BB rubellite tourmaline arrived today - take a look

[cellentani]

It''s 7.9mm - here''s Barry''s photo:

 

[cellentani]

I think this is my best photo, taken in the window on an overcast afternoon. It''s sitting on my knee, in case you''re wondering.

 

[cellentani]

I''m just going to post a bunch of pics, and these are all in the same overcast window.

 

[D&T]

eeeek--- GORGEOUS-- I''m so drooling over these colored stones.. such beautiful color.

 

[cellentani]

.

 

[karee888]

i love it!! the sparkles are gorgeous!!

 

[cellentani]

It goes darker sometimes. Same window, but the light is more behind the stone this time.

 

[cinnamon013]

Wow! I love it!!

 

[cellentani]

At an angle

 

[cellentani]

What's with the colorless part towards the bottom - is that zoning? You really only see this when the stone is upside-down, so it's not going to bother me much.

 

[cellentani]

With my round BevK pink tourmaline and an oval pink sapphire.

 

[T L]

Cellentani,
It''s lovely and looks just like Barry''s photo. What are you planning on doing with it?

 

[cellentani]

Another

 

[cellentani]

And now for the funky stuff: incandescent light

 

[cellentani]

It's almost orange-y IRL

ETA: okay, that doesn't look orange at all - you'll have to trust me.

 

[cellentani]

more incandescent light

 

[cushioncutnut]

Flippin Gorgeous!! I adore it and your other rings are absolutely stunning.........especially your e-ring! I love that setting!!!!

 

[cellentani]

More of the same, but last one.

Gotta run my boy to soccer practice - I''ll be back afterwards. I guess the big question is, is the color worth what I paid?

 

[tlh]

That is some color! Love it!

 

[T L]

Date: 5/28/2009 5:53:58 PM
Author: cellentani
More of the same, but last one.

Gotta run my boy to soccer practice - I''ll be back afterwards. I guess the big question is, is the color worth what I paid?

Are you debating it? Do you want honest opinions on the stone?

 

[akmiss]

I love the color! And my dream stone would be one that color but doesn''t go dark... I have a garnet that I love only in good lighting but feel so-so about it in all other situations. It can be a tough call but I still think your stone is fab

 

[cellentani]

Date: 5/28/2009 6:04:10 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover

Date: 5/28/2009 5:53:58 PM
Author: cellentani
More of the same, but last one.

Gotta run my boy to soccer practice - I''ll be back afterwards. I guess the big question is, is the color worth what I paid?

Are you debating it? Do you want honest opinions on the stone?

I''m going to give it a day or two because I''m hoping to see it in sunshine. My gut, out-of-the-box reaction is that it has beautiful color in certain conditions, but for $300, I''d like a less finicky stone. But yes, I definitely want your honest opinions - I''m counting on you to not hold anything back, TL!

 

[cellentani]

Date: 5/28/2009 6:10:25 PM
Author: akmiss
I love the color! And my dream stone would be one that color but doesn''t go dark... I have a garnet that I love only in good lighting but feel so-so about it in all other situations. It can be a tough call but I still think your stone is fab

akmiss, you''ve summed up how I feel about my stone. What kind of garnet do you have?

 

[Ryon]

Looks like a great stone to me and most likely to everyone else, but only you can be the real judge.

Just ask yourself if your really satisfied with the color, (I think it looks nice) but your opinion is what matters.

 

[Ryon]

Also on a second note, I liked it more than the majority of the stones you took pictures of it next to..

The new stone made some of the others look out-classed

 

[T L]

Date: 5/28/2009 8:18:07 PM
Author: Ryon
Also on a second note, I liked it more than the majority of the stones you took pictures of it next to..

The new stone made some of the others look out-classed

Ryon,
IMO the pink stone is very nice as far as the color is concerned, so I wouldn't say that, but that's your opinion, which you're entitled to. The oval pink stone (I forget, is that a pink sapphire?) is brighter and more vivid color than the tourmaline, although it is a native cut.

Since Cellentani asked for honest opinions, I will say this. A rubellite should hold it's reddish color in most light sources. In other words, it shouldn't "brown out." I see it looking very nice in some lighting, but browning out in other lighting. Therefore, I'm a bit confused why Barry classified this as a rubellite (maybe you can ask him that). In that case, it's just a red tourmaline, and since rubellite is a higher premium, I think $300 is a lot of money to spend on a red tourmaline that goes brown in various lighting conditions. The cutting is fabulous, as all of Barry's stones, so you are paying a premium for that, but as far as color is concerned, I think you can do better for that price. How many carats was it? I'm guesstimating around 2 carats, but not sure.

 

[cellentani]

Date: 5/28/2009 8:37:22 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover

Date: 5/28/2009 8:18:07 PM
Author: Ryon
Also on a second note, I liked it more than the majority of the stones you took pictures of it next to..

The new stone made some of the others look out-classed

Ryon,
IMO the pink stone is very nice as far as the color is concerned, so I wouldn''t say that, but that''s your opinion, which you''re entitled to. The oval pink stone (I forget, is that a pink sapphire?) is brighter and more vivid color than the tourmaline, although it is a native cut.

Since Cellentani asked for honest opinions, I will say this. A rubellite should hold it''s reddish color in most light sources. In other words, it shouldn''t ''brown out.'' I see it looking very nice in some lighting, but browning out in other lighting. Therefore, I''m a bit confused why Barry classified this as a rubellite (maybe you can ask him that). In that case, it''s just a red tourmaline, and since rubellite is a higher premium, I think $300 is a lot of money to spend on a red tourmaline that goes brown in various lighting conditions. The cutting is fabulous, as all of Barry''s stones, so you are paying a premium for that, but as far as color is concerned, I think you can do better for that price. How many carats was it? I''m guesstimating around 2 carats, but not sure.

Thanks for all the input guys - I really enjoy hearing what everyone has to say.

Ryon: I think I know what you might mean by outclassing my other stones - the other round pink tourmaline is not unusual in any way (certainly not a rubellite, and it does have some brown undertones), and the oval pink sapphire has nice color, but my DH bought it in Sri Lanka and it''s pedigree is unknown (could''ve been irradiated for all I know). Funny thing is, DH commented again tonight on how much he likes the color of the pink sapphire, especially compared to the new rubellite.

TL: You''re right on the money - it''s 2.07cts! Even though I already own a pink tourmaline and know how the color shifts in incandescent light, I thought this one would be different. And yeah, I keep asking myself if I''d plunk down $300 if I''d seen that stone at a gem show. I really want a special stone - it''s for my 17th anniversary coming up in June.

When I emailed Barry my concern about it being too dark, he said, "The tourmaline looks like a pink/red malaya in incandescent light and pretty much like the picture under natural and fluorescent light. I did a side by side comparison with a raspberry and it''s very close, but of course much more rare.
When I ordered it in the rough, I was hoping it would have the rubellite color. Sometimes you get lucky."

 

[Linda W]

It looks very pretty to me. I really like the color. I adore your wedding ring. It is gorgeous, as are your other rings.

 

[T L]

Well Happy Anniversary!! Let us know what you decide on this stone.

 

[cellentani]

I was in such a rush earlier that I didn''t respond to everyone''s comments, but I truly appreciate them all. I''m also very flattered by the lovely things you''ve said about my other rings - it certainly made my day!