Colour Preference

[chrono]

I have a very generic question:
I'm currently shopping for a tsavorite but can't decide between 2 stones. One is a squarish stone (octagonal shaped) with medium tone, the other is a portugese cut oval with medium dark tone. Both have identical saturation and purity of colour. The only difference is shape and tone. Size-wise, they are also very close. Would you pick the medium tone or medium dark and why? Both are of the bluish green variety.

 

[innerkitten]

I like both and it would depend on the stone. But in general I would probably go with a medium because with darker stones I worry about extinction. Thats my big gemstone peve. I even like the ones that are just a tad too light to be called tsavorites.

 

[innerkitten]

The sold one carat round on this page looks like it could be a bit dark but it has a little bit of blue which I love.
http://www.gemfix.com/garnet_green2.html

 

[chrono]

The medium dark tone isn''t very different from the medium tone. It is still clearly a very bright and brilliant stone. Darn it, you''re forcing me to post the pictures which I wanted to avoid.

 

[chrono]

Octagon tsavorite with medium tone.

 

[chrono]

Portugese cut oval with medium dark tone.

 

[chrono]

I''m so sorry for the large pictures.

I didn''t realize it''ll be so huge. On the plus side, you can see tons of colour.

 

[D&T]

Chrono,, I know next to nothing about gem stones,, except which are semi precious ...lol and what I think is pretty, but I sure love the shape of the Octagonal shaped the best!! i vote Octagon shape.. I like square shaped things... so gorgeous color is rich and yummyy!!! love it!

 

[innerkitten]

Goodness those are both beauties! They are pretty close. I''d go for the shape you like best. I need to take another look!

 

[innerkitten]

I guess I like the look of the first one .I''m not sure if it has to do with the color or cut, but there is just something about it. However the second one''s not too shabby either

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

I''m no expert on tsavs, but the first one (the octagonal one) is just calling me. I love the color and shape together. I also love the second one, but I''m not a huge fan of portuguese cuts in general which is why my vote is for the first.

They are both magnificent though!

 

[Harriet]

Inner Kitten,
Have you seen mine? It''s a medium dark.

Chrono,
You know my preference. I have to say -- the oval looks more like a medium than a medium-dark.

 

[chrono]

Date: 3/7/2009 11:20:51 PM
Author: Harriet
Inner Kitten,
Have you seen mine? It''s a medium dark.

Chrono,
You know my preference. I have to say -- the oval looks more like a medium than a medium-dark.

Harriet,
I agree. The oval certainly appears a medium. I expect a medium dark to be a shade darker than that.

 

[innerkitten]

Harriet, I have seen yours in person along with your spinel and ering. All lovely. I do remember that it was very beautiful stone and the setting was really unique ( Leon right?). It''s a medium dark?

 

[Harriet]

Thanks for your kind words, IK. Yes, it''s a medium-dark. I don''t see any extinction, but the richness of colour...oh my!

 

[mochi]

I voted for the 1st one but I really think the oval is beautiful. It don't look like a classic Portugese cut. Love the color on both of them, I don't see much of a difference (maybe it's my monitor).

 

[oldmancoyote]

Between those two, I''d go for the octagon because I like the cut more and there doesn''t seem to me to be a lot of difference in tone. If the oval were 5-10% darker, it would be a really tough call and I''d be torn, purely assessing them as loose gems. I assume it''s for a ring, right?

 

[chrono]

Date: 3/8/2009 12:25:01 AM
Author: oldmancoyote
Between those two, I''d go for the octagon because I like the cut more and there doesn''t seem to me to be a lot of difference in tone. If the oval were 5-10% darker, it would be a really tough call and I''d be torn, purely assessing them as loose gems. I assume it''s for a ring, right?

I haven''t decided yet but I''m pretty sure it''ll eventually be set in a ring.

 

[RNgemlover]

I don''t know about tone, but I have a portuguese cut zircon, and it has become my favorite cut of all. The sparkle is better than any other cut I have ever seen...

 

[BWise]

The medium tone. I can''t name it but that stone appears to be more lively.

 

[FrekeChild]

Date: 3/7/2009 11:14:45 PM
Author: Brown.Eyed.Girl
I''m no expert on tsavs, but the first one (the octagonal one) is just calling me. I love the color and shape together. I also love the second one, but I''m not a huge fan of portuguese cuts in general which is why my vote is for the first.

They are both magnificent though!

Big ditto. They are both stunning. I don''t think you can go wrong with either!!

 

[LD]

Both are lovely but there''s slightly more extinction in #2. The octagon looks a great looking stone and just for the cut, I''d opt for that. What a great choice you have.

 

[ma re]

I didn''t vote, cause it all depends on what your plans are for the stone. If you''d set it in white metal or bezel it, I''d get the medium one, cause the other one might end up blackish. If you, however, are thinking about a yellow gold project, darker one might be a better choice, as the other one might end up yellowish green.

Hope this helps.

 

[Pandora II]

Medium dark all the way for me.

I have tsavorites that are a light medium, a medium and a medium dark and the latter are what always stand out to me.

Of the two that you posted, they actually look very similar in the pictures. Tough call...

 

[knitwit]

I love the octagon shape and since the color is so close...I voted #1.

 

[icekid]

Date: 3/7/2009 11:20:51 PM
Author: Harriet

Chrono,
You know my preference. I have to say -- the oval looks more like a medium than a medium-dark.

I looooove your tsav, Harriet. I must admit I''ve never seen a really fine tsav in person, which I really need to attempt to rectify. I think in my head "dark" sounds like something we don''t want

Chrono- I don''t think I really see enough difference between the two stones to call one medium and one medium-dark. However, I do know that I am really drawn to the octagonal stone. It''s an eye-catcher, for sure.

 

[chrono]

Thanks everyone. Maybe I should keep looking then. I''ve got 2 more sources but they won''t be ready until next week.

 

[icekid]

Date: 3/8/2009 10:43:48 AM
Author: Chrono
Thanks everyone. Maybe I should keep looking then. I''ve got 2 more sources but they won''t be ready until next week.

Well, top tsav isn''t exactly cheap so I would make sure that it''s exactly what you want. No reason to rush if more options are coming, IMO.

 

[chrono]

The other two are very well know cutters on PS so I won''t out their names until I''ve made a decision. Obviously I won''t be able to post pictures because everyone will recognize them right away.

 

[icekid]

Date: 3/8/2009 11:02:39 AM
Author: Chrono
The other two are very well know cutters on PS so I won''t out their names until I''ve made a decision. Obviously I won''t be able to post pictures because everyone will recognize them right away.

welllllll I guess that is okay, as long as you post photos after you decide? (please!!

)