shape
carat
color
clarity

I like imperfections.

PinkTower

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Mar 15, 2009
Messages
1,129
jstarfireb|1297562736|2850440 said:
I like that mint garnet! The first pic shows a cool glow. You're right, the inclusions in my mint garnet aren't that evident in person.

I love both of your mints! Also, I like the cut on both of them.
 

sphenequeen

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Oct 16, 2009
Messages
640
This is a great thread! What I love most is that the stones here have so much character, even if they do not fall within the parameters of what the trade calls "ideal."

I wanna see more! :appl: :appl: :appl:
 

Aerix

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Feb 11, 2011
Messages
496
I like imperfections too! :appl: I recently bought this tourmaline from Litnon. It was cheap and I liked how the inclusions in the photo almost looked like an inner glow emulating from the inside or an explosion. IRL, it's purplish pink instead of red (which is what the description said despite the photo looking red.) I like the color a lot too.

I'm attaching the vendor photo since I haven't been able to snap pics of it yet. It's 3.13cts, measures 10x8x6.3mm and is from Nigeria. It's described as an oval with a checkerboard top.

rubelite_3.13ct_10x8x6.3mm_nigeria.jpg
 

VapidLapid

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Feb 18, 2010
Messages
4,272
this is my favorite stone (sometimes) and it's so included you cant even see the inclusions. Also it's not finished being cut yet, though Ive been working on it for years (the privilege and curse of the amateur). Then I get so seduced by the color and the shy star and the hexagonal sapphire crystal shape that I see nothing but love! I know it has stuff in it and fractures some of which break the surface, but look at that color (which admittedly only apears in sunlight, or under the interrogation maglights). Oh, and it is 10 mm.

sapphInc1.jpg

sapphInc2.jpg

sapphInc3.jpg

sapphInc4.jpg
 

VapidLapid

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Feb 18, 2010
Messages
4,272


sapphInc.jpg

sapphInc6.jpg
 

lavatea

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Apr 16, 2009
Messages
519
I don't own either of the following two stones, but both have entrenched themselves into my brain tonight. I may end up pulling the trigger on the tourmaline. Don't ask me why.


sapphire link




tourmaline link

160 dollars_10.58x7.89mm yellow-green sapphire from gemburionline.jpg

ebay auction_unknown size bi-color tourmaline cab from gemsller.JPG
 

m76steve

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Dec 21, 2008
Messages
605
FrekeChild|1297552077|2850271 said:
I like imperfections.

I like stones that speak to me. They don't all speak the same language by any means.

I like gray stones. I like stones that have less than perfect cuts. I like stones with inclusions. I like stones that are cheap. I like stones that other people wouldn't look at twice. I like stones with descriptors like: wonky, weird, funky, strange or "corpse colored". I like black stones. I like white stones.

I like stones that are NOT what the trade thinks is ideal.

I am proud to wear my freak flag. Or freke, as it were.
ur thinking & outlook are what iv been pushing for quite a while-the fact u covet material that has inclusions & stuff within the stone adds spice to the mix-just look at the responces!-most of my stones are sweet to see & most tell a good story-ROCK ON!-steve... :appl:
 

blithesome71

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Mar 20, 2009
Messages
483
Cool thread. I can relate to this 'coz most of my gems (cut-wise) are less than ideal & I like those "old" gems from old inventory. Windowed & native. But the size & the color definitely make up for it.

...Just like my recently bought 9.4 ct. seagreen/minty beryl (though my local jeweler calls it an "Aquamarine" :bigsmile: ) I love how it displays a silvery shimmer despite its tiny scratches on the crown & worn facets.

*Kindly forgive the quality of my picture. It's taken outdoor at noon so the bright light really made it look lighter than it actually is in RL.

seagreen_beryl.PNG
 

somethingshiny

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jul 22, 2007
Messages
6,746
Here's my watermelon tourmaline. I love it!

watermelontourmaline1ss.jpg
 

Treenbean

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Feb 25, 2010
Messages
798
Thanks Freke for starting this thread. I like character and imperfections too. Seems like most of us enjoy a little bit of strange.
 

LaurenThePartier

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Mar 2, 2004
Messages
10,100
I absolutely like some imperfections and "off" colours.

My 2 included JW stones; minty peridot and seafoam tourmaline.
IMG%201311a.jpg

Irradiated blue topaz - extremely dark, but exactly the colour of dark wash denim.
IMG%20826a.jpg
IMG%20888a.jpg

BE heated "padparadscha" sapphire
IMG%20144a.jpg
IMG%201672a.jpg

My grossular with some brown in it.
IMG%207090a.jpg
 

colorluvr

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Apr 18, 2010
Messages
1,794
LTP, I'd take those "imperfect" JW rings any day!!!

Here's my "ginger orange" sapphire ring that is most likely BE heated. The seller only sold it as "heated" and I didn't even know what BE heating was when I bought it (about three year ago, one of my first CS purchases). But I really like the color because it's different from any other "orangish" stone I own. I get compliments on the ring all the time. The stone is a double pillow cushion cut (top looks the same as the bottom) so that makes it even less "top industry standard". It's got some "stuff" going on inside it and I imagine if I take a look under the microscope (actually never have), I'll see some tell tale BE heated inclusions.... or maybe not LOL!

ginger.jpg
 

colorluvr

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
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Messages
1,794
VapidLapid|1297567393|2850513 said:
this is my favorite stone (sometimes) and it's so included you cant even see the inclusions. Also it's not finished being cut yet, though Ive been working on it for years (the privilege and curse of the amateur). Then I get so seduced by the color and the shy star and the hexagonal sapphire crystal shape that I see nothing but love! I know it has stuff in it and fractures some of which break the surface, but look at that color (which admittedly only apears in sunlight, or under the interrogation maglights). Oh, and it is 10 mm.

VL, that color is incredible! :love:
 

colorluvr

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Apr 18, 2010
Messages
1,794
And some quicksilver spinels for Freke and Arcadian (and anyone else who likes "lavendarish" stones)

And yes, the oval on the left has a window, but it's not quite so noticeable IRL.

quicksilvers.JPG
 

FrekeChild

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Dec 14, 2007
Messages
19,456
colorluvr|1297639390|2851003 said:
And some quicksilver spinels for Freke and Arcadian (and anyone else who likes "lavendarish" stones)

And yes, the oval on the left has a window, but it's not quite so noticeable IRL.
Ooooooooooooo!!!!!! Love them all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

VapidLapid

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Feb 18, 2010
Messages
4,272
here is my neither fancy nor vivid 4.78 carat diamond resplendent with its optimistic inclusions of carbon that failed to assume the crystal structure. this is the stone in my avatar. the base is a blank of cz that I was grinding into a lens but it broke. I made another and that is what my avatar was photographed with.

c1.jpg

c2.jpg

c3.jpg

c4.jpg
 

PinkTower

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Mar 15, 2009
Messages
1,129
VL,
I love the last photo. I call that a "tea dreg." I lost my favorite stone, a pear shaped gorgeous emerald, that had that inclusion. Now I know what they are really called, thanks to you.
 

Largosmom

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Oct 26, 2009
Messages
1,010
Couple more pics for FrekeChild...

Lavendar Spinel, from Dana, it was one of the first stones I got soon after I found Price Scope...in fact, I think it may have been a gift stone with a pink spinel I purchased to make a ring for my sister. I think this is the one I have set in a silver filigree ring that I wear on occasion. it has a bit of a color shift to pink, if I remember right. It's much more brilliant in person. This is the one with the little needle showing in the previous photo and is more saturated than the octagon below.



The second one is an octagon I won from a Dan Stair auction a year ago, this one is still in my box, sharing a gem container with the Darth Vader Jr. grey spinel. The octagon is the one with the bubble veil.

LavSpinel626.jpg

LavSpinel625.jpg

LavSpinelDanStairFeb10  781.jpg
 

Largosmom

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Oct 26, 2009
Messages
1,010
Here is a pink spinel I got in a Tan auction very cheap. It has a zircon embedded on the back of the stone and it sticks out of one of the facets. It has a lot of bubble inclusions as well. I don't remember how much it weighs, but it faces up quite large and the inclusions are not visible until you get it up close and it has good color. I may eventually set it in a pendant, but it's fun to look at just for the inclusions, which is why I purchased it. This is one of my learning stones. Sometimes cheap is fun!






The last is a photo of that wonky pinkish red spinel I set into a pendant, it is quite small and uneven almost every direction. I still don't know how my goldsmith got that thing set. It sure has a pretty color though! It looks quite pink in this photo, but is more red to the eye. This is a top-down shot...it should be round but as you can see, it isn't.

Spinelzircon  1395.jpg

Spinelzircon  1397.jpg

Red Spinel  1398.jpg
 

FrekeChild

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Dec 14, 2007
Messages
19,456
Thanks for sharing Largosmom! Those are gorgeous. I have a thing for lavender stones. And blue stones. And gray stones. etc. etc etc.
 

mariedtiger

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Sep 23, 2008
Messages
1,478
I love this thread!!! Sometimes I wonder if I have any gems that don't have imperfections in some way. Here are two of my favorites, they get a lot of wear. In the necklace, an included checkerboard cut cushion aquamarine with a surface reaching inclusion and amazing glow. In the ring, an aquamarine that is included, poorly cut and was called crappy by a goldsmith where I live. I don't care, I love the colors of these gems and the personalities of them.

imperfectgems.jpg
 

ooo~Shiney!

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jun 6, 2010
Messages
1,501
mariedtiger|1297756189|2852194 said:
I love this thread!!! Sometimes I wonder if I have any gems that don't have imperfections in some way. Here are two of my favorites, they get a lot of wear. In the necklace, an included checkerboard cut cushion aquamarine with a surface reaching inclusion and amazing glow. In the ring, an aquamarine that is included, poorly cut and was called crappy by a goldsmith where I live. I don't care, I love the colors of these gems and the personalities of them.


The NERVE!!!! :lol:
 

Deathspi

Shiny_Rock
Premium
Joined
Oct 25, 2010
Messages
385
Some beautiful examples of included stones here. I always thought for some reason that if you had lots of inclusions, that setting the stone could be a problem, but obviously I see that isn't the case! :)
 

loriken214

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Oct 21, 2007
Messages
4,348
I really enjoy unique, included, gemstones. Here's one I bought from Barry. A great big quartz with apatite.

Lori

BBQUARTZWITHAPATITEq-6448.jpg
 
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