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Gemstone thread.
It’ll be slow because I keep my stash in different containers based on shape, not stone.
Let’s start with malachite in azurite. Looks like the earth.
I look for distinctness between blue and green
It’ll be slow because I keep my stash in different containers based on shape, not stone.
Let’s start with malachite in azurite. Looks like the earth.
I look for distinctness between blue and green
Mother of pearl.
Price varies depending on the shape, so little shell chunks are cheaper and uniform cut or faceted are more expensive.
You can get white or tan, shine is in patches and it’s lovely
Price varies depending on the shape, so little shell chunks are cheaper and uniform cut or faceted are more expensive.
You can get white or tan, shine is in patches and it’s lovely
Gray lip shell and pearls.
Pearls are pretty much always dyed or bleached unless they’re a pale cream color.
Price of pearls varies depending how thick the nacre layer is and whether they’re cultured, and how uniform they are.
Black lip shell varies similar to mother of pearl.
Pearls are pretty much always dyed or bleached unless they’re a pale cream color.
Price of pearls varies depending how thick the nacre layer is and whether they’re cultured, and how uniform they are.
Black lip shell varies similar to mother of pearl.
Abalone.
Some found shells, mostly beads made of two shell pieces glued backs-together.
Price varies based on shape, color, size, and brilliance.
Some found shells, mostly beads made of two shell pieces glued backs-together.
Price varies based on shape, color, size, and brilliance.
Larimar, sometimes called dolphin stone.
Price varies depending on color, pattern, and how much of the matrix it’s found in, is included. You can see a range here.
Price varies depending on color, pattern, and how much of the matrix it’s found in, is included. You can see a range here.
Turquoise.
Often imitated, often faked. I’m not entirely sure of the provenance of the cabochon that isn’t backed. The backed cab is a copper and turquoise conglomerate, made of real turquoise out of pieces left from cutting others.
The others are all certainly turquoise.
Often imitated, often faked. I’m not entirely sure of the provenance of the cabochon that isn’t backed. The backed cab is a copper and turquoise conglomerate, made of real turquoise out of pieces left from cutting others.
The others are all certainly turquoise.
Apatite.
Price varies by color, shape, size, and facets.
Price varies by color, shape, size, and facets.
Iron pyrite.
Heavy for its size, price varies by shape and size.
I look for smaller pieces (because of weight) and love the shine and timbre of the reflected light.
Heavy for its size, price varies by shape and size.
I look for smaller pieces (because of weight) and love the shine and timbre of the reflected light.
Silver, gold, and rainbow sheen obsidian. Very tough to photograph. Prices vary by how much chatoyance there is—nuggets are relatively low grade, spheres and flats are very high grade.
Colors come from a zillion tiny bubbles caught in the liquid rock as it cooled.
Colors come from a zillion tiny bubbles caught in the liquid rock as it cooled.
Fluorite.
Comes in many colors in the cool end of the spectrum, sometimes banded, sometimes not.
Price varies by size and clarity of color—muddier colors are cheaper.
Comes in many colors in the cool end of the spectrum, sometimes banded, sometimes not.
Price varies by size and clarity of color—muddier colors are cheaper.
Morganite—or beryl.
Comes in many colors. Price varies by chatoyance, size, clarity of color, etc.
I love this strand enough that I haven’t tried to sell it for a few years; if you love it too and want a custom piece with it, feel free to let me know.
Comes in many colors. Price varies by chatoyance, size, clarity of color, etc.
I love this strand enough that I haven’t tried to sell it for a few years; if you love it too and want a custom piece with it, feel free to let me know.
Tiger’s eye.
Honey colored, dark brown, dark blue, and red. I believe the non-brown/gold colors are achieved by heating, but I don’t know.
Can be matte or glossy, carved, faceted, or chips. Price varies by grade, size, and shape.
Honey colored, dark brown, dark blue, and red. I believe the non-brown/gold colors are achieved by heating, but I don’t know.
Can be matte or glossy, carved, faceted, or chips. Price varies by grade, size, and shape.
I’ve run out of good natural light so I’ll continue this thread tomorrow :)
