Smithsonian Gems and Minerals Hall

[cellentani]

Wow, LovingDiamonds, I think yours is quite fine - nicely defined center and clean, neat, radial spokes! I find the variations interesting - some have no center hexagon, some are closed like yours, and some are open. You're a lucky lady to have this in your collection - thanks very much for sharing the photo, I really enjoyed it!

 

[LD]

Wow, LovingDiamonds, I think yours is quite fine - nicely defined center and clean, neat, radial spokes! I find the variations interesting - some have no center hexagon, some are closed like yours, and some are open. You're a lucky lady to have this in your collection - thanks very much for sharing the photo, I really enjoyed it!

You're more than welcome. I'm glad you like it. Like you, I find Trapiche's (not sure what the plural would be - trapichi??? ) fascinating. I've got a ruby as well and for the life of me, can't find a photo of it. I've not seen many Trapiche Rubies so pounced on it without thinking! If you do buy one, please post up photos won't you?

 

[cellentani]

Wow, LovingDiamonds, I think yours is quite fine - nicely defined center and clean, neat, radial spokes! I find the variations interesting - some have no center hexagon, some are closed like yours, and some are open. You're a lucky lady to have this in your collection - thanks very much for sharing the photo, I really enjoyed it!

You're more than welcome. I'm glad you like it. Like you, I find Trapiche's (not sure what the plural would be - trapichi??? ) fascinating. I've got a ruby as well and for the life of me, can't find a photo of it. I've not seen many Trapiche Rubies so pounced on it without thinking! If you do buy one, please post up photos won't you?

Oh, you MUST find the ruby trapiche photo! Is there a core hexagonal shape? What color are the lines - dark or white/yellow? Is it Burmese? I feel bad for asking so many questions, but hey, that's what happens when you don't post a photo, lol.

 

[VapidLapid]

I have an uncut sapphire that I think has the trapiché structure in it. The stone is blue with a clear->yellow core. I will try to get a photo pf the structure.

 

[cellentani]

I have an uncut sapphire that I think has the trapiché structure in it. The stone is blue with a clear->yellow core. I will try to get a photo pf the structure.

Yes please, Vapid - I would love to see your trapiché sapphire. Does the core have a concentration of needle-like inclusions?

 

[VapidLapid]

Here it is. Bear in mind it is not polished so the structure is a little hard to see. The triangle clear core looks almost like a lidocaine, um, luddite, no that's not it, help me folks what's the word? tourmaline.

 

[VapidLapid]

on thing most odd about it is the trapiché structure disappears at most angles. Also the 6 segments seem to have different color densities between them. I would have called it zoning but it is homogeneous within each segment. As far as I can see with 10X there are no inclusions excepting the trap

 

[VapidLapid]

For those who need to know this rough is 4 carat 7.5x9x6mm

 

[cellentani]

liddicoatite?

 

[VapidLapid]

That's it! Liddicoatite. Thanks Cellentani

 

[cellentani]

That's it! Liddicoatite. Thanks Cellentani

Glad to help, although, Lidocaine was a valiant and hilarious effort, lol.

Thanks for posting the pics - I wish I knew more about why the center is lighter in color. I've seen lots of emerald trapiches where an entire section is a different color, or has a different concentration of impurities, so your description of each sapphire section having different densities isn't out-of-line to me.

 

[LD]

Just for you Cell! The Ruby Trapiche is really not good quality but I was fascinated as I hadn't seen one before so I had to get it!

 

[cellentani]

Ooooh, I like the ruby, LovingDiamonds! What are the white lines made of? Are they clusters of tiny needle-like inclusions? Thanks to you and Vapid, I'm in trapiche heaven today!

 

[chrono]

Cellentani,
Thanks for taking the pictures and sharing it with us. Greasy or not, at least you had the chance to view them up close (even if the glass case is in the way). As for me, all I have to offer is drool and buckets full of it too.

 

[artdecogirl]

Thank you Cellentani! Loved looking at these and have added it to my must go places list!

 

[zeolite]

Cellentani,

Thanks for taking the effort to make these pictures and share with us. Your photography is very good, and is much appreciated.

I hope people don’t mind my showing of gem pictures (with fabulous butterfly gem broaches) beginning toward the bottom of the first page and continuing for several pages at the San Diego Natural History Museum:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/san-diego-lady-and-other-socal-residents.147765/

 

[LtlFirecracker]

Thanks for all the pics. That is on my list of things to do one of these days.

 

[Burberrygirl]

Cellentani, wonderful pictures! They've made me want to go back! Thank you for sharing.

 

[Burberrygirl]

Cellentani,

Thanks for taking the effort to make these pictures and share with us. Your photography is very good, and is much appreciated.

I hope people don’t mind my showing of gem pictures (with fabulous butterfly gem broaches) beginning toward the bottom of the first page and continuing for several pages at the San Diego Natural History Museum:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/san-diego-lady-and-other-socal-residents.147765/

Zeolite, thank you for posting all those amazing pictures! I don't know how I miss that thread!

 

[Skippy123]

OH my gosh these pics are amazing!!! thank you for posting these; sigh

 

[SB621]

Argh gorgeous! I loved the sapphire and diamond necklace (i believe it was the second one you posted!)... so pretty thank you so much for posting pictures...i throughly enjoyed it.

 

[chrono]

Wouldn't it be awesome if this could somehow become a permanent sticky at the top of the page under the guise of education and eye candy?

 

[coati]

Thanks for posting these fantastic pictures cellentani! I would love to see this exhibit.

 

[cellentani]

Wouldn't it be awesome if this could somehow become a permanent sticky at the top of the page under the guise of education and eye candy?

I know TL has a thread on Chicago's Field Museum, and zeolite posted photos from the All that Glitters exhibit in San Diego - it would be great to have them all in one place!