Natural Tanzanite with Minor Chips: Understanding Damage & Repair

Question
QUESTION: I bought a natural tanzanite 5.07 carats. When it arrived, which happened to be late, because it was supposed to arrive before the holiday, it had tiny chips on the culet area only visible through a 10x lighted loope (2 little dings possibly mishandled or banged by another stone). I was not purchasing a damaged stone, but it was on sale for a very reduced, with many other stones. Should I expect the seller to replace it or fix it? Can it be easily and cheaply repaired? It is a company on television.

ANSWER: HI SHARON,

DID IT SAY ANYWHERE IN THE DESCRIPTION OF THE STONE THAT IT WAS FLAWLESS OR UNDAMAGED? DID IT SAY WHY IT WAS REDUCED? DID IT SAY SOLD AS IS? IF THE CHIPS ARE EYE VISIBLE THEN I WOULD HAVE IT REPAIRED OR REPLACED. IF NOT THEN IT MAY BE BETTER TO JUST HAVE THE STONE REPOLISHED. INEXPENSIVE AND NOT NECESSARY IF YOU CANNOT SEE THE FLAWS WITH THE NAKED EYE. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN TANZANITE IS THE COLOR, AND IF YOU REPOLISH IT WILL LOSE SOME COLOR. WHY TAKE THE CHANCE. TANZANITE IS A SOFT STONE AND NOT VERY DURABLE SO IT WILL WEAR ANYWAY. GET THE REPOLISH DONE LATER WHEN IT REALLY NEEDS IT. GOOD LUCK.

PETER

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: It was advertised as undamaged, and was reduced for a year-end  moving out of inventory. I bought it for my collection, not for jewelry. I collect unheated and untreated gemstones. How much does the damage detract from its value? Thanks Peter and I appreciate your timely follow-up!

Answer
HI SHARON,

IN THE TRADE IF IT IS ADVERTIZED AS UNDAMAGED IT IS ASSUMED UNDER 10X MAGNIFICATION. THE ONLY WAY I WOULD CERTIFY UNHEATED FOR A TANZANITE WOULD BE IF I BOUGHT THE ROUGH AND HAD IT CUT MYSELF. 99.9% OF ALL TANZANITE IS HEAT TREATED. YOU WOULD NEED TO HAVE A CERTIFICATE ON THE STONE SAYING IT IS NOT TREATED. THE DAMAGE YOU DESCRIBED IS NOT GOING TO EFFECT THE VALUE VERY MUCH UNLESS IT IS A COLLECTORS PIECE. i.e. untreated, vvs CLARITY OR BETTER AND TOP COLOR. THEN I WOULD WORRY ABOUT THE SMALL CHIPS. THE COLOR IS THE MOST IMOORTANT ATTRIBUTE.

PETER