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Watermelon tourmaline...

Odyssey44 said:
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
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i dont know what im talking about most of the time but i love your stone
 
Odyssey44 said:
Thanks as always Autumn! You are like having my own gem consultant on speed dial! I appreciate you!
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Aww I'm happy to help! I went through this when shopping for my watermelon, so I understand all of your concerns and considerations. Give serious thought to that second one... it really looks rather perfect!
 
Odyssey44 said:
Ha! You probably know more than I do. I am paranoid I am going to miss a window. It's not my stone yet, but it might be! I have a project in mind. (Famous last words!)
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I look forward to seeing what you do!
popyummy.gif
 
Autumn in New England said:
Aww I'm happy to help! I went through this when shopping for my watermelon, so I understand all of your concerns and considerations. Give serious thought to that second one... it really looks rather perfect!
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I definitely am! It is a vendor I do not know in Bangkok, but they look legit, take paypal and some of the famous vendors follow him. I think that is enough to take a chance! Paypal especially helps alleviate worry.
 
Odyssey44 said:
I definitely am! It is a vendor I do not know in Bangkok, but they look legit, take paypal and some of the famous vendors follow him. I think that is enough to take a chance! Paypal especially helps alleviate worry.
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You're talking to someone who once wired $12k to an unfamiliar vendor in Vietnam with no return policy (cobalt spinel). Luckily it worked out! lol I think you'll be just fine.
 
Autumn in New England said:
You're talking to someone who once wired $12k to an unfamiliar vendor in Vietnam with no return policy (cobalt spinel). Luckily it worked out! lol I think you'll be just fine.
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WOW!!!! I bet you had some sleepless nights until your spinel arrived!
 
I am pretty sure this is the same stone at a different vendor! The ct. weight and dimensions match. The paper towel see-through is there too! Should this give me pause for concern? Sorry, video on next post. I could not get it to take on this one.
 

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Odyssey44 said:
Sorry, video on next post. I could not get it to take on this one.
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It wasn't you, imgur links have been kind of broken since the last forum update. They always show up as just links.
 
I have found the exact stone I am looking at, as well as multiple exact other bicolor stones on at least 10 Instagram sites run by people with Arabic sounding names. This is even though some say they are in Bangkok, some say they are in Pakistan and some say they are in London. The *exact* video is shown on all these sites. To top it off, the original guy I messaged about it asked me if I had WhatsApp. Why would he need to go to WhatsApp? This all could be valid somehow, but it is making every red flag go up for me. I told him I did not have WhatsApp and so far he has not replied.
 
Odyssey44 said:
I have found the exact stone I am looking at, as well as multiple exact other bicolor stones on at least 10 Instagram sites run by people with Arabic sounding names. This is even though some say they are in Bangkok, some say they are in Pakistan and some say they are in London. The *exact* video is shown on all these sites. To top it off, the original guy I messaged about it asked me if I had WhatsApp. Why would he need to go to WhatsApp? This all could be valid somehow, but it is making every red flag go up for me. I told him I did not have WhatsApp and so far he has not replied.
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If you're already on IG, moving things to WhatsApp is a matter of convenience in most cases, I've noticed. IG messaging leaves a lot to be desired.
If, however, you're on a shopping platform like Etsy, then moving the conversation off said platform would indeed be a red flag.
In any case, if you want to keep everything in one place, simply say you don't use WhatsApp and prefer to stay on IG. It shouldn't be a problem for the vendor.

The fact that multiple other vendors use the same video makes me think of two possible scenarios.
One is fairly common in the gem trade, it seems - where one seller has a stone, but a number of other sellers try to sell it as well even though they don't have it in hand. They're essentially selling someone else's inventory.
The second is, of course, a scam of some kind. You know how you might find the same amazing looking dress from very questionable sites at very questionable low prices, where said sites stole the original photos from the original listing of the original dress by the original designer, and are instead selling a cheap ugly knock off?
Kinda like that.

You can always ask the vendor whether they have the stone in hand. If they admit they don't, then you know it's the first scenario. If they confirm they do, you can always ask for some very specific photo of the stone taken under specific conditions - say, next to a banana, or next to a piece of paper with something written on it. It's one known method used when buying preloved, for example, because there are scammers there as well.

Oh, and PayPal is a solid green flag only if it's Goods&Services. If the seller asks for Friends&Family, just straight up say no and peace out of the conversation.
 
Super, super advice Avondale, thanks. I did say I don't have it, because I thought for sure if he is honest this would not stop a sale of several grand! I said I wanted to see any stones I could use for earrings with the stones in question. That was too easy. I will ask for something more idiosyncratic if I ever hear from him again.

Yes, I am worried I am encountering stolen photos/videos.

Well, the ball is in his court now to say something.
 
Everything Avondale said. Does the gem come certified by a lab you trust?

Again, I wouldn't worry about what you're seeing in that photo. The gem is upside down to show the pavilion. In the video, there appears to *maybe* be a slight tilt window, but it's nearly impossible to avoid with these exaggerated, elongated shapes. The cut looks fantastic to me. The stone is stunning all around!
 
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