Vendor pictures and owner pictures of PS stones

[Double E]

Recently got chrysoberyl from adamant and I am happy with the purchase, communication has been great.

The chryso’s colour looks quite align between your hand shot and vendor photo. Have you played with it under different lightings? How do you feel about it’s colour performances?

 

[zhazha]

The chryso’s colour looks quite align between your hand shot and vendor photo. Have you played with it under different lightings? How do you feel about it’s colour performances?

The color meets my expectation, the above photo is taken under white office lighting, besides window indoor looks like this

 

[Double E]

The color meets my expectation, the above photo is taken under white office lighting, besides window indoor looks like this

Thanks for posting more photo. I am really interested in chrysoberyl. Yours look bright under fluorescent lightings and didn’t look dim even indoors as shown in the second pic May I have an understanding when will it look it’s “worst” or darkest? Say how will it perform in dim or low light?

 

[zhazha]

Thanks for posting more photo. I am really interested in chrysoberyl. Yours look bright under fluorescent lightings and didn’t look dim even indoors as shown in the second pic May I have an understanding when will it look it’s “worst” or darkest? Say how will it perform in dim or low light?

Not sure when it is defined as the worst and the picture above is not very bright, less saturated in dim lighting. I recently saw desertrose has 2 lovely chrysoberyl on sale as well, maybe you could find her on instagram.

 

[shelovesinclusions]

Husband gave me a very light pink sapphire from Master Cut Gems for Christmas. The description said it was difficult to photograph, and they meant it.

Vendor


Mine


The MCG pictures show the beauty of it better; mine capture more "crispness" and less color. Cameras make inclusions very prominent that are actually pretty hard to spot without magnification; it's a super sparkly gem in good light, and kinda glowly in lower.

 

[icy_jade]

From Asiatique


Irl outdoors


Beautiful color and irl the colors is as hoped from when I saw the IG post.

 

[AnastasiaBeaverhausen]

From Asiatique


Irl outdoors


Beautiful color and irl the colors is as hoped from when I saw the IG post.

That green is unreal!

 

[Atwater]

1.35ct Blue Sapphire unheated/untreated sapphire, from Enhoerning Jewelry. I got it during this year's Thanksgiving sale. Vendor's page is here: https://www.enhoerning-jewelry.com/loosegemstones/135-ct-ceylon-blue. Vendor's picture:

My pictures:
Outside under overcast sky:



In shade:


One side looks darker when viewed vertically.



It is an impulse buy due to the sale price, but I am satisfied. I will have it set east-west way.

 

[CHRISTY-DANIELLE]

More praise for Andrews Gems on etsy.

 

[Mreader]

More praise for Andrews Gems on etsy.

Oh cool you bought that!! I had seen that and admired it and I think that @YadaYadaYada had mentioned that one too saying it was pretty.

 

[CHRISTY-DANIELLE]

Oh cool you bought that!! I had seen that and admired it and I think that @YadaYadaYada had mentioned that one too saying it was pretty.

I looked at it several times, so when he had a sale...I grabbed it. Fits my old deco setting perfectly!

 

[YadaYadaYada]

More praise for Andrews Gems on etsy.

Wow, I love it

 

[icy_jade]

From Asiatique on the left vs mine on the right

 

[shelovesinclusions]

I recently purchased a green Brazilian tourmaline from Master Cut Gems. My phone camera shows the inclusions more. Their pictures seem to get the green better than my camera phone which flushes any and all warmth out. But, it did look more blue-green like my pics when I was outside with it. It's very similar to my emeralds, but with less blue and no glow.

MCG pics are are pretty spot on and show off the very nice brilliant cut.


My pictures
Flash


Outside at sundown

 

[MarzannaBurns]

I recently purchased a green Brazilian tourmaline from Master Cut Gems. My phone camera shows the inclusions more. Their pictures seem to get the green better than my camera phone which flushes any and all warmth out. But, it did look more blue-green like my pics when I was outside with it. It's very similar to my emeralds, but with less blue and no glow.

MCG pics are are pretty spot on and show off the very nice brilliant cut.


My pictures
Flash


Outside at sundown

Gorgeous!

 

[OneKuhlChic]

From a recent Mastercut gems sale, a cushiony oval zircon. Plan to set in yellow gold. Fell in love with it in one of Rachels videos and in real life was not at all disappointed! Top photos from Mastercut.

Love Master Cut Gems, Dana is awesome!! Your zircon is stunning too.

 

[OneKuhlChic]

I recently purchased a green Brazilian tourmaline from Master Cut Gems. My phone camera shows the inclusions more. Their pictures seem to get the green better than my camera phone which flushes any and all warmth out. But, it did look more blue-green like my pics when I was outside with it. It's very similar to my emeralds, but with less blue and no glow.

MCG pics are are pretty spot on and show off the very nice brilliant cut.


My pictures
Flash


Outside at sundown

I recently purchased a green Brazilian tourmaline from Master Cut Gems. My phone camera shows the inclusions more. Their pictures seem to get the green better than my camera phone which flushes any and all warmth out. But, it did look more blue-green like my pics when I was outside with it. It's very similar to my emeralds, but with less blue and no glow.

MCG pics are are pretty spot on and show off the very nice brilliant cut.


My pictures
Flash


Outside at sundown

I had my eye on a similar tourmaline on MCG but ended up getting an Umbalite Garnet from Jeff Davies.

 

[OneKuhlChic]

Did you ever get the JuliaB setting? I was wondering if it lives up to the Etsy photos.

Gorgeous stone!!!! Love that mint green wow... So pretty

 

[OneKuhlChic]

Vendor
My picture



I just don't understand how it was even possible to edit this washed-out brown rock into a decent-looking mandarin spessartite. Just another one of my bad ebay shopping sprees.

Probably best to avoid over sea vendors; stick with vendors recommended on PriceScope or GemOnline.

I can say first hand that Dana at Master Cut Gems is an awesome lapridarist and his pricing is the best I've seen.

I also just bought an Umbalite Garnet from Jeff Davies - haven't received it yet, but from what I see on his website and Etsy shop he does a beautiful job cutting gemstones.

 

[OneKuhlChic]

I bought a 6mm umbalite garnet from Jeff Davies on eBay. It was an auction where I got it quite cheaply. I wanted see how his darker stones look in real life after previous posts about how his stones look in real life Vs his photos. So for your edification I took some photos.

This is his image:


These are mine:
Indoors in shade

Back of stone

Indoors in sunlight

Indoors sunlight with camera flash on. This is the closest to his photo. He is clearly using very bright lighting.

Hand shot indoors shade. As you can see, my blue sapphire is almost black, but this is not.

Indoors flash

Well, now I'm getting nervous... I just bought a 5.16 carat, 9.7mm Umbalite Garnet from Jeff Davies. I really hope I won't be disappointed. Once it arrives I'll post comparison pics of his pics vs mine for this educational project. Here's his photo

 

[OneKuhlChic]

I will now add some GOOD vendor vs. reality photo examples. I have particularly had good luck with close-to-source IG vendors and cellphone photos.

Leenagemslk on IG
Vendor photo of yellow sapphire


My photo of yellow sapphire


HarisGems on IG
Vendor photo of blue tourmaline - tropical daylight


Vendor photo of blue tourmaline - bad indoor lighting


My photos of blue tourmaline


My photo in low outdoor light


My photo indoor lighting


Finestonepk on IG - lagoon tourmaline

Vendor photo


My photos

OMG your pics look better than the vendors!!! What a gorgeous color!

 

[OneKuhlChic]

I've been very happy with the stones from a number of IG vendors taking photos with cellphone cameras near the equator (including Haris_Gems_93, Finestonespk, Stylogems_Pakistan, and Leenagemslk, and a few more vendors selling melee.) Their photos have been a good match for what the stones really look like, especially when I get indoor bad lighting photos from them. Small differences are likely due to #1 the sun angle, and #2 not photoshop color-correcting the photos. I have been able to replicate most of their photos despite being at an extremely northern latitude.

The vendor I have been very unhappy with is Jeff Davies, who #1 took photos manipulated by the studio setup, and #2 made a very poor cut selection for the material so that its unusable.

There are other vendors I have been "meh" on where the stone I bought is beautiful but looks somewhat different than the photos. These vendors may be manipulating photos, or maybe they are photographing in unrealistic conditions.

Well I wish I'd read this post before buying from Jeff Davies. If it looks bad I'll return it and start looking for another 5.16 carat Umbalite Garnet. Bummer

 

[OneKuhlChic]

Nope - never! It's not often I'm completely had over but this was one of those times. I'm still puzzled how they managed to make this manky stone look so good!



Honestly, I was so disgusted I nearly put it in the bin. Yes I should return it. I told the seller how disappointed I was and he just said I was looking at it in the wrong light lol I took it into direct sunlight and it didn't look any better.

Return it... If the vendor gives you a hard time call your credit card company and they'll help get your money back. Same if using PayPal.

 

[OneKuhlChic]

I don't know what it is with most spinel and direct sun, they just get extinction all over.

If they were round brilliant they may not have extinction...

 

[paragon1234]

Well, now I'm getting nervous... I just bought a 5.16 carat, 9.7mm Umbalite Garnet from Jeff Davies. I really hope I won't be disappointed. Once it arrives I'll post comparison pics of his pics vs mine for this educational project. Here's his photo

I've bought a few stones from him, and I'm very happy with the mint tourmaline and a blue zircon.

 

[OneKuhlChic]

I've bought a few stones from him, and I'm very happy with the mint tourmaline and a blue zircon.

I hear that ovals are prone to extinction unless supernova or maybe Barion or Portuguese. Do the more experienced members of this forum agree? The color in the tsav above is so pretty but I wouldn't have expected extinction from vendor pic. Which reinforces the recommendations here to ask alot of questions.

Agreed. I love oval and pear shaped gemstones but because of extinction I lean towards round...

 

[OneKuhlChic]

I couldn't agree more! My stones are beautiful. Then I take a photo and they are typically dark. They don't sparkle, and for crying out loud what do you do when they are small? How do you take a picture of it out of the box? Then I have finger prints on them. I definitely need a tutorial!!!

I did a little research about how to photo color gemstones, of course after taking pics of my Jeff Davies Umbalite Garnet. I'll post pics in the most recent section of this thread.

I also took photography in college but am by no means an expert!!

Here's the link:

Jewelry photography tips - how to take pictures of jewelry

 

[OneKuhlChic]

@Polyhex
thank you for your informative posts!

do you feel the variances in vendor photos in comparison to your images could be due to the difference in sunlight in terms of the vendor's location versus your location??

or

do you feel that some vendors might be digitally color adjusting images to enhance a stones appearance to increase appeal??

Forgive me if I have previously posted this.

Vendor is Annie at Haydenfred.
Grey emerald cut spinel 3ct 9.5 x 7mm

Her photo






My photos by a window diffuse light and then indoors worst lighting in the house.

Wow... I've never seen a dark grey spinel - but it's beautiful and Iove the step cut!!! Great choice (s)!!

 

[OneKuhlChic]

Another Mastercut purchase. Dana says sold to him as unheated (naturally blue) zircon. Looks just like pics and I'm very pleased. Sparkle bomb!
Vendor:


Mine:

Holy cow!!! Your pics have more sparks than MCG's!!! I love that shop!

 

[OneKuhlChic]

I've bought a few stones from him, and I'm very happy with the mint tourmaline and a blue zircon.

Hi Paragon1234, thank you for your feedback. After reading the negative comments about Jeff Davies, my initial reaction was to start shopping for another Umbalite from a different vendor.

My Umbalite Garnet arrived a couple days ago, I think it's beautiful and sparkles like crazy in low light, incandescent, and natural light from the window. I haven't really looked at it in bright sunlight or in a brightly lit room. My first pic looks horrible, it looks flat and dark - without life.

Fortunately, I decided to take quite a few more pics all in indirect lighting while sitting in my living room.

Jeff Davies pic:


My pics: