Hello to all
Looking for a 6x4 oval paraiba tourmaline approx…40ct. light blue w/
slight green tint (looks a lot like an aqua,well at least that’s what
the jeweler who broke it thought). I found one on the Jewelry
Television website for $249.95 which is more than I’m willing to
spend. Any leads, ideas,suggestions will be appreciated.
Huite Carter
I doubt you’ll be able to find a real (meaning it actually came from
Brazil) Paraeiba tourmaline that size with decent color for less than
$250. The stuff goes for thousands of dollars per carat often. You
might find some of the new material that is similar in color from
other sources, but given that Paraeiba isn’t producing any more
material I’d just pay the $250.
Daniel R. Spirer, G.G.
Daniel R. Spirer Jewelers, LLC
1780 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02140
Hello, I don’t think that you are going to a paraiba tourmaline that
is really paraiba for less than the one on the TV. I seriously doubt
that the one on TV is worth much. Usually, you get what you pay for.
Paraiba commercial quality sells for $400 to $1000 per carat in that
size. I said commercial not good not great. Call up a reliable stone
dealer, and get a real price for a good stone. I have had customers
bring in stones they bought on TV and they are usually crap that will
break if you even try and set it. Thin girdles are the usual
standard. There are lots of pretty blue and or green tourmalines out
there without the mine association that might fit your price range
and your color needs. Paraiba is neon and electric and pretty rare
hence the price.
good luck. Dennis
Just out of curiosity why do you think you should be able to find
one for less than $250?
How much less are we talking about here?
I’m assuming you know the history and scarcity of paraiba
tourmaline, not to mention the PITA it can be to facet.
That’s one thing that gets me on this list. Many people want AAA cut
gems but only wants to spend pennies on them, as if they were faceted
cabbing material. Oh, and nevermind paying the time it takes to facet
a nice stone!
Craig
www.creativecutgems.com
I doubt you'll be able to find a real (meaning it actually came from Brazil) Paraeiba tourmaline that size with decent color for less than $250. The stuff goes for thousands of dollars per carat often.
I’m with Daniel. $250 is very cheap for a stone that size, although
for that price and given it is a TV special, I do wonder if it is
really Paraiba. Good or even decent Paraiba is far more expensive. I
bought some beautiful stones two years ago at $450 a carat. The
supplier has since returned to Brazil to retire. Probably from his
earnings on Paraiba…lol…lol…lol.
Lisa, (Running for Correspondence Secretary at our local Community
House. Please…don’t ever let me become involved in local politics
again) Topanga, CA USA
Hmmmm…$250 per carat is pretty cheap Paraiba to start with. It may
well be material from the new discoveries in Africa. Or it may not
even be tourmaline at all, much less Paraiba.
I just did a search for the keyword “Paraiba” on the jewelry
television web site. The only stones that they claimed were actually
tourmaline were at the bottom of the page. The rest were things like
"paraiba colored apatite," or “paraiba ice, a simulant,” or some such
nonsense. Further, the 6X4 oval they claim actually IS tourmaline is
an auction piece that could go up well over its current price of $249
as people bid on it.
The gemological community recently agreed to call all copper-bearing
tourmalines “Paraiba.” Of course, since there is no more material
available from Paraiba itself, it’s a somewhat misleading practice to
begin with. But with jewelry television advertising junk like
"paraiba ice, a simulant," it gets very confusing for the layperson.
I strongly suggest you do business with a reputable dealer or cutter
you can trust, and pay the real price for the real item.
James S. Duncan, G.G.
James in SoFL