I need Rough Tourmaline

[afrogems]

I am looking to buy rough tourmaline. I'll like to have a variety of colours i.e. Blue, Green, Pink. What do you think the prices will be for top grade gem quality stones?

 

[QuantumStuff]

There are a few websites that advertise tourmaline rough. There are exceptional pieces that are >$150/carat and then the more typical stuff is anywhere from $20-$50/carat.

www.Dansstarrgems.com has a good selection

Check Gemologyonline marketplace as well.

 

[afrogems]

Thanks for the tip bit I am looking for natural uncut rough stones.I understand that sizes are a great influence on the prices.

Any help will be welcome. I also need sources.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Most posters on PS are consumers, buying finished gems and not rough. A professional lapidary and gemology forum will probably give you better answers.

 

[GregS]

I don't know of a single website that offers worth while rough. Select Facet Rough is a group on Facebook that has decent looking rough pop up from time to time, mostly Rubellite.

 

[MJO]

These are 2 places I used to buy rough from. Brian Norton was one of the first to discover the Purple Mozambique Tourmaline was copper bearing. He sold some dark purple stones for $100/ct years ago.

http://www.minedirect.com

http://www.briannorton.com

 

[marymm]

I bought two pieces of rough from John Garsow (http://johngarsow.com/), and the items were exactly as photographed and described.

I also bought two pieces of rough from eBay vendor wgnm-trading (http://www.ebay.com/usr/wgnm_trading?_trksid=p2047675.l2559), and again the pieces were as photographed/described.

I tried once to buy rough from Peter Brush/WesternGems.com (for some reason I think wgnm-trading is his eBay storefront, but I may be wrong), but after the PayPal transaction went through, I then heard nothing for over 2 weeks (no order confirmation, no shipping notification, nothing). I finally emailed him and asked for a refund, which was promptly given (along with a note that he didn't know what had happened to that rough...? I don't know what that means)

 

[SparkliesLuver]

Hilmar Bosch is sort of the place/vendor for rough.

http://www.africangemstones.co.za/

 

[marymm]

Depending on what exactly you're looking for, maybe John Betts Fine Minerals is an option... here's a link to his Tourmalines - http://www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com/jhbnyc/tourmal.htm