zultanite anyone

[Harriet]

Thanks! We''re agreeing to disagree on this one, right?

What other gems do you have or want?

 

[rparker1998]

Date: 12/16/2008 9:09:19 PM
Author: Harriet
Thanks! We''re agreeing to disagree on this one, right?

What other gems do you have or want?

To each their own. IE: I think that lapis lazul and yellow fire opals and yellow citrines are ugly. I don''t care for the solid colored stones either, ie traditional garnets (i do like the spess garn though).

I like things that sparkle and have a lot of fire/brillliance. With the exception of Sapphires/Rubys and emeralds.

My gem wishlist is:

Burmese Ruby
Columbian emerald
zambian Emerald
a boulder opal
Russian Diopside
AAAA or AAA Tanzanite
Mintabie Opal
<1 carat D/E diamond
and more I''m sure that I can''t thinnk of right now

I currently own:
zultanite (obviously)
Amethyst
White Opals
pale purple tanzanite
Chrysoberyl
Sapphires
London Blue Topaz x 2
Green Tourmaline
Green amythyst
marcasite

I''ve posted pictures in the stickied thread but am still fighting with the camera to get the level of detail I want.

 

[Harriet]

See? We do agree on certain things.

I hate lapis lazuli and yellow citrine too. Mmm, spessartite. I've given up on pictures.

 

[rparker1998]

Date: 12/16/2008 10:20:34 PM
Author: Harriet
See? We do agree on certain things.

I hate lapis lazuli and yellow citrine too. Mmm, spessartite. I''ve given up on pictures.

hehe yes i suppose we do agree on a few things.

I thhink it''s just my camera and needing a tripod cuz i naturally have a slight shake.

 

[Harriet]

Yeah, I need a better camera, a light box and a tripod.

 

[rparker1998]

I need a light box too....hehe thanks forr encouraging me.....

I also need a good home jewelry cleaner.

 

[Harriet]

My Sharper Image unltrasonic cracked and I never bothered to replace it. Well, I guess it''s too late for that. I just use some gel and a soft toothbrush now. Less risk with gems.

 

[marcy]

Date: 12/16/2008 11:23:52 PM
Author: Harriet
My Sharper Image unltrasonic cracked and I never bothered to replace it. Well, I guess it''s too late for that. I just use some gel and a soft toothbrush now. Less risk with gems.

My SI cracked so I bought a different brand that cost more money and it quickly knocked out some of my channel set diamonds (one of which I lost) so now my US just sets there and I soak my stuff in there but don''t turn it on. My husband kept telling me not to use the US everyday and he was right. Rats.

 

[coatimundi_org]

<---------- Another lapis hater in the house.

I can find beauty in just about any gem--but not lapis.

 

[Pandora II]

I actually really like lapis! I have some nice 'feely stones' in it (ie stones that you keep in your pocket for feeling - am I weird?)

I designed a set of perfume bottle pendants once for the jewellery company I used to design for. The bottle bases were carved in very modern shapes out of lapis, malachite and black onyx and the stoppers were in gold - some plain, some completely pave and others with a pave band - the onyx had a band of pave rubies round the bottom of the stopper.

They were so pretty - I think they were too high-end for the wholesalers we sold to sadly and never went into production. The prototypes were beautiful though.

 

[LD]

Date: 12/16/2008 9:34:53 PM
Author: rparker1998

Date: 12/16/2008 9:09:19 PM
Author: Harriet
Thanks! We''re agreeing to disagree on this one, right?

What other gems do you have or want?

To each their own. IE: I think that lapis lazul and yellow fire opals and yellow citrines are ugly. I don''t care for the solid colored stones either, ie traditional garnets (i do like the spess garn though).

I like things that sparkle and have a lot of fire/brillliance. With the exception of Sapphires/Rubys and emeralds.

My gem wishlist is:

Burmese Ruby
Columbian emerald
zambian Emerald
a boulder opal
Russian Diopside
AAAA or AAA Tanzanite
Mintabie Opal
<1 carat D/E diamond
and more I''m sure that I can''t thinnk of right now

I currently own:
zultanite (obviously)
Amethyst
White Opals
pale purple tanzanite
Chrysoberyl
Sapphires
London Blue Topaz x 2
Green Tourmaline
Green amythyst
marcasite

I''ve posted pictures in the stickied thread but am still fighting with the camera to get the level of detail I want.

Just a note to say that the AAAA prefix for Tanzanite is a GemsTV marketing ploy and isn''t recognised anywhere else! They used it to indicate their premium range. I believe they''ve replaced AAAA with the title "Majestic" now!!!!!

 

[rparker1998]

Date: 12/17/2008 7:58:06 AM
Author: LovingDiamonds

Date: 12/16/2008 9:34:53 PM
Author: rparker1998

Date: 12/16/2008 9:09:19 PM
Author: Harriet
Thanks! We''re agreeing to disagree on this one, right?

What other gems do you have or want?

To each their own. IE: I think that lapis lazul and yellow fire opals and yellow citrines are ugly. I don''t care for the solid colored stones either, ie traditional garnets (i do like the spess garn though).

I like things that sparkle and have a lot of fire/brillliance. With the exception of Sapphires/Rubys and emeralds.

My gem wishlist is:

Burmese Ruby
Columbian emerald
zambian Emerald
a boulder opal
Russian Diopside
AAAA or AAA Tanzanite
Mintabie Opal
<1 carat D/E diamond
and more I''m sure that I can''t thinnk of right now

I currently own:
zultanite (obviously)
Amethyst
White Opals
pale purple tanzanite
Chrysoberyl
Sapphires
London Blue Topaz x 2
Green Tourmaline
Green amythyst
marcasite

I''ve posted pictures in the stickied thread but am still fighting with the camera to get the level of detail I want.

Just a note to say that the AAAA prefix for Tanzanite is a GemsTV marketing ploy and isn''t recognised anywhere else! They used it to indicate their premium range. I believe they''ve replaced AAAA with the title ''Majestic'' now!!!!!

actually, gemstv only sells AAA - that is their highest they offer. They''ve been offering AA lately too. Now the jewlery channel (now liquidation channel) offered 4A.

GTV has started to offer mozambique tourmaline in replacement of paraiba tourmalines i''ve noticed. But the ones they market as MT aren''t as saturated in color i''ve noticed. Much like their Madacascan ruby vs majestic ruby.

 

[rparker1998]

Date: 12/16/2008 9:34:53 PM
Author: rparker1998

Date: 12/16/2008 9:09:19 PM
Author: Harriet
Thanks! We''re agreeing to disagree on this one, right?

What other gems do you have or want?

To each their own. IE: I think that lapis lazul and yellow fire opals and yellow citrines are ugly. I don''t care for the solid colored stones either, ie traditional garnets (i do like the spess garn though).

I like things that sparkle and have a lot of fire/brillliance. With the exception of Sapphires/Rubys and emeralds.

My gem wishlist is:

Burmese Ruby
Columbian emerald
zambian Emerald
a boulder opal
Russian Diopside
AAAA or AAA Tanzanite
Mintabie Opal
<1 carat D/E diamond
and more I''m sure that I can''t thinnk of right now
Edit to add Pariaba Tourmaline

I currently own:
zultanite (obviously)
Amethyst
White Opals
pale purple tanzanite
Chrysoberyl
Sapphires
London Blue Topaz x 2
Green Tourmaline
Green amythyst
marcasite

I''ve posted pictures in the stickied thread but am still fighting with the camera to get the level of detail I want.

GTV has a .50 carat beautiful blue-green one on for 100 bucks sunday night and hubby and i JUST missed it. we switched back to the channel just as it crashed and were too late...i was SO VERY bummed

 

[rparker1998]

Date: 12/17/2008 6:18:12 AM
Author: Pandora II
I actually really like lapis! I have some nice ''feely stones'' in it (ie stones that you keep in your pocket for feeling - am I weird?)

I designed a set of perfume bottle pendants once for the jewellery company I used to design for. The bottle bases were carved in very modern shapes out of lapis, malachite and black onyx and the stoppers were in gold - some plain, some completely pave and others with a pave band - the onyx had a band of pave rubies round the bottom of the stopper.

They were so pretty - I think they were too high-end for the wholesalers we sold to sadly and never went into production. The prototypes were beautiful though.

nope not at all - just obsessed But then if you are so am i because if I had the resources I''d have a lot of "feely stones" too!

I''d love to start a collection of the rough gems of the stones i love and then have some loose ones to put next to it in a shadow box type setup....hmmm

CRAFT IDEA!

 

[rparker1998]

ya know, there are some yellow citrines i do like but they have to be the deep honey orange/yellow. to be fair.
I''m not a fan of jasper either.

I do like the sleek sexy beauty of onyx though.

 

[T L]

Date: 12/17/2008 7:58:06 AM
Author: LovingDiamonds

Date: 12/16/2008 9:34:53 PM
Author: rparker1998

Date: 12/16/2008 9:09:19 PM
Author: Harriet
Thanks! We're agreeing to disagree on this one, right?

What other gems do you have or want?

To each their own. IE: I think that lapis lazul and yellow fire opals and yellow citrines are ugly. I don't care for the solid colored stones either, ie traditional garnets (i do like the spess garn though).

I like things that sparkle and have a lot of fire/brillliance. With the exception of Sapphires/Rubys and emeralds.

My gem wishlist is:

Burmese Ruby
Columbian emerald
zambian Emerald
a boulder opal
Russian Diopside
AAAA or AAA Tanzanite
Mintabie Opal
<1 carat D/E diamond
and more I'm sure that I can't thinnk of right now

I currently own:
zultanite (obviously)
Amethyst
White Opals
pale purple tanzanite
Chrysoberyl
Sapphires
London Blue Topaz x 2
Green Tourmaline
Green amythyst
marcasite

I've posted pictures in the stickied thread but am still fighting with the camera to get the level of detail I want.

Just a note to say that the AAAA prefix for Tanzanite is a GemsTV marketing ploy and isn't recognised anywhere else! They used it to indicate their premium range. I believe they've replaced AAAA with the title 'Majestic' now!!!!!

LD,
I totally agree with you here. I am so sick to death of these channels hyping their stones like they're the finest, greatest museum quality pieces on earth. For example, I think 99% of the stones showed on Gem Shopping Network are denoted "Top Gem World Class." I've seen heavily windowed and included stones with this label, and it infuriates me. I've even heard them come out with downright lies, but 99% of the public would take it as fact. Also, when is the tanzanite mine going to finally dry out. They've been saying that for the last ten years. It's so annoying.

Rparker,
You seem like a very nice person. The next time you are interested in a stone, please come here first and ask around. I think you'll be able to get a much better value for you money. The people here are very knowlegable about fine gems. Unfortuanately, and I really am really hesistating in saying this, but I do think these shopping channels take advantage of the naivety of the general public. That's not to say you can't find a value on the channels, but most of their items are very overpriced for what they are, but they would make you think you are getting the Hope Diamond for as much as they hype everything.

 

[Kismet]

ATG Gems has some pretty (and not so pretty diaspore) for sale. He doesn''t have any prices listed for the diaspore but I''m guessing it''s more on the expensive end of things.

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 12/17/2008 8:04:48 AM
Author: rparker1998
actually, gemstv only sells AAA - that is their highest they offer. They''ve been offering AA lately too. Now the jewlery channel (now liquidation channel) offered 4A.

GTV has started to offer mozambique tourmaline in replacement of paraiba tourmalines i''ve noticed. But the ones they market as MT aren''t as saturated in color i''ve noticed. Much like their Madacascan ruby vs majestic ruby.

Frankly any A, or AA or AAA is just a load of old rubbish and means whatever that vendor wants it to mean. It has no standing whatsoever!

I wouldn''t waste my money on any cuprian elbaite that was from a trusted dealer - certainly wouldn''t trust anything from a TV channel.

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 12/17/2008 9:43:18 AM
Author: tourmaline_lover

LD,
I totally agree with you here. I am so sick to death of these channels hyping their stones like they're the finest, greatest museum quality pieces on earth. For example, I think 99% of the stones showed on Gem Shopping Network are denoted 'Top Gem World Class.' I've seen heavily windowed and included stones with this label, and it infuriates me. I've even heard them come out with downright lies, but 99% of the public would take it as fact. Also, when is the tanzanite mine going to finally dry out. They've been saying that for the last ten years. It's so annoying.

Rparker,
You seem like a very nice person. The next time you are interested in a stone, please come here first and ask around. I think you'll be able to get a much better value for you money. The people here are very knowlegable about fine gems. Unfortuanately, and I really am really hesistating in saying this, but I do think these shopping channels take advantage of the naivety of the general public. That's not to say you can't find a value on the channels, but most of their items are very overpriced for what they are, but they would make you think you are getting the Hope Diamond for as much as they hype everything.

Totally agree with everything you say - I had a similar rant about tanzanite a year or so ago. Overpriced and overrated frankly.

One of the reasons I won't buy from TV companies is because I used to design and supply jewellery to them. We sold stuff by the kilo, and frankly most of it was poor quality and the rubbish we used to invent to help sell it was incredible - ie how the manufacture of the piece was based on old etruscan techniques etc

 

[coatimundi_org]

Date: 12/17/2008 6:18:12 AM
Author: Pandora II
I actually really like lapis! I have some nice 'feely stones' in it (ie stones that you keep in your pocket for feeling - am I weird?)

I love feely gems!

My feelies are amazonite and chalcedony. I also love rocks and pebbles--sea glass--love that stuff.

(ok, I can understand lapis as a feely)

I also love azurmalachite and charoite.

Now I want more...

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 12/17/2008 10:40:36 AM
Author: coatimundi
I love feely gems!

My feelies are amazonite and chalcedony. I also love rocks and pebbles--sea glass--love that stuff.

(ok, I can understand lapis as a feely)

I also love azurmalachite and charoite.

Now I want more...

Haematite is a nice one as well.

I have a nice piece of chrysoprase, but it looks like a spearmint gumdrop and I just want to eat it, so I keep it hidden away.

I went through a big phase of pebbles with holes in them - still have a box of them at my parents somewhere.

A place that you would love if you like pebbles is Marazion Beach in Cornwall. It is famous for its pebbles: jasper, amethyst, citrine, agates, carnelian and many others. I have a huge old sweetie jar full of them - I kept meaning to stick them through a pebble polisher, but everyone complains about the noise!

Also one of the few places that you are legally allowed to collect in - my father''s bad friend used to take me down old mine shafts which is highly forbidden/dangerous but great for undamaged specimens

.

If you ever get the chance to do some hands on ''mining'' do have a go as it''s great fun. I had real problems at the moonstone mine in Sri Lanka - DH wouldn''t let me go down it as I''m pregnant. Spoilsport... I didn''t manage to restrain myself from going through the baskets and helping them sort the rough though.

Here''s a pic of Marazion:

 

[coatimundi_org]

Date: 12/17/2008 11:31:38 AM
Author: Pandora II
Haematite is a nice one as well.


I have a nice piece of chrysoprase, but it looks like a spearmint gumdrop and I just want to eat it, so I keep it hidden away.

I went through a big phase of pebbles with holes in them - still have a box of them at my parents somewhere.


A place that you would love if you like pebbles is Marazion Beach in Cornwall. It is famous for its pebbles: jasper, amethyst, citrine, agates, carnelian and many others. I have a huge old sweetie jar full of them - I kept meaning to stick them through a pebble polisher, but everyone complains about the noise!


Also one of the few places that you are legally allowed to collect in - my father's bad friend used to take me down old mine shafts which is highly forbidden/dangerous but great for undamaged specimens

.


If you ever get the chance to do some hands on 'mining' do have a go as it's great fun. I had real problems at the moonstone mine in Sri Lanka - DH wouldn't let me go down it as I'm pregnant. Spoilsport... I didn't manage to restrain myself from going through the baskets and helping them sort the rough though.

Here's a pic of Marazion:

What a lovely pebble beach! I'd love to go there. I love hematite too--love the heft. I also really dig chrysoprase and chrysocolla. I've been looking for a chrysocolla piece for awhile--I'm fussy about color.

I've done a bit of hands on mining. I spent about half of my childhood in Arkansas, and we would visit the diamond mine on field trips once a year. (the mine is in Murfreesboro, AR) I've been digging in the dirt for some time now.

I never found a diamond, but I met a man who found a perfect (good sized) octahedron, and it was just lovely. I have jars of all the rocks and minerals I found there. I have very fond memories of that place.

I would love to visit Sri Lanka--go to the mines. That would be a dream trip. Oh, and I live a couple hours away from the tourmaline mine in California--and the benitoite mine. I must go to those at some point.

I'd want to eat that chrysoprase too.

You're so funny--pregnant lady! I understand your wanting to get in that mine, though!

 

[Harriet]

Pandora,
I love that beach.

Coatie,
Let's meet somewhere and dig!

rparker1998,
I wouldn't dismiss the channels entirely. My friend, an extremely experienced collector, has made some good buys from them.

 

[coatimundi_org]

Date: 12/17/2008 12:30:30 PM
Author: Harriet
Pandora,

I love that beach.


Coatie,

Let's meet somewhere and dig!

I'll take you to Arkansas on a field trip!! Or, we'll take my Jeep up to the benitoite mine--mind a rough ride?

 

[Harriet]

Sounds good. Apparently, there are fun mines in NC too.

 

[Harriet]

Sounds good. Apparently, there are fun mines in NC too.

 

[mochi]

My husband and I have been talking about going to those digging mines for years now. Something we really want to do. We have been enjoying watching these programs on the Travel Channel. Some places we want to go to:

Tourmaline:
http://www.highdesertgemsandminerals.com/html/himalaya_mine.html
http://www.digforgems.com/
http://www.cryo-geniemine.com/
http://www.mmmgems.com/stewart/

Sunstone/Opal:
http://www.highdesertgemsandminerals.com/html/spectrum_sunstone_mines.html

Diamond:
http://www.arkansas.com/things-to-do/diamond-hunting/

Gold:
http://www.crissongoldmine.com/

Other:
http://www.toteshows.com/morefield.html (beryl)
http://www.gemmountain.com/ (beryl)
http://www.hiddenitegems.com/ (beryl)
http://www.sheffieldmine.com/ (star sapphire)

Some of these places are for buckets and not the actual digging. There are alot of other places of course.

It would be sweet if we can organize a once a year PS colored stone get together so we can meet and dig together!! LOL

 

[packrat]

When my grampa was alive, he and gramma used to go to Australia every winter. They always brought back opals they''d dug themselves..they knew someone who had a mine. Grampa was really big into cutting and polishing gemstones and making jewelry.

 

[rparker1998]

thanks for the words of caution. I''ll utulize them. I don''t usually buy anything over 150.00 from Gems TV for what it''s worth. With the exception of my zultanite.

I''d love to go dig in a diamond mine all though i have t wonder what the average time it takes to find a diamond of gem quality/size to begin with to see if it''d reallly be worth the time/money spent to take a trip there....thoughts anyone.

If you love feelies, you should go shark tooth hunting...now that''s a feely. There''s a really nice beach here in the Jax area that has some really nice sharks teeth with little effort. Venice FL is also a sharks tooth capital of the US so I''ve read. anywho.

 

[T L]

There's a National Geographic DVD called "Diamonds." Part of it goes in depth about how they mine for diamonds at the famous Argyle mines of Australia. Very interesting, and it's a lot of work getting diamonds out of tons of rock and dirt. This is just one part of the whole DVD, the rest is sumptuous eye candy.