What''s the deal with Tan''s Tanzanian Blue Sapphires?

[dzop]

Tan (Odysseygem, gemburionline, vvs1gem) seems to always have a ton of great, reasonably priced stones from Tanzania.

But in the last few weeks, I've started to notice him listing some exceptional blue sapphires from Tanzania.

For example, this beauty.

In the few years where I've been buying gems, I've never seen blues of quite this color or crystal from mainland Africa...Madagascar, sure, but never in Tanzania...

So what's the deal here? Has there always been a source in Tanzania for true gem blues and they've just been labeled as Madagascarian? Or is this a new source?

I've seen plenty of fancies and color-changers with a claimed Tanzanian origin, but nothing like this (and there are a few others listed with similar, excellent, royal blue color).

 

[Arcadian]

Date: 5/31/2010 11:49:10 PM
Author:dzop
Tan (Odysseygem, gemburionline, vvs1gem) seems to always have a ton of great, reasonably priced stones from Tanzania.


But in the last few weeks, I''ve started to notice him listing some exceptional blue sapphires from Tanzania.


For example, this beauty.


In the few years where I''ve been buying gems, I''ve never seen blues of quite this color or crystal from mainland Africa...Madagascar, sure, but never in Tanzania...


So what''s the deal here? Has there always been a source in Tanzania for true gem blues and they''ve just been labeled as Madagascarian? Or is this a new source?


I''ve seen plenty of fancies and color-changers with a claimed Tanzanian origin, but nothing like this (and there are a few others listed with similar, excellent, royal blue color).

Dunno, maybe you can ask him (he''s very responsive)

the sapphire I purchased from him is from Madagascar. Also if there''s no treatment you can ask for him to have it certed (its an extra cost to you but could also be worth it)

-A

 

[soberguy]

Love the color

 

[Jim Rentfrow]

Tanzania has two locations that are well known for sapphires. These regions are Umba and Tunduru. I have seen quite a few nice sapphires from these regions over the years including a 3.26 untreated blue Portuguese round which I bought about five years ago.

 

[T L]

I think MTG obtained a really beautiful Tanzanian blue sapphire from Gene of precisiongem.com, so they do exist.

 

[T L]

On a side note, I emailed Tan this morning about the AIGS findings I reported in some other threads here, and this is what he had to say, so you can be confident if you buy a sapphire from him that you can get a report from a lab that can test for all treatements. GIT can test for be-treatment from what Morecarats had mentioned.

Quote:
We always use the GIT but seems in ebay AIGS is
more popular. Our main office only use GIT for
brief report besides GIA and GRS.
I believe AIGS have some problems with their
equipment.A While ago AIGS brief report also
stated no artificial treatment and etc if I'm not
mistaken. Like example AIGS can certified Taafeite
or Musgravite but GIT has no problem. For future
if any Sapphires or Ruby you can asked for GIT
Thanks
Tan

 

[PinkTower]

Dzop,

What an interesting question. I hope you do let us know if you get a reply.
I understand there are blue sapphires from there, but this many? I thought they were rare in that color.

 

[VapidLapid]

Isn''t the Winza find in Tanzania?

 

[T L]

Date: 6/1/2010 7:14:23 PM
Author: VapidLapid
Isn''t the Winza find in Tanzania?

I believe so, and I think that''s where all the beautiful colors are coming from. Someone correct me if I''m wrong.

 

[colorluvr]

Date: 6/1/2010 10:09:34 AM
Author: tourmaline_lover
On a side note, I emailed Tan this morning about the AIGS findings I reported in some other threads here, and this is what he had to say, so you can be confident if you buy a sapphire from him that you can get a report from a lab that can test for all treatements. GIT can test for be-treatment from what Morecarats had mentioned.

Quote:
We always use the GIT but seems in ebay AIGS is
more popular. Our main office only use GIT for
brief report besides GIA and GRS.
I believe AIGS have some problems with their
equipment.A While ago AIGS brief report also
stated no artificial treatment and etc if I''m not
mistaken. Like example AIGS can certified Taafeite
or Musgravite but GIT has no problem. For future
if any Sapphires or Ruby you can asked for GIT
Thanks
Tan

TL, do you or any one else know how much it costs to get this GIT cert that includes the tests for BE heating? There has been a lot of talk about what it takes to test for BE heating, but I haven''t seen where anyone has mentioned the cost. If would be interesting to know, so if someone purchased a supposed "gentle heat only" sapphire, they would know how much it would cost to prove that was in fact true. I have only purchased one stone from Tan, and it was little mahenge spinel and I didn''t request a cert.

 

[Upgradable]

It''s my understanding that Tan charges $25 for either AIG or GIT certification.

 

[T L]

Date: 6/1/2010 7:45:31 PM
Author: colorluvr

Date: 6/1/2010 10:09:34 AM
Author: tourmaline_lover
On a side note, I emailed Tan this morning about the AIGS findings I reported in some other threads here, and this is what he had to say, so you can be confident if you buy a sapphire from him that you can get a report from a lab that can test for all treatements. GIT can test for be-treatment from what Morecarats had mentioned.

Quote:
We always use the GIT but seems in ebay AIGS is
more popular. Our main office only use GIT for
brief report besides GIA and GRS.
I believe AIGS have some problems with their
equipment.A While ago AIGS brief report also
stated no artificial treatment and etc if I''m not
mistaken. Like example AIGS can certified Taafeite
or Musgravite but GIT has no problem. For future
if any Sapphires or Ruby you can asked for GIT
Thanks
Tan

TL, do you or any one else know how much it costs to get this GIT cert that includes the tests for BE heating? There has been a lot of talk about what it takes to test for BE heating, but I haven''t seen where anyone has mentioned the cost. If would be interesting to know, so if someone purchased a supposed ''gentle heat only'' sapphire, they would know how much it would cost to prove that was in fact true. I have only purchased one stone from Tan, and it was little mahenge spinel and I didn''t request a cert.

Feel free to email Tan and ask him. He will quote you a price. Let us know what he says.

 

[T L]

Date: 6/1/2010 7:47:02 PM
Author: Uppy
It''s my understanding that Tan charges $25 for either AIG or GIT certification.

I think it''s $30 for AIGS, not sure how much it is for GIT, but you could be right.

 

[colorluvr]

I just paid $25 for a "small" AIGS cert, but I thought it cost more if they did the BE testing? I''ll email Tan and ask him what it costs for a GIT cert that tests for BE heating.

I was just under the impression that test cost a lot more money than a standard cert, but I certainly could be wrong.

 

[dzop]

I was aware of Winza, but I had no idea it was producing gem blues. I always associated it with rubies and near-ruby pinks.

Date: 6/1/2010 7:17:23 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover

Date: 6/1/2010 7:14:23 PM

Author: VapidLapid

Isn''t the Winza find in Tanzania?

I believe so, and I think that''s where all the beautiful colors are coming from. Someone correct me if I''m wrong.

 

[PrecisionGem]

From the find in Winza, there are rubies, blue, purple among other colors. A really unique sapphire from Winza are the ones that are a combination of red and blue, sort of like a calico cat.

 

[colorluvr]

I sent Tan an email asking him the cost of a GIT cert which would indicate whether or not a sapphire was BE heated. I also ask him if it was the same cost as the normal cert. AND, I asked him if one of his sapphires tests to be BE heated, but wasn''t listed as BE heated on the auction, will he allow the buyer to cancel transaction.

He has already gotten back to me and this is his response:

"The GIT to certified for Sapphires cost $40.00 for the brief certificate and will certified or indicates the type of treatment. YES and Yes and if our gems with beryllium or artificial treatment we refund in full guarantee and even your shipping sending us back.
Best Regards
Tan"

I think this just raised the bar for the other Thai sellers as far as I''m concerned. I''m anxious to see if some of the other Thai sellers will step up to the plate and make the same guarantee. I certainly don''t consider $40 to be "really expensive" for a certification as to whether or not a sapphire has been BE heated.

I will definitely ask for this type of GIT cert from a Thai seller the next time I''m tempted to bid on a "gentle heat only" sapphire!

thanks to everyone who has contributed and commented on this topic on this thread and others... I''ve learned a lot, I just wished I knew this 6 months ago, but live and learn...

 

[T L]

Date: 6/1/2010 11:31:03 PM
Author: colorluvr
I sent Tan an email asking him the cost of a GIT cert which would indicate whether or not a sapphire was BE heated. I also ask him if it was the same cost as the normal cert. AND, I asked him if one of his sapphires tests to be BE heated, but wasn''t listed as BE heated on the auction, will he allow the buyer to cancel transaction.


He has already gotten back to me and this is his response:


''The GIT to certified for Sapphires cost $40.00 for the brief certificate and will certified or indicates the type of treatment. YES and Yes and if our gems with beryllium or artificial treatment we refund in full guarantee and even your shipping sending us back.

Best Regards

Tan''


I think this just raised the bar for the other Thai sellers as far as I''m concerned. I''m anxious to see if some of the other Thai sellers will step up to the plate and make the same guarantee. I certainly don''t consider $40 to be ''really expensive'' for a certification as to whether or not a sapphire has been BE heated.


I will definitely ask for this type of GIT cert from a Thai seller the next time I''m tempted to bid on a ''gentle heat only'' sapphire!


thanks to everyone who has contributed and commented on this topic on this thread and others... I''ve learned a lot, I just wished I knew this 6 months ago, but live and learn...

Good luck getting this much from another Thai seller. Not all of them are bad, but I like that he offers a multitude of certificates from various reputable and highly respected gem labs. If I were to buy a sapphire, it would be from Tan because he can provide the check for be-treatment if you request the appropriate lab for it, and it''s not at an exhorbitant cost. $40 is not a lot to pay for a gem brief, when some laboratory certificates cost more than $100. JMO.