GemTrader March 2011 Drop

[MakingTheGrade]

A lot of interesting offerings this month, and I was wondering if anyone else here got anything to share later?
I thought the star aqua was very cool, the tourmaline cab is awesome, and that benitoite cab is neat too! Man, I must be on a cab kick!

And the spinel series would make for a fun tennis bracelet I think!

But what caught my eye was the padparadscha, and for once I was quick enough to call dibs successfully! It comes with an AGL report that certifies it falls within their criteria as a padparadscha, so in theory there should be no purple or brown modifiers and no obvious color zoning. There's a small window and bowtie, but as they say, color is king, and I'd be willing to overlook those things if it's love at first sight!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Because whats a thread without photos?

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I was also admiring this tourmaline, but my funds were tied up with the sapphire.

 

[Aoife]

I'm so happy you got the pad, MTG, I was hoping someone on PS would get it! You have to share many photos once you get it.

I liked the look of the tourmaline mismatch pair, but they were a little small for me. I keep thinking it would be fun to do a pair of mismatched earrings, but so far I haven't found the right combination. Next month....

 

[jstarfireb]

I like the green zircon, mint garnet, Afghan tourmaline, and Zambian amethyst.

Although the color isn't my personal cup of tea, the Hessonite set would make a stunning necklace!

 

[chrono]

I lost out on the green zircon, star aquamarine and the Aghan tourmaline. Oh well….can’t win every time. Did anyone else “win” anything they wanted?

 

[JewelFreak]

A lot of really nice stones there. I like the amethyst though it's a tad dark in the pic, IRL could be lighter. The mint garnets, especially the 2nd one, oh oh oh. I'm in love with the spinel suite -- colors I wear a lot. Why is it so darned hard to remember that, whatever I buy or am DYING to buy, another one will come along soon that sings to me just as sweetly? Aaaack!

--- Laurie

 

[fierypyropixy]

*raises hand* I confess, I got the green zircon. 12x16 is a great size!

I've neglected posting my gem purchases lately, but I'll try to take some decent pics and post them.

 

[VapidLapid]

the green zircon was very tempting, as was the star aqua. I liked the idea of the schillerous cuprian, but would like to see it as a sugarloaf! Im going to get something from the archived inventory next week.

 

[brandy_z28]

I was able to get the amethyst and spess. My life has been chaotic lately but I'll try and post pics when I get them!

 

[brandy_z28]

Glad you got the padparadscha MTG. Please post pics when you get it. I considered it myself but then saw the spess and had to have it!

 

[rosetta]

if i didn't have a wedding to pay for, that pad would be in my hot little hands!!

congrats MTG!

 

[Arkteia]

I was probably the first to see the website, before anything was sold, and decided to think it over, but when I checked in the evening, most things were reserved!

I must admit, I eyed the pad, but given the fact that I know nothing about pads, never saw them in real life, I decided to wait on it. Glad that it is in good hands, would be waiting for photos. You make good photos, I'd love to see it in different lights. Congratulations, MTG.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I don't blame you Crasu, padparadschas are extremely controversial and tricky to buy. A lot of the threads on CS about padparadschas involve some sort of heartache or other, or at the very least, a somewhat difficult search.

The latest LMHC definition for what can be qualified as a padparadscha by the labs is this:
http://www.lmhc-gemology.org/pdfs/IS4_18012010.pdf

More important to me than their definition of what it IS, is that they exclude a lot of things in their parameters. By definition, since this stone is AGL certified, it should have no modifiers or colors other than pink and orange, and can't be lattice/Be diffused or have major color uneveness. Which made me a little more comfortable buying it.

Also, Brad is a doll and has a great return policy in case I don't love it. So I figured at most I'm just out 24$ in shipping to evaluate a potentially heirloom worthy stone at a really good price.