Hey colored-stone connoisseurs (you know who you are!), what do you think of this Dan Stair garnet?

[cellentani]

I''m thinking about my first decent-quality loose gemstone, and like the cut of this Umbalite garnet, but am a little concerned about the noted "silk" in the description. Will this make the stone look hazy or murky? The pic looks decent, but I''m also wondering why no one''s bought it yet - I think it''s been around awhile. I know it''s not the most expensive gemstone, but at $240, I want something really sparkly.

Here''s the url, in case you want to see the description too: http://www.customgemstones.com/GARNET/ga948.html

For the same price, I also like the morganite ( http://www.customgemstones.com/BERYL/mo1071.html ), but at 9.71mm, it''s a tad big - but then again, I do wear a size 7. And then there''s the question of how would I set an octogon?!

Anyway, you PSers who frequently purchase gemstones, I''d love to hear what you think.

 

[mochi]

I really like the morganite. The garnet is pretty but his pictures tend to be lighter than real life, so I'm wondering if it will be darker.

 

[movie zombie]

i don''t like the morganite at all. too pale for my taste....is that a window lurking?

contact him. ask him to be brutally honest re the first stone: windowing, extinction, masking of color, etc. it is not an expensive stone and the silk may give it personality. as in all things, you won''t know until you see it up close and personal. however, this is not a high end and expensive stone and, therefore, it cannot be expected to have the attributes of one.

most online pictures are lighter than the real life stone. what counts in the end is do you like it? but again, you won''t know that until you see it. personally, some silk wouldn''t bother me if there was no windowing or extinction.......i''d be more worried about extinction on this stone....but it bothers me more than many here.

movie zombie

 

[mochi]

There probably is a window on the morganite, but the photograph is taken from an angle, which, I think, would accentuate and tend to make it bigger than what it really is... but than, I may be wrong...

 

[T L]

I have to say that beryls are notorious for showing a window at a tilted angle because they have such a low RI. I have a well cut cushion aqua that does the same thing at a tilt. However, looking face down into the stone, there is no window.

 

[ma re]

The degree to which this silk impacts clacrity can really be judged only in person. Other than that, it seems to be a nice stone.

 

[Pandora II]

I have quite a number of gemstones with silk (some I have bought just because they have great examples of it), I haven't found one yet where it had a negative impact - although I have seen photographs where it made the stone rather hazy.

Ask how obvious the silk is to the naked eye. Mine need a loupe to see it. From that photo I can't see an issue.

 

[cellentani]

Thanks for all of your input mochi, MR. ma re (I never posted on that thread, but I certainly read it!), moviezombie, and tourmaline _lover; I was hoping you regulars would see this.

Unfortunately, I''m no closer to deciding, and I have 2 settings on their way and nothing to put in them. Sigh...

 

[mochi]

What kind of settings are your getting?? Just being nosey!

 

[mercoledi]

IMO, Dan''s stones are a bit darker in person than in his pictures. I bet if you live in Arizona or SoCal or something they''re pretty accurate, but I live in the dark dank north, and my stones look like his pictures mostly in strongish sunlight.

I think Lauren has a similar garnet- maybe she''ll chime in.

 

[cellentani]

Hi mochi - I love nosey (when it comes to jewelry) so ask away. My 2 settings are both ebay: the 8mm LOGR legacy (upgraded), and another non-logr that I won in yellow gold but am getting it changed to white gold. I couldn''t grab the pic for some reason, but here''s the url: http://images.tupianguanjia.com/bin/4577/456%20%284%29.JPG

I suppose it''s just as well for me to wait until the settings arrive so I can measure them for the stones.

 

[Babyblue033]

Cellentani, I actually bought that garnet and returned it

It''s a gorgeous stone, silk was not bothersome to me, but the color was just a little too dark for my taste. This was before I knew that his photos tend to be lighter than actual so when I received the stone just didn''t meet my expectations IRL. It looked beautiful outside during the day, but I already had 2 umbalite garnets whose colors I preferred over this one.

 

[cellentani]

Thanks BB033, that was hugely helpful. I really want something raspberry-ish, so I guess I''ll pass on this one. You have 2 umbalite garnets?! Have you posted them? I''m off to find out...

 

[Babyblue033]

Date: 1/14/2009 3:52:26 PM
Author: cellentani
Thanks BB033, that was hugely helpful. I really want something raspberry-ish, so I guess I''ll pass on this one. You have 2 umbalite garnets?! Have you posted them? I''m off to find out...

My ring was first. It shows more pink outside like this but in most lights it''s actually a bit darker/deeper colored.

 

[Babyblue033]

This bad picture actually shows the color a little more accurately.

 

[marcy]

Cellentani, the stone looks lovely but the stones I''ve bought (only 2) were darker IRL. He does an amazing job on them though. You might tell him what color you are looking for and see if he has anything to cut in that color.

BabyBlue, your rings are lovely.