shape
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padparadscha color

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zeolite

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Newest rock in my collection. What is it?

4749gar.jpg
 

chrono

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Garnet?
Maybe imperial topaz?
 

zeolite

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Try picture again, with warmer adjustment. That first one had a hint of purple, not quite right.

47491gar.jpg
 

zeolite

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Gosh, I can''t fool you. Marketed as Imperial garnet, from Lindi, Tanzania (new area for garnets). Lindi is near the coast, Indian Ocean, just north of Mozambique border. The name imperial is taken from pink-orange topaz, only available to the Russian Czar''s family, and mined in Russia.

Technically, it is pyrope spessartine, sub group Malaya, 1.75 cts. It is one of the most pastel of my pastel garnet collection, with brilliance that would blow away most diamonds. It is so bright that instead of my black background, I used medium gray instead. Even so, the gray went nearly black to record its brilliance.

I have a calibrated eyeball for refractive index in pastel garnets, since I have so many. I estimated the R.I.=1.750. Then I measured it: R.I.=1.751
 

innerkitten

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Pretty! Do you have anymore shots of this stone?
 

chrono

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Cool stuff, Zeolite. I''ve heard of this imperial garnet too, which is why I guessed it.
 

zeolite

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Here are two more tries. I can''t get the lighting right. I''m going to have to make a new, special diffuser. I think this garnet is quite beautiful. It will become one of my favorites, even though it is small.

verthorizgar.jpg
 

Gailey

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Mr Z, lovely, lovely stone.

I have a question for you. What is your preferred method of purchasing, via internet, or in person? Obviously, I''m not asking you to reveal your sources, I just wonder how you do it.
 

innerkitten

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Thanks for posting more pics. It''s a beautiful color!
 

platinumrock

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Oh my gosh, that is beautiful! What an amazing color!
30.gif


I also thought it was an Imperial Topaz.
 

chrono

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Define small. Your small is probably my big.
9.gif
 

zeolite

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Date: 4/8/2009 10:01:29 PM
Author: Gailey
Mr Z, lovely, lovely stone.

I have a question for you. What is your preferred method of purchasing, via internet, or in person? Obviously, I''m not asking you to reveal your sources, I just wonder how you do it.
I tried buying on the internet, and found the hue and saturation of the pictures to be so inaccurate, that buying that way was useless. It does help if the internet company has a good return policy, but even then, registered or insured mail gets expensive. Especially if you are as picky as I am.

I buy exclusively in person, once a year, at the Tucson Gem shows, where I can see tens of thousands of gems side by side, and can compare prices, without running up shipping charges. The many gems I have shown here on PS, have been collected over a 25 year period. It is not a collection you could assemble in one year, even with unlimited cash.

Also, in reality there are too many sellers in the one month Tucson period, so it is really a buyers market. Tucson doesn''t help most Pricescope people, who want to buy throughout the year, instead of once per year.

I discovered early in my buying that most colored stones are poorly cut, so I located about 6 top cutters, and at first had them recut my gems. Most good cutters don''t like and will not take recutting jobs, since they make more money selling their own cut gems. So I spent much time in their booths getting acquainted with the appearance of the finest cutting, and I bought many of their gems.

Then I bought my cutting machine. For about 20 years now, I buy mainly rough, with much of it put away (stored) to be cut later.
 

ma re

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Wow, that''s a really nice stone! Your collection is awsome Mr. Z!
 

Catmom

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Oooooo, very pretty. Love the color!
 

Gailey

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Date: 4/8/2009 10:54:57 PM
Author: zeolite

Date: 4/8/2009 10:01:29 PM
Author: Gailey
Mr Z, lovely, lovely stone.

I have a question for you. What is your preferred method of purchasing, via internet, or in person? Obviously, I''m not asking you to reveal your sources, I just wonder how you do it.
I tried buying on the internet, and found the hue and saturation of the pictures to be so inaccurate, that buying that way was useless. It does help if the internet company has a good return policy, but even then, registered or insured mail gets expensive. Especially if you are as picky as I am.

I buy exclusively in person, once a year, at the Tucson Gem shows, where I can see tens of thousands of gems side by side, and can compare prices, without running up shipping charges. The many gems I have shown here on PS, have been collected over a 25 year period. It is not a collection you could assemble in one year, even with unlimited cash.

Also, in reality there are too many sellers in the one month Tucson period, so it is really a buyers market. Tucson doesn''t help most Pricescope people, who want to buy throughout the year, instead of once per year.

I discovered early in my buying that most colored stones are poorly cut, so I located about 6 top cutters, and at first had them recut my gems. Most good cutters don''t like and will not take recutting jobs, since they make more money selling their own cut gems. So I spent much time in their booths getting acquainted with the appearance of the finest cutting, and I bought many of their gems.

Then I bought my cutting machine. For about 20 years now, I buy mainly rough, with much of it put away (stored) to be cut later.
Maybe I''m getting quite good at the old guessing game, I guessed this one! Did you cut this one Mr Z? Have you thought about putting all your stones in the gallery here?
 

zeolite

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Define small. Your small is probably my big.


I’d prefer above two carats. However size is relative. I have 8 yellow grossulars and the largest is 3.76 cts. I have 5 tsavorites and 3 green grossulars and the largest is 3.04 cts. But I select by hue, saturation, tone and cut. Size is near the lowest consideration.


Your collection is awsome Mr. Z!


Thank you Mr. ma re


Did you cut this one Mr Z?


Yes


Have you thought about putting all your stones in the gallery here?


I didn’t know it existed.


 
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