Vendor pictures and owner pictures of PS stones

[Siameseroo]

Just purchased a teeny, tiny, baby tourmaline from Beau-wy on Ebay (0.88 carats, lucky number in Chinese culture! I stalked this gem for several months until the vendor dropped the price from $350 to $175 ). I was such a klutz that I promptly dropped the gem box right after opening the USPS package. The gem box cracked!!!! I felt so sick until I louped the stone and it looks fine, no visible crack or chips or anything. OMG... You can see the cracked gem box in my photos below, but I immediately transferred it to a new box after taking the photos.

It is such a small gem yet the color really pops. It's super bright and soooo much better than the vendor photos. I would say that the vendor description is spot on. It's mostly a medium-light blue with a touch of green.

It would make a nice stacker ring, I think. It's so small that I'm not sure how to highlight it or use it as a center stone.. maybe bezelled and set in a band?

"This tourmaline from Afghanistan is the extremely sought after windex blue. It is not copper bearing, but will be mistaken for Paraiba tourmaline. It measures 6.7x4.6x3.5mm in an excellent precision cut fancy octagon and weighs 0.88 carat. It is just shy of eyeclean, with only minor colorless inclusions visible as pinpoints."


Anyway, here are the vendor pics:



My pics:

Oh Mochiko how did I miss this?? Your indicolite tourmaline is stunning! I'm very jealous!

 

[qubitasaurus]

Thankyou Acinom, you made my day with that comment. The Paraiba cab is really ethereal, and the setting complements it beautifully.

I am hoping to use ricezo's ruby ring as inspiration (I hope she doesn't mind). However the stone has a small window, so I am still trying to work out how/if I can adapt the setting to minimize the window.

 

[Siameseroo]

Thankyou Acinom, you made my day with that comment. The Paraiba cab is really ethereal, and the setting complements it beautifully.

I am hoping to use ricezo's ruby ring as inspiration (I hope she doesn't mind). However the stone has a small window, so I am still trying to work out how/if I can adapt the setting to minimize the window.

I'm very flattered, your paraiba is beautiful! Looking forward to seeing how you set it!

 

[qubitasaurus]

I'm very flattered, your paraiba is beautiful! Looking forward to seeing how you set it!

Thank you ricezo, I have always found your ruby ring very graceful, so I am looking forward to seeing the outcome too.

 

[Acinom]

3.17 untreated Aquamarine, Brazil, eye clean.
8.8mm custom cut corner square by Donn Law

The vendor pic and hand pics provided by Select Gems are accurate in some lighting. This 'tempest' has different personalities though: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-pond-select-gem-meets-david-klass.214293/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-pond-select-gem-meets-david-klass.214293/[/URL]

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

3.17 untreated Aquamarine, Brazil, eye clean.
8.8mm custom cut corner square by Donn Law

The vendor pic and hand pics provided by Select Gems are accurate in some lighting. This 'tempest' has different personalities though: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-pond-select-gem-meets-david-klass.214293/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-pond-select-gem-meets-david-klass.214293/[/URL]

Soooooo gorgeous!!!!

 

[Confection10]

Jim McCormick's rhodolite and Malaya garnets. Jim's photos are pretty accurate.

 

[Acinom]

Jim McCormick's rhodolite and Malaya garnets. Jim's photos are pretty accurate.

Beautiful stones Confection!!!

 

[minousbijoux]

Confection10: what are your plans?

 

[Confection10]

Acinom, thanks

Minousbijoux, I will get my Malaya ring next Friday from my goldsmith (he was on vacation and came back this week). Setting is DZ's. Cushion rhodolite hasn't setting yet. Solitaire or halo? I'm not sure...

 

[mtsapphirelovingannie]

I am pleased with my “sunset” tourmaline cut by Barry of Artistic Colored Stones. It is a challenge to photograph to what I see in real life.

Barry described it as “Sunset Tourmaline 1.49 cts., 7.2 mm round brilliant. This dravite tourmaline from Tanzania has a medium-dark slightly orangish golden color with a hit of brown. It is flawless at 10x and lively.”

 

[arabella]

Jim McCormick's rhodolite and Malaya garnets. Jim's photos are pretty accurate.

Thank you for posting these Confection10. I have been admiring several of his gems, but have been hesitant to purchase any. It's reassuring to see that the photos were accurate for you!

 

[Acinom]

Asscher cut natural blue Topaz by Bespoke Gems (Doug Menadue).
First of all: I expected the color of the cut gem a lot deeper/darker basedon the color of the rough, which can be attributed to my inexperience.

After having worn this ring for a few days, I would say that the stone is more beautiful and lively in real life. Mochiko posted some real life pics of her stone in the Bespoke Gems Blues thread and I would say these are close to reality.
Doug was perfect to work with and answered all my questions with great patience.

 

[Acinom]

Danburite from Precision Gem (Gene).
I would say the vendor pics shows a brighter yellow than in reality. The actual color is more subtle and subdued in a good way.
Gene is a very pleasant vendor to work with.

 

[ilovegemstones]

1.71 unheated Ceylon sapphire from Finewater Gems. I think Gary's pictures are very accurate and it is better in real life! Way better!

 

[ilovegemstones]

My smartphone is adding more blue than it shows in real life in these pics. In real life it looks like his pics even outside.

 

[ramyak75]

Red Spinel from Customfacetor (Grey in NC)

Hello,

I just got a red spinel from Grey (Customfacetor) and am very pleased with the cut, color and quality, though I am by no means an expert. I thought I would share here, since I didn't find any references for customfacetor on this forum. I have bought from Dana (mastercutgems) before and he had a link to custom facetor on his webpage. I believe Dana used to have some stones cut by Grey on his website, but Grey has his own website now. Below are the images of the ring I just got made with the red spinel. And also an image of the gemstone from Grey's website. Hope some will find this useful!
Ramya

Origin: Viet Nam
Weight: 1.97 carats
Size: 9.0 X 6.7 mm
Clarity VS
Cut: Oval Barion
Color: Claret
Treatment: None

 

[dcpayne]

Hi everyone!

This is a great thread. I stumbled across it while gathering more information on Gemstone Engagement rings. My thought is to purchase a loose stone and have it set locally at a jewlers. I do not know a lot about stones, so have been researching a lot.

I love the colour of morganite, but from what I understand about the stone should look for something more durable.

Pink is the tone I am drawn too, but I am not interested in anything too colourful or pink. I love peach, blush, orangey pink.

I have a few questions if anyone would be so kind to answer:

1. Can anyone provide recommendations on stones that are durable and light pink?

2. I have looked at the websites of the artists provided - is that the best way to purchase a loose stone?

3. Is anyone from Canada? That is where I reside. I wonder if it would be a problem shipping.

4. Any makers to really avoid and any to really look into? Barry at Artistic Coloured Stones seems to come up a lot.

I really appreciate any feedback. This is a wee bit overwhelming.

Many thanks,

Dena

 

[minousbijoux]

Hi Dena: As the title of this thread indicates, this thread is for PSers to compare their photos of stones they've purchased with the vendor photos. You are asking questions related to your own search so the best thing to do is start your own thread.

 

[dcpayne]

My apologies everyone :/ I would remove if I knew how.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

5.87 carat spinel from Jerry Newman. His description and picture are pretty spot on because the spinel shifts from a pink to a copper penny color.

 

[elle_71125]

Here's my Jason Brim tourmaline

Vendor pic:


My pics:

 

[minousbijoux]

Your photos show the stone as even more saturated than Jason's photos do. Elle71125, can't wait to see what you do with it.

 

[Gem Queen]

holy ...... that tourmaline is fabulous. How big is it? I covet it!!

 

[elle_71125]

holy ...... that tourmaline is fabulous. How big is it? I covet it!!

Thank you.
It's 1.55ct and the dimensions are 7x6x4


Thank you minousbijoux! I can't wait to see what I do with it too.

 

[lovedogs]

holy ...... that tourmaline is fabulous. How big is it? I covet it!!

+1!!! I am so jealous that you got this one, it's so gorgeous! It looks even better in your pics compared to Jason's

 

[Acinom]

holy ...... that tourmaline is fabulous. How big is it? I covet it!!

+1!!! I am so jealous that you got this one, it's so gorgeous! It looks even better in your pics compared to Jason's

+1: it looks even more stunning in your pics. What a beauty...

 

[Acinom]

Afghan tourmaline, custom cut for me by Doug Menadue (Bespoke Gems).
I would say Doug's pics are pretty accurate. I have noticed how hard it is to capture the bi-colour light green and daker green and even harder to capture the true colour.
It's a very calm,sophisticated and understated green.

Thank you Doug!!!

More pics of the stone, in an 18 kt white gold ring by Alistair Kelsey in my thread: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-flow-2-rings-by-the-fabulous-alistair-kelsey.219521/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-flow-2-rings-by-the-fabulous-alistair-kelsey.219521/[/URL]

 

[Acinom]

Greenish zircon by Chris Auletta.
The stone is unbelievable in real life with quite a remarkable colour. I would see that the stone is even more beautiful in real life.
During most lighting conditions I see more blue. In lower light it shows its greenish side.
I cannot believe the beauty of this stone in real life. Thank you! Thank you Chris Auletta!

More pics here: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-flow-2-rings-by-the-fabulous-alistair-kelsey.219521/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-flow-2-rings-by-the-fabulous-alistair-kelsey.219521/[/URL]

 

[abbit]

A ruby pendant from Pristine Jewelry https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/213253980/reserved-ruby-layering-necklace-14k-gold