We had some fun guessing what variouse gems were, so continuing the fun;
What is your favorite, and why?
I find it hard to settle on one, I have a passion for spinels and tourmalines. Spinels are tricky because they are so easy to fake, and it takes an immersion microscope with polarised light to really test them.
I do love tourmalines, not really a single type but group like garnets. Hear are my latest two purchases
3.1 cts 18 x 5 mm approx
0.91 cts 5x5 mm approx
I have to admit I paid about 3 times my normal $/ct buying rate, but got a 40% discount on the asking price but then these are foy own collection
I have always liked watermelon slices too, but the one I made up years ago, began to dry out and look ropey in quite a short time. Here are my bi-colour tourmalines, which I showed earlier in the year. The temporary label was to differentiate them for setting as ear studs. Dennis.
There are so many to choose from, as I mentioned in another thread I am at present enamoured with Ethiopian type opals, but leaving those little beauties aside I also like many quartzes particularly those with inclusions such as lodolite, cacoxenite, rutile etc. Here is one I bought a while, which as you can see is a tad on the large side but my eyes were bigger than my belly as they say :0) It is quartz with iron oxide and pyrite inclusions.
oh and as an aside to Dennis at the risk of teaching a patrician to abandon his granny, watermelon wrapped in cling film in the fridge will last a tad longer but is apt to go mouldy :0)
Boulder opals are my favourite Peter, but they have recently decided to give the matrix a shiny finish, which destroys their earthy 'just mined' character.
Apropos the watermelon slice, I have just scanned in this image from my photo album. It is rather poor because in the nineties I was using the copier as a camera, but it gives a rough idea. Dennis.
I'm another big fan of tourmalines, and like Peter, especially bi or tri-colours.
My greatest weakness is probably for Aquamarines, particularly those with unusual colours or cuts, and I have a huge soft spot for cornflower blue sapphires.
That said, all my everyday stones are diamonds!
This may mean I have to go and stand in the naughty corner, but opals do absolutely nothing for me.
Opals, amethysts and labradorite. I just love the colours flashing through those, and the intense purpliness of a nice amethyst cab just sends me weak at the knees!
Not opal, amethyst or labradorite but a fluorite I am expecting in the post and it was the "purpliness" which made me buy it, I love the dreamy edge of purple to pale green.
Your favorite Gem ?
but then these are foy own collection
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks