Spess from Namibia

[sani987cece]

Okay, I admit it, but I have been out of the loop for awhile. Is there no mandarin Spess coming out of Namibia? And where is all the yummy orange? I am finding a lot of red and brownish icky orange out there...

Anyone able to update me on the happenings with these stones in the last 8 years or so..? It was hard finding something perfect 11 years ago, and now, I feel like I am struggling to find anything... (i know there are beauties out there, but I am probably just looking in the wrong place.. IDK)

 

[T L]

Namibia dried up over a decade ago I believe.

 

[sani987cece]

Oh Dear.. that makes me sad.....
Wow.. Now I am afraid to wear my ring even MORE now... Oh dear.. this is a problem.

 

[chrono]

The quality of all coloured stones is down across the board, with pricing on an upward trend. This means average colours at higher pricing is the norm. Should one be able to find old stock material with good colouration, expect the price to also be eye poppingly high. If I am not mistaken, the Namibian mines closed around early 2000?

 

[T L]

Oh Dear.. that makes me sad.....
Wow.. Now I am afraid to wear my ring even MORE now... Oh dear.. this is a problem.

Wear it and enjoy it, that's what gems are for!!!

 

[Roger Dery]

In 1999 I visited the village of Opuwo in the Kunene region in northwest Namibia. This is about 20km from the Angola border, and is the closest lodging for westerners to the Spessartite mining areas (which are still another 300km away to the west over 2-tracks). And at that time there wasn't any rough to purchase.

I went back in 2001 with officials from the Ministry of Mines and there still wasn't anything available to purchase. You may get lucky and find someone who has been sitting with goods from the 90's, but your options are slim.

 

[sani987cece]

The quality of all coloured stones is down across the board, with pricing on an upward trend. This means average colours at higher pricing is the norm. Should one be able to find old stock material with good colouration, expect the price to also be eye poppingly high. If I am not mistaken, the Namibian mines closed around early 2000?

Ugh... Ugh... Ugh....
Ok.. So, I think I am going to have to find another gemstone color to focus on.. LOL..

Thanks everyone.

I wonder, insurance wise, if I should have my ring re appraised?

 

[chrono]

Personally, I think insurance on CS is an iffy thing. Even if I am insured, I don't think the insurance company will be able to find a comparable CS.

 

[sani987cece]

Yes, very true...

Very very true. We were thinking about doing an upgraded setting and moving the stone up ... but I feel hesitant now... She has been a good spess, I cannot replace her

 

[Huldak]

Gemfix has a few.

 

[T L]

Yes, very true...

Very very true. We were thinking about doing an upgraded setting and moving the stone up ... but I feel hesitant now... She has been a good spess, I cannot replace her

Is your stone Namibian?

 

[T L]

Gemfix has a few.

Litnon usually gets some in too, but they're usually Tanzanian and sometimes, I think, Nigerian. The Nigerian stones are typically cleaner.

 

[sani987cece]

Yes TL. Richard Homer was able to cut it for me! It is scrumptious, and a Yummy Fanta orange.

 

[sani987cece]

it is the one in my avatar

 

[sani987cece]

Richard was able to get some of the Sleepiness out of it.. and due to the concave cut, it really.. comes alive.