PDA

View Full Version : Stone porn......



MuranoSilver
06-04-2010, 06:41 PM
Well I thought that would get some viewing, lol
There are quite a few gorgeous gemstones out there (most of which I've probably not seen)
so feel free to add any gorgeous rocks for us to drool over...

It would be lovely to find out about rocks and gems that I've never seen
plus how often does a jeweller say "I'll show you mine if you show me yours, lol!
(well Geti probably says it every day :">)
Nic xx
P.S> Despite the thread title this isn't a thread about rocks that look like thingamies :-"

MuranoSilver
06-04-2010, 06:43 PM
Here's a few Ammolite Cabs from my Flickr photos....
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2792/4497156211_a6e71e80aa.jpg
There's a lot more info on this site (http://www.windspirit.co.uk/ammolite/ammolite.htm)
nic xx

MuranoSilver
06-04-2010, 06:54 PM
Also love Petrified Wood ~ I got these for £6.00 per cab at a rock show
The oblong is 30mm x 20mm and has such pretty greeny grey streaks
http://www.muranosilver.com/images/fossil-wood.jpg
Not sure how robust a cab it is as I haven't set any yet...
Nic xx

jille
06-04-2010, 09:13 PM
I love those ammolites, Nic. i was looking at some recently and they were very expensive.
At the moment I have a thing for ocean jasper and I love drooling over the designer cabs site. The only thing when i buy cabs no matter where from I'm always a bit disappointed that they are smaller in reality than I had imagined. i know it's me and i should check with a ruler before buying.
I have loved semi precious stones for 30 years or so, since i met my dh who did geology at uni, call me/us nerds but i loved going out looking for geodes or fossils, not your typical date really.
i hope to get him cutting and polishing when he has a bit more time

Cathy at the Beach
06-04-2010, 11:54 PM
I think Ammolites come from Alberta (not too sure). They sure are gorgeous. I have not bought much in the way of stones since I do lampwork cabs...but I think I may have to hunt some down.

Nice rocks nic.

Sunnybank
07-04-2010, 09:37 AM
Love those ammolite cabs, I'm still in my stone infancy.

FiredSilver
07-04-2010, 09:50 AM
They're pretty Nic, when I get a chance I'll take some pics of a few of my collection - I have a bit of a thing for the Designer Cabochons site!!!

Becci
xx

Ominicci
07-04-2010, 11:30 AM
I have several cabs from them too, and bought a few more from other people at my last Rock & Gem show.

Jemart
07-04-2010, 12:12 PM
I just got a parcel of rough opal so I can have a go at cutting my own. Any advice appreciated, I'm probably gonna ruin a few just learning.

MuranoSilver
08-04-2010, 07:55 AM
Can't wait to see all those stones ~ Jillie is Ocean Jasper the Pnk toned stone with paler circles?
Jemart can't wait to see what you do with those Opals...not sure how many folk do lapidiary here
Cathy - Think these Ammolites were from somewhere near Canada :)
Sunnybank ~ Oooh be careful soon you could be like me (Gollum springs to mind with me and stones, lol)
Becci & Nicci ~ show me, pleeeeeeeze!!! I love ogling other folks rock and gem collections! (Did I say Please? lol)
but you could start a new thread in this stone section and I'm sure someone might be able to help :)
nic xx

jille
08-04-2010, 08:47 AM
all you ever wanted to know about ammolites............... well a bit of info...........
Ammolite - Guide to Ammolites (http://www.pickyguide.com/jewelry_and_watches/ammolites_guide.html)

Gemma
08-04-2010, 09:01 AM
I just got a parcel of rough opal so I can have a go at cutting my own. Any advice appreciated, I'm probably gonna ruin a few just learning.

I bought a couple of rough bits at the rock'n'gem fair the other weekend. I had a go at polishing up a piece yesterday (first time having a go at this type of thing). I LOVE OPAL!! One thing to note is that its porous (sp?) so if you polish with water it will turn a translucent yellowy colour. Don't worry. The lovelyness comes back after a day or two when its dried out. I'll post a pic of my results later today or tomorrow. I'm off out in a few mins.

I also <3<3 labradorite and picture jasper. Piccies to follow...

Ominicci
09-04-2010, 11:31 AM
These are my more unusual cabs - as I don't know what to do with most of them yet!!

First picture is of Ocean Jasper cabs - all around 5cm/2" on longest sides.

Second picture from the top left to right;
Picture Marble, Watermelon Tourmaline, Ruby in Zoisite (5cm/2")
Picture Marble, Serpentine (with a 'gold' spot near the middle), Poppy Jasper, Rainbow Moonstone (lovely flash, not showing well in this pic)
Crinoid Agate (sea creatures), 2 x plume/flame agate, Script Stone/Coquina Jasper, small square Peitersite cab, large square Lace Agate cab.

I have lots smaller cabs, and went a bit mad on Amber at the last Rock & Gem show.

disorganised
09-04-2010, 11:42 AM
Oh Nicci - I love, love, love the ocean jasper on the bottom right - the one with the perfect circles. Don't suppose you'd be willing to sell?

Gemma
09-04-2010, 11:55 AM
Here are the favourite stones I own.
Rutilated quartz and labradorite:
17371739

Colour chance garnets. These are pretty small (2mm) and a nightmare to photograph. Green in daylight and purpley in incandescent light.
1736

These cabs I shaped myself as a very new dabbler into lapidary. The picture jasper cabs aren't finished. I'm having difficulty getting the tops flat and shiney! The opal has the before look as an insert at the top left. I didn't radically change the shape of the natural stone- just filed off the surrounding rock and then make it to be more cabochon like.
17381740

MuranoSilver
09-04-2010, 11:59 AM
Oh my - those stones are gorgeous Nicci (especially love that spear of green agate on the bottom row 2nd picture)
Gem those cabs are going to look great (the opal already does!) labradorite is one of my favourites too :)
Nic xx

Gemma
09-04-2010, 11:59 AM
Oh and I forgot- My most expensive stone!
Ametrine- amethyst and citrine in the same stone. I daren't do anything with this for a long time. I need to drastically improve my stone setting skills!
1741

disorganised
09-04-2010, 12:44 PM
Here are some of mine - they're pictures that I just happened to have with me at work today and they're a bit rubbishy. I'm a huge labradorite fan. and the blue teardrop shaped one is just incredible in real life - an ebay bargain at £1.68 (plus, oh about £5 p&p).

I have a rectangular purple charoite that I love, and I'll try and remember to take a photo of it tonight. I'm waiting for inspiration before deciding what to do with it....

Ominicci
11-04-2010, 10:59 AM
No Claire - not selling!!!

Gemma - fab rutilated quartz! Lots of other goodies you have too. I am about to start back at Lapidary (after a 20 year gap - will be learning from scratch again I expect!) and have some Picture Jasper and a nice chunk of labradorite to play with.

(picture on right - the top piece is petrified wood and the middle one on the left is snakeskin agate, the rest are picture jasper).

MuranoSilver
11-04-2010, 03:04 PM
Gemma that Ametrine is beautiful, can't wait to see what you make with it!
Disorganised That blue teardrop labradorite is gorgeous, such a vibrant colour (the others are pretty cool too!)
Nicci - I bet lapidiary is really relaxing and must be so satisfying to have cut your own cabs. Look like you have some
great starting points too!
Nic xx

FiredSilver
20-04-2010, 04:42 PM
Here we go, this is what I've had delivered today. They are rather gorgeous and I have them on the chair next to me!!!

Becci
xx

MuranoSilver
20-04-2010, 04:43 PM
Drooool What are the first two? :)
Nicx

FiredSilver
20-04-2010, 04:47 PM
the first one is Chrysocolla, it is a little see through so has a really nice depth to it. The second one is a druzy cabochon. All from Designer Cabs, love them! One of them is ear-marked for a Masters project.

Lou
25-04-2010, 08:17 PM
I don't really have a clue about gem stones, how do I know what is valuable? for example is this is a good stone? Large Smooth Polished Labradorite Cabochon30 by JenniferLoveBeads (http://www.etsy.com/listing/45449817/large-smooth-polished-labradorite)

MuranoSilver
25-04-2010, 08:51 PM
Looks pretty but there's a flaw through the middle which would bug me :)

Lou
25-04-2010, 08:56 PM
I love these! Super Cute Mulit Color Tourmaline Faceted by JenniferLoveBeads (http://www.etsy.com/listing/41331444/super-cute-mulit-color-tourmaline)

Ominicci
26-04-2010, 11:24 AM
I love the whole shop! I wish you hadn't posted that link...

Lou
26-04-2010, 12:47 PM
I love the whole shop! I wish you hadn't posted that link...

I know me too, lots of pretty stones there!

disorganised
26-04-2010, 01:04 PM
well.... if we can include wish list items in this thread, then here's mine. I want it but it's sold.. to some other lucky person.

http://www.designercabochons.co.uk/images/stock%20pictures/ocean%20jasper%20stock/handcurt.jpg

FiredSilver
02-05-2010, 07:20 PM
Went to the Haydock Park bead fair today, specifically to see Designer Cabochons, and I bought these two drusies. Love them!

They had some fabulous ones but they were quite pointed at one end (like marquise) but they scared me from a setting point of view!! I tend to avoid difficult shapes and stick with round and oval :-"

If anyone's got any fab advice for "pointy" bits on stones, I may be tempted to give it a go!!

Becci
x

MuranoSilver
02-05-2010, 09:15 PM
WOW - that pink drusy is gorgeous!!!

disorganised
14-05-2010, 03:18 PM
I've just bought a lovely stone. It's like an aerial photo of a tropical island:
http://www.designercabochons.co.uk/images/stock%20pictures/all%20other%20cab%20stock/sdsdd.jpg

amazingbabe
14-05-2010, 04:26 PM
wow. that stone is just gorgeous..........

daisychain
14-05-2010, 08:36 PM
There are some gorgeous stones here!
Gemma, I am really mpressed that you're cutting your own - the thought of the damage I could do puts me off. At least I can melt metal to recycle it if the worst comes to the worst!!

Here's a beautiful Botswana agate I bought from Designer Cabochons recently - I keep getting it out to bask in it's beauty, but I'm not letting myself set it until I've completed the half a dozen half set pieces I've got sitting on my desk!
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TAAfOzeKT58/S9a9voCWQOI/AAAAAAAABYE/UoGqwDzuZ3w/s1600/designer+cabochon+4.JPG

griffT
16-05-2010, 08:48 AM
That's a lovely piece of agate Jo and that's going to be a pretty big setting too!

This site is interesting. In some cases you are dealing with the miners themselves, especially when it comes to buying rough material.

Gem Rock Auctions: Gemstones at Wholesale Prices (http://www.gemrockauctions.com/)

They are very very interested in and knowlegeable about opals, but lots of other beautiful stones come up as well.

Nick

FVT
16-05-2010, 10:07 AM
Ooh, I'd forgotten how lovely stones can be....some gorgeous ones on here :-) I used to love collecting agates when I was a child, and was always nagging my mum for a rock tumbler but never got one :-( On the verge of buying one, many years later!
In the mean time, I just wondered if anyone could help identify what these stones are, the rectangular ones were bought in Australia at a market...I just CAN'T remember what the chap said they were :-( But he did say I should get a professional to do any drilling/cutting...think I'll play it safe!
The other green stone was a gift from a friend, she bought me a few things made out of the same material...they are from Ireland, but my memory has let me down yet again :-(

Fingers crossed someone might know :-)

http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/306258/3//Jewellery%20Forums/Cooksons/Stones?h=859f83

Gemma
16-05-2010, 10:15 AM
This site is interesting. In some cases you are dealing with the miners themselves, especially when it comes to buying rough material.
Gem Rock Auctions: Gemstones at Wholesale Prices (http://www.gemrockauctions.com/)

Have you bought from there then Nick? Does look interesting.


FVT- wanna try uploading the piccy again

FVT
16-05-2010, 10:20 AM
I tried to upload pics directly but it didn't seem to like it, hence the Dropbox link....but I'll try again on the off-chance!

MuranoSilver
16-05-2010, 10:33 AM
Love all of those stones - especially that banded Agate (gorgeous!)
nic x

Gemma
16-05-2010, 10:45 AM
I've been flicking through the Gemastones of the world (W.Schumann)
Unakite for the first one maybe?
Prase, Nephrite, Serpentine
....any sounding familiar?