Benitoite

[Ninama]

So... I stumbled upom this gem on the internet today. Found only in San Benito County, benitoite is California''s state gem -- and one of the ten rarest gemstones on the planet. Turns out it''s rather pretty, as well!

Being a native Californian (I love this state!), I''m considering some kind of jewelry piece set with this blue beauty. It runs about $500-$2000/carat.

Here''s a 3.09 ct benitoite for sale on a Japanese gem site for.. I think... 3,000,000 yen.

 

[belle]

beautiful indeed. i would fret about it in a ring. i would probably still fret about it in a pendant but at least it is a little more protected that way.

if you get it, you will have to post a gazillion pics!

 

[coatimundi_org]

Get outta my head Ninama!

I love Benitoite! I just saw an amazing stone at the Los Angeles Natural History Museum. It had so much fire and life--stunning!

The stone you posted is lovely!

Coati

 

[Ninama]

Date: 1/19/2008 11:37:47 PM
Author: coatimundi
Get outta my head Ninama!


I love Benitoite! I just saw an amazing stone at the Los Angeles Natural History Museum. It had so much fire and life--stunning!


The stone you posted is lovely!


Coati

LOL! That mineral collection ROCKS. I''ll have to go down there and check it out again.

I''m not really a blue gem fan, but I''d love to have a benitoite. I like the lighter blues.

 

[coatimundi_org]

I prefer lighter blues meself. I love the super pale hues in pretty much all gemstones. I really like the look of benitoite over blue sapphires--they''re just so darned expensive AND soft.

You should totally go and check it out again. They play this awesome 1960''s educational film where they show the Brazilian emerald mines and cutting techniques.

Wish I''d gotten a better photo.

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 1/19/2008 9:29:08 PM
Author: belle
beautiful indeed. i would fret about it in a ring. i would probably still fret about it in a pendant but at least it is a little more protected that way.

if you get it, you will have to post a gazillion pics!

Know nothing about this gem, is it very soft??

The color is lovely.

 

[coatimundi_org]

Date: 1/20/2008 1:16:54 AM
Author: Kaleigh

Date: 1/19/2008 9:29:08 PM

Author: belle

beautiful indeed. i would fret about it in a ring. i would probably still fret about it in a pendant but at least it is a little more protected that way.


if you get it, you will have to post a gazillion pics!

Know nothing about this gem, is it very soft??

The color is lovely.

6-6.5 on mohs scale

 

[mugumbris]

Hi
I am a gemmologist and gemcutter no need to fret if your thinking it will not wear(as in durability)well in a ring.Benitoite is not brittle and will not cleave on you as its cleavge is indistinct.Its hardness is 6.5 which is only slightly less than quartz which is 7.Dust which is mostly silica which is basically fine quartz has a hardness of 7.So if you store your ring in a dust free environment and wear it on those certain ocasions it will sustain it''s polish for a lifetime.If you want to wear the ring daily and without any harsh knocks(as with any gem overr 7 in hardnes) you may need to repolish the stone after 10 years of wear.
Regards
Mugumbris

 

[Ninama]

Thank you mugumbris!

Coatimundi... that''s totally wild that you have that photo! Multicolor.com has 83 benitoites available, but the largest is .51 ct.

http://www.multicolour.com/gallery/?/gallery/single/benitoite/&1654199482

 

[Ninama]

Oooohhh.... I just found a pretty big one. I''ve been visiting Africa Gems for some time and was surprised to find they''re based in my home town - Mill Valley, CA. By the name, I thought they''d be out of some more *exotic* location. They have a nice benitoite available for someone:

1.67 carats - 10.30 x 6.40 x 3.90 mm - loupe clean - $4,175

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

There are a few on the AC Stones site--set and loose if memory serves.

Wink also has some (or did when we used to watch "Wink TV").

cheers--Sharon

 

[chrono]

Very pretty, high dispersion, but most tend to be small and expensive. I recall seeing one on Wink TV.

 

[movie zombie]

Date: 1/21/2008 12:03:41 PM
Author: Chrono
Very pretty, high dispersion, but most tend to be small and expensive. I recall seeing one on Wink TV.

once again i agree with Chrono.

about 3 years ago i visited a shop owned by a guy whose family owned a benitoite mine and he cuts his own stones. he told me that this type of stone is always small carat. and the price per carat for these stones can be in the thousands if it is a quality stone.

see: http://wsfgems.com/benito.html

see the pear he''s got at 2+ carats for $3,000 per carat.

also, see http://www.benitoite.com/benitoite/benitoit.shtml for some interesting info re the stone.

movie zombie

 

[Ninama]

Date: 1/21/2008 1:13:50 PM
Author: movie zombie

Date: 1/21/2008 12:03:41 PM

Author: Chrono

Very pretty, high dispersion, but most tend to be small and expensive. I recall seeing one on Wink TV.

once again i agree with Chrono.

about 3 years ago i visited a shop owned by a guy whose family owned a benitoite mine and he cuts his own stones. he told me that this type of stone is always small carat. and the price per carat for these stones can be in the thousands if it is a quality stone.

see: http://wsfgems.com/benito.html

see the pear he''s got at 2+ carats for $3,000 per carat.

also, see http://www.benitoite.com/benitoite/benitoit.shtml for some interesting info re the stone.

movie zombie

Yes... I visited those sites. I did see that the $/ct increases with size and/or quality! Isn''t that just like diamonds and other gems? It would be wild if gem prices per carat were set in stone (no pun intended)...a 4ct diamond going for just 4 X what a 1ct of equal quality costs.

The .85 EC is so sweet. I want it like crazy...

 

[movie zombie]

Date: 1/21/2008 1:35:11 PM
Author: Ninama





Yes... I visited those sites. I did see that the $/ct increases with size and/or quality! Isn''t that just like diamonds and other gems? It would be wild if gem prices per carat were set in stone (no pun intended)...a 4ct diamond going for just 4 X what a 1ct of equal quality costs.

The .85 EC is so sweet. I want it like crazy...

i like how you think! life would be so much simplier......

i hope you go for that .85 EC.....it is a looker.

movie zombie

 

[Ninama]

Date: 1/21/2008 6:35:17 PM
Author: movie zombie

i like how you think! life would be so much simplier......


i hope you go for that .85 EC.....it is a looker.


movie zombie

Hhmmmm.... then what to do... what to do...

 

[coatimundi_org]

Love the first photo with (are those traps? square baguettes?)
Get it!
YAH!

 

[Selkie]

Timely post, Ninama! I recently bought a suite of 5 benitoite rounds ranging in color from colorless to a bright blue, and am having them set in a drop pendant. I think they are 2mm in diameter, and the total carat weight is only like 0.5, but they're so pretty! I got them at the Santa Monica gem show from Dennis Phelps . He had mainly small stones, and a couple slightly larger, but still under 1ct. The mine where he got them is completely shut down, and there are no other known sources. They are sooo sparkly!

ETA: I just noticed you're in the Bay Area. Dennis Phelps lives in San Jose and probably goes to the local gem shows there. Here's a link to his site: Phelps'e and me.

 

[Selkie]

This guy seems to have a selection: Steve Perry gems. The set I bought was very much like this one that he has posted for sale.

 

[Ninama]

I missed a gem show?

Phooey!

Coatimundi... they''re really traps - I just slapped the beni onto another ring. I would do little square ECs that matched the width of the sides (not the stone''s width)... or maybe as small as the band, itself? I''m just fantasizing.

 

[movie zombie]

first setting for that EC!

movie zombie

 

[Ninama]

It's probably not a proper stone to tension (or floating tension) set - and it gets lost a bit in the metal. It was fun to experiment, though. I think little half moons could be nice... but I like the square ECs.(IMO).

I don't have the experience to estimate how much space 6.5 X 4.2mm occupies on a ring or a size 5 finger - and I've cut/copied/pasted/tweeked the beni so many times, I think I've whacked out the dimensions a bit (eta - I definitely have).

 

[Ninama]

More available benies...

 

[movie zombie]

not nearly as attractive as that other little EC.....

movie zombie

 

[Ninama]

I agree, but I also think the photos are pretty bad and that the photo of the nice EC might be just a little... mmmmmmmm.... touched up. Maybe. It''s still the best to me - my fave!

"Step right up..."

BENITOITE GEM MINE
NOW OPEN FOR FIELD TRIPS!!!

After 100 years, the mine is finally open to the public.

Rock hounds, gem and specimen hunters, this is your chance to find one of the rarest and most desirable gemstones in the world!

The California State Gemstone, Benitoite.


Recent finds include this 34.4 carat piece of rough Benitoite
(cut to 8.06 carats). Third largest in the world.[/i]

 

[Ninama]

I wanna go.... is that just geeky?

You must make reservations. The mine opens at 8 am on the day of your reservation and closes at 4 pm. The cost is $100 per day. Each person is allowed to take home a 5 gallon bucket of material. Screens are available, although most screeners bring their own.

The most popular method of hunting is to turn over rocks, while looking for white Natrolite, which is associated with the black/red Neptunite crystals, orange Joaquinite, and of course, blue Benitoite crystals.

The mine is a hillside of twenty acres of tailings and piles of rock. Gems and minerals are scattered throughout the entire area, and many nice specimens are found each trip. Breaking rocks is not allowed because of damage to potential gem crystals.

There are no services for at least 30 miles in any direction. Bring your own water, food, and start out with a full tank of gas. A porta potty is on site and primitive campsites are available in the surrounding hills on BLM land except during the summer, when camping is prohibited. In the winter or rainy season, you must reconfirm your reservation 1-2 days prior to your field trip, as roads may become impassable.

A high clearance 2wd vehicle is suitable during the dry season, but a 4wd is recommended. Do not try to make the trip in the family sedan. Getting to the mine is part of the adventure. You will see plants, rocks, and minerals found nowhere else in 1he world. Be prepared for mountain driving conditions and incredible scenic views of the Coast Mountain, San Joaquin Valley, and even the snow capped Sierra Mountain Range.

Things to bring: Food, water, digging tools, suitable vehicle, full tank of gas, 5 gallon buckets, gloves, boots, rain gear, cold weather gear, sun screen, and spray bottles. Maps are available for purchase from the BLM Hollister, CA. office at 831-xxx-xxxx. Maps may also be purchased at the BLM entrance office, on Clear Creek Road, where you must stop and sign in before entering the area. Maps are highly recommended especially if you are unfamiliar with the area.

Be careful, have fun, and good gem hunting!

 

[coatimundi_org]

Yes, it's geeky, but I want to go too!
I grew up in Arkansas, and my junior high school would take us on field trips to the Crater of Diamonds State Park. It's an enormous pit where you sit and dig in the dirt for diamonds...for hours. I found a lot of quartz, but I met a dude who found a diamond!

 

[Ninama]

We used to find groovy quartz crystals as kids... they might as well have been diamonds for the excitement we felt!

Sold at jewelryexpert.com:

A 2.47 carat barion-cut benitoite with a rich, velvety violet blue color. Benitoites of this color, size and beauty are extremely rare.

 

[movie zombie]

Date: 1/22/2008 9:05:01 PM
Author: Ninama
I wanna go.... is that just geeky?

You must make reservations. The mine opens at 8 am on the day of your reservation and closes at 4 pm. The cost is $100 per day. Each person is allowed to take home a 5 gallon bucket of material. Screens are available, although most screeners bring their own.

The most popular method of hunting is to turn over rocks, while looking for white Natrolite, which is associated with the black/red Neptunite crystals, orange Joaquinite, and of course, blue Benitoite crystals.

The mine is a hillside of twenty acres of tailings and piles of rock. Gems and minerals are scattered throughout the entire area, and many nice specimens are found each trip. Breaking rocks is not allowed because of damage to potential gem crystals.

There are no services for at least 30 miles in any direction. Bring your own water, food, and start out with a full tank of gas. A porta potty is on site and primitive campsites are available in the surrounding hills on BLM land except during the summer, when camping is prohibited. In the winter or rainy season, you must reconfirm your reservation 1-2 days prior to your field trip, as roads may become impassable.

A high clearance 2wd vehicle is suitable during the dry season, but a 4wd is recommended. Do not try to make the trip in the family sedan. Getting to the mine is part of the adventure. You will see plants, rocks, and minerals found nowhere else in 1he world. Be prepared for mountain driving conditions and incredible scenic views of the Coast Mountain, San Joaquin Valley, and even the snow capped Sierra Mountain Range.

Things to bring: Food, water, digging tools, suitable vehicle, full tank of gas, 5 gallon buckets, gloves, boots, rain gear, cold weather gear, sun screen, and spray bottles. Maps are available for purchase from the BLM Hollister, CA. office at 831-xxx-xxxx. Maps may also be purchased at the BLM entrance office, on Clear Creek Road, where you must stop and sign in before entering the area. Maps are highly recommended especially if you are unfamiliar with the area.

Be careful, have fun, and good gem hunting!

just where exactly is this mine? the ones i''ve know about are in the foothills of the sierra nevada. this mine, however, sounds like it might be almost in my backyard!

btw, i''m in for going!

movie zombie

 

[movie zombie]

http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/hollister/clear_creek_management_area.html

i got excited when i saw the hollister office: the mine is actually in the sierra foothills! however, it would be a nice outting.........

if going in the spring and you love flowers, also check out:

SUPERSTITION IRIS GARDENS
2536 Old Hwy
Cathey''s Valley, CA 95306-9738
209-966-6277
Bearded iris, some heirlooms. Prices good on new introductions too. Will ship very early in summer, important for more northern growers. Print catalog $1.50. Website is pictures only, contact the company for ordering info.
Quality: Excellent
Price: $-$$
Service: Excellent
Variety: Good
http://community.webshots.com/user/rickt103


movie zombie