|  |
|
| The 4C's
~ What to look for when buying gem stones : 4cs ( Color Clarity Carat Cut )
The colour is one of the most important attributes to look for when purchasing a stone ~ Top color in stones adds to their value
The clarity is an attribute of a gemstone that refers to how clear a stone is ~ Some gemstones are known to have excellent clarity and only under high magnification will any inclusions be found ~ Others are known for some inclusions and if not excessive will still cut a very nice stone and do not affect their desirability ~ GIA grading standards break these types of stones into stone Types
Type I: Usually clean ( aquamarine citrine tanzanite ... )
Type II: Inclusions common ( peridot sapphire tourmaline garnet [all] spinel [all] ... )
Type III: Normally have inclusions ( emerald rubellite red beryl ... )
With Type II some inclusions are expected and do not affect them being desirable ; as with Type III , unless they have many inclusions they are still cut into very nice stones
The carat weight of the stone is important due to the value of the stone ~ Gems are typically sold based on the number of carats
The cut or shape of the stone ~ The dimensions of a stone helps cutters determine how a stone will be cut (e.g. oval round marquise pear princess trillian square emerald heart checkerboard cushion etc.)
Some of the stones we offer :
Tanzanite ~ Demantoid ~ Tsavorite ~ Tourmaline ~ Indicolite ~ Opal ~ Chalcedony ~ Spessartine ~ Russian Chrome Diopside ~ Peridot ~ Apatite ~ Amethyst ~ Ruby ~ Red Beryl ~ Kyanite ~ Sapphire ~ Emerald ~ Citrine ~ Mandarin Spessartite & Malaya Garnet ~ Amethyst ~ Mystic & Paraiba Topaz ~ Aquamarine ~ Rhodocrosite ~ Chrysophase ~ Agate ~ Sunstone ~ Turquoise ~ Drusy Druzy
Gemstone varieties & interesting facts
GARNETS
Almandine , Andradite , Grossular , Pyrope , Spessartine & Uvarovite
Found in the United States, Russia , Africa , South America , etc.
In every fancy bright & beautiful color shade & hue except for blue and can have a rarity color change or be colorless
A durable stone with Mohs hardness scale of 7-7.5
Usually brilliant because of high light refraction
The more expensive varieties are Tsavorite and Demantoid and rough garnets can come
in crystal shapes and sides
January birthstone , Zodiac sign Aquarius , 2nd & 6th wedding anniversary gift
Associated with healing & protection
An ancient gem found in handmade antique vintage fashion jewelry used by artisians way back to the Egyptians and Tzars and known in Greek and Roman times
A cherished , valued , prized & popular gemstone
CORUNDUMS ( Ruby & Sapphire )
RUBY
Mohs hardness scale of 9 & closest to the diamond for hardness
Only the red Corundum is referred to as Ruby and all other colors
in this gemstone group are referred to as Sapphires
Rubies are rarer than the Sapphire and typically more expensive
Common localities are Burma , Africa & Thailand and many found in crytal shapes
July birthstone , 15th & 40th anniversary and Zodiac sign of Capricorn
Typically heat treated when the rough is lighter to produce strong colours in the finished gem
SAPPHIRE
Mohs hardness scale of 9
September birthstone & 5th, 23rd and 45th wedding anniversary stone and Zodiac signs of Pisces , Taurus , Virgo and Sagittarius
Found in Burma , Africa , South America etc. and can have common crystal shapes
A favorite gemstone by consumers with the most expensive being
The natural orange pink Padparascha often referred to as a Pad Sapphire
The Star , Cat's Eye & color change sapphires are other types
Typically heat treated when the rough is lighter to produce strong colours in the finished gem
TOURMALINE
Bright rainbow colors including bi-colored and watermelon and occurs in more colors than any other gem stone variety
Found in Africa , Brazil , South America , Pakistan and Afghanistan , USA etc.
7.0 - 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale
October birthstone & 8th year anniversary stone and Libra Zodiac sign
Found in Crystals and other shapes
Top Paraiba and Pink Tourmaline are some of the more expensive and
sought after
The deep red colour of Tourmaline is referred to as Rubellite
Blue Tourmaline is typically referred to as Indicolite
There is also a Chrome Tourmaline which is an emerald green
BERYL
Comes in a number of different colors
Mohs scale hardness 7.5-8
Found in Africa , South America , USA etc.
Aquamarine is a light blue to blue green to santa maria / marie color ~ 19th anniversary
Emerald is green and one of the most popular and valuable of gems ~ May birthstone & 20th & 35th anniversary
The pink variety is known as Morganite often called Pink Beryl
Peach Beryl has an orange pink color
Helidor is yellow , yellow green orange and brownish
Golden Beryl is a Helidor but has a yellow golden colour
Goshenite is colorless
Green Beryl is not the same as an Emerald and is lighter
Red Beryl Bixbite is one of the rarest of all gems
OPAL ( common and precious )
A treasured stone throughout history
14th anniversary & October birthstone
Found in Australia , South America ( Mexico & Brazil ) , USA etc.
Mohs hardness scale of 5.5-6.5
Can be translucent or opaque and can have fire plays of color or be potch ( without color play )
Common types are Mexican fire ( also referred to as cherry or mandarin opal ) , black ( Lightning Ridge & Mintabie ) , boulder ( Western Queensland ) , milky white ( Coober Pedy )
Other special opals without color play are the Peruvian Blue / Blue-Green and Pink , the green Opal near Macedonia and the yellow opal in Africa
Quartz
Mohs hardness factor 7
Found worldwide in many colors
Chalcedony (agate chrysoprase jasper carnelian onyx etc)
Other common types
Amethyst
Citrine
Rose Quartz
Smoky Quartz
Green Quartz
Colorless
~ Why gemstones ? Their glitter and sparkle has been valued for centuries for collectors , for investments , and for style ~ The very rare stons are actively sought after and prized
~ What do we offer ? We strive to find unique and rare gem stones that our customers seek and supply a high level of service to our customers ~ Our integrity and high ethics helps our customers purchase with confidence ~ Sell facet , cab & tumbling rough ; mineral specimen stones & crystals ; loose natural faceted cut gems ; gemstone cabochons & jewelry
~ Why buy rough gemstones ? Buying facet rough and high grade cab rough stones and having them cut by a qualified cutter lessens the cost of purchasing at the high retail costs and gives the customer and cutter greater flexibility in determining how the ston will be cut or shaped ~ Some will purchase rough and have them cut and then sell them while others want a stone designed for themselves or as a gift to others
~ Who are our customers ? Faceters , cabbers , custom jewelery crafters , tumblers , gemstone collectors , retailers , jewelry designers / artists , investors , cutters , lapidary gemcutters & carvers , arts & crafts , faceters , gem clubs & schools , gemology mineral specimen students , consumers of fine cut stones , anyone who loves gems ...
Rough & loose cut gems for use in pendants , rings , bracelets , necklaces , earrings ... in silver & gold or other settings
| Misc: ~ One stop gem shop for faceting cutter rough gems & cut gemstones ~ Very unique cabachons & freeforms for quality low cost jeweler custom designer or hobbiest wirewrap ~ High quality rare investment & jewelry shop select trade gemcutter grade unmounted rough for sale ~ Mixed hand picked powerseller parcel lots of gorgeous lapidary tumbled polished stones & crystal mineral specimen pieces & points like emeralds & fluorite for wirewraps ~ Imported real mother earth premium world class namibian untreated mine direct & cabachon cabing tumbling raw rough South American Mexican & Brazil & Andean Peruvian / Peru , Macedonian & Australian carving rock chunks & slabs opals ... ~ " Priceless " - Gemology Collector Specimens specials ~ One of a kind present gifts for all biggest top holiday shopping occasions like Christmas ~ Pick from various shapes in a pair or single & oval , square , round , trillian & various fancy facet cuts ~ Other incredible great colors like pink , mandarine , lemon yellow , black , rainbow & watermelon , fantastic multi color & bi colored for gem trees , arts & crafts , hobbys , gemcutters , gemologist professionals , cutting school ~ Genuine accent jewels for the designers , professional jewelers , wire wrap craft artists , hobbiests & clubs ~ A few affordable birthday jewellery special gift presents like pendants & necklaces ~ Hugh non auction selection & power seller auctions of semi precious gems in store - Watch for coming clearance sales , plus reduced prices |
|
Notes- Pics taken with digital camera under full spectrum & fluorescent or natural lighting for close color tone & colour hue - Taken dry not wet unless noted & will be one that shows dry - Do not intentionally purchase manmade , synthetic or lab created colored finished stones / cabochons & offer , supplier of select gorgeous beautiful sparkling & bright genuine natural accent & faceted cut , raw lapidary & facet rough for super pendants , earrings & crafts ... , collectors / investors stones , rockhound rock specimens - May have bargains & offer mixed / assorted in a lot or parcel for beginners & crafters ... - Our powerseller business shop products : sell fine top & mid / bargain hobby grade quality , unique designed free forms , jewellery , cab & facet rough real gemstones from top of line suppliers , wholesale parcels / bulk dealers , powersellers , mother earth imported mine direct , rockhounders & other major sellers sources like Tucson Trade Show - Dazzling sparkly jewels , fancy craft freeforms , lots of pretty matching cabs / cabachons , uncut faceting or cabbing rough can be rare collector / investor - investment - ~ a symbol for estimate / medium - Try to state when treated or has special treatment - Stones for hobbiests , designers & professionals
| Grading- 3 gem stone clarities professional faceters , cutters , a dealer , & cabbers grade by with eye & 10x magnification : type I depends on stones usually w/o inclusions , type II some , & type III usually included - Grading for gems & cabochon stones can be done to represent below & above via new GIA standards but usual types are Clean : w/o inclusions - Eye Clean : clean to eye , next best deal - Crystal Transparent : transparent nice brilliance - VVS : very very slightly - VSI : very slight inclusions , SI - SI1 - SI2 : slight inclusions - Moderate inclusions - Included I1 - I2 - I3 : many minor or larger , not as hot may be junk but can depend on stone - Transparent : light passes through without diffusing , scattering - Translucent : light passing through , scattered , diffused - Opaque : hardly any light passes through - Some inclusions & depending on stone , saturation , cutting skill of cutter / faceter / cabber , etc does not necessarily distract from beauty of loose gemstone or cabachon , gold or silver jewelry setting / mounting in which placed for rings , necklaces , bracelets , drilled beads , gift idea ... , freeform used in custom designer wirewrap , or estate value on some gem specimen rocks minerals or crystals - For a beginner or hobbiest , 4 C's : Color ; gemmy - saturation ; Clarity ; Carats Weight ; & Cut , size & shape , blocky rough ideal for yield
|
|
) 
