GRADING REPORT BLTU069
- Identification: Natural Unheated & Untreated Indicolite Tourmalines
- Carat: 0.69 (0.35 & 0.34)
- Shape: Round Brilliant
- Measures: 4.66-4.76x2.72 & 4.54-4.61x2.75 (millimeter)
- Color Grade: Excellent
- Tone: Medium Dark 75
- Color Zoning: None
- Clarity: Lightly / Free of Inclusions
- Cutting Grade: Very Good / Excellent
- Brilliancy: 75/80%
- Depth: 59/61%
- Origin: Pakistan
Treatment: None
Certificate No: IGE 07122 & IGI 380995053 (see 'more images')
Overall Grade: Excellent+ ('+' for blue and rare 'pair-bonus')
Comment: Here is the promised pair of indicolites in almost-all-blue. (In case you haven't read about the first pure blue tourmaline, see here.) I'll leave you to study the images and try to find the tint of green, where you can, and surprisingly where you can-not. Allow me only to add that this second 0.34 carat is slightly better cut, meaning perfect, and free of inclusions. Both features may well influence how the little extra green is reflected and perceived. I have therefore, and to share the beauty, added a few single shots of the 0.34, just for fun. All images were made on the same day, in the same light, allowing only for more or less intense light-flow and change of weather (you can imagine such photo-sessions are not exactly short). As mentioned, the eye can often not distinguish between the two. Only the lens (for the one inclusion) or the balance can then help to tell them apart again. Study the images and think of a simple pair of studs. If you are interested, take a look back to this 0.72, which still is the only pair (as far as indicolites are concerned) with both gems in 100% exactly the same mixture of green in blue (there more about why this is special, too).
P.S. This detailed comparison shows how very sensitive gems are for the camera, and how, with photoshop and colored-light thrown in, any gem can be made to look as a seller pleases, within limits of course, and only for somebody who doesn't care about return rates.
