What to look for in an apatite?

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

What do you look for in a nice apatite? And what do you do with them, since they''re pretty soft? Pendants?

How does this one look? (1.97 ct., no treatment, IF clarity, $295) Linky

Thanks!

 

[Harriet]

I'd look for screaming colour. And, yes, pendant. I like the one you posted.

 

[T L]

If you get one, be careful of who sets it. They also have a very low RI, and appear more "glassy" than other stones.

 

[marcy]

I would go with a pendant. Nice color.

 

[mochi]

That''s a beautiful blue!! I think Apatite is soft (someone correct me if I''m wrong). If so, I would do a pendant...

 

[T L]

Paraibainterntional states that the stone has a hardness of 4, in which case I wouldn't dare set it in anything without an expert doing the setting, and I'd only wear it on special occasions. However, I googled the hardness, and it's 5, a bit more durable, but still very soft.

The cuprite I'm getting has a harness of 4, and I'm keeping it locked away in a box as a collectible gem. Glass is harder at a 5.5.

 

[Pandora II]

Colour is everything.

Mine stay in their boxes - I''d be far too worried about having them set let alone worrying about wearing them, even as a pendant.

I spent sleepless nights worrying when my sphene were being set - it was worth it, but I only wear them on special occasions - but I wouldn''t put myself through it unless it was a stone I HAD to have as a wearable piece.

 

[shinyrocks]

Whoa! I''d say you found what to look for - color like that!

Looks like a good one. I have a couple myself. Like the others have mentioned, just be VERY careful how you wear it...

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Isn''t it stunning? There are so many stunning stones I want, all in the $300-$400 range. Ouch!