Tsavorite Garnet (Africa)

[Sparkalicious]

Date: 3/12/2008 8:44:07 PM
Author: tsavvy
Hopefully this isn''t considered thread-jacking, but I am the appreciative customer

(and, I''ve long wanted to use one of those smiley faces). I''m a long-time PS lurker (since 2006) and really like the tsavorite. As Rick mentioned, the window is not ultra-noticeable and, due to the size of the stone, I doubt too many people will see it unless I meet another PS-er who inspects it with their loupe. Immense apologies for the lack of photos as I realize they are a pre-requisite to discussing a stone purchase - I read storm''s post, but still haven''t figured out how to get the macro setting on my fairly decent camera to perform properly. I have a lot of fuzzy green pictures at the moment

Tsavvy! Welcome to PS!

Great name, by the way.

Not a thread jack at all! Congrats on your fab new purchase! You are, however, correct about the pics. We need pictures. I am jealous and would love to see what you are going to do with this lovely stone now that you have given it a home.
Do you know yet?

Thanks so much for stopping in and sharing the great news with us .. .I really appreciate it. I hope you stick around too!

 

[Richard M.]

Date: 3/12/2008 10:59:18 AM
Author: movie zombie

Date: 3/12/2008 12:52:26 AM

Author: Richard M.

Date: 3/11/2008 11:18:47 PM


First, colored stones are not diamonds. Methods of grading their cuts and other factors are entirely different even though the faceting process may be somewhat similar. There are many clear indicators of a poor colored stone cut, not just one. I could go on at great length about proper facet meets and pavilion angles, windows, fish-eyes, correct pavilion depth as opposed to crown height (unnecessary weight), bad polish, bad symmetry, extinction, uneven girdle, girdle too thick or thin, extra facets, naturals, table too large or small and so on.

and therein lines the problem for the novice color stone buyer: much more complicated than diamonds. as with diamonds its always about the tradeoffs v. budget.


what this thread reinforces once again is get educated re the color stone you''re interested in buying. there are always trade offs. but until one gets the stone in hand and actually sees the stone, how can one know if the window will bother you or not and if the stone really does sing to you? no harm in haviing a stone sent to you to preview if there is a good return policy.


congrats to the thread starter for starting on the tsav garnet journey.


movie zombie

Those are all really excellent points, MZ. You''ve expressed them much better than I even though they''re exactly what I was driving at.

Your comment about becoming familiar with the colored stone type that interest you is really important. One reason color is more complicated than diamonds is that many minerals, each with its own physical properties, are involved as opposed to rather simple (but beautiful!) crystallized carbon.

Even members of the many-colored garnet group have very different properties. For instance, no tsavorite (grossular garnet) can ever be as brilliant as your spessartite. That''s because spessartite has a much higher refractive index, the property that determines brilliance (with proper cutting, that is). But tsavorite has wonderful color and a much higher R.I. than other colored stone favorites like topaz, as only one example. Proper cutting of any colored gem type involves a balance of many different concerns.

There are also many more cutting styles for color than diamonds. Each one presents its own challenges in cut-grading.

Sorry it took so long to respond but I''ve spent the last couple of days dealing with real life, not virtual, events. I think the discussion has been great and I thank you all for our comments. Hope you didn''t mind my popping in.

Richard M.

 

[tsavvy]

Date: 3/12/2008 11:41:01 PM
Author: Sparkalicious
Tsavvy! Welcome to PS!

Great name, by the way.

Not a thread jack at all! Congrats on your fab new purchase! You are, however, correct about the pics. We need pictures. I am jealous and would love to see what you are going to do with this lovely stone now that you have given it a home.
Do you know yet?

Thanks so much for stopping in and sharing the great news with us .. .I really appreciate it. I hope you stick around too!

Thanks for the friendly welcome.

Still working on pix and will start a separate thread once I have some decent ones. I''m thinking of setting it in a standard Tiffany-style setting with a baguette on each side similar to the attached photo from dimendscaasi - hopefully it is okay to post their photo here. There''s a different photo of the stone here: http://com.pricescope.com/photos/martin_designsart_cut_gems/picture1462.aspx - it is a great color and looks even better IRL.

 

[Catmom]

Date: 3/13/2008 10:38:16 PM
Author: tsavvy

Date: 3/12/2008 11:41:01 PM
Author: Sparkalicious
Tsavvy! Welcome to PS!

Great name, by the way.

Not a thread jack at all! Congrats on your fab new purchase! You are, however, correct about the pics. We need pictures. I am jealous and would love to see what you are going to do with this lovely stone now that you have given it a home.
Do you know yet?

Thanks so much for stopping in and sharing the great news with us .. .I really appreciate it. I hope you stick around too!

Thanks for the friendly welcome.

Still working on pix and will start a separate thread once I have some decent ones. I''m thinking of setting it in a standard Tiffany-style setting with a baguette on each side similar to the attached photo from dimendscaasi - hopefully it is okay to post their photo here. There''s a different photo of the stone here: http://com.pricescope.com/photos/martin_designsart_cut_gems/picture1462.aspx - it is a great color and looks even better IRL.

Tsavvy, welcome to PS! I think your new stone will look fabulous in a setting like that. Your stone has a great color and I think the side baguettes will help set that off. Congratulations on a great purchase.

 

[Sparkalicious]

Date: 3/13/2008 10:38:16 PM
Author: tsavvy
Thanks for the friendly welcome.

Still working on pix and will start a separate thread once I have some decent ones. I''m thinking of setting it in a standard Tiffany-style setting with a baguette on each side similar to the attached photo from dimendscaasi - hopefully it is okay to post their photo here. There''s a different photo of the stone here: http://com.pricescope.com/photos/martin_designsart_cut_gems/picture1462.aspx - it is a great color and looks even better IRL.

Tsavvy ... Great idea. That should be gorgeous. I''m green with envy.

So glad that you will be starting a thread to show this beauty off when its finished.

 

[partgypsy]

I''m equal oppourtunity. I would love to own both a tsavorite garnet AND an amazing emerald someday

 

[Sparkalicious]

Date: 3/14/2008 1:32:15 PM
Author: part gypsy
I''m equal oppourtunity. I would love to own both a tsavorite garnet AND an amazing emerald someday

Now, how''s that for an idea! I''m with you!