Tsavorite thread....new stones to check out.

[Diamondsbylauren]

Hi everyone. We just finished a lovely tsavorite piece for a client.



We loved it so much we decided to look into getting a few more tsavorites.
We can offer this one for $3000 in our new split shank halo in 18kt white gold- the ring photographed above
ITEM #: R3510
Emerald Cut Tsavorite, Loose

  WEIGHT: 1.16ct
  STONE TYPE: Tsavorite
  SHAPE: Emerald Cut
  COLOR: Green
  MEASUREMENTS: 7.20 x 4.80 mm

[Diamondsbylauren]

One more for your thoughts....
This one $4895 in the split shank( or single shank) halo 18kt

ITEM #: R3511
Emerald Cut Tsavorite, Loose

  WEIGHT: 1.51ct
  STONE TYPE: Tsavorite
  SHAPE: Emerald Cut
  COLOR: Green
  MEASUREMENTS: 7.70 x 5.50 mm

[ah2bqat]

 
Can you give a short dissertation on the advantages and disadvantages of tsavorite vs emerald, please?  OMC,  feel free to take over for David.

I see this tsavorite and think, this is what I wanted my emeralds to look like!

How do they compare on the Moh scale, for treatment, for durability. as a precious or semiprecious stone and then again against a natural diamond?  Trink, you can jump right in, if you please.  I'm thinking David has bigger and better things on his mind this week.

I'm in heat over this sizable tsavorite!

[oldmancoyote]

Tsavorite compares well in all respects. It has a higher RI and much higher dispersion, and it's a little softer, but it's tougher than emerald, also being usually less included. It is never treated (except potentially for being coated, but I've never heard of it), but fakes will start to appear now that values have started to climb. Colour-wise it generally punches comparably priced emeralds in the eyes, leaving them looking noticeably bruised and wanting to escape the stage.

Most valued is tsav of a slightly bluish medium-dark green, with no yellow. Most liked - in my case - is the same. I know people that like them lighter, with pure green, with yellow. Each to his/her own.

Green colour is due to chrome, so it's usually a b*tch to photograph well, particularly under incandescent light.

It has the disadvantage of being much rarer (not really reflected in prices, but it means one gets what is there, rather than what one wants) and very rare in sizes above 3.00 ct of any beauty.

In terms of against a diamond - well, the intensity of colour is all for the tsav, but the diamond has the upper hand in refraction and reflection, not to mention hardness. However, to come up with anything in diamonds that begins to look like a tsav (and it never will look like one), you are looking at several mortgages combined.

[annie1]

I love tsavorite, and this ring is a beauty!

Do you think you could make these earrings with tsavorite?  Thinking, thinking... 

http://rockdiamond.c...kt-white-gold--r3297

[djm195]

Good idea annie.

[Mikla]

Tsavorite earrings would be stunning!  Can tsavorite be cleaned in the ultrasonic?

Mikla

[Trinkette]

Ah2, I recently authored some articles regarding tsavorite, it is one of my favorite gems. I have some unset tsavorite and plan to collect more. I love my tsavorite, however, I love emerald as well for different reasons.

Like diamond and spinel, as a member of the garnet family, the green grossular garnet known as tsavorite is one of a few singly refractive gem varieties, so it shows no pleochroism or birefringence.  Also, it has no cleavage – making the stone tougher than its Mohs hardness rating might suggest (tsavorite is 6.5-7 and emerald is 7-8). The relative density of tsavorite is closer to that of diamond, which translates to smaller size per ct weight when compared to emerald.

I think some might argue that the most desired color for tsavorite is pure spectral green, although I agree with OMC that many prefer the slightly bluish green (just as many prefer the bluish green in emerald). Although very attractive, like emerald, the yellowish green is considered the least desirable color combo. You should pay a little less for this, although really it is no less beautiful, so, it can be a way to save a little on a lovely stone. Definitely beware stones that are too dark. The green should be bright and intense, but not so saturated that it is dark. Also, green stones that are too light are considered to be green grossular garnet, not tsavorite. Many vendors market the lighter gems as tsavorite and charge buyers a premium for the more desired gem.

Tsavorite is generally colored by vanadium and sometimes chromium.

If you are looking to replicate emerald (which is how tsavorite gained in popularity), then an emerald cut is a good choice. However, tsavorite is such a beautiful and worthy stone on its own, it is a shame not to display it to its own best advantage. Namely, since it has better dispersion and refraction, which make it sparklier than emerald, a brilliant cut tsavorite may be a better way to go because it will best show-off these characteristics.

Overall, it is a great gem that is generally considered to be more clear, durable and brilliant than emerald.

[Trinkette]

Mikla, warm sudsy water and a soft brush is best. Ultrasonics are usually safe (although I might not try it). An ionic cleaner may be safer. Avoid steam cleaners and sharp changes in temperature (a beautiful mandarin garnet of mine succumbed to fracture after an extreme temp change).

[Trinkette]

For what it is worth, I listed a conservative hardness rating for tsavorite at 6.5-7. I have seen sources rate it as high as 7.5.

[Trinkette]

I think it would be stunning to see a tsavorite set in DBL rose gold... perhaps with some light pinks or light pinkish browns? 

[Trinkette]

Or, set one of these ECs as OMC did his orangy radiant with baguettes and half moons (did I remember that correctly?) in platinum. Clean, crisp and classic. Ahhhhh.

[ah2bqat]

Thanks OMC and Trink!  I knew I could count on you guys to get the skinny out on this stunning gemstone!  

[Trinkette]

Don't you think that it is time you owned one of your own? 

[oldmancoyote]

 

Enabler alert!!!

[Trinkette]

 

[ah2bqat]

Don't you think that it is time you owned one of your own? 

Of course I do, Trinkette!  The QoE agrees with me, too.    It's just that DH can't see the value, if he can't get it airborne and keep it that way. 

[oldmancoyote]

In which case, I suggest he buys two season tickets (first class) to Kenya. That will accomplish both goals.

[Mrs Mitchell]

I'm very partial to a good tsav, and these two look very nice indeed. I really like them just pure green, no blue or yellow. I would love to have some really good tsavs, maybe a whole set...

I haven't seen many pear cuts - I'm sure they exist, but does tsavorite lend itself to a pear cut particularly? The best ones I've seen are emerald or cushion cuts.

Jen

[oldmancoyote]

It varies a lot. Tsav rough is quite irregular; I haven't seen too many well formed crystals.

Half decent pair of pears:

[Trinkette]

Love those, OMC.

Tsavorite is "supposed" to be quite common in brilliant cut round or oval shapes. However, whenever I look, I see not-so-many rounds for sale, and many ovals and cushions. Also, trilliants. The material lends itself to be just about any shape you could want. Pears are not wickedly uncommon and step cuts are fairly obtainable as well.

You need a good set. 

[clgwli]

I admit I know very little about tsavorites but they are quite pretty!  I really like the contrast of colors in a halo like that too.  I think they would make for a fabulous set no matter what shape

[Trinkette]

Tsavorite is a relatively "new" gemstone. It was discovered in East Africa by the late Campbell Bridges during the 1960s. Later, the gem was named by Tiffany & Co president in honor of the Tsavo National Park which is near where some gems were mined. Tsavorite is well-known to gem collectors, however, due to the gem's very limited supply, big money has not been put into marketing the gem as it has for other more easily sourced and supplied gemstones. Hence, it is still not terribly well-known. The gem is considered to be greatly undervalued.