Help with aquaprase

[Girl_in_green]

Hello everyone. I know little about quality aquaprase and need help. I have a large, round blue-green aquaprase that I am thinking of setting, but I need to know if it’s worth putting in yellow gold. (It’s snowing outside, so I will add a picture later.) The color is beautiful, but it is uneven or “cloudy”. Is this normal for this species, or did I end up with a lower grade specimen?

Thank you!

 

[digdeep]

Here's the GIA article with pic's and yes, this is a chalcedony- not a crystal with transparency.

https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/winter-2015-gemnews-new-natural-color-bluish-green-chalcedony

There doesn't seem to be much of this stuff at this time and if it stays that way then it may become more valued........I know it's even sold in matrix which I would definitely not set in gold.

I have a ring that was sold as "prehnite"...... I ordered an aquaprase from Barry because I thought it was a cool stone. That was when I discovered my prehnite was really aquaprase. I like mine in silver or white metals.......

 

[Rfisher]

If you think your stone is pretty and will wear it when set- it's most absolutely worth it to use gold.
This is my loose stone from Barry at ACS

The only reason it's not set in yellow gold is because I had the opportunity to buy SparkliesLuver's aquaprase ring in white gold. I don't have any pics of it by itself....You can see pics of it in this thread: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/gia-article-on-aquaprase.220063/

Post pictures of yours- I'd love to see it!

 

[digdeep]

This stone does shift color a bit between a green or blue tone.......... I assume others see this too. At times it is totally aqua.......then it can be greenish--especially around the edge of the cab.

 

[Bluegemz]

This stone does shift color a bit between a green or blue tone.......... I assume others see this too. At times it is totally aqua.......then it can be greenish--especially around the edge of the cab.

It’s really beautiful! So soft and silky looking. Amazingly gorgeous color too.

 

[Girl_in_green]

Hi bigdeep and rfisher. Thanks so much for the info. Your cabs are beautiful. I will post pics tomorrow if the sun comes out. It’s very glowy and just don’t know about the lack of uniformity and consistency of the stone. Some parts of it are more opaque than the rest. The best way I can describe it is “cloudy”. Hopefully, I can capture this phenomenon in a photo.

 

[digdeep]

I'm not sure where you purchased this gem but on Barry's site saw his description that match's yours...... http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=36&idproduct=5155

So, evidently the cloud like formations are pretty common! Barry knows these stones..........

 

[Girl_in_green]

Hi Bigdeep. Yes, I have seen that on Barry’s website, too. My stone isn’t quite like that. I finally had a chance to get some photos and hopefully you can see what I am referring to.

 

[Rfisher]

I think your cab is beautiful!

 

[minousbijoux]

I think your cab is beautiful!

Me too! Absolutely set that piece of gorgeous!

 

[digdeep]

I agree on the beauty of your cab! Honestly I don't see the cloudiness........ on your hand I see the translucent coloring that I see in my stone. I don't see anything that is askew from what I've seen in other chalcedony--it's the nature of light in these gems. LOVE your stone!!

 

[digdeep]

One more trick...........does the "lightness" on the rim shift as you move the gem back and forth or rotate it? It looks like it does on the last picture.......and that is a function of light on the chalcedony. Just trying to figure out how to define it.......it is different than transparent based gems. Many chalcedony's can be so heavy that light doesn't show through as much as what I'm seeing in your gem and in the higher quality non matrix Aqauprase. Does this make sense?

 

[Girl_in_green]

Thank you so much, digdeep , rfisher and minousbijoux! Digdeep, the last picture best shows the “mottled” unevenness the best. It does also exhibit the lightness in the rim shift, as you described. (Great depiction, by the way.)
It sounds like a thumbs up from everybody, though. I plan on having it bezel set. Should I leave the back open?

 

[digdeep]

Yes, leave the back open..........one way to see how it will look bezeled is to wrap a small amount of foil around the stone....Like a bezel. That will give you an idea how it will look with an open back too. I'm wondering if the wispy cloudlike forms (I think I finally saw them!) are less visible from the top down? Like the pic on your hand?

 

[Rfisher]

my ring here is set with a closed back. I don't think it matters much because the bezel side is enclosed, and the dome is so high. The pics actually do not show it's translucence very well at all. However when I was planning on setting the loose one- (yellow gold!) I would have opted for open back.
Both are sunlight, indirect and direct.

I love love the size and shape of yours. Be sure to come back with pics when you get it done!

 

[Girl_in_green]

Thank you, digdeep and rfisher. This is very helpful. Digdeep, the cloudiness is still visible from the top down (I had to go look again in the light).
I will certainly come back with pictures when I have the finished product. Now to decide on an artist...If anybody has any suggestions, let me know...

 

[Rfisher]

Heart of water is extremely easy to work with. Sending the stone there is somewhat concerning when not living in the same country as her, but talk with her for guidance. Lovely work. Good pricing. Great experience.
David Klass if you know what you want him to execute.

 

[Girl_in_green]

Thank you Rfisher! Btw, I keep staring at your ring. It’s just beautiful!

 

[Rfisher]

Thank you Rfisher! Btw, I keep staring at your ring. It’s just beautiful!

Why thank you.
The ring was done by Julia Kay Taylor and the only reason I did not suggest her to you is that when I contacted her a couple of years ago on something else, she was not interested. I got the impression from her and someone else who has multiple of her items (recent work) that she only works anymore with people she's already established relationships with.

 

[Girl_in_green]

Hi Rfisher,
Julia does nice work. I’ve seen some of her other examples and they are unique. It’s too bad she doesn’t take new clients.

 

[GliderPoss]

Oooooh set that baby STAT! what a luscious green cab - lucky you! Can’t wait to see the result....

 

[Acinom]

Gorgeous green round cab!! I would send it to David Klass for the setting.

 

[Girl_in_green]

Thank you, Hotpozzum and Acinom! I have contacted several artists and will let all of you know what I decide.

 

[Turquoise Obsession]

I was looking for a couple years for this material in the rough and finally am in contact with the miner in Africa. Prior to connecting with him, I was able to purchase a nice and clean kilogram and am currently having it cut by Erik Martinez, a Master gem carver who specializes in chalcedony. We cut a couple pieces here before sending it out and while pretty free of inclusions, it's quite light blue. I'm excited to see what the rest of the rough yields and have arranged to purchase another 10 kilograms of the rough in AAA and some B grades with the skin to see how it looks. I'll keep you posted on grades as I learn!

 

[Turquoise Obsession]

This stone does shift color a bit between a green or blue tone.......... I assume others see this too. At times it is totally aqua.......then it can be greenish--especially around the edge of the cab.

Same with the rough

 

[Turquoise Obsession]

Hi Bigdeep. Yes, I have seen that on Barry’s website, too. My stone isn’t quite like that. I finally had a chance to get some photos and hopefully you can see what I am referring to.

This piece is absolutely stunning and I also have some gem Silica that has these areas that are more saturated just like I can see in some of the rough pieces I have of aquaprase. It's almost like "clouds" of the color going through the stone but it's not cloudy. (There are also white inclusions in some of the material that IS actually cloudy, though)