Icy’s CS adventures

[icy_jade]

Sapphires hmm what sort of blue? Value wise Ceylon ones may really be better. Assuming no heat no treatment.

Those that don’t go black in bad lighting? I can’t rem the correct terminology offhand... need to check the colours again.

Actually just go with a budget and if the CS is within budget and has a decent memo. Heck. Just get it.

Life is short and the fairs don't come by often.

Unless you start planning shopping trips to source countries.

Bangkok and Hong Kong is possible... Myanmar and Sri Lanka is a bit too daunting. I love Africa but it’s too far.

OMG!!!! You have SUCH a collection!

One day I will ask you to help me find a pair of very basic pearl earrings!

Thank you! Let me know when you are interested in pearls. They can be very addictive.

You could have a different jade backsplash in each! That would thrill you!

Hahahahaha. So funny but I totally agree.

 

[icy_jade]

I’m going too! We should organise a singapore PS meet up! Maybe I’ll run into you there, I plan to go over the weekend

I’m flying to US this weekend so it’s Thur and maybe Fri for me if I see anything and need cooling period to think. Maybe also because I really need a break but work has been crazy busy and taking a break makes work crazier so I’m not sure taking Fri off is worth it...

If any one is free tomorrow, there is this jewellery auction by Lawsons taking place at Mandarin Hotel. All the pieces look expensive but it would be fun to ogle them during the preview. I can’t go but maybe one of you ladies can check it out!

https://www.lawsgov.com

Have you gone before? I’m always so tempted to go but it’s on Sunday and I can’t go cos kids...

 

[peacechick]

I’m flying to US this weekend so it’s Thur and maybe Fri for me if I see anything and need cooling period to think. Maybe also because I really need a break but work has been crazy busy and taking a break makes work crazier so I’m not sure taking Fri off is worth it...



Have you gone before? I’m always so tempted to go but it’s on Sunday and I can’t go cos kids...

It’s on Sat, tomorrow, if that makes it any better. No, I haven’t been before but my kid has a class so yeah, same reason...

 

[Burmesedaze]

Extinction I think. Dark areas in a CS?
A few examples of spinels sold in a local fb group for local buyers. Nicer colours and cut. No reds. But I consider them pricey. No lab memo.

Purple 5.37ct spinel. S$1900

 

[Burmesedaze]

3.03ct spinel. S$1400

 

[icy_jade]

Omg Squeeeeeee I'm so excited to see your stuff!!!!

Haha you need to post a few jade pics to start us out at least!

Ok I don’t have a lot but to start as you suggested...

Bangles... three, one pale icy green, one black and one white. Still hunting for a princess style bluish purple...

My first, and in my profile pic


Black


White... oddly is what I wear almost daily but I don’t have a wrist shot

 

[Burmesedaze]

I should so organise a gem hunting trip and everyone could fly in from Singapore and mellow could join from Oz!

 

[icy_jade]

Ok lemme post pics first... slow cos iphone/ipad... so if my responses r Super short, usually is cos one finger typing (esp on phone) is so painful...

While shopping and I bought the black but there was a beautiful purple my size. So so tempted but I recall price was scary high (since I buy to wear not display) so I held back. The other two were not princess style (I only like princess bangles).

Last pic is with my icy bangle.

 

[icy_jade]

And my pendants...

The white one has a reversible design that I’d customised. Am still keen to get purple and more icy cabs. But after the last ruyi (cloud?) pendant I don’t mind more intense greens too. Really love that green.

 

[icy_jade]

And last but not least, carved bracelet. Added a safety chain recently as I felt nervous wearing it since even the clasp is carved out of the same piece of jadeite. Really love this.

 

[Burmesedaze]

Rather dark and a tad opaque. 1.1 ct. No treatment. S$120 Only. Mogok sapphire. I can tell from the colour it's Bawmar mine

 

[icy_jade]

Extinction I think. Dark areas in a CS?
A few examples of spinels sold in a local fb group for local buyers. Nicer colours and cut. No reds. But I consider them pricey. No lab memo.

Purple 5.37ct spinel. S$1900

Do you mind sharing the address? I also see sellers on Carousell but a bit wary to buy... anyone has experience buying from Carousell sellers?

I should so organise a gem hunting trip and everyone could fly in from Singapore and mellow could join from Oz!

Yes! Or be our personal shopper? We will probably happily take stuff you reject, lol.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Wow you gave some beautiful stuff!

LOVE the green flatish donut pendant!

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Rather dark and a tad opaque. 1.1 ct. No treatment. S$120 Only. Mogok sapphire. I can tell from the colour it's Bawmar mine

Would this look totally black in real life?

See this is what's confusing me! You seem to be able to find these things for a few hundred but say if we head to Finewater who is a decent vendor they cost a whole lot more.

Which makes me wonder for us mere mortals without the access, what price points are fair.

 

[Burmesedaze]

Mogok spinel 2.34ct. Inclusion at bottom. S$1800. I suspect it's not as intense and probably darker IRL than in the photo. No memo.

 

[Burmesedaze]

Do you mind sharing the address? I also see sellers on Carousell but a bit wary to buy... anyone has experience buying from Carousell sellers?



Yes! Or be our personal shopper? We will probably happily take stuff you reject, lol.

No address. They are all Burmese sellers and it's all in Burmese. I use the fb translator ha ha. No cc payment too. All cash or local bank tt which my jewellers do for me.

The carousell sellers lift the pics off other fb sellers I suspect.

 

[icy_jade]

No address. They are all Burmese sellers and it's all in Burmese. I use the fb translator ha ha. No cc payment too. All cash or local bank tt which my jewellers do for me.

The carousell sellers lift the pics off other fb sellers I suspect.

Oh... Gosh so no hope for us then...

 

[Burmesedaze]

Would this look totally black in real life?

See this is what's confusing me! You seem to be able to find these things for a few hundred but say if we head to Finewater who is a decent vendor they cost a whole lot more.

Which makes me wonder for us mere mortals without the access, what price points are fair.

It's about building relations. I'm more like a family member or friend to my jewellers now and they find deals for me.

There are also retailers here that sell at Finewater or close to prices . But I'm really not fussy. A tad off centre culet, decent native cut, small window, slight inclusions I'm really ok with them and prefer it that way. Too perfect it may be dodge.

 

[Burmesedaze]

Mellow- probably very very dark blue in most lights and some nice flashes of blue in white and strong sunlight? Many ppl I know like them darker than lighter. Shrug.

 

[Burmesedaze]

Oh... Gosh so no hope for us then...

Let me recce Mogok later in the year if you all lmk in advance what you are interested in we can check out availability and price. A lot depends on luck too.

But like I told my jeweller, we can't say we are with her family friend who owns the sapphire mine. They will think that we are multi millionaires like her and quote the sky! FB is also awesome in knowing more Mogok sellers so we can visit them.

I really don't have a wishlist and just get whatever I think is reasonably nice, untreated and of decent value.

 

[Burmesedaze]

That purplish blue bangle is seriously stunning. Mountain jade but the colour is rich. My jewellers' jade mine used to have these but the colour deposit is since mined out. Uncle has a lot of rough but he's not selling. They keep for future generations to monetise. Not cheap too. They don't come in big chunks too.

 

[icy_jade]

That purplish blue bangle is seriously stunning. Mountain jade but the colour is rich. My jewellers' jade mine used to have these but the colour deposit is since mined out. Uncle has a lot of rough but he's not selling. They keep for future generations to monetise. Not cheap too. They don't come in big chunks too.

I decided to buy a 2 carat diamond instead of the bangle

It is very stunning. And it was my size. Such a rare combination as I need big bangles and they r not easy to find

 

[icy_jade]

That purplish blue bangle is seriously stunning. Mountain jade but the colour is rich. My jewellers' jade mine used to have these but the colour deposit is since mined out. Uncle has a lot of rough but he's not selling. They keep for future generations to monetise. Not cheap too. They don't come in big chunks too.

What’s mountain jade? Is there non-mountain jade then? What’s the difference?

 

[blingbunny10]

And last but not least, carved bracelet. Added a safety chain recently as I felt nervous wearing it since even the clasp is carved out of the same piece of jadeite. Really love this.

Wow! I’ve never seen a piece quite like this. Love it.

 

[Burmesedaze]

What’s mountain jade? Is there non-mountain jade then? What’s the difference?

River/water jadeite has high translucency since the impurities were tumbled and washed away by the water/river over eons, leaving the tumbled jadeite boulder behind. Glassy jadeite is river jadeite. Icy jadeite can be either mountain or river.

Mountain jadeite is more opaque and less translucent, often with more cracks and fractures within. They often contain more impurities too.

River jadeite is mined out in Myanmar. So most of the highly icy and glassy jadeite you see on sale are old stock or rough hoarded away from very many years ago.

 

[Burmesedaze]

Some river jadeite can also be more opaque. But they will almost inevitably have fewer fractures and impurities compared to mountain jadeite.

 

[Burmesedaze]

This purplish blue bangle is river jadeite from my jewellers' jade mine. Mined out for this colour, old stock. Small size. You can even see a tad of moss or algae within. It went for us$6000-8000 to another seller in the same compound but with a ground floor shopfront. Presumably went for higher than that. There were nicer ones when i first came but all sold out.

 

[Burmesedaze]

Not all are from their mine but these are interesting blue grey lav cabs.

 

[lovedogs]

Mogok spinel 2.34ct. Inclusion at bottom. S$1800. I suspect it's not as intense and probably darker IRL than in the photo. No memo.

Ahhh I should have had you find me a bright red spinel! I spent much more per ct. I need to find these Burmese FB pages!

 

[icy_jade]

Not all are from their mine but these are interesting blue grey lav cabs.

Omg I love these. Roughly how much for the ones you were holding in the 2nd pic?