Heliodor...who has some?

[Arcadian]

After seeing some really lovely Heliodor, I'm very interested in learning more and possibly buying a piece. However, I'm finding information is kind of scarce.

I wish search worked...but well...you know...

anyway, if anyone has examples of it in a setting or unset, I would love to see it.



-A

 

[T L]

After seeing some really lovely Heliodor, I'm very interested in learning more and possibly buying a piece. However, I'm finding information is kind of scarce.

I wish search worked...but well...you know...

anyway, if anyone has examples of it in a setting or unset, I would love to see it.



-A

Good heliodor is hard to find. Most of it is washed out, or too brownish yellow. Here is a photo from the Grainger Hall of Gems. I have a couple of pieces, but I find they're too ugly to post.

Sorry about the bad photo. The museum lighting was awful. You can see a better photo of this gem on the Field Museum's website. Those are also little bezel set heliodors in the tassel.

 

[Arcadian]

Thanks for that


-A

 

[soberguy]

Here is mine. GIA certified even lol! Thought it might be something else... Oh well 10.08 x 8.06 x 5.71. It has a really intense slightly orangy yellow color.

 

[Arcadian]

ooooo thats pretty! Do you have any plans for it? I do plan on getting some to set someday, but the info I've run across is so freaking sketchy!

-A

 

[soberguy]

No plans as of yet. I picked it up at a gem and mineral show for 15.00, and sent it to GIA thinking it was something valuable lol! I was new lol! But it is one of the prettiest I have ever seen personally. Many of the ones I have seen are yucky looking. Too brown as TL mentioned. Most are smaller than this also.

 

[Arcadian]

OMG that for 15 bucks! you're a lucky duck!! The piece I'm looking at is a heck of a lot more (uGH!!) but by the same token I had read its not terribly expensive except in the larger sizes. (I'm looking at a 4ct stone ) Did GIA give you origin on your stone?

-A

 

[LD]

I have some - going out now so can't post piccies but I like them. They're not my favourite gem but they're sparkly and pretty. Don't pay too much though because they've not an expensive gem.

 

[arjunajane]

I have one which to my eye is a very nice golden sunny yellow - it sometimes shows orange in photos, but is only ever golden yellow in real life.
I bought it from Barry and it is set in a Sally HOW pillbox.
I only wear this ring occasionally, but the saturated pop of colour really surprises me whenever I do get it out..

Couple pics of the ring and loose stone (the pic of the ring in the box is closest to what I see IRL).

You're correct Arcadian, it doesn't seem to be a very popular gem amongst consumers (at least on PS)..I would suggest contacting a couple cutters, perhaps they have some rough tucked away?

 

[Arkteia]

i read about them. Aren't they often irradiated, or am I confusing them with something else?

 

[Arcadian]

AJ, thats an amazing ring! I'm certainly going to be checking around to see who's got what.

Crasru, in my searches on the internet I've read that they're heated (but then I also read that the lighter yellows are heated to turn blue...aka, aquamarine ) I've heard they can be irradiated as well but I don't know if irradiation is even stable. Trying to find what are treatment standards is kind of crazy. I sometimes think that they play around with certain treatment types until they find one that works. I of course prefer no treatment which means the stone likely will need to be certed if I'm getting something large.

here's the example that made me kinda made me salivate.... I really don't know what that would be in terms of color, but its color is really eye pleasing. Heck I can't even remember where this picture came from I had it so long


I've checked Pala for info but they had relatively few stones. Finding out the locations its mined has also been hard as well as some general pricing information. Some sites I've read say 10/ct but others say it can depend on color and size

-A

 

[marymm]

Yellow Beryl is my latest purchase -- I just received it from Barry Bridgestock and the item description reads: "7.39 ct. 11.4 mm. [Gec: N] Square Barion cut. Just barely less than eyeclean, this unenhanced beryl has vibrant medium light, slightly greenish color and beautiful sparkle."

 

[T L]

here's the example that made me kinda made me salivate.... I really don't know what that would be in terms of color, but its color is really eye pleasing. Heck I can't even remember where this picture came from I had it so long

That color is golden yellow. It's basically yellow that veers toward the orange side in the color spectrum. It's a warm color, whereas greenish yellow (ie chrysoberyl) is a cool color. I think yellow is the only color in the spectrum that can be both warm and cool since it resides at that borderline between warm and cool colors on the spectrum (orange and green). Always beware of golden yellow heliodors that are too brown.

It is also known as "golden beryl" so also use that in your search engine while looking for one.

 

[T L]

Here are mine, I forget the carat sizes, but I guesstimate around 4 carats each. One is too washed out and the other is too brown for my taste. I bought them around 17 years ago when I was a beryl fanatic since aqua was my birthstone. I'm planning on reusing the setting for the step cut gem when I find one to fit it.

Honestly, I haven't looked at the large oval in years. I had it locked away in another gem box of my "rejects." I don't like the color, but I do realize that some people might (we all have different taste), so that's why I posted it. It actually melts in well with the 18K gold bands on my ring finger.

 

[Arcadian]

Marymm and TL, thanks so much for showing me your pieces. I've always said its a good thing we're little different. I could imagine the hell it would be if we were all after the same exact stones.


The first thing that comes to mind is early morning sunshine in the fall (I know, weird huh? ) I'm hoping to find out a bit more info in my searches. but seems to me that yellow (if its not gold you know) is something many find hard to really like, that means I'm kinda in luck! I like some yellow stones..this is turning into one of them . considering what I've found about the price of it, I could get a very decent size with no problem.

-A

 

[marymm]

Arcadian, when I was looking for Yellow Beryl I found quite a range in pricing but also that most had heat treatment and, for some reason, quite a number had the checkerboard cut which I am not too crazy about. At first I was searching for that gorgeous golden sunny yellow beryl (love the photo you posted, as well as Arjunajane's ring!) but it occurred to me the color would be very similar to my golden yellow sapphire -- and by then I had seen some beautiful greenish-yellow chrysoberyl on the Pricescope threads, so I changed tactics and started searching for the classic heliodor color. I am certain you will find the Yellow Beryl that sings to you and I hope your search is as fun and informative as mine turned out to be. Happy hunting!

 

[zeolite]

5.36 ct yellow beryl, radiant cut, Afghanistan

 

[zeolite]

16.63 ct golden beryl, radiant cut, Afghanistan

Both gems were photographed with GE Reveal bulbs. The blue light at the bottom is late afternoon cool daylight leaking into my picture area. Both gems are flawless at 10X.

 

[Arcadian]

5.36 ct yellow beryl, radiant cut, Afghanistan

I just got goose bumps....

You wanna get married? I won't tell your wife, pinky swear!

-A

 

[T L]

5.36 ct yellow beryl, radiant cut, Afghanistan

I just got goose bumps....

You wanna get married? I won't tell your wife, pinky swear!

-A

Oh my goodness Mr. Zeolite, this forum is making a polygamist out of you!!

 

[T L]

Marymm and TL, thanks so much for showing me your pieces. I've always said its a good thing we're little different. I could imagine the hell it would be if we were all after the same exact stones.


The first thing that comes to mind is early morning sunshine in the fall (I know, weird huh? ) I'm hoping to find out a bit more info in my searches. but seems to me that yellow (if its not gold you know) is something many find hard to really like, that means I'm kinda in luck! I like some yellow stones..this is turning into one of them . considering what I've found about the price of it, I could get a very decent size with no problem.

-A

Too bad you weren't at the Grainger Hall of Gems, I will say that even though I'm not a fan of Heliodor, the one in the necklace I posted was a fine example. Here's a better photo of it from the museum website, although I will say, it is MUCH MUCH prettier in person.

 

[arjunajane]

arcadian-cheers re my ring. I know yellow isnt everyones cup of tea but I set out to find a sunny stone and was happy with the results If I remember correctly my stone is untreated-it was actually one Barry had faceted a couple decades ago and had in his collection.
Zeolite your photos of your collection always make me happy to see-just gorgeous!
TL-love that necklace, wish I could see it in person, the design and colours work so well together.

 

[Largosmom]

Arcadian...those yellows are gorgeous! I hope you find something really nice.

The gems posted are just WOW

Laura

 

[chrono]

I find that bright sunny yellow heliodore difficult to find; many are either pale & washed out or quite brown. However, when you see a nice one, it’s just such a happy gorgeous colour. I hope you’ll find the right one for you.

 

[zeolite]

5.36 ct yellow beryl, radiant cut, Afghanistan

I just got goose bumps....

You wanna get married? I won't tell your wife, pinky swear!

-A

Sounds good. So don't tell her - or Gailey!

 

[Arcadian]

5.36 ct yellow beryl, radiant cut, Afghanistan

I just got goose bumps....

You wanna get married? I won't tell your wife, pinky swear!

-A

Sounds good. So don't tell her - or Gailey!

*zipps lips*

-A

 

[digitaldevo]

No pics, but my buddies son found a nice piece of facet grade heliodor down at Ray Mines a while back. Not sure if he ever cut it or not yet, but it was amazingly beautiful!!!

 

[m76steve]

a yellow beryl heart shape @ 14cts-i like this stone because it does have a slight feather about center stone up about 2/3 from bottom i dont think it shows in photo but color is ok-a nice looker....

 

[jleb]

Two things to watch for when your buying heliodor. First is a brownish masque on the stone, the second is a faint green tint. The green affects aesthetics and value quite a bit. You can check w/ a dichroscope when your buying to insure there isn't a secondary green tone lurking in the stone.

 

[Sagebrush]

jlieb,

While I agree with you about a true green secondary hue being a negative, pure yellows will often give you the "impression" of green. Several years ago I sold a yellow diamond, FVY, I saw just this impression I am talking about. Stephen Hofer had previously measured the stone photometrically and declared it to be the "finest pure yellow diamond in the world", bear in mind he has been measuring diamond color for 25 years and has an actual grid plotted with all the stones he has seen and he told me what I just told you. If the yellow has a hint of orange it will squelch this affect but a truly pure yellow may give you this impression which is apparently an optic phenomenon.

Best,