GEMS AND GEMOLOGY

Gemology has been a fascinating hobby of mine for over 20 years, reading up “Gemstones of the World” by Walter Schumann, attending practical classes on coloured gemstones, and visiting gem mining areas. I acquired some pieces, both priced and less well known, of various colours, shapes and cuts from gem-producing areas like Burma,Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia etc. These have since grown to quite a collection.

Among the 63 gems species are: traditional gemstones - corundum(sapphire,ruby), beryl (emerald,aquamarine), fancy diamond; and others - spinel, chrysoberyl(cat's eye,alexandrite), tanzanite, garnet(tsavorite, spessartite,), tourmaline(rubellite,indocolite), zircon, topaz, quartz(amethyst,citrine), chalcedony(agate,chrysoprase), feldspar(moonstone,labradorite), kyanite, peridot, kunsite, scapolite, flourite and many other lesser known gemstones. (view complete list on blog archive on the right with traditional gemstones at the bottom. click on types of interest to you.)

I'm now divesting my collection. An abbreviated description is provided below each photo, including price. Example 1: m2(size ref) tq(turquoise gem) ov(oval shape) plgnbl(pale greenish blue colour) afg ( Afghanistan country) 3.82 (carat weight) (18.7x8.5mm)(dimensions LxW) in mm) op (opaque clarity) 175 (USD 175 price) 10b30 N18(ref no and location). Example 2:"sa (type sapphire), ov(shape oval), dpbl(colour deep blue), af(origin Africa), 4.43(weight in carat), (11.3x10.2x4.6mm)dimension LxWxD, ec(clarity eyeclean), 1k(price US$1000)".

Personal viewing can be done for friends in Singapore.

Those outside Singapore, purchase can be secured via registered post upon payment in USD(or Singapore equivalent) via paypal, money/postal order, account transfer/cheque (Singapore) or other mutually agreed arrangement. Do have a look and contact me for any other details.

Happy viewing!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

ORANGE GARNET – THE LOVELY SPESSARTITE AND HESSONITE

Gem quality Spessartite is rare. It is and increasingly popular garnet today. It is bright orange when pure and turns darker orange to red with increase in iron content. The orange stone is sometimes referred to as mandarin garnet, denoting the colour of mandarin oranges. Inclusions are lace or feather-like. The large included ones are usually cut en cabochon. It is named after the Spessart district in Bavaria, Germany where it was first discovered. It is found in many locations but the best "mandarin spessartite" is  from Namibia.

h1 sp ov man 23.86(19.4x14x8.4)si 1k 6b33 T255
h1 sp ov man 23.86(19.4x14x8.4)si 1k 6b33 T255
 h1 sp ov man 21.35(17.3x13x9)si 09 6b34 M82h1 sp ov man 21.35(17.3x13x9)si 09 6b34 M82
h2 sp tr man 11.83(12.5x12.1x7.5)tp 1k 6b37 T275
h2 sp tr man 11.83(12.5x12.1x7.5)tp 1k 6b37 T275
h2 sp ov man1 10.93(14.3x11x6.4)si 08 6b36 N50h2 sp ov man1 10.93(14.3x11x6.4)si 08 6b36 N50
   h2 sp rn man 10.56(11.6x7.5)si 07 6b37 N40
h2 sp rn man 10.56(11.6x7.5)si 07 6b37 N40
 l3 sp rn man 6.72(9.8x6.2)si 05 6b35 N50
l3 sp rn man 6.72(9.8x6.2)si 05 6b35 N50
l sp ov man 5.64(11.5x8.9x5.6)si 07 6b37 T112
l sp ov man 5.64(11.5x8.9x5.6)si 07 6b37 T112
 l sp tr man 5.50(9.5x9.5x7.1)si 07 6b39 N56
l sp tr man 5.50(9.5x9.5x7.1)si 07 6b39 N56
m2 sp mq man 3.68(11.4x7x4.8)si 04 6b39 N56 
m2 sp mq man 3.68(11.4x7x4.8)si 04 6b39 N56
 zm2 sp ov man 3.09(8.4x7.6x4.8)si 037 6b35 N47 pr05
zm2 sp ov man 3.09(8.4x7.6x4.8)si 037 6b35 N47 pr05
ha5 sp ov man 10.20(13.5x11.6x6.6)vsi 1k 3b2 N200
ha5 sp ov man 10.20(13.5x11.6x6.6)vsi 1k 3b2 N200
 l1a5 sp ov mano 9.48(12.8x11.3x6.9)vsi 1k 3b2 N111
l1a5 sp ov mano 9.48(12.8x11.3x6.9)vsi 1k 3b2 N111
la1 sp ov man 5.67(10.3x8.3x7.7)c 1.2k 3b11NfrL
la1 sp ov man 5.67(10.3x8.3x7.7)c 1.2k 3b11NfrL
  la3 sp ov man 5.06(10.6x9.8x5.8)c 1.2k 3b11 N160
la3 sp ov man 5.06(10.6x9.8x5.8)c 1.2k 3b11 N160
m1a2 sp rn mano 4.67(8.9x6.6)ec 1.2k 3b14 T105
m1a2 sp rn mano 4.67(8.9x6.6)ec 1.2k 3b14 T105
 m1b1 sp ht rdo 4.37(11.6x9x5.5)ec 1k 3b7 N102
m1b1 sp ht rdo 4.37(11.6x9x5.5)ec 1k 3b7 N102
m2a1 sp pr man 3.95(11x9x5.5)c 1.2k sb T328
m2a1 sp pr man 3.95(11x9x5.5)c 1.2k sb T328
 m2b6 sp ov mano 3.24(9.3x7.8x4.7)ec 08 sb T182
m2b6 sp ov mano 3.24(9.3x7.8x4.7)ec 08 sb T182
m3c2 sp pr man 2.56(10.2x6.8x4.5)c 06 sb N83
m3c2 sp pr man 2.56(10.2x6.8x4.5)c 06 sb N83
 m4a2 sp ht man 2.45(8.1x7.6x5.3)ec 06 sb N58
m4a2 sp ht man 2.45(8.1x7.6x5.3)ec 06 sb N58
  
m4b3 sp em man 2.32(10.1x5.5x3.6)ec 05 3b15 N50 m4b3 sp em man 2.32(10.1x5.5x3.6)ec 05 3b15 N50
 ma1 sp ov mano 2.06(7.6x6.2x4.8)c 06 T4-44 T56
ma1 sp ov mano 2.06(7.6x6.2x4.8)c 06 T4-44 T56
 ma2 sp ht o 2.0(7.5x7.5x4.1)ec 04 T4-48N37
ma2 sp ht o 2.0(7.5x7.5x4.1)ec 04 T4-48N37
 s1a2 sp bg man af 1.97(9.5x5.6x3.1)c 04 b3-50 N12
s1a2 sp bg man af 1.97(9.5x5.6x3.1)c 04 b3-50 N12

Hessonite is a grossular garnet and occurs in a range of colours. The orange brown of hessonite is due to manganese and iron inclusions. The best comes from Sri Lanka. The first photo is a rare imperial garnet which is peach orange and mined in Brazil.
m2 imp 3.09(11x7.4x4)ec 05 3b16 N41 m2 imperial  garnet peachorange 3.09(11x7.4x4)ec 05 3b16 N41
 m1 hes cu gy br 4.78(9.7x8.8x6)ec 05 3b47 L41
m1 hes cu gy br 4.78(9.7x8.8x6)ec 05 3b47 L41
m5 hes ov yo 2.25(8.2x6.8x4.9)c 035 3b50 N38
m5 hes ov yo 2.25(8.2x6.8x4.9)c 035 3b50 N38
 m5 hes tr orrd mal 2.11(8.6x6.7x5.2)ec 03 3b48 N31
m5 hes tr orrd mal 2.11(8.6x6.7x5.2)ec 03 3b48 N31
s2 hes rn oy 1.61(6.8x4.4)ec 03 3b49 T21
s2 hes rn oy 1.61(6.8x4.4)ec 03 3b49 T21 
vs1 hes ov go mal 0.98(7.1x5.8x3.1)EC 015 3b49 N26
vs1 hes ov go mal 0.98(7.1x5.8x3.1)ec 015 3b49 N26
 
vs1 hes rd2 rdo af 0.96(6x3.8)ec match pair 03  3b48 N32
 vs hes ov ory 0.89(6.7x5.3x2.8)EC 015 3b49 N19
vs hes ov ory 0.89(6.7x5.3x2.8)ec 015 3b49 N19
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)