Blue green tourmaline help please

[Jojomac]

Hi there

I'm new to this forum but I would appreciate some help please, there seems to be fellow tourmaline lovers on here that might be able to help me.

I'm looking for a rectangle 9 x 7mm shape blue green tourmaline for my engagement ring. I don't like emerald cut but happy to look at other cuts.

My never ending search on the big www so far seems I am drawn to medium saturated colours that pop!

I see some I like but they go so quickly and if they are available I worry if they are reputable websites (when the price is in the $1-2k price range and having it posted to Australia) .

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks
Jo

 

[lilysweet]

I am certainly not an expert but this is a stone I like to visit. It is a bit bigger than what you are looking for but comes from a recommended site http://www.finewatergems.com/store/p168/2.90_ct_Indicolite_Tourmaline.html I hope some of the fantastic regulars with way more experience than I have will weigh in. Good luck!

 

[Jojomac]

Thanks lilysweet, that is beautiful and it is like the colour I want but it reminds me of the emerald cut that I'm not keen on.

Does anyone know if I got that, can it be cut into a brilliant or similar cut but keeping the 9x7mm size?

Thanks for replying

 

[qubitasaurus]

You should be able to find something you love without needing a recut - your budget is generous enough. John Dyer gems has some beautiful pieces at the moment, precision gems has a stunning one (maybe the cut wont suit you but it is a beautiful colour), and I have a bad habit of staring at the tourmalines on swala gem traders and litnon's websites. Sorry I have awful internet at the moment so I cant provide all the links.

 

[Jojomac]

Thanks for that I'll have a look at those websites but your first recommended website.........Wow wish there was one of these in a bigger size, the cut and colour is gorgeous!

https://www.johndyergems.com/catalog_pages/gemstone-Tourmaline3296.html

https://www.johndyergems.com/catalog_pages/gemstone-Tourmaline4496.html

Thanks I'll keep looking

 

[qubitasaurus]

Yes, every time I see the second stone you linked I literally think *I need that* then I realize I am being a bit silly.

This is the closest I know to that colour but in a larger size with a 2 k price tag

http://www.swalagemtraders.com/gemstone/blue-tourmaline

I think you are looking for an open blue green colour (just in case you decide cut and size are non-negotiable and want to contact people to collate more options).

 

[Jojomac]

I found this, which goes against my rectangle shape I said earlier but does it look like it has dark areas? Is it expensive?

http://www.swalagemtraders.com/gemstone/blue-tourmaline-4

Thank you everyone!

 

[Jojomac]

Yes that is getting bigger in size and price for me but thanks, at least I know I'm being consistent in my choices!

 

[qubitasaurus]

I found this, which goes against my rectangle shape I said earlier but does it look like it has dark areas? Is it expensive?

http://www.swalagemtraders.com/gemstone/blue-tourmaline-4

Thank you everyone!

If you were interested in that stone I would ask for more pics (preferably on the back of someones hand to get a better lock on how dark it is.). For a price comparison

https://loupetroop.com/listings/loo...-dot-4ct-namibian-blue-green-tourmaline;13669


Also if you are open to other shapes then I would love to see some one buy this one

https://www.litnon.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=10949

 

[arkieb1]

Hi I'm an Aussie too Are you going to be wearing the ring all the time? As in not taking it off much or babying it? I am asking because tourmalines are fairly soft stones and probably wouldn't stand up to the normal type of average every day punishing wear I see most Aussies put their rings though...... and if you are going to be wearing it a lot it might need to go into a protective type of setting.

 

[Jojomac]

Hi arkieb1 (fellow Aussie yes it will be my engagement ring so I'll be wearing it every day. I work in an office and I thought while I'm home cleaning/working I would make sure I would take the ring off.

I've been told about the softness of tourmalines but I can't find a sapphire in the blue green colour and diamonds are way too expensive for the size I want for the split band design I'm going for.

I looked at a London blue topaz last week and saw too much grey in it, not enough sparkle, which brought me back to the beautiful tourmaline colour.

If you have any other suggestions I'm more than happy to learn!

Thanks
Jo

 

[Jojomac]

Hi qubitasaurus, thanks for the searching. I like the price and colour of the pear it's very interesting indeed!

Not keen on round brilliant shapes, for the split design band I'm going for, but thank you.

 

[mochiko42]

Hi arkieb1 (fellow Aussie yes it will be my engagement ring so I'll be wearing it every day. I work in an office and I thought while I'm home cleaning/working I would make sure I would take the ring off.

I've been told about the softness of tourmalines but I can't find a sapphire in the blue green colour and diamonds are way too expensive for the size I want for the split band design I'm going for.

I looked at a London blue topaz last week and saw too much grey in it, not enough sparkle, which brought me back to the beautiful tourmaline colour.

If you have any other suggestions I'm more than happy to learn!

Thanks
Jo

Have you looked at Montana sapphires or Nigerian sapphires (specifically from Mambilla plateau in Taraba state)? They can be found in teal colors and would be a better (more durable) choice for an engagement ring.

Couple examples for you:

Here is a beautiful teal sapphire from Nigeria that belongs to another PSer.
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-jeff-white-teal-sapphire-ring.215204/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-jeff-white-teal-sapphire-ring.215204/[/URL]

Here's an example of a Montana sapphire (might not be in your desired budget or shape etc but I've added it as an example of the color)

http://www.earthstreasury.com/product/3-87-carat-deep-blue-green-montana-sapphire/

 

[Jojomac]

Hi Mochicko42, oh they are so gorgeous! I had considered the Montana but I could not find anyone out here in Australia that had one for me to look at before I let go of the $$$.

I thought the Montanas were maybe light on the saturated side and a bit grey.

I think I need to revisit this and look at sapphires again, especially the Nigeria area you have said about.

Thank you!

Jo

 

[mochiko42]

If you're in Australia, have you tried Doug at Bespoke Gems in Sydney or Ross Sedawie of Seda Gems? I'm not sure if they have any Montana or other teal sapphire at the moment but they often carry sapphires from different countries and could probably point you in the right direction. I know Doug just got back from the Tucson show in the US, not sure if he picked up any Montana sapphire though.

 

[Jojomac]

It's funny because I sent an email a couple of days ago to Doug about tourmalines! I think I'll send another about sapphires now.

Thanks again for showing me those pics

 

[qubitasaurus]

Sorry I missed the e-ring bit, it would be good to pick something where you don't need to constantly worry about chipping it. This one came up recently

http://www.westviewgems.com/Home/Detail/2218015

 

[Jojomac]

No probs, that is lovely but I want it to be rectangle shape, it's a beautiful colour. Do Montanas have grey in them and light in colour, not medium saturated typically?

Thank you!

Jo

 

[chroman]

I too would be concerned about durability... but throwing that to the wind, how about either of these:
http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/gemstones/?sku=G87164
http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/gemstones/?sku=G85755

 

[Jojomac]

Oh Chroman you're killing me!! They are lovely, but I think I'll hold out now and look at sapphires. Sounds like good advice since it's my engagement ring.

 

[chroman]

Agreed!!

 

[Jojomac]

Re: Blue green tourmaline or sapphire for e-ring help please

Hi all

I've been looking at sapphires now by looking at the recommended vendor list on here. Any advice is appreciated on these two:

http://www.earthstreasury.com/product/1-32-carat-blue-green-montana-sapphire-heated/

http://www.earthstreasury.com/product/1-15-carat-peacock-blue-montana-sapphire-heated/

I saw some nice Montanas on Gemfix too that I liked, but won't deliver any stone over USD$999 to Australia and because I want around 9x7 or 8x6mm I can't find anything unfortunately.

I can't find any from Taraba Nigeria at all, are these harder to obtain?

Thanks everyone

 

[lilysweet]

I would definitely post any stones for the experts here to see, maybe with just pictures or put them on hold first so someone doesn't snipe them. The members with experience can tell you about how the stone might look when you receive it given the way it is photographed or if it is likely to have issues. I am a super novice to all this and have ordered stones that when they arrived we're not what I had expected based on the posted pics. Nothing substitutes for seeing it in person but you might avoid some less than ideal options. Good Luck!

 

[mochiko42]

Nigerian sapphires from Taraba are a relatively new find, so they're not as easy to find. You can try Jeff white, maybe Jason Brim of Select Gem. Another Australian vendor you could look into is https://www.deliqagems.com.. I haven't bought from them but they have good selection of sapphires.

 

[qubitasaurus]

Re: Blue green tourmaline or sapphire for e-ring help please

Hi all

I've been looking at sapphires now by looking at the recommended vendor list on here. Any advice is appreciated on these two:

http://www.earthstreasury.com/product/1-32-carat-blue-green-montana-sapphire-heated/

http://www.earthstreasury.com/product/1-15-carat-peacock-blue-montana-sapphire-heated/

I saw some nice Montanas on Gemfix too that I liked, but won't deliver any stone over USD$999 to Australia and because I want around 9x7 or 8x6mm I can't find anything unfortunately.

I can't find any from Taraba Nigeria at all, are these harder to obtain?

Thanks everyone

I would really wany to see pics in low light conditions, and under fluorescent light. I have never purchased from this vendor, so I can't really judge their pics. But both stones look medium dark to me and I would want to be sure they retain their colour in less ideal lighting conditions (montana sapphires can shift colour anyway so it will probably be good to check this anyways).

 

[Jojomac]

Thank you all for your replies and advice but after months of going around in circles in researching that perfect colour gem I'm stretching the budget and getting a diamond instead for my engagement ring.

So thank you, it's open my eyes up to the beautiful world of coloured gems, which I hope to revisit one day for some fantastic dress rings!!!

 

[Jojomac]

Hi All, I would like to get my thread going again and hoping you can help me please. I'm back on the mission to find my blue green gem. I know I've had feedback about a tourmaline not being hard enough for a everyday e-ring, but I'm willing to take the chance.

So if anyone sees a indicolite or blue green tourmaline in about a 9x7mm size, preferably rectangle with a radiant cut I would be over the moon if you could tell me.

Thanks and on with the mission!

Jo

 

[Jojomac]

I'm going through what I had in my favourites to give an idea of what I'm after, I'll do a few posts:

1. I'm thinking this might have too many dark areas? It's in http://rough2refinedgemstones.com/cut-gemstones/cathys-collection/sneak-peek-private-showing/

 

[Jojomac]

Here's another......
http://www.ajsgem.com/tourmaline/blue-blue-green/blueblue-green-tourmaline-2.21-carats.html
Thanks
Jo

 

[Jojomac]

I'm thinking this might be too expensive for the inclusions it seems to have?
https://www.gemrockauctions.com/auctions/112-ct-blue-neon-tourmaline-master-cut-599268