Spess v. orange sapphire?

[coati]

Date: 10/14/2009 1:30:41 PM
Author: sonomacounty
Ah, Coati, there you are. Thanks so much ! How have you been, Hon? We''ve missed you lots.


I had figured there would be significant differences but wanted to learn more. As always, the many posters-of-great-knowledge came through.


Thanks all, so much.

Hiya!

I''m good! How are you, hon?

Spessartite is a great choice-you will be pleased. So what''s on your short list--what are you going to set? And what else is on this *medium* list? haha

 

[beaujolais]

Hi Coati. Hope your new & wonderful career is going well and that the hand is o.k.

The Short List: Well, I just set an awesome Barry Bridgestock red spinel into this setting (white gold): http://www.jansjewells.com/item.php?item_id=999&category_id=120

Soon to go to Julia Kay Taylor is a 2ct. *can't-mention-them-here* quality transitional that will go into a silver setting like this:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/infinity-i1-s-color-set-in-silver.124781/

Medium List: Peter Torraca sleepy asscher aqua to go to Julia to go into a brushed silver setting something like Lauren's, find nice spessarite, upgrade modern cushion diamond to a GOG new/old OMC

Here's the aqua asscher: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/need-ideas-on-how-to-set-this-aqua-asscher-please.125335/

Long List: some sort of drusy, a seafoam green anything, emerald cut diamond.

---

And you?

 

[zeolite]

Date: 10/13/2009 8:54:21 AM
Author: Chrono


Sonoma,
The two are very close in terms of RI as seen in this chart:
http://www.robinwood.com/Catalog/Technical/Gen3DTuts/Gen3DPages/RefractionIndexList.html

Assuming that the colours are comparable, price wise, the sapphire will most likely cost more but also be easier to find. And you probably already know that the sapphire will also hold up better in the long run.

Thanks w/regards to Lauren''s spess. I''m just happy that it turned out well.

I would comment that anyone using this chart should be aware that it has some errors. Nothing major, but:

probably just a typo: apatite 1.632-1.42 should read 1.642-1.646 per GIA

spinel 1.712-1717 is correct for natural spinel, but
spinel blue 1.712-1.747, the high end is way too high for natural gem spinel, may be referring to gahnospinel
spinel red 1.708-1.735 the low end is too low, the high end way too high, may refer to synthetic red spinel, should be 1.712-1.717 for natural

andradite 1.88-1.94 should read 1.856 - 1.895 per GIA

 

[litebrite]

Good information to have about orange sapphires. I walked into a jewelry shop looking for settings for my spess and the woman asked if it was an orange sapphire. I said it was a spess, and she had never heard of it. I had to explain to her that it''s a type of garnet!

 

[T L]

Date: 10/16/2009 11:57:16 AM
Author: litebrite
Good information to have about orange sapphires. I walked into a jewelry shop looking for settings for my spess and the woman asked if it was an orange sapphire. I said it was a spess, and she had never heard of it. I had to explain to her that it''s a type of garnet!

My jeweler, who has been working in the biz for many years, also was a bit shocked my spessartite was a garnet. I often go there to have my stones set, and she just says, "I''m not going to assume what this [any particular stone] is, because it''s you." LOL!!

Most people are shocked to learn that garnets come in green, orange, and other colors besides brick red. LOL!

 

[morecarats]

The mainstream jewelry business has always been about diamonds, specifically about "bridal" as they say in the trade. Relatively few jewelers did much business in colored gemstones. So the general knowledge of colored gems is quite low. But the world is changing, and many jewelers now understand that there is a good business opportunity in colored stones, with a chance to stand out in the market with differentiated product. The problem for many mainstream jewelers is the supply. The distribution chain that services these retailers generally can''t offer much variety in colored gems, because many types of gemstones don''t have enough supply to support mass distribution. It''s the reason you don''t see much natural spinel in retail jewelry stores, for example.

The sheer variety of colored stones is one of the reasons that this is such a fascinating business. Specialized dealers routinely carry more than 100 different types of colored gems. Folks on this forum know who these dealers are. But only a few savvy retail jewelers knows these sources, and I imagine they keep quiet about where they get their stones.

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 10/17/2009 10:37:54 AM
Author: morecarats
The mainstream jewelry business has always been about diamonds, specifically about ''bridal'' as they say in the trade. Relatively few jewelers did much business in colored gemstones. So the general knowledge of colored gems is quite low. But the world is changing, and many jewelers now understand that there is a good business opportunity in colored stones, with a chance to stand out in the market with differentiated product.
The sheer variety of colored stones is one of the reasons that this is such a fascinating business.

do you care to share what this specific fascinating business is you refer to?
You said repeatedly earlier carats, you just want to chat about stones.
But more and more your posts are chock full of trade references and commentary on the business, such as above.

It seems you actually do want to speak about the business of selling gems, but just not identify yourself - and I suspect you now think it is rather amusing.