shape
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color
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What am I seeing in these gems?

It is gorgeous! I'm interested to see if the colors are as vibrant in person, because I've never seen one so clean!!
 
Ok, I also bought the second bicolor tourmaline I posted. This is the vendor photo.
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It arrived and no matter what light, I could not recreate that vivid pink. The pink part did not brown out, it just always looked a kind of rusty-orangey color. Not at all what i was after. I am going to return this one and would not buy from this vendor again. The peridot vendor just got a bicolor in that seems vivid reddish pink, which is what I think I have to get for the pink part to actually look pink in regular indoor/outdoor conditions. So I will try again.
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Beware of buying stones from oversea dealers using these white backgrounds. It makes the stone look more vivid than it is and hides colorless inclusions.

Also, tropical sunlight makes the gemstone look more vivid, especially warm and hot colors. Ask for LED or fluorescent light pictures or video, video is best. Ask for finger or tweezer videos. Just some ways to protect yourself from this happening.
 
I have had 3 purchases I have been very disappointed in. 2 are tourmalines with part/all pink. Pink tourmalines might be something that should be an in-person purchase because they are so difficult. I have a couple of vendors now that I like, who will also show me accurate indoor videos and that I think answer my questions truthfully.

Afghan pink and red tourmaline does not hold their color well. I've had some nice bicolor watermelon Afghan tourmalines, but these are untreated. Most all medium to hot pinks and reds are treated with heat and/or irradiated from Afghanistan. Do not buy them. Buy African material when you can find it, but it will not be cheap.
 
Afghan pink and red tourmaline does not hold their color well. I've had some nice bicolor watermelon Afghan tourmalines, but these are untreated. Most all medium to hot pinks and reds are treated with heat and/or irradiated from Afghanistan. Do not buy them. Buy African material when you can find it, but it will not be cheap.

I have been looking for African pink tourmaline and having a heck of a time finding it. I'll keep looking. After what you said about Afghan pink tourmaline treatments I am pretty scared to buy it.
 
I have been looking for African pink tourmaline and having a heck of a time finding it. I'll keep looking. After what you said about Afghan pink tourmaline treatments I am pretty scared to buy it.

The Rare Gemstone Company has various colors of African tourmaline. I purchased a couple sapphires from them and was very happy. They do have a refund policy also.
 
The Rare Gemstone Company has various colors of African tourmaline. I purchased a couple sapphires from them and was very happy. They do have a refund policy also.

Thanks! I give them a look now and again, but they never seem to have much pink tourmaline over 5 cts. Right now there is only one piece and it is more orange than I am looking for. But do shout if you see anything else.
 
You know, I searched them for chrysoberyls but I'm not sure I checked their pink tourmaline. I'll look now. Thanks!
 
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