezel. Of course, your stone is also light and bright, as well as mine, and light bright stones do well in bezels. I don''t know, it might be a toss up here.

 

[colormyworld]

Wow no wonder you sent that vivid "neon" orange red spinel back. With a stunner like that tourmaline as competition it was a no brainer. Just beautiful !!!

 

[T L]

Date: 1/13/2009 10:19:35 PM
Author: colormyworld
Wow no wonder you sent that vivid 'neon' orange red spinel back. With a stunner like that tourmaline as competition it was a no brainer. Just beautiful !!!

The reason I returned the orange red spinel is because it cost way way more than this stone, and I don't like to keep expensive stones if I don't like them. Since this was only $24, it wasn't worth returning. I do like your sarcasm though.

CMW, your spinels are really beautiful by the way, but I haven't seen any like that in person. I think getting a top quality spinel is akin to getting a needle in a haystack.

 

[T L]

Okay, this is the spinel I returned. It was advertised as neon, so you decide. There was no sparkle or life in it. It reminded me of a badly cut pink tourmaline. I figure if I'm spending a lot on a stone, I don't want it to look like a less expensive species of something else.
I actually liked my round rubellite much MUCH better, perhaps because that stone has a much more pink secondary modifier and it really truly is neon. It was also a lot less expensive.

So I am probably not a "spinel person" I guess.

 

[colormyworld]

Date: 1/13/2009 10:50:02 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
Okay, this is the spinel I returned. It was advertised as neon, so you decide. There was no sparkle or life in it. It reminded me of a badly cut pink tourmaline. I figure if I'm spending a lot on a stone, I don't want it to look like a less expensive species of something else.
I actually liked my round rubellite much MUCH better, perhaps because that stone has a much more pink secondary modifier and it really truly is neon. It was also a lot less expensive.

So I am probably not a 'spinel person' I guess.

The stone looks to be tilted some what in the picture. So it is tough to get an idea of " the look " other than color.On my moniter it looks to be well saturated with a medium to medium dark tone. The hue on this end looks red with a strong purple secondary. Just by the pic I see it could be rubelite or rhodolite as you have said. Over all it looks like a nice stone with lots of potential. Spinels like sapphire and ruby are often cut to save weight instead of bringing out the beauty because of the perceived value saved by the owner of the rough. I don't know what the stone cost you but I would venture a guess that had the stone been well cut to begin with it would have been much more expensive. You say you did really dislike the stone or was it more a case of not liking the price tag ? When yoy could get a tourmaline that looks similar for less money. If that is the reason all I can do is ask if you have any blue sapphires ? If you do why would you spend more money on a blue sapphire when you can buy kyanite and get virtualy the same look while paying much less money. For that matter why buy rubelite when a rhodolite is much less cost.

 

[T L]

Date: 1/14/2009 5:26:37 AM
Author: colormyworld

Date: 1/13/2009 10:50:02 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
Okay, this is the spinel I returned. It was advertised as neon, so you decide. There was no sparkle or life in it. It reminded me of a badly cut pink tourmaline. I figure if I'm spending a lot on a stone, I don't want it to look like a less expensive species of something else.
I actually liked my round rubellite much MUCH better, perhaps because that stone has a much more pink secondary modifier and it really truly is neon. It was also a lot less expensive.

So I am probably not a 'spinel person' I guess.

The stone looks to be tilted some what in the picture. So it is tough to get an idea of ' the look ' other than color.On my moniter it looks to be well saturated with a medium to medium dark tone. The hue on this end looks red with a strong purple secondary. Just by the pic I see it could be rubelite or rhodolite as you have said. Over all it looks like a nice stone with lots of potential. Spinels like sapphire and ruby are often cut to save weight instead of bringing out the beauty because of the perceived value saved by the owner of the rough. I don't know what the stone cost you but I would venture a guess that had the stone been well cut to begin with it would have been much more expensive. You say you did really dislike the stone or was it more a case of not liking the price tag ? When yoy could get a tourmaline that looks similar for less money. If that is the reason all I can do is ask if you have any blue sapphires ? If you do why would you spend more money on a blue sapphire when you can buy kyanite and get virtualy the same look while paying much less money. For that matter why buy rubelite when a rhodolite is much less cost.

CMY,
Thanks for spending a lot of time responding to this. I know that stone looks more pink red in the photo, but next to my rubellite, it had a distinct orange hue that you would probably not visualize as well unless you put it next to a very pink red stone.

You do bring up a really good point though, and something I could never talk myself into, and one of the reasons I'm so in love with tourmalines. Most mediocre and semi-decent versions of more expensive stones like rubies, sapphires and emeralds can be mimicked by less expensive stones like tourmlaine, garnet, and other gem species, especially if they're well cut. I guess I don't understand the point of spending a lot on an "okay" sapphire when I can have a less expensive "replica" so to speak.

Now, in their finest versions, I don't think there is a gemstone out there that can truly mimick a fine ruby, sapphire, emerald, or even some of your prize spinels (maybe some fine spinels and rubies can pass for each other????). However, one of my "rules" of gemstone buying is to not pay more for a stone when I can have a less expensive version of it in an untreated stone. That's just my way of gem shopping. I do understand that sapphires and rubies are also sought after for their durability, but I am very careful with my jewelry, so that's a mute point for me. I also love colored diamonds because those are really hard to mimick in a natural untreated stone. Zircon can't come close, and the other other stones I can think of that can mimick colored diamonds are way too soft to put in jewelry.

BTW, I do have a nice kyanite, and it didn't cost much, but I would return a sapphire that looked like it. It's funny you bring that up. So far, I don't have a blue sapphire or red ruby (except a cheap filled one) in my collection because I simply am not blown away by most of what I see. To make me really want to keep it, the stone would probably have to cost a ransom, but that's just how I am. I do have a very nice Muzo emerald, but I haven't bought any in years, because again, most of what I see can be easily replicated by tourmaline or tsavorite (although tsavorites are becoming very pricey as of late).

 

[colormyworld]

While I agree that those hot pink tourmalines look good and matching something similar in spinel or ruby would be mucho expensive. One thing to keep in mind though is that both pink and red tourmaline are treated with irradation and or heat. Similar to blue topaz. Also like topaz the treatment is very hard to detect. That is not to say all are, but... I am pretty sure I have mentioned this before.

 

[T L]

Date: 1/14/2009 4:33:50 PM
Author: colormyworld
While I agree that those hot pink tourmalines look good and matching something similar in spinel or ruby would be mucho expensive. One thing to keep in mind though is that both pink and red tourmaline are treated with irradation and or heat. Similar to blue topaz. Also like topaz the treatment is very hard to detect. That is not to say all are, but... I am pretty sure I have mentioned this before.

The cutter I bought this from doesn''t use treated material, he''s a USA cutter. But again, you never know unless you send it to a lab. In fact, I asked him if he could get me more of this material, but he said this material is too rare, and hard to come by, even though he has other rubellites for sale, but not of this quality. I believe it''s from Nigeria.

Thanks for the tip on irradiated red tourmaline. I knew they were doing that to topaz, but I was unaware of the tourmaline. It really makes me sad to know that, and it''s so disconcerting that they''re treating tourmalines in this manner now. Pretty soon, there will be no more real natural colored gemstones, except at the museums!!

 

[colormyworld]

I don't know if the labs can detect this treatment either. Much the same as topaz.This treatment has been around for more than a few years. There is always spinels and garnets. That is the main reason I stick with those stones because like you I don't like my stones monkeyed with.

 

[T L]

Date: 1/14/2009 4:48:00 PM
Author: colormyworld
I don''t know if the labs can detect this treatment either. Much the same as topaz. There is always spinels and garnets. That is the main reason I stick with those stones because like you I don''t like my stones monkeyed with.

Well since the only spinels I like are probably $$$$$$$$$$/ct, I guess I''ll just stick to garnets. I love the stone in your avitar by the way, now THAT''s a keeper!!! I''m thinking that''s a spinel, and if it is, I don''t think they have one of those at the Tower of London.

They''ll eventually find a way to treat garnets. I thought they were diffusing spinels, but I could be wrong. I know there''s a lot of synthetic spinels being passed off as the real thing though. Very sad.

 

[colormyworld]

You are correct about it being a spinel. It is from Mahange Tanz. It is slightly sleepy which has the effect of making the stone look like it has its own light source. This was an ebay find about 6 years ago. This was before the find there caused prices to sky rocket. I paid 50 dollars for the stone. I don't think I will ever see prices like that again.LOL You never know where the next GOOD deal will come from. I try hard to keep an open mind for all sources. No matter how hard people around here slam them. The way I look at it is less competition for the limeted resource.

 

[T L]

I''m sooooooooo jealous!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously, what an awesome find!!

 

[chrono]

I had no idea pink tourmalines are now heated and nuked! I''ve always thought that tourmalines are never treated in any way. Thanks for the heads up CMW.

 

[colormyworld]

Date: 1/15/2009 11:22:44 AM
Author: Chrono
I had no idea pink tourmalines are now heated and nuked! I've always thought that tourmalines are never treated in any way. Thanks for the heads up CMW.

No problem Chrono. Nature creates these beauties very infrequently and irradation seems to explain why these " rare " neon stones can be had for a song.