How would you grade this Dendritic Agate?

[chictomato]

Hi there dendritic agate seems to be very inexpensive stones. I am very much attracted to the fern-like patterns. I was wondering how do you grade a dendritic agate? translucency? origin? Some of them are from Indonesia and Brazil, what are the differences? Though they are affordable quartz, i have came across synthetic ones as well, just wanna share This piece is from Indonesia and is translucent, is it hard to come by? or rather common? tks

 

[chrono]

That “picture” is common so it will be inexpensive. The expensive ones have very complex pictures of complete scenery much like a painting and some like the ones that show the letters of the alphabet.

 

[Sagebrush]

Chictomato,

Chrono is on the right track here, its all about the composition. The factors are those borrowed from the fine arts. The positioning of the image, the balance of the composition, the beauty of the composition.

Generally speaking, transparency or what I call "crystal" is a grading criteria in agate particularly in stones like chrysocolla (gem silica) but that would mean the color is also important and in your example it is less so. I would certainly pay more for a pure white than a yellowish white unless the juxtapostion of background and color of the composition worked better.

Beauty, as always, is the defining criterion.

 

[chictomato]

Thank you Richard and Chrono!

 

[rparker1998]

Ok, just had to chime in with mine....I too love the lacey/fernesque patterns. I have a pendant as well as this ring, they are very large dendritic quartz. I can post the pendant if you''d like upon request

 

[chictomato]

Date: 11/26/2009 9:21:38 PM
Author: rparker1998
Ok, just had to chime in with mine....I too love the lacey/fernesque patterns. I have a pendant as well as this ring, they are very large dendritic quartz. I can post the pendant if you''d like upon request

That is pretty! Pls do post your pendant too! May I know if they are set in silver or wg? did you get the setting custom-made? tks

 

[oddoneout]

Beautiful examples.