Questions for the rhodolite and tourmaline owners

[innerkitten]

I returned the pink spinel I had last week and am considering a rhodolite or a tourmaline. I have never owned a red garnet other than one of the average commercial varieties that go brownish in outdoor lighting. I''ve seen a few here on PS and on some of the popular gemstone sites that are a beautiful shade of magenta ( at least in the photos). Have you all been pleased with yours if you own any? Are they just as beautiful in real lfe as they are in the photos? I''ve never owned a tourmaline before. Some of the greens look amazing but I am very hard on my jewelry and worry about the softness of a stone and don''t like muddy tones. Do the greens also have a tendancy to go muddy?

BTW I think I am more of a night stone person. I love stones that look good in dim light and hate stones that look black indoors and only really pop under bright sunlight. I love that the spessartites I own always seem to have an inner fire. My aquamarine also seems to do well no matter where I take it

 

[Harriet]

I have Richard M''s "royal rhodolites." They hold their own in different lighting. My tourmalines look better at night, though.

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 1/15/2009 4:55:52 PM
Author: Harriet
I have Richard M's 'royal rhodolites.' They hold their own in different lighting. My tourmalines look better at night, though.

Ditto - they are gorgeous, and have an amazing blue flash at times.

Check out Flygirl's new set made using them.

I also have a fair number of others all in slightly different tones. The only one that isn't a great performer is one I bought because it had really interesting inclusions.

 

[innerkitten]

Tourmaline better at night? Thats very interesting. I''ll look for the flygirl set. Thanks.

 

[T L]

Some tourmaline is better at night, and some tourmaline is better during the day. However, there exists tourmaline that does well in both artificial and natural light, but they''re usually more expensive. For example, the seafoam green tourmaline that BrownEyedGirl got from Jeff White is such a stone that does well in most light sources. That''s how I buy tourmalines. I make sure they don''t go brown or murky in various light sources.

Since I recently found out from ColorMyWorld that pink tourmaline can be irradiated, and even a lab cannot tell, that has put me off of pink tourmaline.

At least with a pink spinel or garnet, you know you''re getting an untreated stone.

 

[movie zombie]

i think garnet is more sparkley than tourmaline. many rhodies are just too dark for my taste. however, a RED spess would make my heart sing.

movie zombie

 

[arjunajane]

I will let you know as soon as I have my umbalite garnet

 

[Harriet]

Date: 1/15/2009 7:00:36 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
Since I recently found out from ColorMyWorld that pink tourmaline can be irradiated, and even a lab cannot tell, that has put me off of pink tourmaline.

Don't cry. Richard Wise has a purdy little pink tourmaline from the Pala mine that is natural.

 

[VRBeauty]

I have some of each. How about if I bring them along to the GTG? They''re not custom cut stones, but most are pretty sparkly... and you''d be able to do some side-by side comparisons!

 

[Harriet]

This picture was taken in the day. I''ll try to take another in the night.

 

[Harriet]

Not much "washing out."

 

[innerkitten]

VRbeauty that would be so cool. It would be great to actually see some in person.

 

[innerkitten]

Harriet those are pretty. Are they new?

 

[Harriet]

Thanks! One of them is actually my first significant purchase. The dealer thought he wasn't going to be able to find a match. Then, one appeared on his desk. It was slightly larger, but he had it re-cut. They are both from Afghanistan.

 

[innerkitten]

They would make fantastic earrings.

 

[T L]

Harriet,
Those are beautiful tourmalines, and typical of what I was discussing above. A really good tourmaline will look bright and beautiful in most light settings.

 

[chrono]

Harriet,
You still haven''t done anything with them? You''ve had them for quite a while now...

 

[Harriet]

Innerkitten,
That''s the plan.

TL,
Thanks.

Chrono,
Haha. Other stones got in the way.