Sources for color gems available in Turkey?

[c langston]

I'll be going to Istanbul & Ishmir soon and am looking for any color gem sources that you can recommend? I've read that Turkey is the source for Andradite Garnets, Zultanite but it may also be a pass through market place for surrounding areas. Any ideas on places I should visit in looking for colored stones while I'm there? If you were going to Turkey what would you look for in the way of colored stones (shopping list) ? Thanks in advance

 

[LD]

I'll be going to Istanbul & Ishmir soon and am looking for any color gem sources that you can recommend? I've read that Turkey is the source for Andradite Garnets, Zultanite but it may also be a pass through market place for surrounding areas. Any ideas on places I should visit in looking for colored stones while I'm there? If you were going to Turkey what would you look for in the way of colored stones (shopping list) ? Thanks in advance

I wouldn't buy anything in Turkey and I've lived there on and off for many years. The majority of gemstones are treated or highly expensive. Most don't have lab reports.

Zultanite (Diaspore) for the most part is shipped out of the country. You can buy some in Turkey but not much - you certainly won't be able to buy it at much of a discount.

The gold and goldwork is good (as is the silver) but unfortunately it's tracking market prices unsurprisingly so it's not cheap any longer. However there are some great designs.

 

[c langston]

In the past when I traveled I would make appointments with sources in advance of my actual arrival, when looking for something from a region. So although you have lived there you don't have any recommendations? I'm mostly looking for loose stones not finished jewelry. I'd like to avoid wandering or a Grande Bazar hit or miss if I can help it. I'll keep looking maybe someone else can make a recommendation. Thank you very much for your reply LD I do appreciate your comments.

 

[LD]

No recommendations I'm afraid because nearly all gemstones (with the exception of Zultanite) are mined abroad and taken to Turkey. I have many friends who are jewellers there but I can often source gemstones cheaper than they can. I use my Turkish contacts for designing jewellery and setting etc. In the winter months they often travel abroad to buy new inventory.

In Istanbul there is a lady lapidary who cuts amazing gemstones and she sells her work but it's fairly high end (so the prices bear that out).