Pandora??

[LostSapphire]

I was reading your post about your father and grandfather collecting/studying gemstones, and found it so interesting.

I've often wondered, and perhaps you can answer, what kind of joy does one get out of collecting lose gemstones, versus stones set into rings/pendants, etc?

Do you feel differently about loose stones? Do you collect them by colour? origin? rough versus cut?

I'm not a *collector* of either: have never had oodles of rings. Just a few carefully selected pieces.

But I am becoming more fascinated with the idea of loose.

....just wondering....

LS


ETA: er...sorry, I hit submit before realizing I hadn't titled the thread appropriately...Pandora II

 

[GemRite]

I started as a rock hound, and went to the university to study Geology. Then I found that I love gemology more, and fine crystrals. I slowly moved from collecting fine specimens to collecting fine and rare gems. I also started cutting them as well, this gives me an edge in my collecting ability

Faceting is the high light of my career. I have done many things , but none comes close to cutting gems. I also started to learn goldsmithing, though I am not a master of it. Gem cutting I have many years under my belt but goldsmithing only started a couple years or more. The rarity, the colors, things people never get to see, and also having the old pirate''s mentality of the treaure hoarding.

I know some people collect for investments and some collect for the love of gems. I love to pull them all out in trays and gaze upon them. My pretties!

John B.
Faceter

 

[LostSapphire]

Date: 8/19/2008 8:38:06 PM
Author: GemRite
I started as a rock hound, and went to the university to study Geology. Then I found that I love gemology more, and fine crystrals. I slowly moved from collecting fine specimens to collecting fine and rare gems. I also started cutting them as well, this gives me an edge in my collecting ability

Faceting is the high light of my career. I have done many things , but none comes close to cutting gems. I also started to learn goldsmithing, though I am not a master of it. Gem cutting I have many years under my belt but goldsmithing only started a couple years or more. The rarity, the colors, things people never get to see, and also having the old pirate''s mentality of the treaure hoarding.

I know some people collect for investments and some collect for the love of gems. I love to pull them all out in trays and gaze upon them. My pretties!

John B.
Faceter

Thank you Gemrite.

So, do you collect things due to their colour? cut? size? origin? what do you use to decide what to buy?

Are "faceting" and "cutting" the same thing?

LS

 

[GemRite]

Yeah, I refer to faceting as cutting. I try to cover as many types of stones as possible, then go through the color range of each stone. I then try to vary the cut to spread it out. But always looking for the allusive stones, or really rare ones. Benitoite I may never see a piece of rough, but it is on my list of to cut and collect. When collecting I stay away from stones that were treated other than low heat. Like tanzanites or aquamarines, were it is acceptable. When collecting I go for the rarity, like with untreated sapphires and rubies. Orgin is ok, but difficult to verify. A few places labs like GIA can test for it. I know that a lot of the Thai''s stones that always saying from Burma, and usually bought from Africa and relabled. Like with the Brazilians and paraiba tourmaline from the Africian sources (Mozambique and Nigeria). With my stones, I bring them in rough form direct from the country of origin. I know all are not able to have the luxury of this, but just know your supplier or jeweler really well. Some inclusions are acceptable, they are a small markers of origin and verify that they are natural. Of course you never want a heavily included stone. Just a few thoughts of my gem madness

John B.
Faceter

 

[jewelerman]

lost,
I love jewelry and being able to carry a treasured stone around in a ring, tie tack or pendant...but there is something about being able to put a loose stone of any quality between your fingers or tweezers and look at it through a loupe or just in the light of a window...ive never met a stone that i didnt like...no matter the size or quality...there is great fun in even the most flawed or off color stone or gem material!

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 8/19/2008 8:06:39 PM
Author:LostSapphire
I was reading your post about your father and grandfather collecting/studying gemstones, and found it so interesting.

I've often wondered, and perhaps you can answer, what kind of joy does one get out of collecting lose gemstones, versus stones set into rings/pendants, etc?

Do you feel differently about loose stones? Do you collect them by colour? origin? rough versus cut?

I'm not a *collector* of either: have never had oodles of rings. Just a few carefully selected pieces.

But I am becoming more fascinated with the idea of loose.

....just wondering....

LS


ETA: er...sorry, I hit submit before realizing I hadn't titled the thread appropriately...Pandora II

Pandora is better - I use Pandora II because Pandora was already taken and it's also a complicated play on Greek mythology that relates to my real name...

Anyway, back to the question...

I'm a collector/magpie by nature. I started off with fossils when I was 8, then graduated onto minerals when I was about 11 which then led naturally onto gemstones when I started having some disposable income.

I love my mineral collection and have some museum quality pieces, most of which I have collected myself - I specialise in Cornish minerals - some are outstandingly beautiful and others are deathly dull looking (but either very rare; unknown in that location before or complete a family). Obviously you can't really wear big chuncks of rock - and some are pretty poisonous as well - so I keep them in labelled boxes and get them out to play with occasionally.

I still collect minerals and fossils - but I only take home pieces that are new or better than my existing collection. I don't buy fossils, I like to collect my own, minerals I will occasionally buy a piece.

My gemstones I am now collecting by type - concentrating on garnets for the meantime. My aim is to complete the set by composition, and then add colour graduations to fill in the spaces between varieties.

So, I'd like a pyrope, an almandine, a spessartite, a demantoid (andradite), a grossular, a urovite, a pyrope/almandine, an almandine/pyrope, a pyrope/spessartite etc etc. Some of the in-betweens have other names - rhodolite/malaia/mali etc, but they are varieties of the above not separate species. I will be adding rough to the collection as well and rough in matrix showing crystal formations.

Not sure what will come next - potentially tourmalines as you can have nice families of those; or faceted quartz (a fine faceted rose quartz is a beautiful thing); or just rare and unusual. I have no interest in heated or treated stones, and I doubt I will ever be collecting sapphires - unless I win the lottery as I will never be able to afford the quality I like.

I get huge pleasure out of my loose stones - I like to feel them, look at them in different lights and with instruments - settings just get in the way! I sometimes buy pieces of jewellery and take the stones out and give the settings to my father for his jewellery course.

Taking my stone boxes out, removing the cover and seeing little box after little box each with a beautiful little piece of colour in it gives me huge pleasure. Sometimes I put a little box in my bag so I can carry it around and get it out to see in different lights. I like fine pieces so it takes a while to build a good collection - I suppose a lot of people wouldn't spend what I will just to keep it in a box.

I don't see the point in not buying the best you can afford.

I guess it's just the Fagin/pirate hoarder in me. My husband says I'm like a dragon guarding my cave of sparklies.

I don't get the same kick out of jewellery at all.

Gemrite, I do envy you on the faceting. I'm not allowed to even try it until I've finished my FGA and my DGA - orders from my husband!

 

[geckodani]

Date: 8/20/2008 6:54:36 AM
Author: Pandora II

I guess it''s just the Fagin/pirate hoarder in me. My husband says I''m like a dragon guarding my cave of sparklies.

I don''t get the same kick out of jewellery at all.

Gemrite, I do envy you on the faceting. I''m not allowed to even try it until I''ve finished my FGA and my DGA - orders from my husband!

What a great mental image, LOL!

 

[LostSapphire]

Date: 8/20/2008 6:54:36 AM
Author: Pandora II

Pandora is better - I use Pandora II because Pandora was already taken and it''s also a complicated play on Greek mythology that relates to my real name...

Anyway, back to the question...

I''m a collector/magpie by nature. I started off with fossils when I was 8, then graduated onto minerals when I was about 11 which then led naturally onto gemstones when I started having some disposable income.

I love my mineral collection and have some museum quality pieces, most of which I have collected myself - I specialise in Cornish minerals - some are outstandingly beautiful and others are deathly dull looking (but either very rare; unknown in that location before or complete a family). Obviously you can''t really wear big chuncks of rock - and some are pretty poisonous as well - so I keep them in labelled boxes and get them out to play with occasionally.

I still collect minerals and fossils - but I only take home pieces that are new or better than my existing collection. I don''t buy fossils, I like to collect my own, minerals I will occasionally buy a piece.

My gemstones I am now collecting by type - concentrating on garnets for the meantime. My aim is to complete the set by composition, and then add colour graduations to fill in the spaces between varieties.

So, I''d like a pyrope, an almandine, a spessartite, a demantoid (andradite), a grossular, a urovite, a pyrope/almandine, an almandine/pyrope, a pyrope/spessartite etc etc. Some of the in-betweens have other names - rhodolite/malaia/mali etc, but they are varieties of the above not separate species. I will be adding rough to the collection as well and rough in matrix showing crystal formations.

Not sure what will come next - potentially tourmalines as you can have nice families of those; or faceted quartz (a fine faceted rose quartz is a beautiful thing); or just rare and unusual. I have no interest in heated or treated stones, and I doubt I will ever be collecting sapphires - unless I win the lottery as I will never be able to afford the quality I like.

I get huge pleasure out of my loose stones - I like to feel them, look at them in different lights and with instruments - settings just get in the way! I sometimes buy pieces of jewellery and take the stones out and give the settings to my father for his jewellery course.

Taking my stone boxes out, removing the cover and seeing little box after little box each with a beautiful little piece of colour in it gives me huge pleasure. Sometimes I put a little box in my bag so I can carry it around and get it out to see in different lights. I like fine pieces so it takes a while to build a good collection - I suppose a lot of people wouldn''t spend what I will just to keep it in a box.

I don''t see the point in not buying the best you can afford.

I guess it''s just the Fagin/pirate hoarder in me. My husband says I''m like a dragon guarding my cave of sparklies.

I don''t get the same kick out of jewellery at all.

Gemrite, I do envy you on the faceting. I''m not allowed to even try it until I''ve finished my FGA and my DGA - orders from my husband!

Thank you Pandora.

I am finding this all really interesting. Especially how you seem to prefer them loose than in a setting! (heavens, it gets in the way!

)

So how did you decide on your ER? Was it a stone you loved and decided to set, or?

And, can you confirm that *cutting* and *faceting* are the same thing, or different?

I have always only had 2 rings, one on each hand. I am not genetically predisposed to wearing a lot of jewellry or even switching things around. So the idea of beauties in little containers is fascinating(actually, I think it''s the idea of boxes/little containers as that seems to be a bit of a fetish for me).

LS
LS

 

[MonkeyPie]

Date: 8/20/2008 1:20:19 PM
Author: LostSapphire

I have always only had 2 rings, one on each hand. I am not genetically predisposed to wearing a lot of jewellry or even switching things around. So the idea of beauties in little containers is fascinating(actually, I think it''s the idea of boxes/little containers as that seems to be a bit of a fetish for me).

LS

Ahahaha I am like this too! There''s just something about cute little boxes.
I want to eventually start collecting loose stones too, but I don''t have as much of a preference as Pandora - the only stone I would collect obsessively would be alexandrite, and since I can''t even afford ONE, that''s unlikely heh.

 

[Proteus]

LS, usually "cutting" refers to any lapidary work in general, (cabochons, slabbing, etc) but sometimes it's used as a (vague) term to mean faceting. But "faceting" specifically means facet cutting a gem.

I think the phenomenon of people using the term "cutting" in place of "faceting" comes from diamond cutting/faceting... since diamonds are only typically cut with facets, it's just assumed that "cutting" them is faceting them... and that habit spilled over to colored gems, which are worked in many different lapidary styles. Although, someone I know told me that he used to have a cabochon cut diamond. I'm skeptical... but I suppose it's possible!

Pandora, so you're going to learn to facet? It seems people either love it, or hate it... but finishing up your coursework first is a good idea... you don't need another thing driving you crazy, as faceting probably will at first

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 8/20/2008 4:42:51 PM
Author: Proteus
LS, usually 'cutting' refers to any lapidary work in general, (cabochons, slabbing, etc) but sometimes it's used as a (vague) term to mean faceting. But 'faceting' specifically means facet cutting a gem.

I think the phenomenon of people using the term 'cutting' in place of 'faceting' comes from diamond cutting/faceting... since diamonds are only typically cut with facets, it's just assumed that 'cutting' them is faceting them... and that habit spilled over to colored gems, which are worked in many different lapidary styles. Although, someone I know told me that he used to have a cabochon cut diamond. I'm skeptical... but I suppose it's possible!

Pandora, so you're going to learn to facet? It seems people either love it, or hate it... but finishing up your coursework first is a good idea... you don't need another thing driving you crazy, as faceting probably will at first

Too many interests at a time is distracting so is definitely a good plan to wait!

I have infinite patience and am very detail orientated, so it will probably appeal. The thing that will cause me to go crazy will be getting nearly to the end and breaking the wretched thing! I'd only want to do it for fun though.

I'm trying to convince my father to try it - he was an eye surgeon so it should be his kind of thing!

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 8/20/2008 1:20:19 PM
Author: LostSapphire

Thank you Pandora.

I am finding this all really interesting. Especially how you seem to prefer them loose than in a setting! (heavens, it gets in the way!

)

So how did you decide on your ER? Was it a stone you loved and decided to set, or?

And, can you confirm that *cutting* and *faceting* are the same thing, or different?

I have always only had 2 rings, one on each hand. I am not genetically predisposed to wearing a lot of jewellry or even switching things around. So the idea of beauties in little containers is fascinating(actually, I think it''s the idea of boxes/little containers as that seems to be a bit of a fetish for me).

LS
LS

Actually, my husband choose the type of stone for my e-ring. I''d shown him the Pokey Special and he was hooked. It was bought specifically for my ring and the setting was designed around the stone by both of us.

Lapidaries cut coloured gemstones and diamond-cutters cut diamonds. Faceting is a subset of cutting.

The boxes are very nice - I have glass fronted hinged cases that have 50 little square glass-topped boxes in each - I like the square ones not the round ones. I normally only have one stone in each, although I do have a pair of small chrome diopsides that share. Better for each to have it''s own case! Proper gem cases are important as they are designed to hold the stone against the glass which stops them moving around in the case.

 

[Proteus]

Date: 8/20/2008 4:57:58 PM
Author: Pandora II
Too many interests at a time is distracting so is definitely a good plan to wait!

I have infinite patience and am very detail orientated, so it will probably appeal. The thing that will cause me to go crazy will be getting nearly to the end and breaking the wretched thing! I''d only want to do it for fun though.

I''m trying to convince my father to try it - he was an eye surgeon so it should be his kind of thing!

You sound like the type who''d probably enjoy it! Patience is a big help with faceting. And it can consume alarming amounts of time - especially when you''re learning. Sometimes half a day would go by, and I''d hardly notice.
As far as breaking it at the very end, I''ve only had that happen twice in 10 years. One was a sphalerite which had a "ghost" fracture in it, which... let''s just say turned into a corporeal fracture, and I then had myself 2 sphalerites. The other was a golden apatite, which decided to shatter right as I was melting the dopwax off it. Oh well... The lesson here is: stay away from brittle and fractured stones, unless you''re prepared for possible breakage!

On the other hand, I''ve cut several other apatites and sphalerites without any problems at all. The worst thing about sphalerite, is that it smells like rotten eggs when it''s being cut. Usually if you just cut reasonably durable stuff, breakage is not a common thing at all.

I bet your dad would get a kick out of it. A lot of other faceters that I have met seem to either be doctors, or engineers... but largely engineers. It''s kind of funny, actually.

 

[Pandora II]

Good to know!

Sphalerite sounds yummy!

Pretty rock though!

Please do not enable me. My gemology tutor has just taken it up - I''m hoping to see some of his creations next time I see him.

 

[Proteus]

Date: 8/20/2008 5:34:45 PM
Author: Pandora II
Good to know!

Sphalerite sounds yummy!

Pretty rock though!

Please do not enable me. My gemology tutor has just taken it up - I''m hoping to see some of his creations next time I see him.

Hahaha - no pressure

Faceting is such a dying art, it''s just surprising to hear of someone being interested in it. Actually if you can get a hands-on demo of faceting from your tutor, that would be a great experience to test the water, so to speak. I dived right in, having known practically nothing about it. I am 100% self-taught, as there was no one else in my area who faceted. I could have avoided some mistakes if I had a mentor for advice - largely in the startup costs. Lapidary equipment is very expensive. There''s nothing like spending $100 on a faceting lap which you later discover that you hate. And they have no resale value... who wants a lap that already has some weird grit embedded into it? (I''d never buy a used lap, anyway..)

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 8/20/2008 5:50:54 PM
Author: Proteus

Hahaha - no pressure

Faceting is such a dying art, it''s just surprising to hear of someone being interested in it. Actually if you can get a hands-on demo of faceting from your tutor, that would be a great experience to test the water, so to speak. I dived right in, having known practically nothing about it. I am 100% self-taught, as there was no one else in my area who faceted. I could have avoided some mistakes if I had a mentor for advice - largely in the startup costs. Lapidary equipment is very expensive. There''s nothing like spending $100 on a faceting lap which you later discover that you hate. And they have no resale value... who wants a lap that already has some weird grit embedded into it? (I''d never buy a used lap, anyway..)

My tutor was bemoaning the cost of the set-up - I think he bought a second-hand one to start with and is teaching himself. Another reason why I can''t even think about it till.... well probably retirement

Here in London there is a course available which is very reasonable priced - I would definitely do that before investing in anything.

I have lots of weird and geeky hobbies - can I interest anyone in a nice baby python? I''m thinking of training them to guard my stones a la Campbell Bridges

 

[Proteus]

Date: 8/20/2008 6:17:09 PM
Author: Pandora II

My tutor was bemoaning the cost of the set-up - I think he bought a second-hand one to start with and is teaching himself. Another reason why I can''t even think about it till.... well probably retirement

Here in London there is a course available which is very reasonable priced - I would definitely do that before investing in anything.

I have lots of weird and geeky hobbies - can I interest anyone in a nice baby python? I''m thinking of training them to guard my stones a la Campbell Bridges

I recommend not buying a used machine... I bought my machine used, and it wasn''t worth it, honestly. You don''t get any warranty, and as much as I''ve spent repairing this one to get it accurate, I could have just bought a brand-new one originally.

The faceting course sounds good. At least you get free access to the equipment for a while!

Faceting certainly is a good old-fashioned geeky hobby. Do you breed pythons? My brother used to have 2 terrariums... full of Emperor scorpions (the largest variety.) There were something like 30 of them at the highest count. Not exactly a cuddly pet... but interesting in their own right. They worked wonders at keeping people out of the house

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 8/20/2008 6:33:05 PM
Author: Proteus

Date: 8/20/2008 6:17:09 PM
Author: Pandora II

My tutor was bemoaning the cost of the set-up - I think he bought a second-hand one to start with and is teaching himself. Another reason why I can''t even think about it till.... well probably retirement

Here in London there is a course available which is very reasonable priced - I would definitely do that before investing in anything.

I have lots of weird and geeky hobbies - can I interest anyone in a nice baby python? I''m thinking of training them to guard my stones a la Campbell Bridges

I recommend not buying a used machine... I bought my machine used, and it wasn''t worth it, honestly. You don''t get any warranty, and as much as I''ve spent repairing this one to get it accurate, I could have just bought a brand-new one originally.

The faceting course sounds good. At least you get free access to the equipment for a while!

Faceting certainly is a good old-fashioned geeky hobby. Do you breed pythons? My brother used to have 2 terrariums... full of Emperor scorpions (the largest variety.) There were something like 30 of them at the highest count. Not exactly a cuddly pet... but interesting in their own right. They worked wonders at keeping people out of the house

I have a pair of Royal Pythons who are devoted to each other - hoping to have some snakelets in the spring.

They''re very cuddly pets oddly enough and VERY nice natured. I''ve had mine for 7 and 6 years respectively and they''ve never even tried to bite anyone - they even curl up and go to sleep with my parent''s cats (not that I''d ever leave them alone just in case).

 

[LostSapphire]

Date: 8/20/2008 5:08:26 PM
Author: Pandora II

Actually, my husband choose the type of stone for my e-ring. I''d shown him the Pokey Special and he was hooked. It was bought specifically for my ring and the setting was designed around the stone by both of us.

Lapidaries cut coloured gemstones and diamond-cutters cut diamonds. Faceting is a subset of cutting.

The boxes are very nice - I have glass fronted hinged cases that have 50 little square glass-topped boxes in each - I like the square ones not the round ones. I normally only have one stone in each, although I do have a pair of small chrome diopsides that share. Better for each to have it''s own case! Proper gem cases are important as they are designed to hold the stone against the glass which stops them moving around in the case.

Oh my. I almost wonder if my box fetish could turn out to be expensive....Though if I bought a case with 50 boxes, I''d OCD on it until every box were filled with something...

But then again, I''m not good about snakes so would have to find something else to ''guard'' the stuff.

LS