Would you keep this "paraiba" pair?

[Green with Envy]

I have these tourmalines... they have been tested and cert is copper-bearing... but do not glow like true brazilian paraibas. These do look slight neon and in diffused light look nice... almost look better in shadow than direct sunlight. personally I do love this greenish color. One stone has SLIGHT window... but very well matched 9x7 pair. thinking earrings... or maybe three stone ring with a larger pink tourmaline in center.

Should i keep? Is matched pair this color super hard to find? i have not seen matched pair... but not looking that hard and these fell into my lap.

Opinions?

 

[chrono]

Green,

Do YOU like them?

If they don't glow, the vendor had better not charge paraiba prices and NOT call them paraibas. AGTA states that even if the stone has copper but doesn't glow, it is not a paraiba. Buy the look, not the name. Perhaps these can be called cuprites, meaning copper bearing tourmalines? That term would seem more accurate.

If the stones look better in the shade, I'm thinking earrings are best. They are shaded by your hair, but with that colour, should be able to stand out on their own. With earrings, no one will notice the window either unless they are WAYYYY too close. I've seen many tourmalines like these (some with copper, some without), but not many pairs. They seem to be coming from Afghanistan, Nigeria and the like.

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 12/11/2007 12:14:04 PM
Author: Chrono
Green,

Do YOU like them?

If they don't glow, the vendor had better not charge paraiba prices and NOT call them paraibas. AGTA states that even if the stone has copper but doesn't glow, it is not a paraiba. Buy the look, not the name. Perhaps these can be called cuprites, meaning copper bearing tourmalines? That term would seem more accurate.

If the stones look better in the shade, I'm thinking earrings are best. They are shaded by your hair, but with that colour, should be able to stand out on their own. With earrings, no one will notice the window either unless they are WAYYYY to close. I've seen many tourmalines like these (some with copper, some without), but not many pairs. They seem to be coming from Afghanistan, Nigeria and the like.

Doesn't Chrono rock! I love reading her posts and learning from her!!!

Green they are very pretty but I agree I wouldn't want to pay paraiba prices if they aren't. I do love the color!

 

[chrono]

Skippy,
I''m just a pretender masquerading as a gemstone expert. I only wish I knew more.

 

[Green with Envy]

Makes sense.
The prob is non- brazilian paraibas have pricesd all over the place?!!!
Can you give me a ball park price per ct (stones are just under 2 cts. each 1.92 and 1.86) that would be reasonable if just nice, slightly neon looking?

They are certainly nicer than avg blue-greens...and do have some neon.

$300 per ct? $500 per ct? $700? I am clueless. i DO like them... but not if I am getting bad deal.

 

[Linda W]

Chrono,

You do know a lot. I, like Skippy, love reading your posts.

Linda

 

[Green with Envy]

Chrono...I second that... or thirds? I need some unofficial gem dealer to chime in.

 

[chrono]

You ladies are always so sweet. My ego is now sky high.

Green,
These stones are eye clean, right? Loupe clean too?
How matched in colour and shape are they?
I would do $300 per carat but I might change my mind if I have the stones in hand to play with. It''s really hard to give an estimate based on static pictures.

 

[Green with Envy]

Eye clean... loupe clean... and face up PERFECT pair with size match, color, saturation, etc..

One cut great... other has tiny tiny window.

Still unofficial quote $300/ct? how high would YOU go? I know this is getting more towards beauty in eye of beholder... but wondering if I could eventually find another pair for signif. less $.

 

[chrono]

How high I would go depends upon playing with the stone in hand. If they truly dazzled me (liveliness, neon-ness and all), I might go $350 per carat... Oh I don''t know.

If I really liked it I might pay a lot.

This is way too subjective without even seeing the stone in person.

On the other hand, I don''t know if you will eventually find another pair for signif. less $... Let''s put it this way. Say you returned it then found out someone else wanted to buy them. Would you grab it then or can you let it go?

 

[Green with Envy]

Oh no... if I returned them I hope someone else does snag them!

i did like them the minute I opened the package..the test I learned from you. If don''t like them right away... send them back.

But I am starting to think not neon ENOUGH for price... plus they are from my state so i have to pay sales tax. Poop!

 

[LadyAmythyst69]

Date: 12/11/2007 12:16:29 PM
Author: Skippy123

Date: 12/11/2007 12:14:04 PM
Author: Chrono
Green,

Do YOU like them?

If they don''t glow, the vendor had better not charge paraiba prices and NOT call them paraibas. AGTA states that even if the stone has copper but doesn''t glow, it is not a paraiba. Buy the look, not the name. Perhaps these can be called cuprites, meaning copper bearing tourmalines? That term would seem more accurate.

If the stones look better in the shade, I''m thinking earrings are best. They are shaded by your hair, but with that colour, should be able to stand out on their own. With earrings, no one will notice the window either unless they are WAYYYY to close. I''ve seen many tourmalines like these (some with copper, some without), but not many pairs. They seem to be coming from Afghanistan, Nigeria and the like.

Doesn''t Chrono rock! I love reading her posts and learning from her!!!

Green they are very pretty but I agree I wouldn''t want to pay paraiba prices if they aren''t. I do love the color!

Me too!

 

[LadyAmythyst69]

Date: 12/11/2007 2:47:26 PM
Author: Green with Envy
Oh no... if I returned them I hope someone else does snag them!

i did like them the minute I opened the package..the test I learned from you. If don''t like them right away... send them back.

But I am starting to think not neon ENOUGH for price... plus they are from my state so i have to pay sales tax. Poop!

I sort of feel if you think that then you should return them. Never settle. If you do, then somewhere in the back of your mind you will still be on the hunt for that perfect pair of paribas. Then you will find them, buy them and end up having paid twice to get the one thing you really wanted, Know what I mean?

 

[chrono]

Date: 12/11/2007 3:53:41 PM
Author: LadyAmythyst69

Date: 12/11/2007 2:47:26 PM
Author: Green with Envy
Oh no... if I returned them I hope someone else does snag them!

i did like them the minute I opened the package..the test I learned from you. If don''t like them right away... send them back.

But I am starting to think not neon ENOUGH for price... plus they are from my state so i have to pay sales tax. Poop!

I sort of feel if you think that then you should return them. Never settle. If you do, then somewhere in the back of your mind you will still be on the hunt for that perfect pair of paribas. Then you will find them, buy them and end up having paid twice to get the one thing you really wanted, Know what I mean?

Agreed. Here''s a real story since it happened to me. I found a nice paraiba but it wasn''t neon enough and the colour wasn''t blue enough. The price was okay and the stone IS pretty. But it was NOT what I wanted. I mulled over it, asked the vendor for an extended week to mull over it more, then finally decided it was not for me, so I returned it with a heavy heart. In the end, I knew I did the right thing in returning it because deep down I knew I could not be happy with it in the long run. Pretty enough to look at but not proud enough for me to set it. Lo and behold, a month later, I bought a MP that GLOWED for the same price per carat!!! That one I''m just dying to set.

 

[Green with Envy]

Thanks- i am set now... they are going back. I love how my ridiculous indecisiveness can be squished with just a few good posts! Alone I would have mulled it over for as long as possible!

 

[LadyAmythyst69]

Date: 12/11/2007 4:53:37 PM
Author: Green with Envy
Thanks- i am set now... they are going back. I love how my ridiculous indecisiveness can be squished with just a few good posts! Alone I would have mulled it over for as long as possible!

Oh dear! Didn''t mean to squish - just help.

LOL!

The "buying things twice" is a lesson I learned the hard way...

 

[chrono]

"Squish" is such a strong word.

It makes me feel sort of guilty for dissuading you when my actual purpose was to just lay down the facts so that you can make an informed decision.

 

[Beacon]

Pretty stones I think. I don''t know much about pariba prices vs regular tourmaline prices. How much per carat would these be if they were the glowy neon type paribas? I think I am developing a real fancy for the darned things LOL.

 

[Green with Envy]

Ok... I love asschers... and I can get a small asscher (under 1 ct) for similar price as tourmalines. The asscher will go in the safe until I save enough money to buy a second one... then will be earrings.

Would you want a pair of smokin'' asscher earrings... or tourmaline earrings? I know this is the colored stone site so others opinions might be skewed towards colored stone... but I am waiting to see the asscher next week and I will keep diamond or tourmalines... not both.

In NYc I saw a true brazilian paraiba and it was 1000 times better. But prices are like $4000/ct or much more for true brazilian!

these babaies are WAY cheaper than brazilian paraibas.

 

[LadyAmythyst69]

Date: 12/11/2007 8:51:25 PM
Author: Green with Envy
Ok... I love asschers... and I can get a small asscher (under 1 ct) for similar price as tourmalines. The asscher will go in the safe until I save enough money to buy a second one... then will be earrings.

Would you want a pair of smokin'' asscher earrings... or tourmaline earrings? I know this is the colored stone site so others opinions might be skewed towards colored stone... but I am waiting to see the asscher next week and I will keep diamond or tourmalines... not both.

In NYc I saw a true brazilian paraiba and it was 1000 times better. But prices are like $4000/ct or much more for true brazilian!

these babaies are WAY cheaper than brazilian paraibas.

I''d go for the smokin asscher earrings myself. Asscher studs are actually on my "list of big dreams".

 

[Green with Envy]

I am going to get small ones (like .90 ct) and put pave around to emphasis clipped corners. Like this pic... but WAY smaller. i have had a picture of pave and square shape diamond earrings tacked to my office memo board for over 6 months.... it keeps me motivated!

 

[LadyAmythyst69]

Date: 12/11/2007 9:17:36 PM
Author: Green with Envy
I am going to get small ones (like .90 ct) and put pave around to emphasis clipped corners. Like this pic... but WAY smaller. i have had a picture of pave and square shape diamond earrings tacked to my office memo board for over 6 months.... it keeps me motivated!

SAHWEET!

I tried on a pair like that recently but they were those illusion set diamonds that make you think it''s an asscher - know what I''m talkin about? Well my hubby loves those now & totally wants to get me a pair. It''s like gadgetry + jewelry. LOL!

 

[Green with Envy]

Date: 12/11/2007 9:27:24 PM
Author: LadyAmythyst69

Date: 12/11/2007 9:17:36 PM
Author: Green with Envy
I am going to get small ones (like .90 ct) and put pave around to emphasis clipped corners. Like this pic... but WAY smaller. i have had a picture of pave and square shape diamond earrings tacked to my office memo board for over 6 months.... it keeps me motivated!

SAHWEET!

I tried on a pair like that recently but they were those illusion set diamonds that make you think it''s an asscher - know what I''m talkin about? Well my hubby loves those now & totally wants to get me a pair. It''s like gadgetry + jewelry. LOL!

I have no idea? Illusion diamond but not really asscher? Or not really a diamond? HUH????

 

[chrono]

Green
As much as I adore asschers, I don''t know if you''ll be able to appreciate the step pattern when they are dangling on your ears. Unless they are 5 carats, I don''t think anyone can see the steps. With coloured gemstones, the colour will catch your eye right away. Brazilian paraibas are extra expensive because of the name (original mine etc), so a good compromise will be the Mozambique paraiba which is just 1 notch down but a whole less $$$ than the Brazilian goods. Nigerian and Afghan stones have very little glow so I normally pass on them unless the colour is too irresistable and the price is marked down accordingly.

 

[Green with Envy]

Oh Chrono--- darn you make a lot of sense!!! I am 99% sure these tourmalines are nigerian. I have a mozambique tourmaline at leon''s right now and that is NOT copper bearing... but looks amazing- color, cut, saturation way better and per ct it was just 100 or so dollors more than these... and it is over 11 ct! i will wait patiently for the perfect pair of mozambiques.

i did try on some small asscher earrings and I loved them... but it all depends on the stone. I have one coming and if it is not as good as I hoped when small... I can send it back.

So... you guys might have saved me lots of money at the holidays. My angels!!!

 

[LadyAmythyst69]

This is what I mean by illusion set - the center is a asscher/square emerald & then surrounded by traps to make it look like it''s actually a really big asscher. Well done illusion settings can really fool your eye at first.