minerslady
Rough_Rock
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Speaking of price hikes..
- Thread starter jszweda
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Linda W
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Minerslady,
It makes sense to me to get the mystic of the Oregon sunstone in order to sell it to the public. I freind of mine in Oregon told me a couple of years ago that some Chinese guys were trying to buy all the red Sunstone they could find. The thing that doesn''t make sense to me is that It used to cost me more to buy top Oregon Sunstone than this new stuff.
Regards,
Maurice
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Hello Again Jessica,
I just remembered. The 18ct peice of Congo Sunstone I bought I sent to the owners of the Dust Devil Mine, John Bailey (who specialises in cutting Oregon Sunstone and an appraiser of Oregon Sunstone. They all said that it was a Feldspar but that it was definately not Oregon. The minute inclussions were not indicative of anything they had ever seen in Oregon Sunstone. At least that batch from 2002 was probubly different.
Please PM me if you also sell top grade stones or rough.
Regards,
Maurice
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Jszweda,
I enjoyed reading your post and listening to all of the arguments about what is and what is not Mandarin garnet. It reminds me of the tempest when Zambian Emeralds were first found that were colored with vanadium (I believe, I am not positive and do not have time to go look it up) rather than Chromium. The Columbian vendors all wanted to prohibit this being called Emerald since it was not colored by Chromium, and obviously only green beryl that are colored by Chromium are worthy of being called Emerald. The public and the trade insisted on calling these beautiful gems, many of them brighter and cleaner than much of the Columbian material, Emerald and Emeralds they are.
This developing and defending of trade names is both good and bad. Good because it gives the public a name to lust after and bad because so much (expletive deleted) goes in to both defending and defaming the names.
I saw ordinary green tourmalines offered for outrageous prices under the name Neon (Paraiba) tourmalines. I also saw electric greens and blues that were worth every penny charged for them, even if I did pass up a two carat blue at $600 per carat as a stupid price for a tourmaline the year they debuted. I bought a vastly inferior stone for $1,100 the next year and sold it back to the dealer for $3,500 two years later who sold it to a Japanese investor for $5,000 ten minutes later. (totally off topic, but a fun story of stupid things I did, especially the passing up of the $600 per carat stone year one.)
Why did I sell it back to the dealer you ask? Because I had no buyers or even lookers for it in Boise and this was before I was an internet vendor...
In the years to come I saw fewer and poorer quality stones selling for as much as $10,000 per carat and gems selling for much more. Why? I believe it to have been name frenzy for the poorer stones as the beauty was certainly not there, and true value for the gems due to their rarity and extreme beauty.
I don''t believe that most gemologists care a hill of beans where a stone comes from with the exception of a few with vested interests. If a stone is a certain chemical composition and has a certain color it may not even be possible to say where it came from, let alone asign it greater value because it came from there. Certainly MANY Burmese Rubies are inferior to fine rubies from other locations, yet some in the market would grant them a premium because they come from Burma. Others will pooh pooh and value them like any other ruby. Who is correct?
Perhaps for a top quality stone with proven provenance a premium is warrented, but for most stones I am one GG who says let the stone, and its beauty, speak louder than its homeland.
Wink
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Wink,
I am glad to see someone with the background and reputation you have enjoyed what I have written as you have. That''s huge compliment to me from my perspective, and I thank you for it.
I agree with what you''re saying and I think what some of this BS that various sources put with names and such is a marketing ploy. There are probably a few things in which this same origin logic could apply to, and the 2 things that come to my mind most are certain rubies, and Tsavorites.
Like you say about the premium certain Burma rubies will bring, to me is ludicrous. Personally, I like Madagascar rubies better, and as for the star rubies I like the Vietnamesse stars bettter than the Burma. That''s just me though. I think you have to look at a given stone for what it is, and if it didn''t come from Burma, or Madagascar but somewhere else, and it''s equally as impressive as the next...I think like you. Who cares where it came from as long as it was legit.
The Tsavorites kill me anymore. I remember a guy who called up one of these networks, and he said he wanted a green grossular garnet. The guy showed him a 3 carat and change round stone. It was a lovely grass green, and he even said the only reason they can''t call it a Tsavorite was because it didn''t come from the Tsavo game reserve. It was a lovely stone, and a LOT less money. I''m the cheap type
I think the mine owners like the pet names so they don''t have competition, which you can''t totally blame them on, but it really confuses the market when they start saying if it''s not from here, it really isn''t this or that. In the short term, I think it may scare some but by the time one consumer likes a different find better than the original, and then the purists come out of hiding, it all balances out.
I think we ought to petition GIA and tell them they need to change thier approach on what color is better in something than the next, and forget the 4 c''s. The most important thing with these stones from what it seems is marketing. I really think that with the right marketing, I could find some interesting "stuff" from my cat''s litter box. I am telling ya...with the right marketing, someone would buy into it. It''s completely natural, and untreated. I could put my cat''s name on it and say it was designed by Harry, so now it would be something really extra special there-it''s a designer orignal. LOL.
On the markets, I remember reading somewhere about a guy with a Paraiba tourmaline in India. I don''t know if it was on this forum or somewhere else. They guy wanted a few hundred bucks for it in India. They guy looked at it and flipped over it. He asked what it was, and the seller said it''s a Pariba tourmaline. The other guys response was, "Oh a tourmaline. That''s a cheap stone."
Like you were saying about being in the middle of Idaho, it''s probably like the market near my way. Nobody really is into these things, and they don''t really know what it is they are looking at simply because the market isn''t very educated in these things. Over my way, there are a load of retailers who assume garnets to be cheap stones. They have no clue about the other kinds that are out there. They can''t find different colors of sapphires. There are more and more retailers my way starting to sell lab stuff, and good diamonds are not as common as you might imagine.
I think part of this pet naming in anything plays into the price hikes though, but with those copper bearings in Nigeria, it doesn''t seem to matter too much on the origin there. You can''t call them Paraiba, but they are the same composition and a lot cleaner. I see they are priced up there with Paraiba''s too. I don''t see people playing the origin game either with some of these Padparadscha''s either.
If I see a duck in a pond, and I like it, we call it a duck. If it looks every bit as good, same species, but it comes from another pond, do we call it a goose?
minerslady
Rough_Rock
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Linda W
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Thank you for the information. I have noticed while watching Jewelry Television, at times they give wrong information on a stone. I wish they would be corrected.
For an example, A host stated while showing a Labradorite stone that the stone was changed from the name Andesine to Labradorite years ago. Where he got that information from who knows.
Linda
For an example, A host stated while showing a Labradorite stone that the stone was changed from the name Andesine to Labradorite years ago. Where he got that information from who knows.
Linda
nicky newark
Rough_Rock
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Hi Ed- Hope your trip to Kashmir went well. I think some of the TV gem shows go beyond embellishing. Tanzanite has been almost mined out for 10 years, yet 20+ ct. stones can be found anywhere. I see people paying a lot of money for some real junk. You need to trust your sources. The Kashmir I purchased from your company last year has a color like no other sapphire. The Ceylons I have can''t compare. I will soon be looking for a larger stone. I am currently trying to work out a deal for one or two large eye clean red beryls(1.51,2.58ct.). Talk to you soon- Nick Z.
S
smitcompton
Guest
Dear Linda et al:
I have been trying to determine if JTV is over hyping its merchandise. I have bought manderin garnets, andesine (which they had tested), tanzanite, irradiated blue diamonds(don''t laugh-they are beautiful)tsavorite garnets and white diamonds in smaller stones. Everything is $1800-2,000 per carat. I think this is crazy. I have had appaisals for these things and I seem to be a rich woman(take that lightly). Are we really saying that I paid 200.00 less than a year ago for a 2 33carat manderin stone which in reality is worth $3600.00. I have read what you all have written and you accept that. However I have searched the internet and can''t find anyone selling a manderin for 1800.00 per carat. The most I found was 330.00 per carat. I bought 4 or 5 tsavorites. A 90 pt rd appraied at 1700.00. I bought untreated 1.82 ctw zambian emeralds s which JTV said were worth 1,000 each stone. How can I believe them? Its how I got to this forum.
I don''t care for the showhosts but I keep thinking the merchandise must be good. What say you all.
I became so afraid of their worth, I had to put them in a safe deposit box. Before I played with them. Every morning for a while I would wake up and first thing I would look at my emeralds.
Thanks,
Annette
I have been trying to determine if JTV is over hyping its merchandise. I have bought manderin garnets, andesine (which they had tested), tanzanite, irradiated blue diamonds(don''t laugh-they are beautiful)tsavorite garnets and white diamonds in smaller stones. Everything is $1800-2,000 per carat. I think this is crazy. I have had appaisals for these things and I seem to be a rich woman(take that lightly). Are we really saying that I paid 200.00 less than a year ago for a 2 33carat manderin stone which in reality is worth $3600.00. I have read what you all have written and you accept that. However I have searched the internet and can''t find anyone selling a manderin for 1800.00 per carat. The most I found was 330.00 per carat. I bought 4 or 5 tsavorites. A 90 pt rd appraied at 1700.00. I bought untreated 1.82 ctw zambian emeralds s which JTV said were worth 1,000 each stone. How can I believe them? Its how I got to this forum.
I don''t care for the showhosts but I keep thinking the merchandise must be good. What say you all.
I became so afraid of their worth, I had to put them in a safe deposit box. Before I played with them. Every morning for a while I would wake up and first thing I would look at my emeralds.
Thanks,
Annette
colormyworld
Brilliant_Rock
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Hi Annette,
JTV does have a habit of hypeing the stuff they sell on T.V. Their internet auctions can be a much better deal, but there can be a lot of stuff not worth paying postage on also. On the whole I have been very happy with 95% of what I have purchased but I study each stone I am thinking about bidding on. After buying awhile I know pretty much how it will look before it arrives at my door step. Best of luck and try not to get caught up in the hype.
Doug AKA CMW
JTV does have a habit of hypeing the stuff they sell on T.V. Their internet auctions can be a much better deal, but there can be a lot of stuff not worth paying postage on also. On the whole I have been very happy with 95% of what I have purchased but I study each stone I am thinking about bidding on. After buying awhile I know pretty much how it will look before it arrives at my door step. Best of luck and try not to get caught up in the hype.
Doug AKA CMW
Linda W
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Hi Annette,
Welcome to this Forum,
I like you was starting to collect stones too. That is also how I found this forum.
My first two purchases of Tanzanite was in Mexico, but that is a whole different story.
Today, I ordered a dark tanzanite stone to keep as an investment purpose. Last week I ordered 2 red Andesine/Labradorite stones from them. (Jewelry Television) I haven''t received them yet.
Last month I ordered a 3.43 deep red Andesine stone from DSN. It is beautiful. I am trying also to not get caught up in the hype.
I also wonder like you, if they are appraised so high, how come they don''t sell that high on the internet. It is really confusing.
Linda
Welcome to this Forum,
I like you was starting to collect stones too. That is also how I found this forum.
My first two purchases of Tanzanite was in Mexico, but that is a whole different story.
Today, I ordered a dark tanzanite stone to keep as an investment purpose. Last week I ordered 2 red Andesine/Labradorite stones from them. (Jewelry Television) I haven''t received them yet.
Last month I ordered a 3.43 deep red Andesine stone from DSN. It is beautiful. I am trying also to not get caught up in the hype.
I also wonder like you, if they are appraised so high, how come they don''t sell that high on the internet. It is really confusing.
Linda
S
smitcompton
Guest
Dear Linda et al:
Thanks for responding. I have new news. Linda, I purchased 3 lovely stones that were callled Andesine after they, JTV, had them tested. This was in Oct. That batch sold out and a newly purchased batch was sent out for testing. I only get this channel from 2a.m to 8am so more often than not I''m sleeping. I have been keeping an ear out for the results of the second batch of tests, which were sent to France. This morning Cherly, who I like and is a GG announced they are calling the stones labradorite. She now says it makes no difference what they are, the chemical difference is so small. Me thinks the tests came back red laboradorite, not andesine. Now it makes no difference when for months they assured us andesine was much rarer. I feel the batch I got did test out andesine, but of course I''m sure they didn''t test every stone. Notice thy didn''t tell us the results of the tests. I''m liking these people less and less.
Yes, I seem to have gotten good value but the people are beginning to grate by their hype and in the end dishonesty.
I have looked at the auction site but don''t know enough to bid. All sales are final.
I made my first gem purchase on ebay last week before reading the warnings that have been posted on this site. I keep thinking it was or is too good to be true. I will report on my experience after I receive them. RUBIES, RUBIES, RUBIES.
oH,to THE GENTLEMAN THAT SHOWED US HIS 11 CTW red LABRADOrITE-- that stone is beautiful.. Mine are like Linds. They have large areas of red flashes, but i love yours.
Thanks,
Annette
Thanks for responding. I have new news. Linda, I purchased 3 lovely stones that were callled Andesine after they, JTV, had them tested. This was in Oct. That batch sold out and a newly purchased batch was sent out for testing. I only get this channel from 2a.m to 8am so more often than not I''m sleeping. I have been keeping an ear out for the results of the second batch of tests, which were sent to France. This morning Cherly, who I like and is a GG announced they are calling the stones labradorite. She now says it makes no difference what they are, the chemical difference is so small. Me thinks the tests came back red laboradorite, not andesine. Now it makes no difference when for months they assured us andesine was much rarer. I feel the batch I got did test out andesine, but of course I''m sure they didn''t test every stone. Notice thy didn''t tell us the results of the tests. I''m liking these people less and less.
Yes, I seem to have gotten good value but the people are beginning to grate by their hype and in the end dishonesty.
I have looked at the auction site but don''t know enough to bid. All sales are final.
I made my first gem purchase on ebay last week before reading the warnings that have been posted on this site. I keep thinking it was or is too good to be true. I will report on my experience after I receive them. RUBIES, RUBIES, RUBIES.
oH,to THE GENTLEMAN THAT SHOWED US HIS 11 CTW red LABRADOrITE-- that stone is beautiful.. Mine are like Linds. They have large areas of red flashes, but i love yours.
Thanks,
Annette
colormyworld
Brilliant_Rock
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Linda W
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Hi Annette,
I just received my two Labradorite stones today from JTV. Wow they are beautiful. They are deep red with alot of flashes. They look like the Andesine I bought from DSN. LOL. It is hard to tell them apart.
I want to send pictures, but our digital camera is acting up. I will see if we can borrow our daughter and son-in-law''s.
Linda
and YES Doug your Labradorite is BEAUTIFUL
I just received my two Labradorite stones today from JTV. Wow they are beautiful. They are deep red with alot of flashes. They look like the Andesine I bought from DSN. LOL. It is hard to tell them apart.
I want to send pictures, but our digital camera is acting up. I will see if we can borrow our daughter and son-in-law''s.
Linda
and YES Doug your Labradorite is BEAUTIFUL
colormyworld
Brilliant_Rock
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Linda W
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Linda-
I also just received 2 labradorites from JTV. (Although they are now claiming they are andesine- labradorite). I bought smaller stones first, just to check them out, but the last 2 were both 2 carat pears, stop light red and flashy. I just found this forum, and although I''ve taken the GIA diamond course, I am new to colored gems. I am very gullable and have been listening to Cheryl on JTV to help make my decisions. I realize they greatly overstate the value, but does everyone think these stones are good investments?
Thanks,
Lynn
I also just received 2 labradorites from JTV. (Although they are now claiming they are andesine- labradorite). I bought smaller stones first, just to check them out, but the last 2 were both 2 carat pears, stop light red and flashy. I just found this forum, and although I''ve taken the GIA diamond course, I am new to colored gems. I am very gullable and have been listening to Cheryl on JTV to help make my decisions. I realize they greatly overstate the value, but does everyone think these stones are good investments?
Thanks,
Lynn
Linda W
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Hi Lynn,
Welcome to this Forum. I too am fairly new. I wonder too on JTV, how can the stones be Andesine/Labradorite. Aren''t they either one or the other? How can one stone be both? That is where I am totally confused when she says that. Sometimes I thing JTV gives out the wrong information.
The stones have to be tested to see if they are either Andesine OR Labradorite. At least that is what I think I have learned here LOL. Anyway, the two that I bought are very pretty. They are deep red with alot of flashes.
Again, welcome to the forum.
Linda W
Welcome to this Forum. I too am fairly new. I wonder too on JTV, how can the stones be Andesine/Labradorite. Aren''t they either one or the other? How can one stone be both? That is where I am totally confused when she says that. Sometimes I thing JTV gives out the wrong information.
The stones have to be tested to see if they are either Andesine OR Labradorite. At least that is what I think I have learned here LOL. Anyway, the two that I bought are very pretty. They are deep red with alot of flashes.
Again, welcome to the forum.
Linda W
Linda, Lynn, and others..
First off, let me say this on "investments". As a matter of law, nobody other than a broker can legally say that it''s something to invest in thanks to SEC rules. Now, if you were to buy the stone now, and hoping to make a profit off it through some private sale at some point, it''s possible to do so. That''s a given. I can''t guarentee it, but it''s possible. I wouldn''t use the term "investment" though. If you bought a stone as an investment, I don''t see the harm in having it mounted in anything. It doesn''t devalue the stone, and it won''t adversly affect an appraisal for replacement. If a given stone costs $1000 retail, in a pendant or not, it''s still going to appraise for $1000 regardless of weather or not its mounted.
As far as JTV hyping things up and getting things wrong, I can tell you a few things there. They are hyping the living hell out of Tanzanite like there is no tommorow. I am tired of it personally, and they are really hyping up laboratide and andesine. As far as the technical info they give, I have spotted a few things that aren''t true. So what I do is I will email the show host and politely correct them and give them a few pointers. The next time they are on, they get it right. You have to remember that the hosts are there to sell, and they aren''t always the most technically savy people on these things, but if you give them correct information and go about it correctly, they will get it straight.
As far as the value of certain stones, I can attest to the mandarins in particular. I asked a GG here locally on these things, and he told me for the spessertite/mandarins, pending the size (over 2 carats), you''re looking at about $1800-$2000/ct. in the retail price guides. So that right there is no joke. I can also tell you that there are a lot of things that these shows sell that you will not find in a jewelry store, and a lot of them have no clue as to what certain stones are. The only 2 I have found locally that no anything about those stones, are a younger manager at a chain retailer, and 2 GG''s at a manufacturer jeweler. Other than that, it''s hit and miss with managers at your better stores.
As for what Doug was saying about certain things not being worth the postage, that''s true. I have to give JTV credit though over the past year or so. They have really improved the quality of stuff they sell. Some of what they have to me is pure junk, but they also have some very nice things for not a lot of money. I know someone who got a really nice pink tourmaline bracelet from there, and those tourmalines are awesome.
As far as there being no difference between andesine and laboradite, that''s wrong. Dawn who is a show host about quoted Maurice verbatim on the difference. However, what she herself has said on the air is that they have been told it''s andesine, and they have no reason to suspect otherwise given the source. However, to be on the safe side, they call it red laboradite. They figure if there is one out of 100 that isn''t, they''re liable for it and they''d rather be safe. There is a distinct difference in the sodium to calcium composition in the andesine vs. laboradite, although they are in the same family of stones.
The latest thing I have heard from JTV about the material in the laboradite they sell, it''s in fact andesine based on the chemical composition that they have had tested. However, they said that there are other distinct differences in the chemical composition of the material in addition to what is andesine and laboradite, and it doesn''t fit into either mold 100%. The sodium/calcium ratio is supposedly there to qualify it as andesine, but it has some other elements in there different than either laboradite or andesine. They didn''t go into all the specifics, but they are saying it could mean a new variety in that family of stones based on that. That is what they said on the air last week or so I think.
As for the internet, you can get way better deals on things. You can also get had. Is every vendor online a theif? No. They do exist, just like some of these other shows are theives. There are some good vendors out there who do have some nice stuff. There is one in particular who has the best canary yellow sapphires I''ve ever seen, and they blow away the ones on one of the other shows, for a lot less money.
Personally, I say if you like the stone, and you can get a deal on it, go for it. If you can get it from a show, the internet, another vendor, it''s real, the price is right, and you really love it, go for it. It may turn into something like an "investment" even though that isn''t your intent. I say regardles, buy what appeals to you for what it is and enjoy it however you like.
S
smitcompton
Guest
Thank You Joe,
Your explanation to my questions is appreciated. I will not question my good fortune of having several manderin garnets over 2 carats anymore. I will hold onto my andesine. If you don''t mind awfully, what do you think about the kunzite stones? When will they be 1800 per carat? I''m partly kidding. How about Mexican fire opal? I''m very susceptible to the mine shut down scares. If anyone cares to respond, please do. Thanks to all of you,
Annette
Your explanation to my questions is appreciated. I will not question my good fortune of having several manderin garnets over 2 carats anymore. I will hold onto my andesine. If you don''t mind awfully, what do you think about the kunzite stones? When will they be 1800 per carat? I''m partly kidding. How about Mexican fire opal? I''m very susceptible to the mine shut down scares. If anyone cares to respond, please do. Thanks to all of you,
Annette
Hi Lynn.Date: 3/6/2006 4:39:21 PM
Author: jjlkk
Joe-
Thank you for the info. I didn''t really make myself clear on the investment wording. I am trying to buy stones for my daughters, which I feel may be too costly or non existant in 10 years or so. I will try to get them spessertites next.
Thank you
Lynn
I am glad I could be of help to you. The spessertites are a good stone to get if you''re looking for something rare and nearing extinction in that time frame. I have heard from many sources, the orange stuff is a thing of the past. I have heard someone say that what was at Tuscon that was orange was really included with a few exceptions. I can''t confirm that, but that''s what I have heard. I can tell you that the orange stuff is getting harder to come by, but it''s not entirely impossible to find it. If you can find someone with some older inventory, go for it. The red stuff is easier to come by, and it looks nice. Richard Sherwood I think it is has a really nice royal red one.
Amongst other things that might be mined out in that time frame, I have heard pink tourmaline is no more (out of Nigeria at least). I am not sure if imperial topaz will be around by then or not (the mine in Brazil). Tsavorites are supposedly getting scarce. Lately for some reason, pink sapphries aren''t coming out of the ground. It may be just a temporary thing, but they are lately becoming very hard to come by. There may be a few other things that might be mined out between now and then, but that''s the first thing that comes to my mind. If you can find some super dark aquamarines, those are becoming harder and harder to find. They are getting more and more expensive. I remember my mother was looking for a nice aqua ring, and in the retail world, they are getting pricier, and you won''t find the super dark stuff.
There are also other stones that will likely increase in value in the next 10 years too that may become more desirable simply for that reason. Personally, I hope to aquire some really rare stuff and things that will eventually be mined out. When I die, I''ll put it all in a little box, and I have a certain charity in mind that I think is quite deserving of whatever ends up in that collection.
Hi Annette.
I am glad I can be of help to you, and cheers on having many mandarins over 2 carats.
As far as Kunzite, it I have my views on those pending which kind it is. The white ones are OK. It depends on how they are cut, but they''re not bad. The ones that I really like and wouldn''t mind having are one of the darker purple ones. Those are the ones that I like the most. You don''t find those as often, and if I could find one, I would love to have what they call sometimes as "Shah grade". They are the deepest purple kunzites you ever will see. They are absolutely gorgeous. The ones that are purple, but not quite as saturated as those but still noticeably saturated are cool too.
There are other places you can get fire opals from, but the Mexican stuff I think is a relatively new find if I am not mistaken. I actually know someone who has a piece of rough from there in excess of 30 carats.
There was a guy on one of those shows who had one just shy of 8 carats. It was completely flawless. I don''t know if it was from Mexico or not, but it was a fanta orange. I loved it, and if I had $200 on me at the time and shipping, I would have told my father to do it and paid him cash. Nobody bought it, and I have no clue why. He might have some on closeout, as well as some other vendors. The other one that sticks in my mind that probably has some for a really good price is a vendor out of Bangkok. They are starting to become popular though due to the orange craze. lol
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Linda W
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Hi Joe,
As usual, you are a wealth of information and I can''t thank you enough.
The two stones I purchased from JTV are very beautiful. I rarely purchase from them, but when I saw these, my eyes popped.
On Friday, I purchases a beautiful Andesine ring from GemShopping network, my favorite television program LOL. Can''t wait to receive it. It is bezel set and heart shaped. Now I WILL wear that one.
I think I will purchase a few more Mandarin Garnets when they come on next, to add them to my collection.
One more question that is off topic PLEASE??? HOW DO WE PM SOMEONE????????
Thank you again Joe, for all of your wisdom.
Linda W
As usual, you are a wealth of information and I can''t thank you enough.
The two stones I purchased from JTV are very beautiful. I rarely purchase from them, but when I saw these, my eyes popped.
On Friday, I purchases a beautiful Andesine ring from GemShopping network, my favorite television program LOL. Can''t wait to receive it. It is bezel set and heart shaped. Now I WILL wear that one.
I think I will purchase a few more Mandarin Garnets when they come on next, to add them to my collection.
One more question that is off topic PLEASE??? HOW DO WE PM SOMEONE????????
Thank you again Joe, for all of your wisdom.
Linda W
Maurice,
He has a lot of other really nice stuff for way below what you''d pay at a retail level-that material included. I also talked once not too long ago to Richard Homer about a recut or just cutting up some rough of that material. While his cuts may have a lot of waste to them because they are premium quality, you could probably get a mandarin/spess/whatever you want to call it from him for way less than 2 grand a carat too.
I can also say this about AJS (who I refer to as Uncle Arnie). The cuts are really good. The polish and symmetry are perfect. The proportions are very good on his stuff. His lighting can be a little off, but his stuff sometimes looks better in person than in the pictures. I found something for my mother from his site once, and we were blown away as to how good it was, and I was completely impressed with the "trinket" I got from him.
Ironiclly, you might like the customer feedback. Someone bought a mandarin from him. She said she had to after she bought one from a show (I don''t know for sure which one but I think I have a good idea). She said that Uncle Arnie charged light years less than the show, and she ended up taking the one she paid light years more for back. The one from Uncle Arnie was that much better in her opinion. That''s a tall claim, but it says something for Uncle Arnie.
I can personally attest to that vendor and their merchandise, and if you''re a collector, this is a reasonable source for some things. I can''t say anything bad about that vendor.
Linda,
I am glad I can be off help to you and I too am addicted at times to GSN. LOL. I don''t know what happened to the PM feature, but I will say this.
If anyone wants to PM me, feel free to email me. My email is the same as my ID on here at carolina.rr.com. It may take me a day or 2 or longer to respond, but I''ll eventually get to it.
- Status
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