shape
carat
color
clarity

Watermelon tourmaline...

So I ended up buying that 14.13ct. one... here she be. Dimensions are approximately 16x12x8mm. Remarkably, the inclusions are less prominent in person. That never, ever happens. They're certainly present, but they blend into the stone nicely. None of them becomes more apparent under any lighting, even direct sun. That was going to make or break the piece for me. The color is better in person, again, surprisingly (also never happens). And there's no window whatsoever, which was difficult to find in this particular cut. I know I overpaid (we agreed on $7,000, as opposed to the $9,375 list price). Ah well!

thumbnail_20240312_174636 (1).jpg

Goodness me, this is gorgeous! I cannot wait to see this stone set :kiss2:
 
thumbnail_20240312_174636 (1).jpg

Wow! Super-vivid at both poles and what a gorgeous and balanced watermelon effect! Can't wait to see what you do with it, @Autumn in New England. Appreciate the candor around pricing, too.
 
Oooh that’s a gorgeous one! Well done!

Glad you like her!!

I've never seen one IRL before today and it's so pretty. This was at my jeweler and it's vintage custom made. It glitters and shines.

I just love these butterfly rings made with parti-colored tourm. Are you going to buy it? :dance:
 
This was shown in the GIA newsletter. Thought it was interesting. These are actually "watermelon Tourmaline". Everything else shown in this thread are actually bi-color tourmaline, not watermelon tourmaline.

SP24-MW-Fig16-323838-636px.jpg

The watermelon tourmaline slices shown in the figure above are remarkable for their mesmerizing iris effect. Unearthed from the famed Cruzeiro mine in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais more than seven years ago, they were precisely cut to unveil their rainbow spectrum. Each slice, measuring 18 × 18 × 4 mm, radiates an alluring interplay of colors attributed to the iris effect, a phenomenon created by subtle internal fractures within the gemstone. This rare flawlessly matched pair weighed 34.99 carats total, conjuring the enchantment of fiery Australian opals.
 
This was shown in the GIA newsletter. Thought it was interesting. These are actually "watermelon Tourmaline". Everything else shown in this thread are actually bi-color tourmaline, not watermelon tourmaline.

SP24-MW-Fig16-323838-636px.jpg

The watermelon tourmaline slices shown in the figure above are remarkable for their mesmerizing iris effect. Unearthed from the famed Cruzeiro mine in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais more than seven years ago, they were precisely cut to unveil their rainbow spectrum. Each slice, measuring 18 × 18 × 4 mm, radiates an alluring interplay of colors attributed to the iris effect, a phenomenon created by subtle internal fractures within the gemstone. This rare flawlessly matched pair weighed 34.99 carats total, conjuring the enchantment of fiery Australian opals.

This is unbelievable. I've never seen anything like it
 
This was shown in the GIA newsletter. Thought it was interesting. These are actually "watermelon Tourmaline". Everything else shown in this thread are actually bi-color tourmaline, not watermelon tourmaline.

SP24-MW-Fig16-323838-636px.jpg

The watermelon tourmaline slices shown in the figure above are remarkable for their mesmerizing iris effect. Unearthed from the famed Cruzeiro mine in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais more than seven years ago, they were precisely cut to unveil their rainbow spectrum. Each slice, measuring 18 × 18 × 4 mm, radiates an alluring interplay of colors attributed to the iris effect, a phenomenon created by subtle internal fractures within the gemstone. This rare flawlessly matched pair weighed 34.99 carats total, conjuring the enchantment of fiery Australian opals.

These are i n c r e d i b l e! I can't get over the iridescent sheen. Thank you for sharing!! Mother nature is a mad scientist (as Kramer used to say).

P.S. I'm still calling my stone watermelon.
stickouttongue.gif
tee hee
 
I've been meaning to add mine - this looks like the time :) I found this bracelet while browsing for furniture in a resale shop maybe a decade ago. These appear to be slices from the same crystal. The chain is GF and it was less than $35 - which was a splurge for me that day, but I love it :)
WT Indirect.jpg
 

Attachments

  • WT Sunlight.jpg
    WT Sunlight.jpg
    577.4 KB · Views: 7
I've been meaning to add mine - this looks like the time :) I found this bracelet while browsing for furniture in a resale shop maybe a decade ago. These appear to be slices from the same crystal. The chain is GF and it was less than $35 - which was a splurge for me that day, but I love it :)
WT Indirect.jpg

This is SO cool! I'm glad you shared it!! :love:
 

Oooo I want this!

Looks identical to my one that I posted before, from the same seller. Mine is a little under 3ct and 20x4.5mm approx. They had a handful of crystals to pick from. I considered larger but I wanted the closer 33/33/33 color split.
Quick photo
3.jpg
 
Looks identical to my one that I posted before, from the same seller. Mine is a little under 3ct and 20x4.5mm approx. They had a handful of crystals to pick from. I considered larger but I wanted the closer 33/33/33 color split.
Quick photo
3.jpg

Oh my godddd it's so perfect. What are your plans for it?
 
Oh my godddd it's so perfect. What are your plans for it?

They did a fantastic job. FYI - I think the seller's price is flexible based on what I paid, worth asking for a reduction if anyone is seriously interested. Maybe I'm wrong - mine is half the weight and I recall them saying a 5-6ct is largest they could cut with the rest quite a bit smaller, which could be a factor in pricing.

Plans - no idea, I'm not too active of a setter. I prefer buying stones to setting, and I enjoy them loose too. If I get around to it, the shape leads itself to a pendant, yet I don't want something too simple or delicate. I've been putting more energy in a design for something else recently.

For a long emerald cut I like this sort of 'diamond maze' design but I am not sure its for me. Its also a lot of $ in diamonds.

1 (2).jpg1 (1).jpg

And Hemmerle recently shared this gorgeous broach with a very long skinny tourmaline, which is going in the inspiration folder.
 
Reviving this to add myself to those looking for a vibrant bicolor pink/green tourmaline stone. I am looking for a long bar for a pendant. A vendor sent me this, said it was eye clean. Cost is 4k and it is 10 cts. Is $400 per carat expensive? I asked what the marks were at 3 seconds into the video, but no explanation. He is implying he does not see anything. It looks like the back was not polished? I'm not sure.
 
This bi-colour Tourmaline will always be my favourite:

1740591190104.png

DK :))
 
I think that top photo is just a little dark, so it's making the pink look "earthier" than it is... I love the rose color in the second photo, @Odyssey44. Typically that shade goes hand-in-hand with the deeper teal shades, as we see here. Judging solely by the photos you posted, I don't see any obvious inclusions. I only see a bit of surface reflection. The cut is fantastic for an elongated bar-type. They're terribly prone to windowing. I think it's gorgeous... and the price is in the realm of what I would expect.
 
Wow, thanks Autumn! I'm still trying to figure out how to get the video to load.
 
Wow, thanks Autumn! I'm still trying to figure out how to get the video to load.

Unfortunately, you can't upload a video from your computer (like with photos). I wish the mods would change that. Anyway, it has to be uploaded to a file sharing site first... I use vimeo, but there are lots. Then you post a link. :)
 
I am not figuring out how to capture videos from IG. Imgur is not working when I try to just paste the link. Frustrating! Anyway, I am still looking because in my heart I really want one that looks more pink than red. I saw this one, and in just one part of the video (my second picture), you can see the texture of the paper towel it is on right down the middle and along the green end. Are these windows? I feel they must be. But similar poses do not show them--is this some kind of trick? I am trying to better better educate myself with quality for these long bicolors.

Bicolor Tourmaline windows 2.JPGBicolor Tourmaline windows..JPG
 
I am not figuring out how to capture videos from IG. Imgur is not working when I try to just paste the link. Frustrating! Anyway, I am still looking because in my heart I really want one that looks more pink than red. I saw this one, and in just one part of the video (my second picture), you can see the texture of the paper towel it is on right down the middle and along the green end. Are these windows? I feel they must be. But similar poses do not show them--is this some kind of trick? I am trying to better better educate myself with quality for these long bicolors.

Bicolor Tourmaline windows 2.JPGBicolor Tourmaline windows..JPG

That stone looks very well-cut to me. In the second photo, where you can see the background through the stone, it is upside down. So don't worry about that. This is a gorgeous stone!!
 
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP

Featured Topics

Top