Chrysoberyl pics

[ephsea]

Picked this from the local jeweler - looked like it had been there a *long* time. The color is more green in person, also this one exhibits some good dispersion in the right light? Plenty of rainbow sparkles - it held it's own in a case near diamonds! Price was retail for a 1.11ct chryso, but I sure didn't mind for that color. This is why I can't save up enough to get Jerry working on that rough... Besides being a terrible person, how'd I do?

 

[ephsea]

Two more, last one shows some of those fireworks. I don't feel qualified to grade a stone, but it's *way* past eye clean...

 

[Marlow]

good dispersion. ......
rainbow sparkles.....

could be a sphene too. Do you see the pavillion facet doubled looking through the table facet???

 

[ephsea]

I've been thinking exactly the same thing, wanted opinions... I dont *think* I see the pavilion doubled, but am unsure. Having never seen a sphene in person before doesn't help either. The tag at the store said only "Beryl", to make matters murkier. When questioned, the owner said "I call this stone Green Beryl." I suppose a magnifying glass would help? If it turns out to be a sphene I will need to return it, as I planned on setting it into a ring someday.

 

[Marlow]

Do you see a lot of red flashes? This is a sign it could be a sphene.

Sphene often looks a bit "blurry" ( hope the right word - in german "verwaschen"). The doubling of the pavillion facets viewing with a loupe is VERY strong.

Return the stone.... depends on the price. Sphene is beautiful - to soft for ring but I love it.

If it is a chrysoberyl the color is very nice!!!

Other possiblities: Zircon or Sphalerite ( rare and soft - don't think so)

 

[T L]

Well some people on this forum have set sphene with success, and enjoy wearing them. If you plan on always wearing it and you're hard on your rings, then I wouldn't

 

[pregcurious]

Looks pretty.

 

[ephsea]

Thanks for the advice Marlow. Under a loupe the doubling was very apparent, so I've taken it back. The owner at first insisted it was a beryl, and when that didn't work began insisting that a sphene would be fine for a daily-wear bezel set man's ring. What a snake! It was super-lovely, but not what I was looking for. The hunt for a nice cushion chryso continues...

 

[Niel]

My chryso has fire. Mostly green and and a bit of orange. Not an entire rainbow.

 

[ephsea]

It had lots of red sparkle as well, so seems obvious now (after checking with you wonderful people). I'm still pretty steamed over the *gall* of that jeweler...

 

[pregcurious]

That is unfortunate. I don't think it's a beryl either. Yellow beryl, or heliodor, has a low refractive index (like all beryl including emerald and aquamarine) and will not sparkle the way you are describing.

 

[Marlow]

Was it expensive? Course it is a very nice gem!

The color is typical for Sphene from Madagascar. A Chrysoberyl in this color would be very desirable - a mix of yellow with green.

 

[T L]

Chrysoberyl is often confused as sphene. I've seen it happen online too. I don't know why when the double refraction and higher fire for sphene is so much more apparent. I could rather see yellow zircon being a more confused substitute for sphene.

 

[chrono]

Such a pity, that colour is fantastic for a chrysoberyl but I'm glad the mystery is cleared and you got your refund. There's no way it could have been a beryl.

 

[alexah]

Not sure what your budget is, but this mixed cushion on Dana's site is just

http://mastercutgems.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=7715