- Joined
- Nov 17, 2013
- Messages
- 2,560
After the impulse red spinel purchase and my Navajo turquoise cuff bracelets, I seriously thought I was done for the year (and my husband sure said I was), but then...this happened.
It is windowed and included (a couple of needles and a bunch of feathers), but it is ENORMOUS (13.32 carats, 17.42 x 13.76 x 8.34mm - yes, shallow) and I love the color, which is bluish green, most of the time. It looks different in different kinds of lighting. Sometimes it glows, it varies along the green to blue spectrum, and sometimes it looks like a dull mint (I don’t love it when it looks like that). It is not certified by a gem lab, but came with a detailed American gemologist’s report and appraisal (GIA certified gemologist, though we all know that’s not the same as a GIA lab report). I paid much, much less than the value stated on the appraisal. It says it’s natural Cuprian tourmaline from Mozambique, which contains copper and manganese, and “may be called Paraiba in the trade" (though I would not call it Paraiba). The color is listed as “very slightly bluish green - GIA vslbG 3/3” with light tone and moderately strong saturation. I know…with the window and the lack of formal report, one should be cautious…and I was. If I were looking to pay a lot more, I would have looked for a less windowed cut, and perhaps a darker tone with more glow, but the price was right, and I am enjoying it anyway! Because of the inclusions and the fact that the appearance varies so much in different lighting sources, I am on the fence about whether to go with a classic platinum setting or something artful like a Navajo silver ring to go with my green Royston turquoise cuff bracelet. Help me plan a ring!
In the following picture, it looks dull (my least favorite way it can look):
It looked more blue this morning in a coffee shop/restaurant:
Not too fond of this tone, either, in the kitchen:
Looking very green here:
With another, smaller, less included bluer one:
This was in my car, with the sun hitting touching the stone. I love the glow:
Yum:
On a crystal:
It is windowed and included (a couple of needles and a bunch of feathers), but it is ENORMOUS (13.32 carats, 17.42 x 13.76 x 8.34mm - yes, shallow) and I love the color, which is bluish green, most of the time. It looks different in different kinds of lighting. Sometimes it glows, it varies along the green to blue spectrum, and sometimes it looks like a dull mint (I don’t love it when it looks like that). It is not certified by a gem lab, but came with a detailed American gemologist’s report and appraisal (GIA certified gemologist, though we all know that’s not the same as a GIA lab report). I paid much, much less than the value stated on the appraisal. It says it’s natural Cuprian tourmaline from Mozambique, which contains copper and manganese, and “may be called Paraiba in the trade" (though I would not call it Paraiba). The color is listed as “very slightly bluish green - GIA vslbG 3/3” with light tone and moderately strong saturation. I know…with the window and the lack of formal report, one should be cautious…and I was. If I were looking to pay a lot more, I would have looked for a less windowed cut, and perhaps a darker tone with more glow, but the price was right, and I am enjoying it anyway! Because of the inclusions and the fact that the appearance varies so much in different lighting sources, I am on the fence about whether to go with a classic platinum setting or something artful like a Navajo silver ring to go with my green Royston turquoise cuff bracelet. Help me plan a ring!
In the following picture, it looks dull (my least favorite way it can look):
It looked more blue this morning in a coffee shop/restaurant:
Not too fond of this tone, either, in the kitchen:
Looking very green here:
With another, smaller, less included bluer one:
This was in my car, with the sun hitting touching the stone. I love the glow:
Yum:
On a crystal:
And it really looks great on your kitty ! All kidding aside it is really lovely. I can't believe how it morphs the smaller one in your picure. What is the size of the smaller one in comparison ?
If you can't bear to go that, maybe yellow as I think white metal may not do the stone's color justice. (possibly making just the bezel portion rose or yellow and the rest white maybe?) 
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