Show me your garnets!

chrono · Jun 12, 2009

TL and SS,
Pictures here are always welcome. It does say garnets and they qualify! And both yours are too lovely not to re-post anyway.

glitterata · Jun 12, 2009

Here are mine.

Edwardian demantoid ring:

Close-up showing the horsetail in the bottom demantoid:

My tsavorite, showing its needle:

Victorian pyrope garnet hair ornament:

One of my Victorian pyrope garnet bangles:

Victorian pyrope garnet cabochon bangle (partially reset in the 1950s or 60s by my grandmother):

Victorian pyrope garnet necklace and earrings:

I wish the pictures did justice to the deep, bright wine-color of those Victorian pyrope garnets.

T L · Jun 12, 2009

Glitterata,
You have such beautiful antique jewelry!!

Are the demantoids original to the ring? I love the color on them, as well as the detail on that horsetail. How large are they?

LaurenThePartier · Jun 12, 2009

Holy moly, Gliteratta, SleepySpinel, Ltl, and TL! I am in Garnet Heaven!

LaurenThePartier · Jun 12, 2009

Found some pics of my loose Garnets.

LaurenThePartier · Jun 12, 2009

One more pic showing my tsavorite.

glitterata · Jun 12, 2009

Thank you, Tourm!

Yes, the demantoids are original to the ring. They''re quite small, between 4 and 5 mm in diameter. What would that be, about a quarter carat apiece? But they''re a great, bright, fiery green. I can even see arrows in the more transparent one, the one without the horsetail. The arrows send out flashes of red and orange dispersion, just like a diamond.

glitterata · Jun 12, 2009

I love everybody''s garnets--I love how they come in so many gorgeous, lively colors.

T L · Jun 12, 2009

Date: 6/12/2009 1:47:27 PM
Author: glitterata
Thank you, Tourm!

Yes, the demantoids are original to the ring. They''re quite small, between 4 and 5 mm in diameter. What would that be, about a quarter carat apiece? But they''re a great, bright, fiery green. I can even see arrows in the more transparent one, the one without the horsetail. The arrows send out flashes of red and orange dispersion, just like a diamond.

4 to 5mm would be anywhere from a third to a half carat I think. Thanks for the information. The garnets look to have held up well considering their age, and the relative softness of demantoids. You are very fortunate to have them.

T L · Jun 12, 2009

Date: 6/12/2009 1:45:41 PM
Author: LaurenThePartier
One more pic showing my tsavorite.

LTP,
What are the other three species of garnet you have in the picture? I like the orange ones in the middle.

LaurenThePartier · Jun 12, 2009

Date: 6/12/2009 1:58:44 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover

Date: 6/12/2009 1:45:41 PM
Author: LaurenThePartier
One more pic showing my tsavorite.

Click to expand...

LTP,
What are the other three species of garnet you have in the picture? I like the orange ones in the middle.

The two next to the Tsav are Spessartites, and the bigger one on the left is a Red Malaya.

I like the orange ones, too, but seeing all of these awesome Spess examples, now I need something strictly orange, without any red or brown. Where did you end up getting your new step cut Spess from? I'm totally digging the cut on it (predictable, I'm sure

).

chrono · Jun 12, 2009

Lauren,
I recall seeing a good orange step cut spessartite listed in AJS not too long ago. I don’t know if it is still available.

T L · Jun 12, 2009

Date: 6/12/2009 2:52:04 PM
Author: Chrono
Lauren,
I recall seeing a good orange step cut spessartite listed in AJS not too long ago. I don’t know if it is still available.

This one?
http://www.ajsgems.com/mandarin-garnet-spessartite/gemstone-garnet-2049214168-2046340406.html

Lauren,
I got it from Jason Brim, but I don''t think he has more in an asscher shape. You can ask though. If you want an intense orange asscher the caliber of cutting presented by precision faceters, it''s probably not going to happen that easily. With the really fine rough, they typically cut it to maximize weight, and if you want it specialty cut, you may pay a lot more for loss of weight incurred from the cutting. These stones in the more vivid orange shades are expensive to begin with, even for an average native cut. Good luck on your search though.

chrono · Jun 12, 2009

Thanks TL. That''s the one I was thinking of.

LaurenThePartier · Jun 12, 2009

Date: 6/12/2009 3:11:28 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover

Date: 6/12/2009 2:52:04 PM
Author: Chrono
Lauren,
I recall seeing a good orange step cut spessartite listed in AJS not too long ago. I don’t know if it is still available.

Click to expand...

This one?
http://www.ajsgems.com/mandarin-garnet-spessartite/gemstone-garnet-2049214168-2046340406.html

Lauren,
I got it from Jason Brim, but I don''t think he has more in an asscher shape. You can ask though. If you want an intense orange asscher the caliber of cutting presented by precision faceters, it''s probably not going to happen that easily. With the really fine rough, they typically cut it to maximize weight, and if you want it specialty cut, you may pay a lot more for loss of weight incurred from the cutting. These stones in the more vivid orange shades are expensive to begin with, even for an average native cut. Good luck on your search though.

Eeeek! I may have to go proverbially lick that one, because it''s absolutely not in the budget right now, but it looks like the glowey kind of colour I was looking for. Man, that stone is chatting me up.

chrono · Jun 12, 2009

Lauren,
A pure orange spessartite with no brown or yellow costs more today and is getting harder to find too.

I hope you'll be able to get it soon before someone else does.

LaurenThePartier · Jun 12, 2009

Date: 6/12/2009 10:02:42 PM
Author: Chrono
Lauren,
A pure orange spessartite with no brown or yellow costs more today and is getting harder to find too.

I hope you''ll be able to get it soon before someone else does.

Me, too. Our backyard is currently underconstruction, so all of my gemstone money is diverting to that for the moment.

And, Chrono- I love the new AV! Is it already in your possession?

T L · Jun 12, 2009

Date: 6/12/2009 10:02:42 PM
Author: Chrono
Lauren,
A pure orange spessartite with no brown or yellow costs more today and is getting harder to find too.

I hope you'll be able to get it soon before someone else does.

Well, you can find them if you pay the $$$$.

ParaibaInternational appears to have some drop dead gorgeous pear shapes.

Chrono,
Do you trust AJS pictures? Do you think that stone is as orange IRL?

chrono · Jun 12, 2009

Date: 6/12/2009 10:06:14 PM
Author: LaurenThePartier
Me, too. Our backyard is currently underconstruction, so all of my gemstone money is diverting to that for the moment.

And, Chrono- I love the new AV! Is it already in your possession?

I'm sure the backyard will be lovely and worth every cent. The family will enjoy it. Still, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the spess will find its way to your finger one day.

Thanks about the new AV. GOG is setting it right now.

chrono · Jun 12, 2009

Date: 6/12/2009 10:08:03 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
Well, you can find them if you pay the $$$$.

ParaibaInternational appears to have some drop dead gorgeous pear shapes.

Chrono,
Do you trust AJS pictures? Do you think that stone is as orange IRL?

I''d ask for additional pictures. The original ones are hit or miss but the extra requested pictures that show the body colour are usually more accurate.

LaurenThePartier · Jun 12, 2009

Date: 6/12/2009 10:15:21 PM
Author: Chrono

Date: 6/12/2009 10:06:14 PM
Author: LaurenThePartier
Me, too. Our backyard is currently underconstruction, so all of my gemstone money is diverting to that for the moment.

And, Chrono- I love the new AV! Is it already in your possession?

Click to expand...

I''m sure the backyard will be lovely and worth every cent. The family will enjoy it. Still, I''m keeping my fingers cross that the spess will find its way to your finger one day.

Thanks about the new AV. GOG is setting it right now.

Thank you for the finger crossing Chrono! Much appreciated!

And, YAY about the cushion!!!! I can''t wait to see your SMTR about it!!! I''m on LOVE with those, and I''m hoping to see Redrose''s in person when I''m in Houston next.

blithesome71 · Jul 25, 2009

I recently got a new spess which I bought a couple of weeks ago & I must say that I love it more than my previously posted spess. It''s smaller though, 1.5 Ct.
I''m not sure about the cut but I think it''s kinda round/semi-oval shape. It''s got some inclusions visible in some viewing angle (I''m not sure if it''s what others call high-relief)

Anyway, here it is.... (BTW, thanks to my colleague for letting me take photos here in the office using her digicam.

)