Tucson 2014

[PrecisionGem]

Seems like yellow danburite is the stone in the rough world. These are a bright yellow coming from Tanzania.

 

[royalstarrynight]

Thanks for dropping in and letting us know what's hot this year! Don't keep anything back

 

[pregcurious]

Thanks, Gene. I know almost nothing about Danburite. Would you consider this more of a collectors' stone? Are the pieces large enough to make good stones for pendants or earrings? It sounds like it may be too soft for rings that are worn daily?

 

[LoversKites]

Thanks for that info. I've only ever seen colourless danburite being sold online.

 

[OTL]

Danburite is a crystalline mineral similar to topaz.

Its chemical formula is CaB2(SiO4)2. It has a Mohs hardness of 7 to 7.5 and a specific gravity of 3.0. The mineral has an orthorhombic crystal form. It is usually colourless, like quartz, but can be also either pale yellow, yellowish-brown, or pink.

Cleavage
{001} Poor

Fracture
Subconchoidal

Mohs scale hardness
7 - 7.5

Luster
Vitreous - Greasy

I would assume it has a luster similar to a Topaz. I know a dealer specialized in Burma/Mogok stones says danburite is the next hot burma stone. This was at the end of last year. I personally don't have strong feelings for them though. The canary yellow ones with good cutting can be delicious. But the cleavage makes me hesitate.

My 2 cents

 

[pregcurious]

Perhaps I am wrong, but I think poor cleavage is a good thing. Doesn't that mean that a stone is less likely to cleave and is therefore more durable?

 

[OTL]

Perhaps I am wrong, but I think poor cleavage is a good thing. Doesn't that mean that a stone is less likely to cleave and is therefore more durable?

Thanks for clarification. Guess I was wrong.

 

[FrekeChild]

Was that information taken from the wikipedia page?

 

[minousbijoux]

Perhaps I am wrong, but I think poor cleavage is a good thing. Doesn't that mean that a stone is less likely to cleave and is therefore more durable?

Good catch, Preg. Its one of those semi confusing uses of the term; "strong" or "weak" would have been clearer.

 

[OTL]

Was that information taken from the wikipedia page?

Yes. I just googled.

 

[innerkitten]

Seems like yellow danburite is the stone in the rough world. These are a bright yellow coming from Tanzania.

Is it some kind of beryl?

 

[PrecisionGem]

Just got back from GJX and AGTA shows. Spinel and tsavorite prices are through the roof.

 

[jbkhere]

Seems like yellow danburite is the stone in the rough world. These are a bright yellow coming from Tanzania.

Ooooohhh! Yellow danburite has been on my short list for awhile!

 

[T L]

Just got back from GJX and AGTA shows. Spinel and tsavorite prices are through the roof.

Blue and violet spinel too?

 

[Starzin]

Just got back from GJX and AGTA shows. Spinel and tsavorite prices are through the roof.

Oh dear... not good all round, either for you or us. Hope you'll find something both appealing and affordable over the coming days.

 

[T L]

Seems like yellow danburite is the stone in the rough world. These are a bright yellow coming from Tanzania.

Is it some kind of beryl?

No, it is its own gem species. It has a nice luster, and takes a nice polish, from what I've seen. However, the refraction is similar to topaz.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danburite

 

[endless_summer]

Just got back from GJX and AGTA shows. Spinel and tsavorite prices are through the roof.

Oh dear... not good all round, either for you or us. Hope you'll find something both appealing and affordable over the coming days.

Ahhhhhh…these were on my 'one day' list - thinking they'll need to be on the 'save for one day, many, many days from now' list - I feel like Tsav has been going through the roof from what I can gather reading here and elsewhere, but I guess the sky is the limit

And, yes - cheers to something appealing and affordable!

 

[PrecisionGem]

Just got back from GJX and AGTA shows. Spinel and tsavorite prices are through the roof.

Blue and violet spinel too?

Any kind of spinel was up. Saw some nice violets and they were pretty darn expensive. Depending on size etc prices for nice pieces $2000 to $6000 per ct. Tsavorite $2000 and up. Saw a suite of three stones all around 10 ct at $15,000 per ct.

 

[T L]

Just got back from GJX and AGTA shows. Spinel and tsavorite prices are through the roof.

Blue and violet spinel too?

Any kind of spinel was up. Saw some nice violets and they were pretty darn expensive. Depending on size etc prices for nice pieces $2000 to $6000 per ct. Tsavorite $2000 and up. Saw a suite of three stones all around 10 ct at $15,000 per ct.

What constitutes a "nice" piece in regards to blue/violet spinel?

 

[OTL]

Just got back from GJX and AGTA shows. Spinel and tsavorite prices are through the roof.

Blue and violet spinel too?

Any kind of spinel was up. Saw some nice violets and they were pretty darn expensive. Depending on size etc prices for nice pieces $2000 to $6000 per ct. Tsavorite $2000 and up. Saw a suite of three stones all around 10 ct at $15,000 per ct.

What carat weight for this price?

 

[NKOTB]

Just got back from GJX and AGTA shows. Spinel and tsavorite prices are through the roof.

Blue and violet spinel too?

Any kind of spinel was up. Saw some nice violets and they were pretty darn expensive. Depending on size etc prices for nice pieces $2000 to $6000 per ct. Tsavorite $2000 and up. Saw a suite of three stones all around 10 ct at $15,000 per ct.

What constitutes a "nice" piece in regards to blue/violet spinel?

None of yours, I'm sure, TL. You should just offload yours as quickly as you can.

 

[T L]

Thanks NKOTB. LOL!

 

[Starzin]

OTL - those are per carat prices for rough Gene is quoting!!

 

[PrecisionGem]

No that is per ct for cut. Sizes like 3 ct and up. Hot red/pink from Tanzania was even more. Some big pieces (10 ct) at $12,000 per ct. And these are wholesale shows... I did see some big rubies for $2 per ct however!

It did to me seem like there was a lot of emerald around. I didn't look into the pricing as it not a stone I typically work with.

 

[NKOTB]

Thanks NKOTB. LOL!

Anytime. I like to help.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Just got back from GJX and AGTA shows. Spinel and tsavorite prices are through the roof.

Blue and violet spinel too?

Any kind of spinel was up. Saw some nice violets and they were pretty darn expensive. Depending on size etc prices for nice pieces $2000 to $6000 per ct. Tsavorite $2000 and up. Saw a suite of three stones all around 10 ct at $15,000 per ct.

 

[Starzin]

No that is per ct for cut. Sizes like 3 ct and up. Hot red/pink from Tanzania was even more. Some big pieces (10 ct) at $12,000 per ct. And these are wholesale shows... I did see some big rubies for $2 per ct however!

Thanks for the correction Gene.

Do I see some recuts in your future?

 

[LoversKites]

No that is per ct for cut. Sizes like 3 ct and up. Hot red/pink from Tanzania was even more. Some big pieces (10 ct) at $12,000 per ct. And these are wholesale shows... I did see some big rubies for $2 per ct however!

It did to me seem like there was a lot of emerald around. I didn't look into the pricing as it not a stone I typically work with.

Ooh maybe this will be my year to find my dream emerald.

Thanks again for all this info.

I wonder if tsav prices will ever go down again and I'm surprised at purple spinel peaking at 6k a carat at a wholesale show!

 

[eos512]

I got several pics from my friend
here comes the pics

 

[eos512]

And more~