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 Post subject: 156 carats Chrysoberyl Cats Eyes
PostPosted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 6:26 am 
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Hi

Here is a picture of a 156 carats Chrysoberyl cats eye. How do we appraise such a huge stone?

Image

Thanks and Regards
Bharat


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PostPosted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:28 am 
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I wouldn't describe that as a "cat's eye"
CLICK HERE to view cat's eye chrysoberyl


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PostPosted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 10:11 am 
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Barbra Voltaire wrote:
I wouldn't describe that as a "cat's eye"
CLICK HERE to view cat's eye chrysoberyl


The kitty has cataracts. :(

Neil

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PostPosted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 10:13 am 
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Quote:
The kitty has cataracts. :cry:

:smt038


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PostPosted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:13 pm 
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neil wrote:
Barbra Voltaire wrote:
I wouldn't describe that as a "cat's eye"
CLICK HERE to view cat's eye chrysoberyl


The kitty has cataracts. :(

Neil


Nope, it is a fantastic cat's eye. I am only an amateur in photography and that's why you are saying what you are.

It is a huge thing, with a beautiful chatoyancy.

Thanks and Regards
Bharat


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PostPosted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:34 pm 
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Barbra Voltaire wrote:
I wouldn't describe that as a "cat's eye"
CLICK HERE to view cat's eye chrysoberyl


For a moment forget the picture. Imagine if this is a Cat's Eye, how much would it cost?

I know it is one and that is why I am asking.

Thanks and Regards
Bharat


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PostPosted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 1:40 pm 
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Sure looks like it could be a cat's-eye to me. Most of the "cataracts" are reflections of the room (look at the picture close-up), and you can clearly see the ends of the line at the sides of the gem. Unfortunately, I have zero idea how to value it as I am most certainly NOT an appraiser. :D


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PostPosted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 3:06 pm 
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neil wrote:
Barbra Voltaire wrote:
I wouldn't describe that as a "cat's eye"
CLICK HERE to view cat's eye chrysoberyl


The kitty has cataracts. :(

Neil


LOL too funny Neil!


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PostPosted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 3:38 pm 
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gem-n00b wrote:
Sure looks like it could be a cat's-eye to me. Most of the "cataracts" are reflections of the room (look at the picture close-up)



Same here...

Would really love to see this one in all its glory! :P A picture w/o flash in daylight might do the trick, if it might be of use for you still. A setup with directional light would work even better.

It would only be the second cats eye in the 100 carat neighbourhood I've ever knew about (which isn't much).

Would imagine that to compete for a lofty budget the stone could afford to be smaller as long as it has no significant detraction. Smaller would even be more wearable at this point, for what that matters. Obviously you know allot better what the thing looks like and whatever defects it has if any (such as inclusions not contributing to the asterism but visible from the front or sides of the stone, for example, or fractures, etc.), than even allot better images could show...

Is it translucent? Can't begin to guess from the picture. Wouldn't expect to see through such a chunk, but it wouldn't help it's fortune if opaque...

You need an appraiser.. and I am not one. This is just personal opinion.

There has been allot of talk around here about where and how to get an appropriate appraisal for something exotic and potentially valuable.


Last edited by valeria102 on Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:50 am, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:53 pm 
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Bharat wrote:
For a moment forget the picture. Imagine if this is a Cat's Eye, how much would it cost?

I know it is one and that is why I am asking.

Thanks and Regards
Bharat


Well if I have to imagine about the stone, then I will let you imagine about the price...

Seriously it is not possible to determine the quality of a gem if we have to imagine the color, the transparency, the calrity, the quality of the eye, the life of the stone, etc...
To give a price to a stone, you have to hold it in your hand and look at it with your eyes. Nothing wrong Bharat, but what you are asking is just the impossible: With a blur photograph as only clue, there is in my opinion just nothing to say.

Forums are not really thew best place to get an appraisal as it is difficult to get the quality of a stone from a simple photo. My advise would be to send the stone to a professional appraisal in the area you are willing to sell the gem.

All the best,

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The views expressed here are V. Pardieu’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of GIA Laboratory Bangkok (http://www.giathai.net)where he is an employee since Dec 2008.


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PostPosted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:49 am 
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Hi Vincent

You are probably right in saying about respective imaginations. I'd leave it at that.

I am just going to set up a price and sell it off, assuming someone has the dough to buy it.

Thanks and Regards
Bharat


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PostPosted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:56 am 
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I will try it taking its pics in daylight as suggested.

The asterism is amazing in it. Since it is a huge piece and a flat one, it "eye" is like beautiful band on the top and merges into the sides. From some angles you can see multiple asterisms.

It is opaque since I couldn't see through it at all.

I am sending some better pictures to a miner friend in Zambia. I am sure she'd of some help.

Thanks and Regards
Bharat


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PostPosted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 1:47 pm 
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valeria102 wrote:
Would really love to see this one in all its glory! :P A picture w/o flash in daylight might do the trick, if it might be of use for you still. A setup with directional light would work even better.


Here are some more pictures:
Image
in Sunlight

Image
in Sunlight in my left hand

Image
in room incandescent light without any special lighting.

Image
in room incandescent light without any special lighting.

All pictures taken at 2.3 MP resolution with only Optical Zoom. No Digital Zoom employed. No editing employed.

Do you get a fair idea of this cat's eye now?

Thanks and Regards
Bharat


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PostPosted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 5:28 pm 
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The stone in the picture lacks scale. it needs a ruler, or an item we can compare size. Also, just because a stone is larger thant what one would find in jewelry, does not make it more valuable. When stones become too large they move from jewelry into sample market. You should not merely multiply the value of a smaller variety to arrive at a higher price. This stone is too large for a piece of jewelry, or is it more like a bowling ball, or a door stop, or cannon ball? IRS case law does not allow such presumptions as to a multiple of price when the item is not the scale normally found in jewelry. This could save your client a lot of grief. If on the other hand, you assign a high price to the item, then be aware of the potential claim the tax men and bean counters could asses your client even before the item is sold. Let the market set the price not some immaginary multiple of a similar item that is jewelry size
multiplied to achieve a comp in a market that does not exist for such large items.... Winstone


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PostPosted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 10:04 pm 
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Was cutting a few stones from it considered at any time? I am intrigued by the choice to make a huge flat single stone out of the rough instead of several 'smaller' (OK, those would probably still be very sizable for fine material) pieces with relatively higher dome and sharper eye, and lack of visible fractures. It could also be the case that the cutter knew only too well that smaller stones would not be absolutely perfect (perhaps opaque, or whatever) and chose to play out size as the one outstanding feature of the piece, fully aware of what 'winstone' already wrote above.

Chances are I am just not seeing the light in this case.

And even if the stone could turn into a remarkable suite or otherwise make it in a one of a kind piece of jewelry in its current state, I can't claim to 'value' it. I can only imagine that getting advice for a recut and an appraisal are both professional services that are unlikely to be had informally and free of charge.


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