Dan vs Cindi?

[blingbunny10]

Hi PSers - Anyone want to weigh in on gemstones cut by Dan Stair vs Cindi? It seems like the ones cut by Cindi tend to be priced lower and more unusual in shape (e.g., heart and squat pear).... Any thoughts? I've seen a lot of praise for Dan on the forums, but was hoping for any feedback on Cindi's cutting skills. I'm also nervous because this will be my first gemstone purchase AND my first loose stone purchase!!

(Btw I'm also looking at Gemrite... but the Stairs seem to carry cleaner stones and have better feedback.)

Thanks!

 

[ChrisA222]

I've bought plenty of stones cut by each of them...they are always amazing. They are very accomodating and I can't say enough good things about them.

 

[blingbunny10]

Thanks, Chrisa! Good to know.

Can I ask if the website pics conveyed the color fairly accurately, or were you surprised when you saw the stones in person?
I know several PSers were talking about the color issue, but it was from an old (2009) thread.

 

[ChrisA222]

It's hard to get exact colors with gem pics, so I usually pay close attention to his descriptions. If I can't get enough info there ill ask him...he will respond. I'm also sure if you weren't happy, he would let you return it and assist you with a different stone. Most of the stones I've bought or had him recut have looked better in person. The pics are magnified of course as well. Hope th
is helps!

 

[chrono]

Please do not string me up by my hamstrings.

Personally, I think Dan is a better lapidary and definitely has more experience than Cindi. What I continue to dislike about their photography is the background colour. Often times, the blueish background might make a blue stone appear better saturated. He has also admitted to not being sensitive to seeing gray modifiers in gemstones. That said, he seems well priced for the quality offered. In terms of clarity, it is very difficult to see inclusions in stones of small sizes, especially since the pictures are magnified greatly.

 

[jstarfireb]

(Btw I'm also looking at Gemrite... but the Stairs seem to carry cleaner stones and have better feedback.)

I don't have any feedback on Cindi, but since you're considering Gemrite, I wanted to mention a few things. John's cutting skills are great, but his photography tends to make stones appear more bluish than they are in real life. This is particularly important for green stones (not sure what you're looking for). His descriptions are much more true to life than the photos; he'll say if there's a touch of yellow as opposed to blue in the stone, for example.

 

[Demon]

I have very little experience with them, and I don't know how difficult the cut is to do, but I did just buy a little .75 blue spinel baguette that Cindi cut, and it looks just perfect to me.