Seaglow's Finds

[mellowyellowgirl]

Just gorgeous!!!!! You were so fast getting it done too!!! They are such a gorgeous shade of green!

 

[Seaglow]

@Seaglow I couldn't help but notice the clasp on the necklace. Like, you would have to bend the gold in order to unhook the necklace on one side? Is that how you take it on and off? Or do you never have to do so because your strand is long enough to slip over your head?

I'm asking because my late grandfather had a 24k necklace with a clasp like that made for me. I've never felt comfortable wearing it because I'm always afraid the gold, after being bent too many times, would just break, it's so soft. Do you have much experience with wearing necklace clasps like these, and are my fears totally unfounded?

The clasp is actually common for countries who use high purity gold jewelry. In fact, in traditional gold shops in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, the clasp is used a lot. It doesn’t usually break because gold is very malleable in pure form and a bit of alloy makes it hard enough but comfortable to open. As long as the clasp it thick enough, it should be fine. 22k to 24K will have most clasps like this in traditional jewelry because they are soft and it is not advisable to use high purity gold in our usual clasps because it is too soft and malleable for the mechanisms used for modern clasps. The modern clasp I see usually go as high as 21K but above that, the bendable clasp is usually used. There’s also another version of this clasp, like as “S” shape in cases where you don’t need to hang a pendant.

 

[voce]

Thank you @Seaglow ! I will try wearing the necklace more.

 

[elle_71125]

No plans yet. I’ve just set a copper-bearing tourmaline with a Mahenge spinel on an enhancer.

@icy_jade.... here is how the enhancer turned out. I forgot to make clear instructions to the goldsmith then went to a different country. I was expecting prong and it was bezel set. The bezel was done properly so I’m keeping it this way.

I usually prefer enhancers (opens at the back) so I have an option to hang it on pearls and beads.

Stunning!!!
I love the bright pink and paraiba together. Just pure perfection!

 

[Seaglow]

@Bluegemz, here they are!

A couple of Type A lavender jade necklaces I got from Yangon. The yield for lavender jade in general is not so much, and less so for transluscent ones with a good shade. Only a handful of mines can produce transluscent lavenders so you don’t see much of it. Got these straight from the jade factory before it went offshore. I also got a car “cushion” as a gift. It’s nice as a meditation mat but heavy to lift as I think they are 15mm beads!

Photo outside on a rainy day.


By the window. Natural light.



The car “cushion”.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Are you leaving them to wear as is Seaglow or you're going to do something with them?

 

[Seaglow]

Are you leaving them to wear as is Seaglow or you're going to do something with them?

I will restring them and maybe combine with something or make a nice gemstone clasp.

I was looking online and there are hardly any reference for market price comparison for Type A lavender jade except Yokdee! Maybe they are Chinese shop sites in Chinese characters so it’s diffucult to find them.

 

[Bluegemz]

Those are really really beautiful! Thank you for showing them. They have a depth with evocative moodiness. Such a restful and ethereal color. I love that hue of the lavender jade color range. I am in love with those!

What a cool weaving that is! I love gifts that sometimes come with purchases. It makes my heart happy when this happens.

 

[Burmesedaze]

They'd go very well with @Bluegemz grey star sapphire ring

 

[Bluegemz]

They'd go very well with @Bluegemz grey star sapphire ring

Yes! Jade beads and stars! Do you mean the little clear one, or the light blue/lavender one ? I am grateful that it goes well with the blue/lavender jade bead strand I have. Jade beads and stars are a great combination! I wish I had a strand to go with Moonlight Jelly, but I think I’ll be very lucky if I ever find a jade necklace that goes with it. Tanzanite beads might work though. The bangle which I purchased to go with it kind of fits, but not totally either. But, it is fun trying to make relationships between them all.

 

[ilovegemstones]

Yes Voce, a lot Indian jewelry has clasps like that and it is totally safe. The loop should slide out without having to bend the gold hook.

 

[ilovegemstones]

I adore the paraiba and mahenge spinel pendant! Especially on the aqua strand!

 

[Burmesedaze]

Yes! Jade beads and stars! Do you mean the little clear one, or the light blue/lavender one ? I am grateful that it goes well with the blue/lavender jade bead strand I have. Jade beads and stars are a great combination! I wish I had a strand to go with Moonlight Jelly, but I think I’ll be very lucky if I ever find a jade necklace that goes with it. Tanzanite beads might work though. The bangle which I purchased to go with it kind of fits, but not totally either. But, it is fun trying to make relationships between them all.

The smaller one with the sharper star

Same grey, misty, dreamy feel to both the jade and the star sapphire! They would go so well with a dove grey or lilac ensemble!

 

[Seaglow]

Revised an old Paraiba ring today. I added a Mahenge spinel in the ring. Showing an old photo and the new design with the spinel. Also got a couple of Tsavorite garnets. Cushion is 2.08cts. and oval is 2.20carats.

 

[prs]

The Mahenge spinel and the Paraibas look absolutely fantastic together!!!

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

I don't know how you find what you find in the sizes you find them! *sigh*

Love those greens!

 

[Seaglow]

I don't know how you find what you find in the sizes you find them! *sigh*

Love those greens!

The tsavorites are from a parcel selection of about 5 stones held by a Sri Lankan dealer. Local cut but tsavorites seldom occur above 2 carats so tolerance in cut is high for 2 carats up. These 2 are the most decent cut in the parcel, however, oval has a slight window (can be closed with a nice setting) but color and crystal of the stones are very nice though I can see needles and minerals under magnification.

I was also presented a 4 carat + stone but with more yellow modifier. Decent cut but tsavorite greatly increase in price per carat and I opted to have nicer color but smaller stones. There’s generally less demand in China for stones at the moment so the prices are reasonable for these stones. Also, seasonally, some traders let go of their stocks (whether for an occasion/festival, cash flow issues) and also for prices, it’s monitoring which currency is down and up. So dollars are a bit good now compared to last year so buying in US dollars is not bad currently.

 

[Crazie4Cuts]

@Seaglow I love the lavender jade necklaces! They’re so beautiful. It is very hard to find type A lavender jade anywhere! I had looked for a lavender bead jade bracelet and got this one! I hope ok to share...

 

[Seaglow]

@Seaglow I love the lavender jade necklaces! They’re so beautiful. It is very hard to find type A lavender jade anywhere! I had looked for a lavender bead jade bracelet and got this one! I hope ok to share...

Of course! Thanks for sharing. yes, it is indeed hard to find lavender beads. As I’ve heard from a jadeite factory in Myanmar, the yield for lavender jade has been not much lately so enjoy your bracelet!

 

[Burmesedaze]

I told Seaglow over messenger that I didn't see any decent lavenders at the Mandalay jade market too. Only teeny weeny cabs.

 

[Bluegemz]

I told Seaglow over messenger that I didn't see any decent lavenders at the Mandalay jade market too. Only teeny weeny cabs.

Lavender really is quite rare. It’s such a hunt to find! Still, that is surprising.

 

[Bluegemz]

I told Seaglow over messenger that I didn't see any decent lavenders at the Mandalay jade market too. Only teeny weeny cabs.

Do you ever buy any tiny, sliced in half jade boulders? I saw a few videos of the Madalay jade market and those were there. I always thought that they were adorable. It would be hard for me to resist buying those just for display!

 

[Seaglow]

Do you ever buy any tiny, sliced in half jade boulders? I saw a few videos of the Madalay jade market and those were there. I always thought that they were adorable. It would be hard for me to resist buying those just for display!

@Burmesedaze can buy as many roughs as she wants and have them with a nice carved surface.

You can also buy from Jasmine. I have a project with her for some boulders so bought a couple of small roughs from her.



Also, I have a small minerals display. Not yet finished with the labels.

 

[Bluegemz]

@Burmesedaze can buy as many roughs as she wants and have them with a nice carved surface.

You can also buy from Jasmine. I have a project with her for some boulders so bought a couple of small roughs from her.



Also, I have a small minerals display. Not yet finished with the labels.

Those little polished roughs are beautiful and super adorable!! I will eventually check that out with Jasmine for sure.. what a great mineral display!

In my office, I have a circular arrangement, a ‘wreath’ of various mineral specimens on a side table with a candle in the middle. It is so nice to be able to gaze at stones in our spaces!

 

[Bluegemz]

I always think micro boulders like this one with the skin are just amazing..,

 

[Crazie4Cuts]

I love how versatile this piece is. Thank you for sharing

Are your copper bearing tourmalines glowy too? It looks really nice from the pics.

@Seaglow Can you please take a picture of the back of the pendant? I want to see want the enhancer bale looks like. I have this mabe pearl ring from my mother in law and it is too big to wear as a ring and thought to make it into a pendant...now seeing that maybe an enhancer may be a better option. The mabe pearl is like 20 mm round..I didn’t measure it as it is now sitting at my jewelers waiting for me to decide on what to do.
-C4C

 

[Seaglow]

Those little polished roughs are beautiful and super adorable!! I will eventually check that out with Jasmine for sure.. what a great mineral display!

In my office, I have a circular arrangement, a ‘wreath’ of various mineral specimens on a side table with a candle in the middle. It is so nice to be able to gaze at stones in our spaces!

The roughs can be cheaper because there is still a gamble on what’s inside the boulder. So if it’s for display, if they can see cracks inside, it will not be expensive.

My mineral specimens many are bought for a few bucks. Some are like $10-30. The most expensive I have is a Paraiba-colored tourmaline cluster from Pakistan.

 

[Seaglow]

I always think micro boulders like this one with the skin are just amazing..,

There are those small boulders in Mandalay. Some whole and some you can cut in half. The one in your photo would cost a bit because of the color.

 

[Seaglow]

@Seaglow Can you please take a picture of the back of the pendant? I want to see want the enhancer bale looks like. I have this mabe pearl ring from my mother in law and it is too big to wear as a ring and thought to make it into a pendant...now seeing that maybe an enhancer may be a better option. The mabe pearl is like 20 mm round..I didn’t measure it as it is now sitting at my jewelers waiting for me to decide on what to do.
-C4C

The back of the pendant is quite simple. Just open. Here are 3 enhancers. Enhancers are nice because you can hang them on pearl and bead strands. There are enhancers that opens on the bail like the Roberto Coin pendant on the left. There are also enhancers with double locks to make it more secure.

 

[Seaglow]

@Bluegemz, on a funny note, I gambled 20 bucks on a small whole boulder. I saw a nice green spot on the outside and had it sliced in two. Inside is utility jade. Lol. I had a part made into a cab to see how it will look. So jadeite rough is really fo experts only. Lol. Rough buyers at the Mandalay jade market spend hours on some boulders with their penlight before buying.