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Colored stone overload

  • Thread starter Thread starter shelovesinclusions
  • Start date Start date
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shelovesinclusions

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I have a few questions about collecting colored stones, and don't know if it belongs here or not- but just want opinions I guess.

When I started collecting CS, I didn't really have much direction. I didn't know what I liked because I never really saw anything other than my grandma's jewelry in real life (sapphires, rubies, quartzes, and jade carvings). So at the start I'd just pick up what I could that was of interest that I'd never seen (chrysoberyl, spinel, color change gems, non-mainstream gems). I eventually picked up a few pieces that I loved.

Throughout this all, I've had fun looking at known and unknown gems under the microscope, testing for their magnetism, RI, specific gravity, and generally playing with them. But, it is a hobby and (as things can go with hobbies) I've ended up with more than I need- such as mixed lots given as gifts for me to do IDs on or heavily treated ones or even ones I just realized I don't really like.

Lately, I've been feeling just kind of blah about my hobby in general- even some stones I've set into different pieces of jewelry, I have just tepid feelings about now. Does anyone else go through this? Some days I think about just consigning everything to create that one perfect piece for myself, but other times I question if I'd ever be happy with not being able to switch it up. I've only ever consigned things because I needed the money, and still regret losing a couple things. But often I look at my jewelry or my stored box and wonder- why do I have this? Maybe it's just because I don't leave the house much anymore- I don't know.

I guess I'm just asking- does anyone else go through an urge to say goodbye to most of their collection? Has anyone ever purged it all? Were there regrets? Did anyone else ever sell most of their items to create a pool for the "perfect" piece? How did it go?
 
Can we see your collection?

This...

Have you lost interest in jewelry and diamonds?

Have you lost interest in jewelry and diamonds due to COVID and recent events? I definitely have. I used to think about jewelry and diamonds all the time, but now it's sort of an after thought, if that. I just keep coming to PS because of the people!
www.pricescope.com
 
DauphineMucha said:
Can we see your collection?

This...

Have you lost interest in jewelry and diamonds?

Have you lost interest in jewelry and diamonds due to COVID and recent events? I definitely have. I used to think about jewelry and diamonds all the time, but now it's sort of an after thought, if that. I just keep coming to PS because of the people!
www.pricescope.com
Click to expand...

Thank you. It was helpful to read through those past conversations.

I have posted things here and there, but don't have any photos of it all at once. Maybe getting it all together would be a good idea.
 
Sure, all the time.
I run hot and cold about, well, all my hobbies really. I have been contemplating if it would be better to pare down my meager loose spinel collection that I know I won't set and just buy one or two more to set. I also love jewelry and love hunting for/looking at it but don't actually wear that much of it. I vacillate. I'm curious to know if others regret letting things go too.
 
MissSarah,

I like you, am in the same position. I have trays and bags full of loose stones from over the years and I really need to pare down my hoard I have run out of room in the safe.
 
LilAlex said:
Posts like this make me glad I've committed to returning "vaguely disappointing" stones. If you're not enthused at the outset, they seem to never get set.
Click to expand...
That's always a good move.

My trouble is I love them all in their own ways.
It isn't fair to the stones, which are beautiful. I just never seem to have the funds for settings because I bought another stone instead. It turns out I'm just more of a rock collector with limited funds.
 
I actually had all my collection out to sort/pack recently and had great fun going through them, and trying them on (since I’ve not worn rings for months), and generally just admiring their beauty (for the unset stones).

But I can definitely see where you are coming from. Maybe you can go through your collection to see what still “sparks joy” in you? If something really doesn’t, then maybe it’s time to see if you can sell and find a new home for the item where it will be better loved/appreciated. Decluttering can be so therapeutic. I definitely have things in my collection that I feel quite meh about, just lazy to sell.

But given the current situation, maybe is worth waiting to see if you change your mind when the situation improves and you start going out more etc.
 
Yeah I've really slowed down on collecting stones, no new ones in ages because I realised I want to actually wear my gems so need to devote funds to that, instead of just buying new ones! Perhaps evaluate your collection, sell any you won't likely set and start designing HOW you'll set the rest. :wavey:
 
So, I’m going through a little bit of this right now. Then I remember that scene from the Gilmore Girls A Year in The Life, when Emily is doing Kon Marie and is giving away pretty much everything she owns because none of it sparks joy. Lorelei says ”Mom… nothing is gonna bring you joy right now. Nothing. Your husband just died. When some time has passed and you realize you’ve given away all of your carefully chosen stuff, you’re gonna track down Marie Kondo and kill her, and then you’re going to go to jail wearing those jeans”
I think with what‘s going on in the world right now and with the sense of normalcy that we have all loss, the things that once made us happy, might now leave us feeling blah. Perhaps it’s not be the best time to make decisions on parting with things. I am still listing things for sale, but only if I had thought of parting with them before Covid.
 
Really interesting to read this. I've been collecting for a fair bit. At every turn, I was the classic newcomer to collecting and colored stones. I went through the "I didn't know those even existed" stage, followed by the "Ooh, shiny and sooo colorful" phase and then dove in. I bought from jewelry tv (whatever its called), from gem shows and craft houses like Rio Grande. When I realized thru PS there were precision gem cutters and so many precious pretties {insert gollum voice here} I bought and bought and bought...I stalked ebay and other sites to get bargains and generally went ham, making all the classic PSer newbie mistakes as my collection grew and I refined my taste and knowledge.

Eventually, after selling off my "beginner stones" (we all have 'em!) and setting some of my finest stones and with many more to set, I realized that I don't really like wearing rings/jewelry any more. So I just stopped, kinda like Forrest Gump when he was running across the country :lol:

So now I go to sell them, but when I look at them, they're so sparkly and precious and I just. Can't. Do. It...then I log on to PS and start getting all caught up in thinking "Ooh, that one is gorgeous - I should buy it!" I resist, thinking about the many I have at the bank. Sigh. At heart, I'm just the proverbial magpie needing my shiny!

I also see such a strong correlation between the lack of interest in jewelry now, and the need to be clean, to be constantly washing and sanitizing one's hands. If I ever think of wearing one my rings, I just don't because of COVID-19, so I can completely understand a dimished desire for stones, if only temporarily.
 
Aw, no, never.

I have junk (hehe, @mellowyellowgirl would know since we spent a good part of last year hoarding jadeite and bits).

and not-junk

and I love them all.

Once I commit, there can be no regrets. Just enjoy the best parts of the stone - try to see the good in each stone. Wear them in the best lighting to make them shine. Look at the inclusions of each and be mystified by them.

And then create a pool for the huge perfect one.

I am sending stuff out for setting and with the lockdown, I feel even more lucky to own my stones.
 
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I bought quite a few what I would consider as learner stones when I first started my CS journey, many of which I am not going to set.

I am now more discerning, prefer to spend a bit more on better quality stones.

I make a list of CS that I would like, and plan my setting projects for my better stones (there are quite a few to be set), with a monthly budget that I try my best to adhere to and failing badly! :oops2:

I have also ventured into lab created stones, for the types that are definitely out of my budget for the size and quality that I would like, such as an Emerald, a Paraiba YAG etc., and they are inexpensive yet quite fun.

I still like to receive mail drops from certain cutters and follow their FB pages, to see what they have on offer that tickle my fancy. To me CS is still fun and exciting.

DK :))
 
Trying hard to not buy multiple smallish items but saving up for something more unique and special for the long run.
 
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