Show us your rough

[zoebartlett]

They''re all so pretty! If the rough looks this good, I can''t wait to see the finished products.

 

[icekid]

TL- I don''t know a darn thing about picking rough, but that minty green is stunning! perfect for spring, eh? Who is doing the cutting?

 

[T L]

Date: 3/27/2009 8:31:02 AM
Author: icekid
TL- I don''t know a darn thing about picking rough, but that minty green is stunning! perfect for spring, eh? Who is doing the cutting?

Thanks icekid!!
I don''t know who is cutting it yet. I have to research that when I get the stone.

 

[T L]

Date: 3/27/2009 6:06:04 AM
Author: ZoeBartlett
They''re all so pretty! If the rough looks this good, I can''t wait to see the finished products.

I agree, there is some amazing rough in this thread. Some of it left me speechless!!

 

[Fox2009]

I''m tuning into this thread late, but I just had to comment! I LOVE seeing these stones in rough form--it''s not something you see a lot. Stunning pieces, I''d love to see any rough before and afters, too (and who wouldn''t, it''s just too much fun!)

 

[platinumrock]

Date: 3/24/2009 5:50:18 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
I awaiting this 15 carat terminated crystal Afghan tourmaline in the mail. I don't think it will stay in it's rough form for long though.

How did I miss this 15 carat beauty??? TL, I can totally see this jolly rancher in green gold. Whatcha think? Can you get at least 4 carats out of it?

 

[T L]

Date: 3/27/2009 1:46:57 PM
Author: platinumrock

Date: 3/24/2009 5:50:18 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
I awaiting this 15 carat terminated crystal Afghan tourmaline in the mail. I don''t think it will stay in it''s rough form for long though.

How did I miss this 15 carat beauty??? TL, I can totally see this jolly rancher in green gold. Whatcha think? Can you get at least 4 carats out of it?

I don''t know, we''ll see. Doesn''t it stink that you can''t get a 15 carat stone out of a 15 carat piece of rough?

He told me was scope mouthwash green, which I''m hoping, as much as l like jolly ranchers. LOL.

 

[T L]

Date: 3/27/2009 1:41:05 PM
Author: Fox2009
I'm tuning into this thread late, but I just had to comment! I LOVE seeing these stones in rough form--it's not something you see a lot. Stunning pieces, I'd love to see any rough before and afters, too (and who wouldn't, it's just too much fun!)

I like looking at Dan Stair's website, customgemstones.com, for that reason. He takes before and after pictures of the rough and the finished stone (I wish more faceters did that - hint hint).

 

[cofor]

I will do the before and after I promise. As soon as I get my hands on a decent faceting machine and a couple of stones cut to get in shape again. I have not been cutting for many years now.
Will try to dig out some more rough to post here though.


cofor

 

[platinumrock]

Date: 3/27/2009 2:12:38 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover

Date: 3/27/2009 1:46:57 PM
Author: platinumrock

Date: 3/24/2009 5:50:18 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
I awaiting this 15 carat terminated crystal Afghan tourmaline in the mail. I don''t think it will stay in it''s rough form for long though.

How did I miss this 15 carat beauty??? TL, I can totally see this jolly rancher in green gold. Whatcha think? Can you get at least 4 carats out of it?

I don''t know, we''ll see. Doesn''t it stink that you can''t get a 15 carat stone out of a 15 carat piece of rough?

He told me was scope mouthwash green, which I''m hoping, as much as l like jolly ranchers. LOL.

Haha..mouthwash green. Appetizing for the eyes, but not the pallette. You can always keep the stone at 15 carats and just set it the way it is. Then it can literally be a ring-pop.

 

[T L]

Date: 3/27/2009 2:39:21 PM
Author: platinumrock

Haha..mouthwash green. Appetizing for the eyes, but not the pallette. You can always keep the stone at 15 carats and just set it the way it is. Then it can literally be a ring-pop.

The vendor that sold it to me told me he wouldn''t cut it because the termination of the crystals is so perfect. It is an interesting looking piece of nature, and you can set these crystals in a pendant, to keep them in their natural form.

 

[chrono]

So you''re not getting it cut? I think the colour lends itself to a beautiful gemstone.

 

[T L]

Date: 3/27/2009 11:24:10 PM
Author: Chrono
So you're not getting it cut? I think the colour lends itself to a beautiful gemstone.

I didn't say that, but it will be difficult to find a faceter the caliber of someone like Gene. The vendor FINALLY shipped it out today. His mother was sick. I was going nuts.

 

[chrono]

Actually, his idea of having set as it is, as a pendant is sort of appealing too. What do you think, TL?

 

[T L]

Date: 3/27/2009 11:47:47 PM
Author: Chrono
Actually, his idea of having set as it is, as a pendant is sort of appealing too. What do you think, TL?

I don''t know, we''ll see when I get it. I have to find a decent lapidary, that will be the hard part. If it''s nice, I''ll post pics of it.

 

[chrono]

I''m not a good designer but wondered about a wire cage design. Perhaps a spiral wire "wrapping" around the rough so that you can clearly see the clean natural termination.

 

[T L]

Date: 3/28/2009 11:26:11 AM
Author: Chrono
I'm not a good designer but wondered about a wire cage design. Perhaps a spiral wire 'wrapping' around the rough so that you can clearly see the clean natural termination.

I think I would just cap off the flat part of it if I were to do a pendant. It has an inclusion on the bottom anyways. I'm not a fan of wire wrapping. I may still have it cut.

 

[T L]

Something like this perhaps.

 

[chrono]

I thought about that too but felt it was a shame to "hide" the other end. I'm not bothered by inclusions in rough; it adds some interest to it.

 

[T L]

The inclusions are only in the bottom quarter of the stone, the rest is supposedly clean.

 

[T L]

I just got my 14 to 15 carat Afghani mint tourmaline. It's a very wide stone, and it is mint green with blue flickering off the crystal planes. Now this is what I call an open c-axis!! Photo taken in diffused sunlight.

 

[chrono]

Sounds like a keeper. Now the question is to cut or not to cut.

 

[T L]

I showed a picture of it to some mineral geeks, and they want me not to cut because they think the termination is rare, and they think it''s a really fine specimen of a complete crystal. I want a ring though - waaa!! waaaa!!!

 

[chrono]

Date: 3/30/2009 11:02:40 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
I showed a picture of it to some mineral geeks, and they want me not to cut because they think the termination is rare, and they think it's a really fine specimen of a complete crystal. I want a ring though - waaa!! waaaa!!!

So sorry but I would not cut it either. I like it as a wearable mineral specimen which it's hard to find something like this.

 

[T L]

But I like bling!

 

[T L]

Do you think it would good in my LOGR?

 

[mochi]

 

[T L]

Mochi,
Why the big eyeballs? Too big for the LOGR (LOL)? I think we all have such a habit of putting everything and anything into our empty LOGR''s, that I thought I''d be funny.

 

[mochi]

Oh...I think it''s purfect for that LOGR setting..just be careful swinging your hand around! I''m still in search for a 8x8 for that setting.

Off topic: Did you happen to see the yellowish/green and light green tourmaline on Barry''s website? I don''t recall those being there last week, I may be wrong. There is a round one and a oval one.

 

[T L]

Yes, they were there since the last drop. The congo one and the light yellow green one, right? I found a cushion mint Afghan tourmaline that would fit it perfectly, but the vendor refused to send me any additional pictures, and it was a 2.5 carat stone for over $500. For that kind of money, I would like more pictures, and he said "absolutely not." It's not a vendor we're all used to dealing with though. That really irked me.