CS newbie looking for a green stone

[choro72]

Hello CSers. I would appreciate any assistance finding a pretty green stone. I'm looking for something that fits the following list in decreasing order of importance:

1. A vivid, beautiful green stone, not too dark, at least 6mm, preferably larger.
2. A durable, clumsy-proof stone.
3. Slight to no inclusions, under $200.
4. Round.

I'm not picky about #3 and #4. For the color, here are several pictures of the shade of green I like. These are PS photos that I've been saving over a looong period of time. I hope they don't mind.




I guess I call it "neon green". The first picture is leaning towards my favorite shade, but I'm open to others. If it helps, I love the color of the green traffic signal light. I guess it's most likely a Tsav or a Tourmaline.

My biggest question is, do you have any recommendations on who to ask? Barry already told me no because "he doesn't do this sort of custom cutting". Can you suggest a vender that deals with this kind of request? Is my request just silly? There are so many on the vender list that my head is spinning...Any PSer selling a gem of this color? I set the budget at $200 just because Barry and Bob Kast was within that price range...Am I being ridiculous?

Thanks so much for any help.

 

[Pandora II]

1. A vivid, beautiful green stone, not too dark, at least 6mm, preferably larger.

Tsavorite, Chrome Tourmaline and Emerald are going to be best bets.

2. A durable, clumsy-proof stone.

None of these will fit the bill. They all need to be babied. I only wear my tsavorite e-ring when I'm going out. I'm very gentle on my jewellery and I've still chipped my stone. I would really advise against the tourmaline. There are no truly green stones that have the hardness and durability of things like diamond or corundum.

3. Slight to no inclusions, under $200.

You will find $200 a hard ask for a good colour, cut and no inclusions - you will have to compromise I think. These are all relatively expensive stones. I found a nice 6.5mm tsavorite here, but it's $1,040: http://www.gemfix.com/garnet_tsavorite.html

4. Round.

Shouldn't be a problem.

 

[T L]

The best way to get good color in a tsavorite for your budget is to get an included and/or smaller than a carat stone. I was pretty lucky to find this stone on ebay from odysseygem, as I rarely see this color/clarity on ebay or anywhere else. It was 81 points and around $100. It's very clean, a slightly bluish green, but it's small. The color screams from a mile away though. I personally like tsavorites that are not a pure green like the round above, but slightly bluish green and medium tone. Others may prefer a more green stone (but I wouldn't want one that verges into yellowish green) and/or a medium dark tone. These photos aren't the most accurate, it's a more bluish green and more saturated in person.





That ebay seller, odysseygem and his sister stores vvs1gem and gemcatalogue, had some round tsavorites, but more of a pure green. You may want to check them out. Not sure if they're in your price range though. Rounds are more of a $$ premium in tsavorite as more rough is wasted to cut one.

 

[choro72]

Pandora, I was worried about the durability of Tsav and Tourms...Thanks for the heads up. And yikes, $1000? Oh but so pretty!

TL, I actually wouldn't want too much yellow in it either, and I think a hint of blue is just breathtaking. I think the #1 for me is strong saturation. Am I using the term correctly? Basically, something with a strong color, not washed out.
Your ring is stunning!! I'm drooling here! And it doesn't look small at all! Thank you for the ebay vendor list. I already found a few that might work! Is this vender helpful? I'm planning on asking them the same question I asked here, and see if he can pick one that suits me...

Both of you, thank you so much for your help!

 

[T L]

Pandora, I was worried about the durability of Tsav and Tourms...Thanks for the heads up. And yikes, $1000? Oh but so pretty!

TL, I actually wouldn't want too much yellow in it either, and I think a hint of blue is just breathtaking. I think the #1 for me is strong saturation. Am I using the term correctly? Basically, something with a strong color, not washed out.
Your ring is stunning!! I'm drooling here! And it doesn't look small at all! Thank you for the ebay vendor list. I already found a few that might work! Is this vender helpful? I'm planning on asking them the same question I asked here, and see if he can pick one that suits me...

Both of you, thank you so much for your help!

Thank you. I think the first photo you posted is heavily photoshopped and not representative of the actual color at all. Out of the remaining three you posted, I like the first one the most (the second that you posted above). The Jeff White round is too green for my taste, as I prefer a slightly bluish green, but that preference is subjective (my new favorite word - LOL!). Green is also one of the most difficult stones to photograph, but I find Tan's tsavorites to be very accurate to the videos in his listings.

I buy a lot from Tan, the name of the man that operates those ebay stores, and he sometimes can be lax in responding, but he is a very good and honest seller IMHO.

 

[farmer gal]

I am not a CS expert at all but I have been eyeing some of barry's stone they might not be the right color, and maybe some experts will chime in but

http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=139&idproduct=3189

http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=139&idproduct=3751

http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=139&idproduct=4058

http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=139&idproduct=4049

 

[Pandora II]

A lot of those are nice, but tourmalines are not something I would recommend to anyone who specifically wanted something durable. Also chrome tourms tend to be on the dark side and so hard to find a bright green stones such as the colour the OP was after.

 

[choro72]

Thanks TL! I just sent him an email *cross fingers*

farmer gal, Thank you! I've been looking at those but they seem a bit dark. Although I hear that Barry's stone tend to be much brighter IRL. He already told me he doesn't have what I'm looking for anyway. Are you going to snag one?
As Pandora mentioned, I am quite clumsy but most of all I find that Tsavs pictures are brighter than tourms.

 

[farmer gal]

I was thinking about it. My Mom recently gave my sister and I my Dad's wedding ring (he passed away 1 1/2 ago) and we are having the ring melted down to make us both rings out of it. I think I have decided to go with a blue sapphire now as the center because that was his birthstone. I will come back with photos when it is done which will be a while I'm sure, I'm going to look at stones Friday. Hope you find a gorgeous stone

 

[Clairitek]

I meant to mention this before but perhaps you should try Swala? That second picture is of vc10um's sugarloaf amethyst and her tsav that she bought from them about 2 years ago. I thought of this the other night and am glad that seeing this thread reminded me of it!

 

[choro72]

farmer gal, what a lovely sentiment. I can't wait to see the result! Is your sister's going to be the same?

Clairitek Thanks for the suggestions! I've loved SWALA since I saw that sugarloaf!

 

[farmer gal]

I think so, it's going to be difficult because we have very different taste My Dad's ring had 4 smaller diamond princess cuts and 20 small round brilliant cuts, so we are splitting up the stones evenly. It is a very heavy ring and my dad wore a size 13.5 so there is a lot of gold. We are thinking of doing a bezel kite set sapphire princess in the center, but it's all up in the air