tapio
Shiny_Rock
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2009
- Messages
- 101
If you like green these may be of interest to you.
The first is a 12 ct. tsavorite: a fun, deep green little stone with an older cut - it's big enough to feel weighty between one's fingers. It feels like a stone - not a precious gem. In person the colour of the stone is like an imaginary green candy apple from The Emerald City. Sometimes it resembles verdant algae waving back and forth in the sun-dappled cataracts of a wilderness stream. Although barely visible with the eye it has wonderful inclusions which help add to the rich depth of the stone. I would much rather a stone with some inclusions rather than a stone free from inclusions - this is just me. I had the choice of inclusions or inclusion free and I chose a stone with inclusions.
The second is, to my senses, a wonderfully exotic over 50 ct. greenish sapphire cab. This one is a lot of fun. I call this one "pond scum" LOL. It's chunky and feels great in one's hand. It has a wonderful depth to the variety of: inclusions, the various colourings, the layering of transparency, translucency, opacity, as well as a very cool iridescent phenomena. The two are such a delightful contrast to look upon.
They are very personal stones. Meaning: I really like them, but I understand if other people do not like them as much. For those that like internally flawless stones - these will not be for you. I have posted them because I thought a few others may enjoy the differing variety of colours and textures as well. Again, they're not for everybody. I like to think of coloured stones as a church's stained glass windows. It is the impurities in the glass that makes the overall image beautiful. So it is with natural coloured stones.
For someone beginning to look at coloured stones I can not emphasis enough the importance of seeing: as many stones as possible in person(treated, untreated) in as many sizes as possible, see a multitude of cuts, and many different types of stones in the colour you like. For example if you like green look at: beryls, jades, tourmalines, garnets, malachite, moldavite, zircon, diopside... the list goes on. Go to museums, research, and become informed. Many people don’t want to do this much work. Think of your search as a treasure hunt and enjoy casting a broad net. Be patient. Don’t fence yourself in to one mineral. The characteristics I like are: untreated, beautiful (this can mean many different things; as seen in my two stones), reasonably durable, it does not have to be rare, it has to tell a story, and lastly I like a little heft to my stones. You will not have these personal tastes and that is okay - but you need to develop your own tastes. The point is that when choosing a stone; choose from a variety of stones so you may see all possibilities in many cuts, in many lights, with many magnifications, and take your time. After a while you will feel comfortable with the knowledge that you have gained. Only this way can you make a well counseled decision. For me, the tsavorite was a case of "Goldilocks & The Three Bears". I just liked this one - it was just right.
I hope someone else enjoys these beside me, but if not that is okay.
I'm trying to think of some cool and unusual setting. Skulls and crossbones? If anyone has some ideas regarding really fine and/or funky jewellers/goldsmiths, anywhere in the world, feel free to pass them on.
Cheers,
Tapio
(Now, to back to dive into anonymity for another few years)
N.B. I am not a photographer. Alas, they are poor photos
If I have some proper photos done I will post them in time. In the meantime my humble apologies for not making the stones shine to their finest.
The first is a 12 ct. tsavorite: a fun, deep green little stone with an older cut - it's big enough to feel weighty between one's fingers. It feels like a stone - not a precious gem. In person the colour of the stone is like an imaginary green candy apple from The Emerald City. Sometimes it resembles verdant algae waving back and forth in the sun-dappled cataracts of a wilderness stream. Although barely visible with the eye it has wonderful inclusions which help add to the rich depth of the stone. I would much rather a stone with some inclusions rather than a stone free from inclusions - this is just me. I had the choice of inclusions or inclusion free and I chose a stone with inclusions.
The second is, to my senses, a wonderfully exotic over 50 ct. greenish sapphire cab. This one is a lot of fun. I call this one "pond scum" LOL. It's chunky and feels great in one's hand. It has a wonderful depth to the variety of: inclusions, the various colourings, the layering of transparency, translucency, opacity, as well as a very cool iridescent phenomena. The two are such a delightful contrast to look upon.
They are very personal stones. Meaning: I really like them, but I understand if other people do not like them as much. For those that like internally flawless stones - these will not be for you. I have posted them because I thought a few others may enjoy the differing variety of colours and textures as well. Again, they're not for everybody. I like to think of coloured stones as a church's stained glass windows. It is the impurities in the glass that makes the overall image beautiful. So it is with natural coloured stones.
For someone beginning to look at coloured stones I can not emphasis enough the importance of seeing: as many stones as possible in person(treated, untreated) in as many sizes as possible, see a multitude of cuts, and many different types of stones in the colour you like. For example if you like green look at: beryls, jades, tourmalines, garnets, malachite, moldavite, zircon, diopside... the list goes on. Go to museums, research, and become informed. Many people don’t want to do this much work. Think of your search as a treasure hunt and enjoy casting a broad net. Be patient. Don’t fence yourself in to one mineral. The characteristics I like are: untreated, beautiful (this can mean many different things; as seen in my two stones), reasonably durable, it does not have to be rare, it has to tell a story, and lastly I like a little heft to my stones. You will not have these personal tastes and that is okay - but you need to develop your own tastes. The point is that when choosing a stone; choose from a variety of stones so you may see all possibilities in many cuts, in many lights, with many magnifications, and take your time. After a while you will feel comfortable with the knowledge that you have gained. Only this way can you make a well counseled decision. For me, the tsavorite was a case of "Goldilocks & The Three Bears". I just liked this one - it was just right.
I hope someone else enjoys these beside me, but if not that is okay.
I'm trying to think of some cool and unusual setting. Skulls and crossbones? If anyone has some ideas regarding really fine and/or funky jewellers/goldsmiths, anywhere in the world, feel free to pass them on.
Cheers,
Tapio
(Now, to back to dive into anonymity for another few years)
N.B. I am not a photographer. Alas, they are poor photos
If I have some proper photos done I will post them in time. In the meantime my humble apologies for not making the stones shine to their finest.
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