I need some pink tourmaline help

[Odyssey44]

I bought a bubble gum pink tourmaline stone I am returning. The lovely pink outside turns a muddy brown inside. I have read this is a common problem, but also that "good quality" pink tourmalines do stay a shade of pink in all lighting. Is this true? I have seen hot pink tourmalines stay pink everywhere, and rubellite of course, but a clear medium pink stone? I am starting to think it is not possible. Does anyone have a medium pink tourmaline stone that stays pink in various lighting, or at least turns to a pleasing peach and not muddy brown? I don't want to set myself up to buy and return a lot of stones looking for something that does not exist.

Here is the stone I bought outiside:


And when I opened the package in LED light I thought I received the wrong stone!


And incandescent light, yikes!!!

 

[Autumn in New England]

I think I'm in the minority of people that doesn't care what their stones look like under incandescents, LEDS, or fluorescents. And that's because it's all artificial light. I care how they look in natural light and the way they're tested at major labs (to mimic daylight at around 5,000-6,000k)... sort of like how our cavemen brethren would have viewed pretty rocks. lol

But I can also understand why this bugs you... I have not personally seen medium pink tourms that hold their color under warm, indoor lighting. They tend to "brown out" to varying degrees. As you mentioned, this is what separates rubellite from the pack. They hold their color regardless, but the shades will be more of a hot pink, magenta, or pinkish-red. If you really want that true medium pink that holds its color under every lighting, maybe try a spinel or sapphire?

P.S. That first pic of your stone is gorgeous!

 

[Odyssey44]

Thanks Autumn! I can definitely understand warm light being a problem, but was most disappointed with the LED light situation, because I do keep those a cool white color and the stone looked quite rust colored. It is amazing how much the stone changed colors outdoors!
I do love it outside--the color is beautiful and I thought the cut was too--always happy for your confirmation! I guess if I had to pick, I'd want its best color under cool LED light since that is where I will be most of the time.
Do you have any stones you do not like the look of indoors? I wonder if I could do anything with a setting to bring out the pink?

PS Working my way up to sapphire. Still deciding whether or not to keep and set my, umm, shall we say spinel with a small window. It does stay pink everywhere. I really like the tone of bubblegum pink tourmalines--no other stone quite looks like that--and was hoping to find at least one.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Thanks Autumn! I can definitely understand warm light being a problem, but was most disappointed with the LED light situation, because I do keep those a cool white color and the stone looked quite rust colored. It is amazing how much the stone changed colors outdoors!
I do love it outside--the color is beautiful and I thought the cut was too--always happy for your confirmation! I guess if I had to pick, I'd want its best color under cool LED light since that is where I will be most of the time.
Do you have any stones you do not like the look of indoors? I wonder if I could do anything with a setting to bring out the pink?

PS Working my way up to sapphire. Still deciding whether or not to keep and set my, umm, shall we say spinel with a small window. It does stay pink everywhere. I really like the tone of bubblegum pink tourmalines--no other stone quite looks like that--and was hoping to find at least one.

I know, I love them too... they do have a lovely carnation shade all their own. So yeah, LEDs aren't all equal in the color or temperature of light they throw. You just never know how a gem is going to transform under this one or that one. Unless you have a proper daylight balanced full spectrum bulb, it's difficult to predict.

 

[Odyssey44]

I know, I love them too... they do have a lovely carnation shade all their own. So yeah, LEDs aren't all equal in the color or temperature of light they throw. You just never know how a gem is going to transform under this one or that one. Unless you have a proper daylight balanced full spectrum bulb, it's difficult to predict.

Have you seen any tourms that look pink in a certain temp of cool LED? Funnily enough, I do have some full spectrum LEDs because of how good they are for plant growth! Looks like my 2 hobbies may have combined! Did not see that coming! (Just realized I should specify I grow houseplants of the non-edible kind).

Still need to figure if it is worth the search...

 

[Autumn in New England]

Have you seen any tourms that look pink in a certain temp of cool LED? Funnily enough, I do have some full spectrum LEDs because of how good they are for plant growth! Looks like my 2 hobbies may have combined! Did not see that coming! (Just realized I should specify I grow houseplants of the non-edible kind).

Still need to figure if it is worth the search...

Give it a try! Also, I envy everyone with a green thumb!! I am the grim reaper of house plants.

It's just that "cool" lighting is so subjective, you know? It's difficult to say without knowing the light temp.

 

[marymm]

my Himalaya Mine Pink Tourmaline cushion-cuts from Jeff White look pink under cool LED and actually to my eyes look pink in every lighting I put them in -- I haven't seen a lighting environment where they look brown -- they're not the brighter magenta pink of your 1st pic but more the classic Double Bubble Gum pink.

Here's probably too-many too-large photos for ya!

 

[Odyssey44]

Give it a try! Also, I envy everyone with a green thumb!! I am the grim reaper of house plants.

It's just that "cool" lighting is so subjective, you know? It's difficult to say without knowing the light temp.

My 3rd hobby just kept me busy for the last hour. One of my cats had a mad chase after a ghost and jumped over my end table where I had just placed my full cup of tea. And I use a very big cup. Endless splatter clean up! At least the lamp did not go over. It was close!

Will have to check my light temp. My brightest plant lights go to 5000K. But that looks like Close Encounters.

 

[Odyssey44]

my Himalaya Mine Pink Tourmaline cushion-cuts from Jeff White look pink under cool LED and actually to my eyes look pink in every lighting I put them in -- I haven't seen a lighting environment where they look brown -- they're not the brighter magenta pink of your 1st pic but more the classic Double Bubble Gum pink.

Here's probably too-many too-large photos for ya!

Thanks Mary! No such thing as too many big photos. I loved seeing them. This gives me hope! I would be very happy with that shade of pink!! My first ever contact with Jeff was about a pink Tourmaline for a project but I was not sure the outer limit he quoted me would work. When I went back to inquire about just getting the stone for something else, all the rough was gone! I don't know if it was Himalaya rough though.

 

[fredflintstone]

I bought a bubble gum pink tourmaline stone I am returning. The lovely pink outside turns a muddy brown inside. I have read this is a common problem, but also that "good quality" pink tourmalines do stay a shade of pink in all lighting. Is this true? I have seen hot pink tourmalines stay pink everywhere, and rubellite of course, but a clear medium pink stone? I am starting to think it is not possible. Does anyone have a medium pink tourmaline stone that stays pink in various lighting, or at least turns to a pleasing peach and not muddy brown? I don't want to set myself up to buy and return a lot of stones looking for something that does not exist.

Here is the stone I bought outiside:


And when I opened the package in LED light I thought I received the wrong stone!


And incandescent light, yikes!!!

Afghan stone?

 

[Odyssey44]

Afghan stone?

I do not know, but it absolutely could be. It is from a vendor in Bangkok. Are Afghan stones know for browning out?

 

[fredflintstone]

I do not know, but it absolutely could be. It is from a vendor in Bangkok. Are Afghan stones know for browning out?

Yes, pink, hot pink & Rubellite from Afghanistan turn brownish orange or worse in incandescent light. Most are heated or irradiated. African stones hold their color especially Nigerian and Mozambique Tourmaline.

People wear their jewelry more indoors than outdoors most of the year, especially in temperate climates. It is very important to a buyer's happiness their pink, hot pink and Rubellites hold their color in all light, not just sunlight. Though there will always be a slight change in saturation, but you sure don't want a stone to brown out.

Buyer beware.

 

[PrecisionGem]

I do not know, but it absolutely could be. It is from a vendor in Bangkok. Are Afghan stones know for browning out?

I have seen nice pinks that hold up in any light from many locations, and others from the same locations that turn muddy. I don't think it's so much a location thing. The CFL bulbs, those curly ones, are notoriously bad for most gemstones except peridot.
You can find some nice pink from Pala California.

 

[Odyssey44]

Yes, pink, hot pink & Rubellite from Afghanistan turn brownish orange or worse in incandescent light. Most are heated or irradiated. African stones hold their color especially Nigerian and Mozambique Tourmaline.

People wear their jewelry more indoors than outdoors most of the year, especially in temperate climates. It is very important to a buyer's happiness their pink, hot pink and Rubellites hold their color in all light, not just sunlight. Though there will always be a slight change in saturation, but you sure don't want a stone to brown out.

Buyer beware.

Yup--those are my sentiments exactly!! Very well said. I had no idea and pink is my favorite color, so thanks for telling me about Afghan stone issues. I am guessing most Asian vendors will not have African stones! I just returned this pink tourmaline today. The browning out most definitely displeased me.
I was looking at California tourmaline, but it seems very included and I am thinking it may also be quite expensive.

 

[Odyssey44]

I have seen nice pinks that hold up in any light from many locations, and others from the same locations that turn muddy. I don't think it's so much a location thing. The CFL bulbs, those curly ones, are notoriously bad for most gemstones except peridot.
You can find some nice pink from Pala California.

Ah, jinx! We were writing at the same time. The CFL bulbs were definitely bad. But the pink was not great under LED lights either. It only shone outdoors.
I have just been noticing the California tourmaline--of course I am just looking online but it seems pretty included. The colors look beautiful though.

 

[fredflintstone]

I have seen nice pinks that hold up in any light from many locations, and others from the same locations that turn muddy. I don't think it's so much a location thing. The CFL bulbs, those curly ones, are notoriously bad for most gemstones except peridot.
You can find some nice pink from Pala California.

I have yet to see an Afghan pink (at least a saturated pink) to red Tourmaline hold its color under all lights when I was dealing or after (I stopped buying them), incandescent being the major culprit.

A good friend of mine, Eddie Cleveland who has worked at many major labs has said, they suspect a newer treatment of Afghanistan pink to red Tourmaline.

I suggest people be very careful when buying this color of Tourmaline from Afghanistan, though it is true not all Pink to Rubellite Tourmaline hold their color no matter the location, but the Afghanistan material brings this to new levels.