Indigoblue: Namibian Amethyst for you!

[chrono]

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[katharath]

Sigh...I LOVE that gem!!

Does anyone know what the price was on it? I don't see it now that it's sold. It's so funny bc I've been searching for a nice amethyst for a few weeks now, but haven't seen the right one come along. And now all of a sudden there's an amethyst craze going on over here, lol!!

Chrono, I don't mean to threadjack here - but I'd really love your help in finding an amethyst too...if I start a new thread will you chime in?

 

[chrono]

I knew that amethyst wasn't going to sit there long but it was worth a try since IndigoBlue asked me to keep an eye out. It's not a problem if you'd like to start a new thread for your search. I am sure many others will be more than happy to help as well. I will be offline most of the day tomorrow though so please don't think I'm ignoring your thread if you start one shortly. I also don't think there's a sudden craze for amethysts on PS, at least none that I am aware of, because there has not been any threads on them. Strangely enough, they seem to be surfacing today.

 

[movie zombie]

I agree its not a sudden craze, chrono. my MIL has a light colored amy as an e-ring.........only wears it for special occasions so its been well cared for. large emerald cut, lighter color. I've been saying for years i'm going to get one. on top of it all years ago I missed out on a great amy with red/blue flash from rwise and at a good price just because I couldn't decide and then when I did it was gone....sigh. i'm looking at one on a vendor's website now that is 10 carats! also, light in color but i'm not sure I want a concave trilliant. and like you I looked at some from out of Georgia but they weren't working for me. so, idea is always in the back of my mind and one day the right stone will be there.

that was a gorgeous amy that jeff had listed. i too would love to know what the price was per carat.

 

[chrono]

Oops, I knew I forgot to answer one more question. The amethyst was listed for either $230 or $250 thereabouts as the total price.

 

[katharath]

Well ... double sigh, lol!! I really do appreciate you posting the price on it because that's so similar to what I had in mind for what I want - and the best part is, that's definitely going to be affordable. I was hoping to get something nice for less than $200, which I hope will be doable if I'm looking for a smaller amethyst (say the 3-4 carat range?). I would've paid the asking price on that one though, it's just what I had in mind.

I was just kidding about it bring a "craze", I just thought it was funny that I've had them on my mind so much, and then seeing the threads today. That was funny to me

I will start a new thread probably tomorrow - thanks so much for your input, as always!!

ETA: also meant to say Chrono, your amethyst is a beauty!! I really enjoyed seeing it.

 

[SB621]

You can always contact the vendor to see if they have additional rough they can cut. Just an idea

 

[chrono]

Thanks K. SB is right that you might be fortunate enough where the lapidary might have more similar rough in inventory so it never hurts to ask.

 

[katharath]

I ended up not starting a thread searching for an amethyst after all - I took the advice that you both offered, and contacted Gary to see if he could cut me a similar gem

Gary has agreed to do so and we've already negotiated everything, the gem should be finished within 2-3 weeks. I'm quite excited, as I've admired his work for awhile. This is actually my first time having a gem cut from rough "just for me", which is actually why I was a bit hesitant to ask him about it. I guess I needed a bit if a push, which you two suggesting that I contact him provided. I've just not been through this process before - I have to admit I'm a bit impatient and tend to like instant gratification when it comes to buying gems.

This one seems like a fun choice though - since it's an amethyst it's relatively inexpensive even for the nicer "old stock" rough that Gary is using, so I can afford to have a decent sized gem extremely well cut. I'm definitely excited!!

The plan is to cut the amethyst in the same style as the one he just sold, and Gary said that it should come out to about the same size or close (so around 3.5 cts). He has been an excellent communicator and very pleasant to deal with so far.

Thanks again for the advice!! I'll let you all know when I get the gem, don't worry, lol

 

[JewelFreak]

I can't wait to see it too, Katharath. That Namibian is just gorgeous & I melted when I first saw it. You have to get to his site SO fast to snag anything -- competition is darned fierce around here! Looking forward to a thrill, seeing your new one.

--- Laurie

 

[katharath]

Thank you, Laurie, I will definitely post pics! You are certainly right, the competition is fierce around here...this site is how I discovered all of my favorite gem cutters though. I'm working my way around to picking up gems from these talented people: I now have a color change garnet "Gene" stone, a "Barry" blue spinel, and now I'll have a "Gary" amethyst The funny thing is that for the regulars around here, no last names are needed to understand that sentence, lol!! I wouldn't have known what on earth that statement meant when I first began lurking around PS; I've learned a lot.

Anyway, thanks again for sharing in my excitement, and your kind words

 

[indigoblue]

Well crap! I'm just now seeing this. Thanks for the tip, Chrono, but we were all too late. Unless someone here bought it and will post pictures. Like I said, I'm just passively looking right now. Something great will come along, and I'll snag it. I hope. And I'm glad to see that others are interested too. I hadn't seen any discussions about amethysts here and thought that the name was only spoken in back rooms and in hushed tones because it was not well respected. I was a little afraid to mention that I was interested in getting two.

 

[chrono]

K,
One thing I love about commissioning stones is seeing the before (rough) and after (finished) pictures. Is Gary willing to do this? I am very excited for you and think you'll love both the experience and amethyst.

IB,
Amethyst is definitely the underdog; underappreciated and underpriced but shhhh......let's keep it to ourselves. The trouble with amethyst are numerous synthetics, many low quality stones, poorly cut and they aren't everyday stones. It is easy to fall in love with a great looking amethyst though; they weren't royal gems without good reason.

 

[katharath]

Well crap! I'm just now seeing this. Thanks for the tip, Chrono, but we were all too late. Unless someone here bought it and will post pictures. Like I said, I'm just passively looking right now. Something great will come along, and I'll snag it. I hope. And I'm glad to see that others are interested too. I hadn't seen any discussions about amethysts here and thought that the name was only spoken in back rooms and in hushed tones because it was not well respected. I was a little afraid to mention that I was interested in getting two.

Indigo - I was wondering if you even got it! I wonder who it was... I know exactly what you're saying though - I've felt that there was a bit of almost "snobbery" about amethysts over here. Like they don't have the same cache as other gems. Chrono posting about hers probably made everyone feel like they were cool enough to post about!! I think she's dead on about the reasons she listed for their reputation, though.

Good luck in finding what you want. I believe Gary does have some more rough if you're interested in pursuing it with him. (Oh, and btw, the price on the gem Gary listed was actually $275, just in case anyone else is interested in looking into another one. It was a bit higher than I expected, but I discussed my budget with Gary and we were able to work things out satisfactorily).

 

[katharath]

K,
One thing I love about commissioning stones is seeing the before (rough) and after (finished) pictures. Is Gary willing to do this? I am very excited for you and think you'll love both the experience and amethyst.

IB,
Amethyst is definitely the underdog; underappreciated and underpriced but shhhh......let's keep it to ourselves. The trouble with amethyst are numerous synthetics, many low quality stones, poorly cut and they aren't everyday stones. It is easy to fall in love with a great looking amethyst though; they weren't royal gems without good reason.

I agree with your reasoning here about amethysts. I know that when I first became very enthusiastic about CS, I was dismissive about the gems that I saw as too "commonplace" - amethyst, peridot, some garnets, etc etc. Now, I've realized that it mostly just comes down to quality. Outstandingly beautiful gems are really never common, are they? I mean large, well cut, clean gems should all be appreciated, KWIM? Which is why I've come to appreciate pretty much any gem that is beautiful and well cut, and why I feel like I now need a really nice peridot too, lol...

To answer your question about the rough - I haven't seen any photos. I didn't even think to ask, to be honest! I will next time. We traded a few emails, and in the last one, Gary said that he had chosen out a very nice piece of rough for me . So I was happy with that, and he said that he will send me pics and further info/specs as things progress. I would ask for pics but I think Gary may have even already started preliminary work. So I think I'll let it go this time, but thanks for the suggestion for next time around.Thanks for all of your help on this one, it's much appreciated!!

 

[chrono]

In the past, I saw more amethyst, peridot and other "common" gems posted here. I think we should appreciate all gem types. They are never common if well coloured.

Do share progress pictures. Few get this opportunity and I'm sure many will appreciate it. I did so once with my Jeff White pink spinel. Gary might not have formed the rough so please ask for pics.

 

[alice87]

This amethyst was amazing! I got an e-mail and it was gone!

 

[chrono]

It's you snooze, you lose around here for the drops, even by a split second!

 

[alice87]

U r right, I am not that fast, and I liked it a lot, not for the amethyst hunt yet, although it is one of my favorite stones due to color.