Advice on Oval Tanzanite

[helent]

Does this look like a good cut?

Tanzanite - 5.18ct 10.25mm x 9.25mm.

The colour is deep, violet blue - is that what I should be aiming for?

Not having the GIA certificate to fall back on makes this process so much harder.

 

[pregcurious]

Welcome! It's very difficult to tell if a stone has a good cut without pictures, preferably from multiple angles. You can read about judging cut on a thread at the top of the forum called, "New to coloured gemstone buying? Read this first!" It is written by our wonderful LD:

We can only guess if the cut is good based on the carat weight and face up dimensions you provided, but more information is much more helpful.

As for color, if you are looking for a tanzanite that is considered top color by the trade, it should look like the most vivid blue sapphire, with a slight purple secondary color. It should take your breath away. If you look at the stone and think tanzanite purple, it is not top color

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-to-coloured-gemstone-buying-read-this-first.174284/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-to-coloured-gemstone-buying-read-this-first.174284/[/URL]

 

[chrono]

Unfortunately, the LxWxD numbers tell little about the cut; it is how all the different angles work together. A picture in this case will be more helpful to spot any cut issues (window, extinction, etc). The same goes for colour. "Deep" to me, implies a dark tone. Perhaps you might mean something else, hence pictures again will be more helpful. A top colour tanzanite, as mentioned above, should look like a gorgeous blue sapphire with a violet modifier.

 

[helent]

Thank you pregcurious and Chrono - I will be back with more information on the stone soon (and hopefully photos) but in the meantime I am off to read "new to colour gemstone buying" - can't believe I missed it!

 

[helent]

I have asked my jeweller for the tanzanite to be the colour of vivid blue sapphire, with a slight purple secondary colour. I have also asked if he could send photos through on some options he has for me to look at and this is how he has responded:

"I can't take photos of tanzanites that show the true colour they look too purple & tanzanite will change colour under different lighting the only way to judge a tanzanite is to see it"

Could I please have some feedback on this comment which doesn't ring true to me? Won't the tanzanite only look violet if it is predominantly violet in colour?

I have read the information now on "new to gemstone buying" so hope this is not a stupid question to ask!

 

[JewelFreak]

No question is stupid -- nobody's born knowing all this stuff! Your jeweler is right that colored stones are very hard to photograph. He may not be very confident of his camera skills.

On the other hand, there are other traits you can see from a photo - as stated above, quality of cutting, extinction, whether there's a bow tie (common in ovals & a consequence of not-the-best cutting), even whether the culet is centered or wonky. Accurate hue or not, you should be able to get an idea whether the stone is too dark or not saturated enough. Ask if it's precision cut -- if so, there's less chance it will be poorly done but that won't guarantee good saturation or color.

What is his return policy? If you did buy it & didn't like it, can you return it for a full refund with a reasonable amount of time to evaluate it? If the return policy isn't like what most honorable vendors have, walk away!

I gather this jeweler is not nearby -- is it an online vendor? If so, he should be willing to send photos. Anybody should be, actually. Have you bought from him before?

Unless you know & trust the jeweler, buying without photos -- especially when he refuses to supply any -- is a little risky. I'd take the word without pictures of some of the vendors on our Recommended Vendor sticky from whom I've bought, but I'd also know I could return the stone if it weren't what I was looking for. Otherwise, I wouldn't be very enthusiastic. There are lovely tanzanites in plenty of other places.

--- Laurie

 

[pregcurious]

I think you can request photos again, and state that you understand that it is difficult to capture color in photos. You can specifically ask for a close-up (macro) photo of the stone, on the back of his hand. (The hand will serve as a reference point for color.) Hands may have different color based on the kind of light (and of course based on skin color), but they are still better than nothing.

The other thing you could do is to send him a picture of a tanzanite with the color that you want, and ask if the color is very close, understanding that colors may appear slightly different based on the screen/computer. Still, he should be able to give an accurate written description of the color. I have bought expensive stones based on the vendor's word, and it has been fine because the vendor was honest.

The stone in my avatar was described as a a red spinel with a bit of rose, and it does appear like that in some light. It also shifts slightly, dependent on the light, which I expected because spinels tend to do that. When I received it, it looked more like the vendor's written description, than their pictures.

 

[LoversKites]

The other thing you could do is to send him a picture of a tanzanite with the color that you want, and ask if the color is very close, understanding that colors may appear slightly different based on the screen/computer. Still, he should be able to give an accurate written description of the color. I have bought expensive stones based on the vendor's word, and it has been fine because the vendor was honest.

That is a good idea.

I would still insist for a photo of the stone to see if there are any cutting issues.

 

[chrono]

I agree with JF, Preg and LK; your jeweller (he doesn't sound local to you?) might not feel confident in his ability to capture the colour of the tanzanite accurately and yes, it is always best to see the stone in person. Photographs, however, can help eliminate the worst of any cut issues and note the clarity. In this case, I would send him pictures of tanzanite that you love and would love to own, and ask if the ones he has matches what you have in mind.

 

[helent]

Hi JewelFreak - I have used this jeweller before to buy diamonds but this is the first time I am buying a coloured stone from him. I have been thinking about tanzanites for years but have not had the confidence to buy one given my limited knowledge. I would find it easier if I could access something like a GIA certificate but hopefully it will all go well and I will be back here for advice on my next coloured stone!

I will be seeing my jeweller on Saturday afternoon and am not obligated to buy the stone if I am not happy. Going by your comments below I will be trying to take photos myself with my iphone (I don't have a camera!) and will be back to post the photos so you can give me the thumbs up or thumbs down.

Thanks for your input JewelFreak

 

[helent]

Hi pregcurios,

Thanks for the advice on how to take a photo - not sure how to take a macro shot with an iphone but I will see if I can work it out.

I actually emailed my jeweller the colour chart on tanzanites in the new to coloured gemstones thread and let him know then that I wanted the colour that was circled.

Here are the stones he emailed through to me and he called them deep violetish blue and the best colour for tanzanites. I let him know that the stones all looked too violet to me and that I was wanting the colour of vivid blue sapphire, with a slight purple secondary colour, he made the comment that it was too hard to photo the stones.

What do you think of these?

 

[helent]

Thanks for your input LoversKite - I will definitely be back with photos!

Can I also ask - do tanzanites or sapphires ever lose their colour? Will the colour be impacted if they are cleaned with the wrong product? Is soapy water the best way to clean tanzanites?

 

[chrono]

Any chance of the trillliant on the back of the hand? The shadowing on the oval would bother me if it looked like that most of the time, otherwise it looks well cut and lively.

Tanzanite and sapphires do not lose their colour unless dyed. Most treatments are stable and permanent. Cleaning should have little impact on the colour as well. Tanzanite requires more care though; it isn't an everyday stone and should not be subjected to sudden temperature changes (no ultrasonic, no steamer, etc).

http://www.gia.edu/tanzanite-care-cleaning

 

[helent]

Hi Chrono,

Sorry to be confusing - I only posted the trilliant as an example of the colour my jeweller said was the best for tanzanites. I met with him yesterday and he showed my three examples of oval tanzanites and pointed me in the direction of the sapphire-blue coloured stone with just a hint of violet so I was relieved he supported everything I have read and been told here.

He is now looking for an oval cut which may take a while as we don't have a big stock in ovals in Australia but once he has sourced a stone I like the look of I will of course be back for your advice/input. Thank you for all your feedback so far!

 

[chrono]

Thought you might find this useful:
http://www.lapigems.com/Articles/Tanzanite-Color-How-it-Affects-Value.aspx

The tanzanite in the video is too dark for me (I prefer mine just a smidge lighter) but the saturation is wonderfully intense.

 

[helent]

Thanks Chrono - that was a great article and I agree the colour on the video was amazing.

I hope I will have a definite view when I see the stone/s my jeweller sources - it is easier here when I have your opinions to call on and I can see different stones together to compare but fingers crossed my gut will say yes or no.