Underrated & undermarketed - Danburite

[Nosean]

Ah, Tanzania, the gemstone capital of the world. I wish I had a dime for each time someone said, “There was a nice find in Tanzania…”. I would be able to own the Hope Diamond by now.

You don’t want the Hope…

 

[T L]

You don’t want the Hope…

True, I would auction it off and buy the MeriweatherPost blue heart!!

 

[Autumn in New England]

There was a nice find of yellow Danburite in Tanzania, it must have been in 2013 and 2014. There was rough material around at the Tucson shows in 2014. I think one of the gem shopping channels was buying a lot of it up. I had some nice pieces from a few rough dealers including what I think was the largest piece in Tucson. I bought a piece that was 82 ct. in the rough and was able to get this 20 ct. piece. It was cut and sold in 2017. (I tend to hang on to large rough as I find cutting big stones to be too much like 'work')

So nice to hear from someone in the trade... I would have loved to get my hands on that round!

 

[theredspinel]

Sorry this took so long to do, I think I missed the best weather to do this in (yesterday) but I wanted to get these pics up before I forgot again! This is my yellow danburite, sold completely untreated, from CRD.

The pictures aren’t very accurate at all! For example there is no shadow or dark spots on it, but that’s all the camera shows I’d call it a medium yellow with good saturation (not strong) definitely not like @PrecisionGem example above though I *think* I read it was from the same find, and again brought from Tucson (I think in 2014). Disclaimer: I could be remembering all this wrong I’m being a but lazy atm to fact check! I’ve had it all these years and never get around to setting it, because I want to set it in gold and it’s too expensive boo

Additionally, the side stones I might want to set it with are korneupines and they also are not photographing true to life! All three stones are suuuuuper sparkly which just does not show, with little grey (shows way more in pics) and just all around super sparkly. The korneupines are a crisp periwinkle blue with stunning pleochroism.

 

[milton333]

I just received a lovely danburite from Mastercut Gems. It is icy white, which I can't capture with my phone camera. This is a 10mm square that is destined for a pendant. She has a bit of fire, and lots of sparkly white dispersion.

 

[Autumn in New England]

I love the contrast in these stones, @theredspinel! How unexpected... and I also like that they're all rounds. What color metal will you set them in?

 

[Autumn in New England]

Ooooo that's a most interesting stone, @milton333. Colorless danburite does seem to have its own unique shade, doesn't it? It IS icy and it DOES seem to disperse white! Congrats and enjoy. I also love the square radiant cut.

 

[theredspinel]

I love the contrast in these stones, @theredspinel! How unexpected... and I also like that they're all rounds. What color metal will you set them in?

If I ever get around to it @Autumn in New England I’d love to have this in yellow gold, but I am playing with the idea of a yellow gold basket only for the danburite and the rest of it in white gold but it’s low on the list of priorities! Well, it keeps getting lower because I keep buying turquoise

 

[T L]

Ooooo that's a most interesting stone, @milton333. Colorless danburite does seem to have its own unique shade, doesn't it? It IS icy and it DOES seem to disperse white! Congrats and enjoy. I also love the square radiant cut.

I don't know what it is, maybe the cutting style, or luster, but I can always tell a danburite from other colorless gems like topaz, or some goshenite beryls.

 

[Autumn in New England]

I don't know what it is, maybe the cutting style, or luster, but I can always tell a danburite from other colorless gems like topaz, or some goshenite beryls.

Yes! Funny, isn't it?

 

[Autumn in New England]

If I ever get around to it @Autumn in New England I’d love to have this in yellow gold, but I am playing with the idea of a yellow gold basket only for the danburite and the rest of it in white gold but it’s low on the list of priorities! Well, it keeps getting lower because I keep buying turquoise

You crack me up! There are gems I've been meaning to set for years, but they keep taking a back seat because of new transgressions!! I really LOVE your idea of a yellow basket for the danburite, and white gold for the kornerupine. This will enhance the contrast even further.