(no subject)
i think one of my favorite discoveries since embarking upon this whole jewelry adventure has been that of garnet. sure when you think of garnet most people bring to mind a vision of that bright orangey-red (read: TYPICAL) mozambique garnet. but garnet comes in virtually every shade of the rainbow except blue. here are some of my favorites
rhodolite garnet: a purply-red color reminiscent of Welch's grape juice
malaia garnet: the "sunset" or champagne garnet...ranging from pale champagne-beige to burning sunset orange
hessonite garnet: the burning cinnamon red garnet reminiscent of flawless AAA-quality ruby
spessartine garnet: by far one of my top two garnets - it has two color families; 'mandarin' garnet is bright fiery orange and looks as if a hot coal has jumped into a ring setting; 'aurora red' garnet is dark, fiery red-orange and is comparable to the color of freshly dripped blood
demantoid garnet: was commonly used in victorian jewelry; its name means "diamond-like" and its coloration ranges from pale celery green with yellow fire to a deep forest green
tsavorite garnet: my other 'top twp' garnet - its intense, rich green makes it one of the rarest and MOST growth-inhibited colored gems of all. it is also one of only three gems colored by chromium
grossular garnet: also called the "mint-green" or "green apple" garnet (self-explanatory)
garnet shares its cubic growth structure with that of the diamond - meaning garnets (especially demantoid, tsavorite, and spessartine) have the fire, internal reflection, and scintillation of a diamond. it's no wonder that the european jewelry market prefers GARNETS to diamonds for engagement rings.
but don't let the term "garnet" fool you. mozambique (the most typically available garnet) is very affordable. but like diamonds, spessartine, tsavorite, demantoid, and grossular can run you thousands and thousands of dollars per carat. add to demantoid and tsavorite the fact they are growth-inhibited and stones over 2.0-2.5cts rarely exist, and you have an extreme rarity that far surpasses the banality and availability of diamonds.
my biggest "letdown stones"? white diamonds. rubies. and the noxious EMERALD.
my favorite "classic" stone? white opal - its fire and intensity (in fine stones) make it unparalleled in the realm of 'phenomenal' gems.
the classiest stone? aquamarine. its clarity and hint of color make it a subtly sexy stone.
the most audacious stone? Paraiba tourmaline. found and extinguished in the 1980's, the Paraiba mine produced the brightest blue tourmaline in the world. its color can be likened to blue raspberry Kool-Aid. i love it for its color. i love it for its kitsch. and i want it because of its $30,000/ct price tag.
the stone that most reminds me of skwirge? kunzite. discovered by kunz of tiffany & co. fame. pale pink with purple fire. feminine, classy, and rare in larger sizes. it's a "sleeper" gem that's about to explode in popularity.
the stone that reminds me most of dobbits? without a doubt, tsavorite garnet. its brilliance, rarity, rare color, and sheer opulence fit you to a "T."
the stone i'd most likely wear? spessartine garnet
the stone i'd be afraid to wear? white opal (it breaks at the drop of a hat)
the stone i think is the most undervalued in the world? grossular garnet
my biggest gemological turnoff? heat treating, vapor deposition, and simulants
the most overpriced stone? (besides diamonds, ahem) Alexandrite. yes it is rare, and yes it is phenomenal (it changes from bright green to ruby red from incandescent to flourescent lighting) - but it is still being mined regularly. and at $30,000/ct....me no think so. not when Paraiba costs the same and is an 'extinguished' stone.
rhodolite garnet: a purply-red color reminiscent of Welch's grape juice
malaia garnet: the "sunset" or champagne garnet...ranging from pale champagne-beige to burning sunset orange
hessonite garnet: the burning cinnamon red garnet reminiscent of flawless AAA-quality ruby
spessartine garnet: by far one of my top two garnets - it has two color families; 'mandarin' garnet is bright fiery orange and looks as if a hot coal has jumped into a ring setting; 'aurora red' garnet is dark, fiery red-orange and is comparable to the color of freshly dripped blood
demantoid garnet: was commonly used in victorian jewelry; its name means "diamond-like" and its coloration ranges from pale celery green with yellow fire to a deep forest green
tsavorite garnet: my other 'top twp' garnet - its intense, rich green makes it one of the rarest and MOST growth-inhibited colored gems of all. it is also one of only three gems colored by chromium
grossular garnet: also called the "mint-green" or "green apple" garnet (self-explanatory)
garnet shares its cubic growth structure with that of the diamond - meaning garnets (especially demantoid, tsavorite, and spessartine) have the fire, internal reflection, and scintillation of a diamond. it's no wonder that the european jewelry market prefers GARNETS to diamonds for engagement rings.
but don't let the term "garnet" fool you. mozambique (the most typically available garnet) is very affordable. but like diamonds, spessartine, tsavorite, demantoid, and grossular can run you thousands and thousands of dollars per carat. add to demantoid and tsavorite the fact they are growth-inhibited and stones over 2.0-2.5cts rarely exist, and you have an extreme rarity that far surpasses the banality and availability of diamonds.
my biggest "letdown stones"? white diamonds. rubies. and the noxious EMERALD.
my favorite "classic" stone? white opal - its fire and intensity (in fine stones) make it unparalleled in the realm of 'phenomenal' gems.
the classiest stone? aquamarine. its clarity and hint of color make it a subtly sexy stone.
the most audacious stone? Paraiba tourmaline. found and extinguished in the 1980's, the Paraiba mine produced the brightest blue tourmaline in the world. its color can be likened to blue raspberry Kool-Aid. i love it for its color. i love it for its kitsch. and i want it because of its $30,000/ct price tag.
the stone that most reminds me of skwirge? kunzite. discovered by kunz of tiffany & co. fame. pale pink with purple fire. feminine, classy, and rare in larger sizes. it's a "sleeper" gem that's about to explode in popularity.
the stone that reminds me most of dobbits? without a doubt, tsavorite garnet. its brilliance, rarity, rare color, and sheer opulence fit you to a "T."
the stone i'd most likely wear? spessartine garnet
the stone i'd be afraid to wear? white opal (it breaks at the drop of a hat)
the stone i think is the most undervalued in the world? grossular garnet
my biggest gemological turnoff? heat treating, vapor deposition, and simulants
the most overpriced stone? (besides diamonds, ahem) Alexandrite. yes it is rare, and yes it is phenomenal (it changes from bright green to ruby red from incandescent to flourescent lighting) - but it is still being mined regularly. and at $30,000/ct....me no think so. not when Paraiba costs the same and is an 'extinguished' stone.