The jade I have is a dark ugly green with black inclusions. The Jade the house male has is a lovely apple green. It does not even look like the same mineral!

Not much. Good jade has a clarity of color without fuzziness is the best way I can put it. You can see into it, and see inclusions. Colors are wide ranging. White, black, greens, purples, red, oranges even.

Translucent and tough would about sum it up, then? Nephrite and Jadeite.

Apple green? That's good. Imperial jade is that color. (I'm a jade lover too.

Never met a gem I could not love...Jade, too Off to hunt up pix of incredible Jade...Lance has a ring whose stone is a dead-ringer for Imperial Jade but is not...I'll let him tell you about it when he returns.

While I continue to look for pretty jade pix to post, here's one for Dolphin lovers and fluorite, as well: http://www.tir.com/~jadegift/spendant.html Fluorite Ball & Flipper The a rototable fluorite ball embraced by a sterling silver flipper. Color: Light brown, transparent with hairy texture inside the ball. Size : 1/2" (12mm) Diameter without flipper, 18" (45cm) Sterling silver flipper and chain. Price : $20

I'd love to have one exactly that size!!!

And it's extremely reasonably priced, too.

Yes! But it is pretty small. I want one the size they show...but would not turn down the one they have there. I am seriously thinking of getting it! It is about the only way to have fluorite and keep it pretty. It is very soft - just above gypsum on Moh's scale - a 3.

i'm thinking about getting it too. that's so pretty and similar to the ball rings we've been talking about. thanks for that, it's pretty!

I thought you needed it...=) The price was right and it has a dolphin on it. How could we miss?! I was hunting for Jade pictures when I found it and then forgot all about the jade when I saw the price. It's really pretty! Wolfie, I'm gonna send you an email....

Never mind about the email. I just ordered mine - will let you know what I get and when I get it. (Was gonna get you one too...which I should have done but it would have taken longer to get to you...*sigh*)

Many of the bigger more beautiful and numerous and less expensive diamonds which graced the courts of the Louis Kings of France came from the mines in Golconda, Ohio. And, lest we forget, Mrs Clinton wore the Star of Arkansas, a large diamond mined in the state and loaned to her, to their first Inaugural Ball.

The American Diamond connection: Diamonds have been found in the sands and gravels of present and former stream beds in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, West Virginia, Texas, Idaho, Montana, California and Oregon; many of these discoveries having been made in conjunction with placer gold mining operations. Glacial deposits of diamonds from Canada are found around the Great Lakes region. Specifically, in Wisconsin, michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Diamonds, possibly from the same source have been found in Tennessee and Kentucky. From The Rockhound's Manual by Gordon S. Fay

Rubies have been mined commercially in North Carolina, and have been found in Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. Sapphires have been mined commercially in Montana and habve been found in California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, andNorth Carolina. I need to find a friend in North Carolina and go grubbing in the gravels...one of my favorite passtimes.

i'm gonna get that dolphin....

well, gonna have to wait, it's sold (and i wonder to whom? *SMILE*) so glad you got it. please tell me about it when it comes in....

They asked me how many I wanted...It is yours and I'll order the next one.

I was afraid it would be gone if we waited any longer...so I grabbed it!

no, you keep it, marcia, i can wait sweetheart, thanks though!

Well, if they run out, this one is yours!!! I insist!

i'm sure they'll get more in stock. perhaps, i'll email the dealer and ask! oh, and qvc is having gem week and tonight (9pm CST) is lapis. i'm gonna watch out of curiosity. maybe i'll pick up something small just to add to my collection. this is the right topic for lapis, right?

You bet! Let us know how you fare!

will do.

Where's the picture of David Marcia - am i in the right place?

Thanks for the information on American precious gemstones. I never think of the United States or even North America in connection with gems. Although, I do remember coming across something last year about Montana, I think, concerning bogos, (not certain if that's the correct spelling), which are intensely blue sapphires.

According to my rockhounding book, over $30 million in Sapphires have been mined in the Yogo Gulch of Montana. Might that be what you were thinking of? They are excellent in quality. Emeralds are not as abundant in the US as other gem stones (and I never think of the US and Gem stones in the same sentence, either!) They have been found in Massachusetts and the Carolinas (there it goes again - gotta get to North Carolina!) Aquamarine, the emerald's semi-precious cousin, is much more abundant. It is comercially mined in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire and North Carolina. Aquamarines have also been found in Alabama, Idaho, Maryland, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota and Utah. Golden Beryls have been found in California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York and North Carolina. Morganite which is pink-to-rose-red beryl is found only in California, Maine, and Utah.

David is in Geo 2, Maggie

Yes, that was it. Yogos! They're supposed to be very intensely blue sapphires. Now I know how they got that awful name. It's from the Yogo Gulch.

Yup - and probably means "splendid Sapphires" in some native American language.

and don't forget diamonds in arkansas. forgot the name of the place, but you can go out in the dirt and dig to your heart's content. haven't done it yet. but it's on my list!

Yup - it's back a few posts. The exact place is near Murfreesboro, Arkansas, from whence came the large diamond Mrs Clinton wore.

I am a gravel grubber from way back. Have bottles of perfect dodecahedron garnets from an arroyo on Arizona, bottles and more bottles of peridots (olivines, actually) from Hilo and environs...and so on. I'll join you in Arkansas! They'll have to pull me away at the end of the day kicking and screaming if it is like the other places I have been...especially if I find something *grin*

i would love to find something!

Yeah, me too...and I am just the sort who'll stay there till I do...and then some!

So when are you two off to Murfreesboro, Arkansas to dig up some diamonds? Peridot. That's my cousin's birthstone,August, and she hates it. Actually, she loathes it. She thinks it such a pale, washed out green, which looks bad with everything. The people I know who hate their birthstones, were either born in August, peridot, or November, yellow topaz.

And May - I cannot stand the Emeralds available today - far too gaudy (Chatham created ones) or milky (the ones I can afford). I was allowed to wear a tall swirl of diamonds and emeralds set in white gold ring. I guess letting him live in my house and eat my food and let my ex pay his bills was not good enough. His son now has it....for whatever reason. (Yeah...the hairy chest-beater)

Not sure when I will make it to Arkansas - do not know anyone even slightly near there. Was talking to my son today about visiting him - he's a geologist (in case my constant mentioning of that fact eluded you); diamonds and gold were found in California. Hmmm...!

hey, you know me! AND you have my address....of course, murfreesboro is several hours away....

This is true - and two heads are better than one (watch it!!!) and two Geminis are even better...*grin* Hey, what's a few hours among friends?! Gotta go...later!!!

k, see ya!

marcia! how'd your dinner meeting go? hope the food was good along with the company.... i've got a serious question to ask our gem experts, namely, marcia *grin* today, the AM and i went browsing through service merchandise, who is, btw, having a 70% clearance sale, the reason we went in. well, i can never go into SM without perusing the jewelry counter (sometimes their sales are real good). came across two rings. both set with diamonds in 10K gold. one was a trillion, the other a marquis. having remembered our discussion on the amount of money one pays for marquis and the amount of stone that is lost, i chose to look at the trillion cut. these two rings were exsquisite (ok, so i forgot how to spell, see what gemstones do to me?)....both showed remarkable pleochroism with shades of pink, green, and blue. i asked the sales lady to please pull one out for me to handle. looked at the tag and it said color-treated topaz. now this gem changed it's colors in the light and angle (like my tanzanite). i asked her if it was really a topaz and she said yup (ok, she said yes) and i was shocked and chokin on a grain of salt. she said it was heat treated topaz. both of these rings sell for $99. the AM saw it and said my b-day was coming. i've never seen a topaz like that in my life. told her it was behaving like alexandrite or tanzanite and thanked her. decided i would do some homework before the AM is set on buying that ring, although, the the thought of the AM buying me jewelry is most exciting no matter what it is! so marcia, have you ever heard of this? i looked on SM's website and they only show the radiated blue topaz both real and simulated. the saleslady assured me the piece i was agog over was real. you and i both fell for the simulated alexandrite from zales, so please give me some advice, i'm begging you! (do you see how excited i am?) the gemstone book is wide open and i'm waiting impatiently!

now i remember what they said they did to it...called it color-enhanced (????)

Checking in the book...Heat treating pink topazes is an old (several centuries worth) way of intensifying color and does not emit irradiation. Blue is still intensified by irradiation. Actually, pink and other pale topazes form with shades of many colors in them and they are visible only under certain light or at certain angles. Not true pleichroism, but just as lovely. I'd say go for it. I'd love to have one like that! Email me if it is on the web so I can see it, Please!

am trying to find a picture. it turns gray at an angle and you can see the pinks, greens, and blues when you look directly down on it under indoor lights.

Sounds just like they describe in the book

(The dinner meeting went very well, thanks for asking!)

am still gonna do a search and see if i can find a pic of these color-enhanced topazes....the AM asked me which one i wanted again (the marquis or trillion, you know which one i said!) told him to buy it now and hold it *grin*

found one! http://www.scotgem.demon.co.uk/topdia.html am working on the photo (it's humongous) and when i get it down to a manageable size, will post the one i'm talking about....

got it.....

isn't it lovely?

well, while i'm here, i'm gonna add the main index to the above site for your pleasure.... http://www.scotgem.demon.co.uk/index.html

Oooh! I am still waking up and this is the first place I went on the Spring. I had no idea it was so wonderful. I thought it might be like an ametrine...very faint distictions of color. This is magnificent. I'd get it just on that basis alone. It is most attractive and amazing. Lovely, Wolfie!!! Probably better in real life, too. My Alexandrite photographs the color of whatever the flash excites.

that picture came from the website i posted. i just clipped it to show the stone most like the one we have been talking about. how they got all the colors to show is beyond me. so now we know it is real and they can do it! (you sound better today, sweetie)

(Thanks, I feel better - inside my heart, that is - the rest mostly takes care of itself). Is this little gem on its way to you yet..or at least, reserved? I'd love an oval one like that... Incredibly gorgeous! Let us know (like we could stop such great news) when you get it in hand and examine it. My fav way is with with a mini-maglight then outdoors in bright sunlight. I am so excited for you! What did you hear about the dolphin pendant, if anything?

i forgot about the pendant....will go back and see if they have any more in stock. the AM is out fishing today so.....he did tell me not to worry about it and said he'd get me the ring.

How is the ring setting done? Yellow gold? Your Trilliant will be magnificent. (did I guess right =)?)

ok, the dolphin pendant we've been drooling over isn't going to be available for awhile. the sales people told me they weren't expecting any in. so i went running around the net looking for something similar and here's what i've found: http://www.webcrystals.com/webcrystals/dolsphernec.html

the crystal is called aqua aura (similar to a stone in my ball ring)....

the trillion is set in yellow 10K gold with diamonds (1 pt or less) sorta swirling up to the stone. and the above dolphin pendant can be made with your choice of bead. it's not interchangeable, much to my disappointment.....

oh, and i'll be more than happy to scan the ring (but you'll have to wait until June) if he does present me with it *smile*

*sigh*...I'll wait and he has a problem with me if you don't get it then 7^/ Oooh...sparkly things along with the topaz? I think I am in love!!! Sounds really lovely...*sigh* That is a darling dolphin pendant. Is is sterling?

Did you check this one at the same site?

didn't see that one! oh, and it is sterling. found another site when i found the double dolphin pendant. the woman who designs the jewelry is a gemologist and some of the pieces have fiery opal beads with the dolphins. will find the site and show you!

http://www.seadesigns.com/ just click on the side menu.....

Ok...going to check. The above is a humpback whale - about the same price and with all kinds of lovely spheres available in real stone!

Yikes!!! Way outta my range on that new place! But, pretty stuff. I found the above whale on dolphin Jewelry on the left hand column of links.

yup, i went back and found the whale too. you're right about that seaside place. very expensive!

Men do sometimes notice jewelry. One of of my male co-workers noticed a necklace I was wearing and said, "That's really pretty. Are those stones blue topaz." To which I replied, "No, they're aquamarines." It was nice of him to notice.

I am surprised men are allowing themselves to say anything about anything a woman is wearing. My son says the workplace sexual harassment rules have just about ruled out any comments. They sound lovely!!!

Actually, it was outside during our lunch hour.

How nice of him to notice, and to share the good thought with you!

and the necklace is still in your possession? *grin* i'm glad he noticed. can't say that i've ever had the pleasure of male company saying anything about my jewelry. too busy looking elsewhere? (like away from me *grin*)

i'm the sexual harrassment officer at work. how am i supposed to monitor those things? people are all the time saying lewd things that can be taken anyway you like. but this isn't the topic to discuss that *smile*

Wow! Really, Wolfie? Is that because you were so hit upon they decided to empower you? Yup!!! We know you cannot hide behind the fangs and hairy pelt forever. You got that right about them looking elsewhere...Nothing like having your chest talked to...*sigh*

http://www.gemhut.com/topaz.htm Hardness 8.0. Occurrence Brazil, U.S., Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Myanmar (Burma), former USSR, Australia, Pakistan, Mexico, Tasmania, Japan, Africa. Topaz and citrine are the birthstones of the month of November. Appearance Yellow topaz is sometimes called "precious topaz" to distinguish it from the names "gold" and "madeiria topaz", which are in fact citrine (quartz). Yellow topaz is sometimes heat treated to make it look pink. The term "imperial topaz" is used by ethical jewelers to refer to topaz that is reddish orange of medium tone and higher saturation. Enhancements Yellow/Orange topaz is occasionally irradiated to intensify color. Pink/Red topaz is usually heat treated chromium bearing pinkish-brown to orange stones. Brown topaz is not enhanced. Green and blue topaz are usually irradiated to produce the desired color. Gemstone Enhancements The term "enhancement" is defined to be any treatment process other than cutting and polishing that improves the appearance (color/clarity/phenomena), durability, or availability of a gemstone. Some gemstone enhancements are less stable than others, meaning that some treatments are temporary. It is the policy of Gem Hut to sell only those gemstones whose enhancements (if any) have good to excellent stability. All gemstones can be divided into three basic categories. Not Enhanced, (symbol N) The "N" symbol appears by gemstones that are not currently known to be enhanced (Alexandrite, Garnet, etc.), however the "N" symbol can also be used for other stones in the event that a stone has received no enhancement. We will provide a guarantee that there has been none and that fact will be noted on the invoice which accompanies the gemstone. Normally Enhanced, (symbol E). The "E" symbol appears by gemstones that are routinely enhanced. Since many enhancements are difficult or impractical to prove definitively, the approach taken is, unless otherwise indicated, to assume that such enhancement has been applied to that particular gemstone. This assumption is made to protect both the buyer and seller. If a more specific method of enhancement is known, then the specific enhancement code will be used. Non-Traditional Enhancements For those gemstones not covered by the "N" and "E" symbols, the specific code which covers the gemstone enhancement will be listed. Symbols For Specific Form of Enhancement B Bleaching: The use of chemicals or other agents to lighten or remove a gemstone's color. C Coating: The use of such surface enhancements as lacquering, enameling, inking, foiling, or sputtering of films to improve appearance, provide color or add other special effects. D Dyeing :The introduction of coloring matter into a gemstone to give it new color, intensify present color or improve color uniformity. F Filling: As a by-product of heat enhancement, the presence of solidified borax or simliar colorless substances which are visible under properly illuminated 10X magnification. G Gamma/Electron Irradiation: The use of gamma and/or electron bombardment to alter a gemstone's color; may be followed by a heating process. H Heating: The use of heat to effect desired alteration of color, clarity, and/or phenomena. (Residue of foreign substances is not visible under properly illuminated 10X magnification.) I Infilling: The intentional filling of surface breaking cavities or fractures usually with glass, plastic, opticon with hardeners and/or other hardened foreign substances to improve durability, appearance and/or add weight. L Lasering: The use of a laser and chemicals to reach and alter inclusions in diamonds. O Oiling/Resin Infusion: The intentional filling of surface cavities of a colorless oil, wax, natural resin, or unhardened man-made material into fissured transparent/translucent gemstones to improve appearance. (i.e., oil, man-made resin, cedar wood oil, Canada balsam, paraffin, etc.) R Irradiation: The use of neutron, requiring an environmental safety release from the Nuclear Regulatory Commision (NRC), with the combination of any other bombardment and/or heat treatment to alter a gemstone's color. S Bonding: The use of a colorless bonding agent (commonly plastic) within a porous gemstone to give it durability and improve appearance. U Diffusion: The use of chemicals in conjunction with high temperatures to produce color and/or asterism-producing inclusions. W Waxing/Oiling: The impregnation of a colorless wax, paraffin and oil in porous opaque gemstones to improve appearance.

The above was about (((( P R E C I O U S - T O P A Z ))))

*=*=*=*=*=* A L E X A N D R I T E *=*=*=*=*=* Hardness 8.5. Occurrence United States, Russia (Ural Mountains), Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Zimbabwe (Rhodesia), Brazil, Madagascar, Italy. Appearance Named after the Russian Czar, Alexander II, alexandrite is the gemstone most noted for it's color changing abilities. Colors are greenish outdoors, and reddish to violet under artificial light. Alexandrite is extremely rare. Look out for alexandrite which is too clean, or at a price which seems too low, it's probably synthetic. Natural alexandrite rarely exceeds 2 carats. Can be confused with synthetic alexandrite, or synthetic color change corundum. Pearl, moonstone and alexandrite are the birthstones of the month of June. Photographs have been retouched to show the approximate color change from indoors to outdoors. Enhancements Alexandrite is not enhanced.

Back to Jade for a moment...this is Chrysoprase Chalcedony. It makes lovely rings which are less costly than Jade of this quality, and I think this is far prettier. Have we any comments from anyone owning a ring containing this stone (I happen to know one, actually...and have seen it on his hand)

thanks for the gemhut stuff.... i've not seen too many jade rings but the jade disc pendant is popular.... sears has a jade necklace and earrings set (8 mm with 14K gold beads). the set is normally priced at $229.99 but is on sale for $89.99 the picture shows a paler green than depicted above.... speaking of alexandrite, i went to gemhut or someplace like that to price out a simulated stone and a setting of my choice. still toying with it though....but they had a topaz like stone as i'm hoping to get for the b-day and it was called something else, ta--- (will go back and look)

it's http://www.gemstones.com

the stone i'm thinking of is tavalite and here's a pic (it's from gemstones.com)

here's what gemstones.com has to say about this stone.... The metallic luster and unusual peacock coloring that emerges from these exciting new gems is what makes Tavalite� so truly unique! This futuristic look comes from from a permant process of adding a thin layer of metallic oxide onto a natural, colorless, Silver Topaz. Amulet is proud to offer Blue Enchantment�, the most popular color of Tavalite�, which is a metallic medium blue color, accented by subtle combinations of hues that actually change with the viewing angle! Each stone is eye clean and expertly cut. Tavalite� jewelry is easily cleaned with any standard jewelry cleaner or mild soap and water but avoid abrasive powders. With a little care your new jewelry will be enjoyed through the 21st century and beyond!

I have seen Tavelite. I just wonder how scratch resistent that coating is. It is similar to the coated lenses cameras have. You must be careful. In a pendant it would be less likely to scratch. I am still going for a red-green Alexandrite - no kids to put through college anymore =)) Very good information available at the gemhut url. Also interesting is how the enhancement is done. Check out the Tavelite on HSC or QVC on the telly - they have it pretty often.

gemstones also has a list of unusual stones. they had a rather large alexandrite for $4 grand with a very nice color change. for $1400, they have a smaller stone mounted on a 14K ring. it has a nice color change as well. i hope the stone at SM isn't tavelite then, because i'm really hard on my jewelry. am surprised my 18K bracelet is still hanging on my wrist! (never take it off except to clean it)....

Wolfie, they have to say if it is. The stone you posted from SM is definitely the color enhanced one and not all rainbow-y like Tavelite is. Tavelite is like motor oil leaks on asphalt roadways. Not really pretty but interesting.

Hmmm....Guess I really do not need a quality 1 Alexandrite, after all! Yikes!!!

oh, i don't know what the grade of that stone was but it was well over 1K. they still have it on their site....i'll go back and check...

and here she is.... 1.01 carat, 5.7x5.7mm 90% color change and $4040

There is Will Power (I Will get it because it is that important to me). There is Won't power (I won't get it because there are too many other important things which need the money and I have more than enough jewelry). Then there is Shouldn't power (I shouldn't get it - don't need it - but I am still looking.) I fall into the last two. There are always things other people need more than I need for me to spend my money on myself....*sigh*

Those are the colors mine change. Lovely size, though...Wow! Thanks. The only other one I would "Need" would be an Emerald-to-Ruby change.

here is the mounted one, class AA natural alexandrite.... 0.51 carat, 5.1x4.1x3mm, $1428

nice emerald to ruby change, huh, marcia? *grin*

You would have to post one like that...*grin* Yes indeedy....lovely! *BIG SIGH*

tell me about it!

Now, my decision is do I go another year without seeing my son and his fiancee and my fur-grandson and get that ring...it has only been two years since I have seen him....*sob*

Lest anyone wonder if I really have a problem making a decision between those two options, let me assure you that my son wins over almost anything including an Alexandrite, no matter the lovliness of the latter.

i know but temptation is strong, huh? go see your family and i promise not to buy the stone *grin*

super-strong, Wolfie...! You may buy the stone...Those guys in the lab are making more of them every day. Maybe one of the chips they usually throw away will one day will be mine...I promised David I would see him before fall. Probablly in June when all of the games are over. Anyone else wanna see Marcia?! (Never mind!)

haha!! of course but my leave time is limited....