Catch all thread - talk or better yet show us

[lilmosun]

Just realized I should've washed my hands before taking pictures, lol.

I've always wanted a sugarloaf cab ring and spotted this months ago at a gem show from Vance Gems. Now it's happily on my finger. I love how the shape hides the inclusions and makes the light bounce around it. Hopefully not my last sugarloaf cab.
3.80 tourmaline cab set in 18kt

 

[Bluegemz]

beautiful new things, Lilmosun! I love the tourmaline rings. And your nail polish is awesome! You've inspired me.

 

[ilovegemstones]

Wow, that blue green tourmaline ring is soooo gorgeous! I like the sugarloaf too!

 

[Keeliamira]

Keeliamira, I have no idea what those could be! I see the variation in color in some beads. I would think chalcedony but that doesn't cut glass. Those are a real mystery to me. I love the blue color and the gold. Maybe they are indicolite?

They could be! Tourmaline is higher on the Mohs scale than jade. Though I suppose they could be dyed jade too.

Maybe dyed jade? I love the color!

Me too, Thanks! Your rings are beautiful! The cc garnet ... oooohhh, I love. And the blue of your tourmaline is TDF! What a gorgeous setting too!

 

[Bluegemz]

They could be! Tourmaline is higher on the Mohs scale than jade. Though I suppose they could be dyed jade too.


Me too, Thanks! Your rings are beautiful! The cc garnet ... oooohhh, I love. And the blue of your tourmaline is TDF! What a gorgeous setting too!

My guess is that IF they are jade, they are C grade, which is polymer impregnated with dye added. The polymer would make much of the grain disappear into a more jelly like look. Natural jade with the lack of crystalline texture, as in those beads, is very rare and would be extremely expensive.
The color does look like really nice indicolite though, and they have a gorgeous blue. I'm hoping that's what they are because that would be an awesome find!

. Re: selling as jade, Chinese have a tradition of calling semi precious stones 'jade' as well. A more accurate description to look for would be Fei Cui, or A grade jadeite, ( which means untreated). Some sellers list bangles as 'jade' which are usually serpentine, rose quartz and chalcedony, and then specifically list 'jadeite jade' for the jade that we think of.

Actually, recently, they have begun to successfully dye nephrite jade, which used to be very difficult to do. You would notice a web of fine dye lines in the light, and would see an unusual shifting of blue to green .

 

[Keeliamira]

My guess is that IF they are jade, they are C grade, which is polymer impregnated with dye added. The polymer would make much of the grain disappear into a more jelly like look. Natural jade with the lack of crystalline texture, as in those beads, is very rare and would be extremely expensive.
The color does look like really nice indicolite though, and they have a gorgeous blue. I'm hoping that's what they are because that would be an awesome find!

. Re: selling as jade, Chinese have a tradition of calling semi precious stones 'jade' as well. A more accurate description to look for would be Fei Cui, or A grade jadeite, ( which means untreated). Some sellers list bangles as 'jade' which are usually serpentine, rose quartz and chalcedony, and then specifically list 'jadeite jade' for the jade that we think of.

Actually, recently, they have begun to successfully dye nephrite jade, which used to be very difficult to do. You would notice a web of fine dye lines in the light, and would see an unusual shifting of blue to green .

You are my jade guru, Bluegemz. I learn so much from your posts! I did pick up a pair of jade earrings that ended up being C grade so I am aware of what the dye lines look like. I'll try to take some louped photos of the beads. The only inclusions I've been able to find are a couple of well-deliniated tiny black specs. If they are tourmaline that would be so neat!

 

[Bluegemz]

You are my jade guru, Bluegemz. I learn so much from your posts! I did pick up a pair of jade earrings that ended up being C grade so I am aware of what the dye lines look like. I'll try to take some louped photos of the beads. The only inclusions I've been able to find are a couple of well-deliniated tiny black specs. If they are tourmaline that would be so neat!

I'm really glad I can pass on information! Looking forward to pics.

Once, early in my jade history, I bought some dyed green nephrite beads. I should have known that they were way too inexpensive for the size and color. When they arrived, they looked like a rich, almost emerald green. But in moving them around, I saw flashes of olive green, which was the color, before having been dyed. It was very strange.

 

[Rfisher]

CAD was approved yesterday and I have a 10 day lead time!
Fun!

 

[elle_71125]

As requested pics of my purchases from amyek (vickygigi on LT):

1.36 ct. (6.62 x 6.59 x 4.26 mm) Leuco Garnet. Asscher cut (Peter Torraca)
I see a little blue sheen when the sunlight hits it at different angles.


1.05ct (6mm) Bekily color change garnet facted by Bob Sivinski in 14k setting with diamonds.
Love the obvious color shift/change as you go from indoors to out - I see dark blue, dark purple, mauve depending on the light...here's just a couple of its personalities.



1.40 ct hot pink tourmaline from the Queen Mine Pala, CA faceted by Jeff Hapeman
To me it shifts from a softer orange-pink to amazing hot pink (better than my pic) depending upon the lighting.



And last but certainly not least...
2.23 ct (8.2mm) Afgahni blue-green Tourmaline facted by Barry Bridgestock in a beautiful 18kt gold setting.
As soon as I saw the pictures Amy sent me, I had to have it. Pictures can't capture how bright this stone is IRL.

Oh my God, that Afghan tourmaline is so much more beautiful than I imagined. I'm calling dibs again (just in case you ever decide to part with it).
That setting is so pretty too. I love the tiny diamonds waving around the gem. So neat!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Coming out of colored stone retirement to buy this 1.41 unheated color change sapphire from Barry. He is still my favorite cutter by far and it's once in a blue moon he cuts a sapphire.

Now I just have to figure out how to set it!

 

[Burmesedaze]

Coming out of colored stone retirement to buy this 1.41 unheated color change sapphire from Barry. He is still my favorite cutter by far and it's once in a blue moon he cuts a sapphire.

Now I just have to figure out how to set it!

Lovely and once in a blue moon is right! Barry is such a dear to deal with

 

[elle_71125]

Coming out of colored stone retirement to buy this 1.41 unheated color change sapphire from Barry. He is still my favorite cutter by far and it's once in a blue moon he cuts a sapphire.

Now I just have to figure out how to set it!

Hope you share more pics, once you get it. It looks lovely and I have a total soft spot for color change gems.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I absolutely will! Yeah I have another Burmese darker blue sapphire that color changes as well which I love.

 

[Gloria27]

Madagascan Sapphire, possibly unheated, 1.12 ct, colour shifts from violet to lavender and almost pink in artificial light. The cut not symmetrical and it does have a tiny window (from certain angles) but when in hand it's almost invisible and will probably close when set. The colour is really light and it never goes dark.

 

[Gloria27]

Pretty rock, almost 6 X 7mm.

 

[lovedogs]

@limosun I love your new additions! Where is the setting from for the barry B tourmaline? I love it!

 

[elle_71125]

Madagascan Sapphire, possibly unheated, 1.12 ct, colour shifts from violet to lavender and almost pink in artificial light. The cut not symmetrical and it does have a tiny window (from certain angles) but when in hand it's almost invisible and will probably close when set. The colour is really light and it never goes dark.

So neat! I love color change gems!!!

 

[Gloria27]

So neat! I love color change gems!!!

Thanks!
It was a real steal this one! One of the best deals I got on a gem.
Will make a ring out of it one day.

 

[mochiko42]

Dumortierite in quartz. I find the inclusions and color fascinating! No plans for setting. I think it will stay loose. Haven't seen many examples of dumortierite on PS. Anyone else have one?

 

[Seaglow]

Dumortierite in quartz. I find the inclusions and color fascinating! No plans for setting. I think it will stay loose. Haven't seen many examples of dumortierite on PS. Anyone else have one?

Wowowow. Very nice stone Mochiko!

 

[elle_71125]

Dumortierite in quartz. I find the inclusions and color fascinating! No plans for setting. I think it will stay loose. Haven't seen many examples of dumortierite on PS. Anyone else have one?

Wow. That's really neat. That must be such a cool gem in person. It's like its own little world in there. Have you looked at it under a loupe?

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

Wow Mochi- That gem is fantastic!

 

[minousbijoux]

Absolutely love it, Mochiko! I would never grow tired of staring at that one.

 

[lilmosun]

I know you plan to leave it loose mochiko, but that quartz would make a beautiful pendant as well! I love "picture-like" stones but never seen one with such beautiful blue coloring.

 

[Gloria27]

looks like an alien world inside that quartz cab, so pretty

 

[Burmesedaze]

Ditto what they all said and to me, they look like spunky blue sea urchins in a crystal clear sea!

 

[Burmesedaze]

Bought a couple of spinels and a teardrop tourmaline online

 

[mochiko42]

Thanks everyone! It does look like sea urchins!

elle, I haven't looked at it through my 10x loupe yet but will do so soon. The quartz is so clear that it will be interesting to see what new discoveries await upon magnification

 

[mochiko42]

Bought a couple of spinels and a teardrop tourmaline online

I like how the two spinels are matched in shape. Will you set them together? What do you plan to do with the tourmaline?

 

[Burmesedaze]

I like how the two spinels are matched in shape. Will you set them together? What do you plan to do with the tourmaline?

I bought the 2 spinels off 2 different sellers, size unplanned

No plans yet. I think i will just collect more and decide to set at a later date. The spinels could also be part of a BTY spinel necklace I have in mind.