#gemmology

[saccharine222]

Rainbow fluorite crystal 🌈

(CaF2)

[lsdadan]

[bornitereads]

Lapidarium - Hettie Judah

Read: Apr 2024

This was a fun read! It's a bunch of short stories? Entries? About different stones. Yes gemstones, but others as well. Basically Judah was like let's write stuff about stones that humans have found value in, whether practical or ornamental. It was fun to read about each because I learned a lot about the human value and history of these stones. Having an earth science degree I knew a lot scientifically about them, but the human history is cool to learn about. I say human history because I also know a lot about the geological history of said stones. Definitely worth a read for a casual look at stones and how we've used them.

Info: Penguin Books; 2022

[khushallgems]

Amethyst | Locality: Brandberg, Erongo Region, Namibia Size: 5.4 x 4.7 x 3.9 cm Photo Copyright © Anton Watzl Minerals #smokyquartz #crystals #clearquartz #rutiledquarzt #khushalljewellery #gemstones #amethyst #khushallcollection #rosequartz #khushallgems #amethystcrystal #tucsonshow #khushallcrystal #fadenquartz #minerals_wholesale #mineralswholesale #quartzcollecting #dubanigems #gemologist #gemmology #gems #specimen #quartzcrystal #khushallfineminerals #gemporn #rutilequartz #quartz #quartzstone #crystalporn https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnr750NIurO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hochgouez-nerzhus]

Iris Agate

[electricboogaloosstuff]

Alright buckle up, I'm going on a rant

So I was on Instagram and an add pop up. It's several rings. I see one that I find pretty so I look up the model just so I know what kind of price we're talking.

And my god do they have no shame ?

Alright so background information, I'm a geologist and a gemmologist so I know my rocks. The ring I found was this one :

Natural back opal is one of the most expensive type of opal out there. Here, we have lab grown opal, you can tell by the stripped pattern. Uncut it looks like this :

Now, no hate toward lab grown gems, the fact that we can imitate natural gems is pretty cool if you ask me.

BUT

Lab grown opal is obviously WAY cheaper than natural opal. Especially for black opal.

600$ looked pretty high for me so I looked up other rings in this style

BAM WE LOOSE MORE THAN 450$ (still too expensive if you ask me but still).

THAT'S NOT ALL

If you were to buy the raw material (keep in mind that it's an estimate because I couldn't find prices directly from the lab)

One slab big enough to do several rings is the price of one of the cheaper ring (keep in mind that you still have to make a ring out of it and you have to pay for that).

So let's be clear, do not buy a 600$ lab grown opal ring, it's not supposed to be that expensive.

Anyway always check where the gems in your jewelry is from folks <3

[unearthedgemstones]

A huge 19747ct citrine from Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

[lawsongems]

Fresh off the lap! 6 newly cut and polished, gorgeous sapphires from the Rubyvale Sapphire Gemfields (the big center stone is 6.18ct). A big shoutout to Peter Brown from @rubyvalegemgallery for cutting these beauties for me. All stones are available, DM for details. #lawsongems #gem #gemstones #gemmology #gemology #jewelry #Jewellery #jewellerydesign #jewelrydesign #handemadejewellery #handemadejewelry #lapidary #gemcutting #sapphire #Rubyvale #tealsapphire #partisapphire (at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8zyNvNBUvN/?igshid=p2izyosa7st0