As promised, here are two photos of some nice furta-cor (parti color) tourmalines encountered in Teófilo Otoni, in March 2009.
The top photo shows a selection from a rather pricey salada. [The price was high because the seller owed the buyer a bundle of money, so he over-priced the stones.] The golden tourmaline in the front is considered furta-cor. If you look closely, you can see that it is gold and pink. From the side it is greenish, if I remember correctly (always a good question).
The bottom photo shows what is known as "millenium" cut around here. Any cut on the bottom of the stone that is remotely similar is called a millenium cut. Just the local jargon. These furta-cor tourmalines were actually much paler in color than the photo would have you believe. In fact, Natasha would have bought them if their colors had been stronger, but based on her experience in trying to resell such stones in Moscow, these lighter colors are not very salable (at least with regard to tourmalines -- morganites and aquamarines are a different matter entirely).
Most of these tourmalines are probably from the region of Araçuaí, Minas Gerais.
Copyright © 2009 N. Tenney Naumer -- All rights reserved.
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Wow! very interesting. So are you saying the lighter furta-cor doesn't sell well in Russia? What about deeper colors? Does it all sell well in Brasil?
ReplyDeleteI can't really say I've seen this type, or this split cut before- I do wonder if it's more the cut than the type of tourmaline... I think in the U.S. (so far) customers want "one-color-tourmaline", I like a little variety myself :-)
-Coyotegems
To sell well in Russia, the stone must be very large with a lot of "bling!"
ReplyDeleteThey like large, really good rubilites, and anything with a good green, so long as it is big and sparkly.
Natasha takes aquamarines that have over 50 carats.
Since a lot of Russians aren't exactly tan, they do like the large morganites and aquamarines, but we are talking about the finest jewelers and their oil-rich customers -- business has fallen off dramatically this year.
I do like the furta-cor gems- the cutting is very interesting... simple low-crown cushion & concave pavilion- nothing really like what I see being done here. I like how the colors all go together too, very crisp and fresh "sunny".
ReplyDeleteRussia mindset is very interesting, here it's hard to sell 50cts of anything- it's just too big!
Tell me besides beryl what is (was) selling well in Russia?
David
There are lots of fabulous jewelry makers in Russia -- both for individuals and more mass produced. But they really go for quality and design. They have a tradition of fine craftsmanship that goes back to Catherine the Great and before. And they certainly have not forgotten their history. Some things that they like we might consider a little too gaudy. They will certainly buy very large (30 carats, etc.) rubilites of good quality. Kunzites are also very sparkly and available in large sizes. But don't imagine that Russian jewelers will buy anything with visible flaws -- you can only get away with those in rubilites and they have to be pretty small flaws.
ReplyDeleteOf course, they like alexandrites.
They don't appear to have acquired a taste for imperial topaz since it is not as well known there.
I really can't say much about their taste in diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds because I personally stay away from those stones. But I would imagine that they will go for fine precious stones just like anyone else around the world.