My first gem silica

[blingbunny10]

Just popping in to share a recent acquisition. This is the only gem silica I’ve seen in person, so I’d love any thoughts even if critical! Apologies in advance for my horribly dry skin... I’ve cropped out what I could, haha.

 

[meely]

Ooooh I like i so so pretty. I can't comment further as I have not a clue but are you pleased with it?

 

[voce]

Wow, that is a good size and such a beautiful color!

 

[blingbunny10]

Thanks meely!
I love the color, but do wish it were a bit more translucent. I’d say color is closest to photo 3, but transparency is closest to the first photo. For the price, though, I can’t complain.

 

[Bluegemz]

It’s beautiful! I just love it. Gem Silica is so magic in that color and glow!

 

[lovedogs]

I think this looks great! I have one, but have't seen others in person. I think it looks nice and glowy from the pics. What do you think?

 

[peacechick]

It’s so pretty! Will you make a ring or a pendant with it?

 

[Rfisher]

I love the high dome.
Color is not to shabby either!
Where from?

 

[blingbunny10]

voce - Thanks! It’s approx 10 x 7.5mm

Bluegemz - Thank you! I’ve enjoyed seeing some of your lovely glowy jewelry pieces, so that’s certainly a compliment for my little stone coming from you.

Lovedogs - Would love to see pics of yours. Have you had it set yet or is it loose?

Peacechick- Thanks! I’m leaning toward a ring. As you can see, it’s not completely symmetrical, so it would have to be more of an organic shaped, oblong sort of ring stone.

 

[blingbunny10]

I love the high dome.
Color is not to shabby either!
Where from?

Thanks Rfisher - It’s from an Etsy seller named Patrick Murphy.

 

[meely]

I can imagine it in an art nouveau style setting. Is it hard enough for a ring?

 

[natasha-cupcake]

I like it! Very glow-y--with a delicious jelly bean appearance. I'm sure it will make a pretty piece of jewelry.

 

[lovedogs]

@blingbunny10 mine is set! Sadly I hardly ever wear it and have considered selling it many times. I love it/the color, but it isn't quite big enough for me (I tend to prefer bigger stones, or to halo the smaller ones). This is 1ct--I should have gotten 2-3ct or put this one in a halo!

 

[lilmosun]

Thanks meely!
I love the color, but do wish it were a bit more translucent. I’d say color is closest to photo 3, but transparency is closest to the first photo. For the price, though, I can’t complain.

Funny, that was my first reaction when I got mine (having never seen one IRL and comparing it to others I saw here at PS). I kept it because the price was right and finally set it after seeing others at a local gem & mineral show. (I probably should put it in a nicer setting but it kept getting put on the back burner and so just went for a stock setting for now)



I LOVE LOVE the high dome on yours.

 

[Bluegemz]

Funny, that was my first reaction when I got mine (having never seen one IRL and comparing it to others I saw here at PS). I kept it because the price was right and finally set it after seeing others at a local gem & mineral show. (I probably should put it in a nicer setting but it kept getting put on the back burner and so just went for a stock setting for now)



I LOVE LOVE the high dome on yours.

That is an increadibly beautiful gem silica. Truly.

 

[mochiko42]

As far as I know, like chalcedony such as chrysoprase and aquaprase, gem silica cannot be fully transparent, only translucent. Personally I would look for that special translucent glow instead of transparency. Your gem silica looks beautiful. If you search on Instagram with the hashtag #bacan you can see some good examples of high quality gem silica (bacan is what they call is in Indonesia).

Here's my gem silica which I got from another PSer.

 

[Arkteia]

Wow! It is gorgeous. Copper colored and with Mohs of 7, don't you think it is a good alternative to Paraibas?

 

[voce]

Wow! It is gorgeous. Copper colored and with Mohs of 7, don't you think it is a good alternative to Paraibas?

Haha I thought the same thing actually. Especially in the first pic, the color is the same as a paraiba! If I ever get tempted to buy a paraiba cabochon, I can remind myself to get gem silica instead.

 

[Acinom]

Gorgeous!!! And indeed a great alternative to Paraiba

 

[lovedogs]

@Arkteia that's why I bought my gem silica! Because I couldn't afford paraiba in the color and size I wanted, and this color was too good to pass up. I just need a bigger one now!

 

[Nosean]

Inspiration Mine Arizona?

In pic 2 some tiny green dots typical for this location ( is is malachite ).

Very fine item...

 

[Bluegemz]

Getting a gem silica is definitely on my list this year...I just love them. They are quite rare and still relatively affordable because they have not been marketed widely in the way that other gems have. Part of this is because supply has been less than that of heavily marketed gems where designers could count on enough to supply. The ones from Arizona come from such increadibly arid landscapes that the color is a true miracle of nature. It’s humbling to think of the strength, strain, determination and endurance people had to have to mine them, given the foreboding harshness of the land, and heat, thorns and rattlesnakes in the past decades. Having passed close by, I imagined that mining in that land was/is not for the weak.

 

[Bluegemz]

I love the color with both white and yellow metal, but especially love this idea...because somehow the setting fits the uniqueness of the gem. Liquid gold with electric blue gow. The color and texture is an absolute purity and at the same time, out of this world. Even the name, “Gem Silica” is so cool.

 

[mochiko42]

While the color can sometimes resemble paraiba, the lustre is very different. Gem silica has this waxy luster (similar to jade) whereas paraiba has more sparkly vitreous crystal-like lustre... I have owned both gem silica and paraiba cabochons and the main similarity was color, as their appearance and behaviour was otherwise very different. I have seen some very included paraiba cabochons which may resemble gem silica more closely due to their opacity. Having said that, high quality gem silica is a beautiful stone in its own right (especially at the right price point!).


Gem silica


Aquaprase ( also has waxy lustre)


Paraiba (vitreous lustre) vs gem silica

 

[mochiko42]

Inspiration Mine Arizona?

In pic 2 some tiny green dots typical for this location ( is is malachite ).

Very fine item...

That's so interesting! Thank you for sharing this information. The person I bought my gem silica from said it was from Arizona, but he couldn't remember the exact source. It is very clean stone except for a small green spot on the base (you cannot see it face up). So perhaps it is from Inspiration Mine..

 

[Nosean]

https://geology.com/gemstones/gem-silica/

 

[lovedogs]

Omg @mochiko42, your advice about looking up "bacan" on insta was perfect. Soooo much amazing eye candy! For anyone who wants to see or buy what look like incredible stones, do the insta search and enjoy it! Plus there are vendors who sell via insta as well.

 

[Bluegemz]

Omg @mochiko42, your advice about looking up "bacan" on insta was perfect. Soooo much amazing eye candy! For anyone who wants to see or buy what look like incredible stones, do the insta search and enjoy it! Plus there are vendors who sell via insta as well.

I agree! Really loved seeing those examples! Thankyou.

 

[lovedogs]

Omg please someone buy these so I stop looking at them whatsapp makes it so hard to not be tempted!

 

[Bluegemz]

Omg please someone buy these so I stop looking at them whatsapp makes it so hard to not be tempted!

Oh god, this is too much...that second one is a heart breaker.