Barry's New Pretties

[loriken214]

Have you purchased any of Barry's new gemstones? I'm on a budget and can only stare at them right now, but wanted to see some photos of any lucky new owners.

Lori

 

[justginger]

I didn't see the mexican fire opal until it was too late. I hope those who snatched up the pretties share copious photos!

 

[JewelFreak]

I gave up trying to snag one of Barry's stones long ago. Can't manage to be fast enough & I eat my heart out looking at the beauties I missed out on.

--- Laurie

 

[baby nurse]

I got this Malaya garnet! It's 1.67 cts and 7mm. It arrived yesterday and I love it!

 

[Enerchi]

BEAUTIFUL stone babynurse!!! What are you going to do with it? ring? pendant? share your ideas

 

[maebelle]

It can seem impossible to get Barry stone, easier than trying to snipe them when they are new is checking out the pricescope "PS Preloved Jewels" Forum. I snagged a dark blue spinel cut by Barry from FrekeChild that is currently in my jewelry box, but will eventually be in a stacker.

 

[baby nurse]

Thanks, Enerchi! I really love this stone! When I joined PS a couple of years ago, I badly wanted a delicate pink Malaya and used to oooh and ahhh the beautiful Malaya threads. It seemed like a lot of people picked them up from Barry but I arrived too late .
When I saw this one on his latest drop, I was delighted! It will definitely go into a ring, I think rose or yellow gold. I'm not sure which metal complements the stone best. I want the setting to be delicate, not likely a halo but who knows? That's about the extent of my vision re setting plans, lol!

 

[Enerchi]

Thanks, Enerchi! I really love this stone! When I joined PS a couple of years ago, I badly wanted a delicate pink Malaya and used to oooh and ahhh the beautiful Malaya threads. It seemed like a lot of people picked them up from Barry but I arrived too late .
When I saw this one on his latest drop, I was delighted! It will definitely go into a ring, I think rose or yellow gold. I'm not sure which metal complements the stone best. I want the setting to be delicate, not likely a halo but who knows? That's about the extent of my vision re setting plans, lol!

Sounds beautiful! I think the 18 k is more "blush" pink than a rosier pink with the 14k. WG and a white stone halo may be a traditional way to go but would really make the pink pop. It will be fun to research and plan... I love that part oh...and I really love HAVING the new ring too

Hope you Create a thread for it when the time comes so we can see your ideas!

 

[T L]

I gave up trying to snag one of Barry's stones long ago. Can't manage to be fast enough & I eat my heart out looking at the beauties I missed out on.

--- Laurie

Ditto, and I don't even know when he drops his stones. I heard he was down to once a month, which even leaves less chance for me.

 

[movie zombie]

[quote="TL|1331483682|3146276]Ditto, and I don't even know when he drops his stones. I heard he was down to once a month, which even leaves less chance for me.[/quote]


same here.

 

[NKOTB]

Yes, he's down to the first Wednesday of the month. The good news on that, though, is he might actually have time to do the odd custom job, so if you don't have any luck with his drops, and are looking for something specific, maybe he'll cut something for you.

I tried for the fire opal, with pretty much no delay, but so did two others, apparently. I saw the beautiful purple Mahenge after that, but was obviously too late. I'm hoping someone around these parts snagged it and will post pics! Also the blue-green Namibian. Sigh...

I also love that light pink Malaya, baby nurse! I have a slightly darker one. I would love to see more pictures!

When I saw the title of this thread, my first thought was: "Wow, someone actually managed to buy MORE THAN ONE at his last drop?!"

 

[T L]

Yes, he's down to the first Wednesday of the month. The good news on that, though, is he might actually have time to do the odd custom job, so if you don't have any luck with his drops, and are looking for something specific, maybe he'll cut something for you.

I tried for the fire opal, with pretty much no delay, but so did two others, apparently. I saw the beautiful purple Mahenge after that, but was obviously too late. I'm hoping someone around these parts snagged it and will post pics! Also the blue-green Namibian. Sigh...

I also love that light pink Malaya, baby nurse! I have a slightly darker one. I would love to see more pictures!

When I saw the title of this thread, my first thought was: "Wow, someone actually managed to buy MORE THAN ONE at his last drop?!"

He actually does custom jobs for people? I asked him for spinels in the past and he couldn't do one for me. He said he only puts those in his drops. Oh well, may be too much demand and too little supply.

 

[NKOTB]

Yes, he's down to the first Wednesday of the month. The good news on that, though, is he might actually have time to do the odd custom job, so if you don't have any luck with his drops, and are looking for something specific, maybe he'll cut something for you.

I tried for the fire opal, with pretty much no delay, but so did two others, apparently. I saw the beautiful purple Mahenge after that, but was obviously too late. I'm hoping someone around these parts snagged it and will post pics! Also the blue-green Namibian. Sigh...

I also love that light pink Malaya, baby nurse! I have a slightly darker one. I would love to see more pictures!

When I saw the title of this thread, my first thought was: "Wow, someone actually managed to buy MORE THAN ONE at his last drop?!"

He actually does custom jobs for people? I asked him for spinels in the past and he couldn't do one for me. He said he only puts those in his drops. Oh well, may be too much demand and too little supply.

Yes, I think you got it right. If he gets a lot of requests for particular stones from a small supply of rough, he feels that he's "picking favourites" if he cuts them custom, so he tries to make it more fair by putting them in his drops. However, he has cut a few stones for me by request, including a couple of tourmalines (I was looking for particular colours) and an amethyst.

 

[T L]

Yes, he's down to the first Wednesday of the month. The good news on that, though, is he might actually have time to do the odd custom job, so if you don't have any luck with his drops, and are looking for something specific, maybe he'll cut something for you.

I tried for the fire opal, with pretty much no delay, but so did two others, apparently. I saw the beautiful purple Mahenge after that, but was obviously too late. I'm hoping someone around these parts snagged it and will post pics! Also the blue-green Namibian. Sigh...

I also love that light pink Malaya, baby nurse! I have a slightly darker one. I would love to see more pictures!

When I saw the title of this thread, my first thought was: "Wow, someone actually managed to buy MORE THAN ONE at his last drop?!"

He actually does custom jobs for people? I asked him for spinels in the past and he couldn't do one for me. He said he only puts those in his drops. Oh well, may be too much demand and too little supply.

Yes, I think you got it right. If he gets a lot of requests for particular stones from a small supply of rough, he feels that he's "picking favourites" if he cuts them custom, so he tries to make it more fair by putting them in his drops. However, he has cut a few stones for me by request, including a couple of tourmalines (I was looking for particular colours) and an amethyst.

But everyone wants those spinels I don't see as much a demand for his tourmalines, unless they're those neon bluish green ones. His spinels seem to go in a nanosecond. Oh well, at least I can live vicariously through all of you, but I do wish he would cut other people's gems.

 

[minousbijoux]

But everyone wants those spinels I don't see as much a demand for his tourmalines, unless they're those neon bluish green ones. His spinels seem to go in a nanosecond.

This is true. But have you noticed how many end up for resale on DB? Perhaps its singlehandedly due to Ms. Freak, but it sure seems like a lot of them show back up there, including some of mine...and I have a few more to sell.

Sometimes I think that its the hype mentality of the "3-2-1 GO!" frenzy around his drops that has people snapping up whatever they can. I don't bother any more, but like to wait and look later to see what he had. I play a game to see if I can figure out what sold and what didn't. Most of the time, I have it right with one or two exceptions. What I forget sometimes is that there will be a seasoned collector who sneaks in there and buys something off the beaten and predictable track. Don't get me wrong, I love his cutting and polish. Just can't get into the whole hype thing (and I'm probably not fast enough anyway ).

 

[NKOTB]

But everyone wants those spinels I don't see as much a demand for his tourmalines, unless they're those neon bluish green ones. His spinels seem to go in a nanosecond.

This is true. But have you noticed how many end up for resale on DB? Perhaps its singlehandedly due to Ms. Freak, but it sure seems like a lot of them show back up there, including some of mine...and I have a few more to sell.

Sometimes I think that its the hype mentality of the "3-2-1 GO!" frenzy around his drops that has people snapping up whatever they can. I don't bother any more, but like to wait and look later to see what he had. I play a game to see if I can figure out what sold and what didn't. Most of the time, I have it right with one or two exceptions. What I forget sometimes is that there will be a seasoned collector who sneaks in there and buys something off the beaten and predictable track. Don't get me wrong, I love his cutting and polish. Just can't get into the whole hype thing (and I'm probably not fast enough anyway ).

I'll be keeping an eye out, MB! I hemmed and hawed over that Umba colour shift sapphire of Barry's you sold, but couldn't swing the price at the time, and have been regretting it since.

I agree, with the drops, you have to buy first, think later.

 

[minousbijoux]

Well, you did well with that beautiful pink/orange tourmaline. That's from Barry, right? I think you're right to get the special orders from him if you can. That way you get what you want without pressure...

 

[NKOTB]

Well, you did well with that beautiful pink/orange tourmaline. That's from Barry, right? I think you're right to get the special orders from him if you can. That way you get what you want without pressure...

Yep, it's from Barry. It took several months to come my way, but I wasn't in a rush anyway.

 

[baby nurse]

I understand the frustration re visiting a site only to discover the stones you may have been interested in are already gone. It's the reason I don't buy from most lapidaries. In Barry's case, I know his stones will be up at 8:00 pm (NH) so I make sure I'm at the computer just as the stones are coming up. And when he sends out his newsletter the week before, I read it and decide in advance which stone I'm most interested in. So I watch for that stone, consider it quickly and then buy it. I've only missed out on one stone this way (that orange opal, NKOTB ), but rarely do I try to buy a spinel.

Do you have any pictures of your Malaya NKOTB? It sounds lovely! I did take some pictures of mine yesterday but with 3 and 5 year old boys underfoot, I didn't have a lot of success. I'll try again and if I can't get any more, I'll just post the ones I have.

 

[NKOTB]

I do it generally the same way, babynurse, but I've missed out on a few stones (mostly spinels).

Here's a picture of my Malaya. I got my 3 year-old to help - he's really into it!

 

[T L]

I do it generally the same way, babynurse, but I've missed out on a few stones (mostly spinels).

Here's a picture of my Malaya. I got my 3 year-old to help - he's really into it!

Very nice!!!

 

[baby nurse]

Wow! That's really pretty and seems to be a nice size!

 

[NKOTB]

Thank you both! It is a good size, 8 mm. Looking forward to your pics, babynurse!

 

[minousbijoux]

I love that you used your three year old! Tell him he did a really good job and made the stone look very, very big!