Post subject: Re: How would you define this sapphire’s colour?
Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2020 9:09 am
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Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 2:18 am Posts: 1542
GIA has a colored stone grading criteria system (still developing) similar to the Diamond criteria. It is not been released to use in the labs yet, but is being actively taught as part of the G.G. course now.
As soon as this standardized system gets elevated to the colored stone industry the public will be better off, just like they are with Diamonds today. Salesmen looking for high margins will not be, as margin compression will almost certainly be part of the result.
Remember River, Cape, Blue White, Jager, Canary, etc, as color descriptions of diamond? Aren't we all glad those are gone now?
What color is Padparadscha? Well that depends on who is looking at it and making the call. But if you have a system that defines the Hue, Saturation, and Tone ranges that qualify as a Padparadscha then the issue is fairly simple. It also becomes easier for a jeweler to communicate with a supplier. He can say, the customer favors stone more to one side or the other of each parameter.
Post subject: Re: How would you define this sapphire’s colour?
Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2020 1:58 pm
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Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2016 7:58 pm Posts: 1424 Location: San Marcos, CA
1bwana1 wrote:
glhays wrote:
My wife would murder me if she ever heard me describing a stone like that.
And she would be justified. No jury would convict her.
Steve, I will hope you do not make it into the jury pool. Although the term watermelon tourmaline has been so excepted for so long, to non gem savy people have no clue how to interpret the association to a fruit. Would be like having a Pea Skin Tsavorite (Cooked not Raw) or maybe a frozen variety.
Post subject: Re: How would you define this sapphire’s colour?
Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2020 2:33 pm
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Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm Posts: 21602 Location: San Francisco
Yes, there are some examples of trade names which have become standard in the lexicon. And clearly, describing a tourmaline as "watermelon" can work for some.
But, what hues and tones and saturation is our watermelon? Is our melon not quite ripe yet?
Getting there:
or is it starting to look a little past it's prime
I'd call these stones tri-color and describe appropriate hue, tome and saturation.
Post subject: Re: How would you define this sapphire’s colour?
Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2022 1:39 am
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Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2021 12:24 am Posts: 30
It's a reddish pink sapphire. Simply put. You would literally need to have a plethora of stones just like it in order to name it like that.Its not necessary to coin a phrase for it to sell .A buyer will purchase based on visuals more than a name if they are really looking for a pink or red sapphire. They stumble on this and get the best of both worlds. I would describe it like this : a beautiful sapphire that displays the pinks and reds of a sunset. ... thats if you feel that words will play a huge role . The gem can speak for itself IMO.
Post subject: Re: How would you define this sapphire’s colour?
Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2022 1:23 pm
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Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm Posts: 21602 Location: San Francisco
I disagree. "Reddish pink" is speculative at best and frankly, does not accurately describe the stone's color. Ain't reminiscent of any sunset I've ever seen. Maybe that's a function of living in San Francisco. It does not address tone and saturation, nor modifying colors.
One would only need a reliable source for color masters, not a collection of every sapphire in the world. Gem e Wizard World of Color Grading System: Gem Dialog. Pantone describes color well, using numerical references as well as consumer friendly names https://www.pantone.com/connect (I'm a fan of Pantone; I actually often wish it was used for gems)
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Post subject: Re: How would you define this sapphire’s colour?
Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2022 4:05 pm
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Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2016 7:58 pm Posts: 1424 Location: San Marcos, CA
Why not "A beautiful sapphire that shines of all the colors of the rainbow" buyers please let your minds eye tell you the ones you see. Just not proper for describing a gemstone. Reddish pink is not proper as well, how about pinkish Red. Or RedRuby Grapefruit Sapphire or is that just an orangish Red Ruby.
Post subject: Re: How would you define this sapphire’s colour?
Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2022 7:51 pm
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Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 2:18 am Posts: 1542
Jewels Lobato wrote:
I would describe it like this : a beautiful sapphire that displays the pinks and reds of a sunset. ... thats if you feel that words will play a huge role . The gem can speak for itself IMO.
Well since sunset colors are commonly used to describe the colors of Padparadscha I would avoid using "Sunset" to describe any other Sapphire variety.
Post subject: Re: How would you define this sapphire’s colour?
Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2022 7:56 pm
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Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 2:18 am Posts: 1542
Barbra Voltaire, FGG wrote:
Yes, there are some examples of trade names which have become standard in the lexicon. And clearly, describing a tourmaline as "watermelon" can work for some.
But to me "Watermelon" when used to describe Tourmaline is properly applied to a color growth pattern, not the two colors. These stones look to be BI-color, or tri-color Tourmalines where the growth pattern and cutting orientation is 90 degrees out from a true Watermelon Tourmaline.
Post subject: Re: How would you define this sapphire’s colour?
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2022 5:16 pm
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Joined: Wed Aug 09, 2017 8:33 pm Posts: 80
And on a similar note to the improvement in gemology towards describing colour objectively/accurately: I believe the colour of gemstones should be judge through a window of it infront of neutral white paper under a specific illuminant. Judging colour that has been reflected several times within the stone has too many variables like dispersion, accumulation of saturation depending on bounces, depth of stone, etc. Using just the absorption colour would be more objective. my humble 1 cent.
Post subject: Re: How would you define this sapphire’s colour?
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2022 11:16 pm
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Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm Posts: 21602 Location: San Francisco
TheL wrote:
And on a similar note to the improvement in gemology towards describing colour objectively/accurately: I believe the colour of gemstones should be judge through a window of it infront of neutral white paper under a specific illuminant. Judging colour that has been reflected several times within the stone has too many variables like dispersion, accumulation of saturation depending on bounces, depth of stone, etc. Using just the absorption colour would be more objective. my humble 1 cent.
Perfect! Leveling the playing field seems essential. But universal access to the same playing field is also essential.
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