Verdelite (Tourmaline)
Date - Pricing as of April 2008

Color: Green, green/blue, green/yellow, mint, seafoam.

Note: Chrome Tourmaline is a special case. Chrome must be present for a Tourmaline to be graded as "chrome Tourmaline". There are many types of Tourmaline being sold as chrome Tourmaline that are not the real thing. To my knowledge the only real source of genuine chrome Tourmaline is mined in Tanzania. So the majority of the others are not real chrome Tourmaline (unless they test as have chrome in them).

Note2: Testing to detect chrome in Tourmaline is easy enough to do. Use a Chelsa filter and examine the rough in day light. The chrome will show as a red glow in the filter. No red glow, no chrome or at least not enough chrome to show in the test and the material in my opinion is not chrome Tourmaline and should not be represented as such. Chrome Tourmaline is really quite easy for any expert to recognize in the rough just by looking at it.

Note3: As some green stones become larger, say over 2 or 3 carats, there is a significant value increase per carat for the stones, in particular for mint green and seafoam, as well as green/blue colors . The normal run of the mill crystal green I generally do not raise the price much as it gets larger.

Here is how I describe the intermediate colors of green Tourmaline... When you first look at a stone what is your first reaction? Mint? Seafoam? Green/blue? Generally your first reaction is the correct one.

Mint - Light to light/medium mint (think Andes candy mint green), 60% green
Seafoam - Light to medium seafoam (think Andes candy mint green only bluer), 60% blue or more.
Kelly - Think Shamrock green.
Green/blue - Light to dark green/blue, 60% green or more.

Some times you will have a stone that you just cannot decide on and in a case like that I tend to decide towards the lower side, because I would rather under describe a stone than over describe one. People will decide what they like and want when they view the cut stone.

Pale (almost colorless to 15% tone) - Pale to light green.
Comments - This material is actually one of the most valuable to me, especially in large pieces when cut into a large interesting design that takes advantage of the color. I like light saturation.
Pricing - I generally price this material $65/ct to $140/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor.

Light (15% tone to 30%) - Light green.
Comments - This material is one of the most valuable and I sell it faceted quite well, especially in large pieces when cut into a large interesting design that takes advantage of the color.
Pricing - I generally price this material $90/ct to $190/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor.

Light/Medium (30% tone to 45%) - Light/medium green. Bottom edge of chrome Tourmaline color.
Comments - This material is valuable and to me probably the best range for mints and Seafoams which I think are the most valuable green colors. I cut this material in what ever the best design and yield are.
Pricing - I generally price this material $240/ct to $950/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor. For exceptional mint and seafoam colors $450/ct to $2400/ct easily maybe more. Chrome Tourmaline $140/ct to $350/ct

Medium (45% tone to 65%) - Medium green. Ideal range for chrome Tourmaline.
Comments - This material is the top quality, I cut it for shape and yield.
Pricing - I generally price this material $180/ct to $680/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor. Chrome Tourmaline $240/ct to $800/ct.

Medium/Dark (65% tone to 85%) - Medium/dark green. Typical chrome Tourmaline.
Comments - This material is the good cutting but generally lacks the brightness of the lighter colors. This is typically a good range for Kelly green material. I cut this material in the smaller to medium size ranges and typically use unique designs
Pricing - I generally price this material $90/ct to $180/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor. Chrome Tourmaline $90/ct to $240/ct.

Dark (85% tone to 100%) - This material is around, usually very dark. I seldom cut any thing this dark.
Comments - Depending on the mine location this material can be heated to lighten it, but in some cases heat often damages the material.
Pricing - Pricing this material is determined after heating depending on the category above the material fits into.

Special - As we all know as cutters some times a stone just comes out "special" for what ever reason. On these kinds of stones I basically price how ever I feel like. Because this stone comes under the "special" category I often do not care if I sell the stone or not. So I usually price it high enough that if I do sell it, I get a very good price. Enough to make me say "Oh well..." and sell it. So be aware that some times I just price a stone high because I do not care if I sell it. Ironically these stones usually sell the fastest...

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E-mail to inquire or order: jeff@faceters.com