Madagascar Demantoid

[Jim Rentfrow]

Hello,

I have the opportunity to purchase some Madagadcar demantoid rough but I really dont know much about that locality. How does it compare with other demantoid in color and value? Does anyone have demantoid from Madagascar?

 

[chrono]

Jim,
As with all faceted gemstone and rough, base your comparison not on the general observation but on the rough you are interested in because there is good and poor material from every location. I presume you are getting a parcel? Are you a faceter who is going to cut these yourself or are you planning to have someone else cut them? Are you experience enough to “read” the colour, clarity and future shape of the rough? Are these rough pieces large enough to make them worth faceting?

 

[Jim Rentfrow]

Chrono,

I am a gemstone cutter so I know how to read the rough. I have not dealt much with demantoid in the past to be honest, its the one garnet I have not cut. I do not buy pieces under four carats in rough because I know they are typically not worth the time it takes to cut them. This is a single piece, 4.9 carats.