Gem Silica/Bacan eye-candy

[lovedogs]

I feel compelled to start a thread on this stone since I had never realized it came from anywhere other than Arizona until @mochiko42 made the awesome suggestion to search "bacan" on instagram. I was/am floored by how popular and gorgeous these stones are, and wanted others to see/admire them!

As with everything, I still feel like a total "newbie" when it comes to understanding price variations. I see a stone I like, inquire, and sometimes its $200 for a 4-6ct stone. Other times when I inquire (naively assuming the stones are the same quality), its 1 or 2K for a stone! So I certainly haven't quite figured out what makes the stones more vs. less valuable. Just for interest, I attached pics + dimensions.

Hope everyone enjoys the ocean-blue photo dump!



$1500, 16x14x7.



$1350, 19x14x7



$175, 13x10x4


$250, 14x9x4


$1071, 21x14x7


$200, 12x12x6



$230, 13x10x6


$200

 

[lovedogs]

Last one (for now!)


15x11x6, $500.

 

[Bluegemz]

Wow, thanks, @lovedogs ! I must admit, the pricing is confusing. They all look so beautiful!

 

[Nosean]

More infos...

https://gem-a.com/images/Documents/JoG/Archive/JoG2006_30_3-4.pdf

Very interesting material....

 

[Arcadian]

I've been looking for the perfect gem silica for years. The prices are all over the place though, but like with any stone, they can go at the price the market will bear. in general the less obvious inclusions the more expensive the rock. The more vibrant, ditto. Gem silica should look like its lit from within and should be translucent and not transparent. From what I can tell transparency is a negative. So a soft but vibrant look. Should not have any obvious or dark inclusions (I think that may not be totally true though), and the color should be even across the stone. I've seen some that have the color blending across the stone which I like...again it could be cheaper but I would be ok with that.

I don't know much beyond that, and the fact that one needs to be careful of oiling (which is a no no) as well as dying (also a no no)

Anyway one of my favorites of the moment
https://www.ajsgem.com/gemstones/gem-silica/gem-silica-7.22-carats.html

 

[lovedogs]

@Arcadian I've also been drooling over the ajs ones. So pretty! Thanks for all the info!

 

[Bluegemz]

I've been looking for the perfect gem silica for years. The prices are all over the place though, but like with any stone, they can go at the price the market will bear. in general the less obvious inclusions the more expensive the rock. The more vibrant, ditto. Gem silica should look like its lit from within and should be translucent and not transparent. From what I can tell transparency is a negative. So a soft but vibrant look. Should not have any obvious or dark inclusions (I think that may not be totally true though), and the color should be even across the stone. I've seen some that have the color blending across the stone which I like...again it could be cheaper but I would be ok with that.

I don't know much beyond that, and the fact that one needs to be careful of oiling (which is a no no) as well as dying (also a no no)

Anyway one of my favorites of the moment
https://www.ajsgem.com/gemstones/gem-silica/gem-silica-7.22-carats.html

That’s one of my favorites too...sigh. It is so beautiful!

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

I really enjoyed the pictures- thanks for sharing.

 

[lovedogs]

Wow, thanks, @lovedogs ! I must admit, the pricing is confusing. They all look so beautiful!

Lol that's how I feel!!! There are a few I've been really tempted to buy, but the idea that two similar looking stones can be 5x different in price is driving me crazy and keeps me from pulling the trigger on anything

 

[Bluegemz]

Lol that's how I feel!!! There are a few I've been really tempted to buy, but the idea that two similar looking stones can be 5x different in price is driving me crazy and keeps me from pulling the trigger on anything

I know, right? That’s how I’ve been feeling. The more inexpensive ones look as good to me, such as the the 4th picture. I know that there’s metal backing that one, but so is the case with many.

 

[lovedogs]

@Bluegemz totally agree. Ive been considering the ones in pics 4,6,7. Love the ones in pics 1 & 5 too, but they look really similar to 4, IMHO. so confused!

 

[Bluegemz]

I’m trying to train my eyes for what I should be seeing. It’s nice that there’s a price range though.

 

[Bluegemz]

Gosh, number 5 is amazing! And it does look so similar to 4. They ALL are very similar to me.

 

[chatoyancy]

Gem silica is gorgeous! It’s the color I’m drawn to most. I just have too many other stones in that color though.

 

[Arcadian]

Lol that's how I feel!!! There are a few I've been really tempted to buy, but the idea that two similar looking stones can be 5x different in price is driving me crazy and keeps me from pulling the trigger on anything

Do you feel they're similar because by image its hard to tell the difference? I think there may well be differences but as you know, once its set, those differences can be hidden. I can see some real differences to my untrained eye, some are not really all that vibrant (could be the image) than others.

The first one, something is going on there. Is that a backing on the ring? if so, that nixes it out for me. pretty but yeah I don't know what the heck is going on.

2nd I like. I'd inquire and ask about treatments. I don't feel its as vibrant as I would like for the type of stone to be honest. But its got a very good strong color and it looks pretty even. looks greenish in center though (might just be the image?)

3 does not glow and I see some grey.

4 is beautiful but of course already set. I'd need to see it unset.

5 is nice but looks like there's a backing. I'd need to see it unset and would have to inquire about treatments.

6 is nice but hmmmm I can't put my finger on why I don't really like it. I'd have to see it unset.

7 has a spot of green in it. maybe its the setting, I don't know but its def green and it moves so....

I also like 8 I'd inquire about this one (and its cheap...is that for the entire stone or per ct?) It looks bicolored from the images. its very pleasing though.


IMO, highly vibrant, translusent (not transparent, not opaque), looks more jelly like, lit from within, even color (turquoise /robin egg blues and vibrant greens are highly valued) are going to cost way more. Just according to what I've read over the years, 2-300 per ct in the highly desirable range not unheard of and in line with I'd pay for that range. More than that and its a no for me.

Also look at the edges. I look for edge to edge coverage, minimum or no blotchiness in the color and no visible inclusions. I'm not adverse to some blotches if they look good, but again, that also designates a cheaper stone from one highly valued.

I'm not the most experienced either....lol but I do know what I like.

Yes the AJS gem is my favorite lookwise and its roughly 288 per ct so its on the high side but actually doable.

 

[Bluegemz]

Do you feel they're similar because by image its hard to tell the difference? I think there may well be differences but as you know, once its set, those differences can be hidden. I can see some real differences to my untrained eye, some are not really all that vibrant (could be the image) than others.

The first one, something is going on there. Is that a backing on the ring? if so, that nixes it out for me. pretty but yeah I don't know what the heck is going on.

2nd I like. I'd inquire and ask about treatments. I don't feel its as vibrant as I would like for the type of stone to be honest. But its got a very good strong color and it looks pretty even. looks greenish in center though (might just be the image?)

3 does not glow and I see some grey.

4 is beautiful but of course already set. I'd need to see it unset.

5 is nice but looks like there's a backing. I'd need to see it unset and would have to inquire about treatments.

6 is nice but hmmmm I can't put my finger on why I don't really like it. I'd have to see it unset.

7 has a spot of green in it. maybe its the setting, I don't know but its def green and it moves so....

I also like 8 I'd inquire about this one (and its cheap...is that for the entire stone or per ct?) It looks bicolored from the images. its very pleasing though.


IMO, highly vibrant, translusent (not transparent, not opaque), looks more jelly like, lit from within, even color (turquoise /robin egg blues and vibrant greens are highly valued) are going to cost way more. Just according to what I've read over the years, 2-300 per ct in the highly desirable range not unheard of and in line with I'd pay for that range. More than that and its a no for me.

Also look at the edges. I look for edge to edge coverage, minimum or no blotchiness in the color and no visible inclusions. I'm not adverse to some blotches if they look good, but again, that also designates a cheaper stone from one highly valued.

I'm not the most experienced either....lol but I do know what I like.

Yes the AJS gem is my favorite lookwise and its roughly 288 per ct so its on the high side but actually doable.

Thanks! This was very helpful. The metal backings make it extra confusing because they create that lit from inside look.

 

[Arcadian]

Last one (for now!)


15x11x6, $500.

For the entire stone? whats the ct wt? I like it. its got a sort of glow but not super glowy (at least not to me) Color looks pretty even, though it looks bluish around the edges more.

 

[Arcadian]

Thanks! This was very helpful. The metal backings make it extra confusing because they create that lit from inside look.

Yeah they do, which is why I wonder what exactly is actually going on with the stone. Its just hard to judge once its been set.

 

[lovedogs]

For the entire stone? whats the ct wt? I like it. its got a sort of glow but not super glowy (at least not to me) Color looks pretty even, though it looks bluish around the edges more.

Yup, for the whole stone. Don't know the exact ct weight, but vendor said 5-6ct

 

[Arcadian]

Yup, for the whole stone. Don't know the exact ct weight, but vendor said 5-6ct

Well that works out to less than 85 bucks a ct even at 6cts. might be worth seeing it if the return policy is good. At the price, I don't expect it would have a report though. The issue I have with instagram is that you don't see all the angles and lord forbid if the stone is set. Plus, I get they're trying to sell the stone and be artsy about it, but a nice neutral background is what works best for me when trying to discern colors and such.

For now, it might be worth it for you to nix set stones. They all look like they have weird things happening that even if I like the stone, I would wonder what the hell is going on underneath. Also, the more money I got to spend, the more discerning I am in terms of treatment. "Trust but verify" takes on whole new meanings at certain cash levels.

The set stones, is that the price of the stone alone or the stone + setting? if stone by itself, then where's those images?

Anyway if you nix the set stones and concentrate on loose only, you'll be better off until you learn how to read the stones more. But I also think maybe getting one in hand (even a cheap one) maybe isn't always a bad thing as long as its not a dog, you know?

 

[Acinom]

@bright ice what about a gorgeous gem silica instead of a Paraiba?

 

[Acinom]

@mochiko42


@lilmosun

 

[lovedogs]

@lilmosun can I ask where you got your gem silica? Not sure if there's a thread.

As always, I love seeing pics of @mochiko42's ring!

 

[Acinom]

@BlingObsession


@lovedogs


@mochiko42

 

[Acinom]

Posted on PS but not sure if it belongs to a Pricescoper

 

[pwsg07]

How do detect the dye of a Chalcedony? A lot of “gem silica” is dyed chalcedony

 

[digdeep]

A Chelsea filter may help............???

 

[lovedogs]

My new favorite, sadly sold out I'm comparing everything else to this one now.
Haven't heard from the vendor how much it sold for, but asked him to let me know if/when there is another like it.





These 2 are the same stone. Vendor is measuring for me tomorrow. He says this one is smaller than the one below (also his), but is better quality.



17*14*6, $480. I like this one a lot.

 

[Burmesedaze]

My new favorite, sadly sold out I'm comparing everything else to this one now.
Haven't heard from the vendor how much it sold for, but asked him to let me know if/when there is another like it.





These 2 are the same stone. Vendor is measuring for me tomorrow. He says this one is smaller than the one below (also his), but is better quality.



17*14*6, $480. I like this one a lot.

You are tempting me!

 

[Bluegemz]

My new favorite, sadly sold out I'm comparing everything else to this one now.
Haven't heard from the vendor how much it sold for, but asked him to let me know if/when there is another like it.





These 2 are the same stone. Vendor is measuring for me tomorrow. He says this one is smaller than the one below (also his), but is better quality.



17*14*6, $480. I like this one a lot.

That’s a beauty! And so is the ring.