What would you do with 7 carats of purple gel Sugilite?

[ieatbugs]

Just curious...ran across this unusual but pretty one today on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Extremely-Rare-Natural-Gem-Top-AAA-Gel-Purple-Sugilite-Loose-Faceted-GemStone-/200782165749?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ebf8cb6f5

Never seen it in a piece of jewelry before. Anyone out there have a piece to share?

 

[chrono]

What I wouldn't give to wear a necklace made out of these:
http://www.palagems.com/featured_stones_v1.htm

 

[ieatbugs]

Oh my, those are INCREDIBLE!

 

[minousbijoux]

Is the color natural in both those examples? Pretty amazing if it is - what a bright, vivid purple/violet!

 

[ieatbugs]

I think so, everything I can find about the stone (which is almost nothing. someone come educate us about it!!) says that it isn't enhanced.

I'm curious how hard of a stone it is!
It's hard to find such exceptional examples because of its relative rarity

It definitely naturally occurs in very bright and vibrant shades though!

 

[minousbijoux]

Thanks for the info! The ebay stone just looked so enhanced - that's why I asked. The Pala suite made me wonder whether it wasn't natural...

 

[LD]

Somewhere I have a piece of Sugilite I bought years ago. It's not mounted and I have no idea where it is! It's not as lovely as the one you've found I do know that!!!

The reason that I've been absent from the forum and only pop in now and again is I've found a new hobby - jewellery making. Clearly only costume jewellery but using real gemstones (not synthetics). I would use the Sugilite as a feature pendant in a necklace and would wire wrap it a little but it depends on the weight. If it's very heavy it may be too uncomfortable to wear.

 

[beau-wy]

I would squirrel it away in my safe, taking out occasionally when I'm alone and make soft hooting noises like a mildly excited chimp.

 

[Richard M.]

I remember being in Tucson in the late-1980s when sugilite was first introduced to the Trade. They had a magnificent boulder on display dug from deep in the Wessels Mine. It must have weighed close to 1,000 pounds and was nearly all gem-grade (not gel but vivid, clean solid purple). I didn't have enough cash at the time to buy even a respectable amount of it but the memory still disturbs my sleep with near-erotic dreams from time to time. It's a wonderful gem material but is so scarce in top quality a market has never really been created for it.

Richard M. (Rick Martin)