Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2005 10:20 am Posts: 186 Location: MONTANA
it works out that the only time my refractometer goofs up is when im dreaming.. ,, that is, when im trying to make a one dollar gem into a 100 dollar gem.. ... my mentor said the nephrite i was buying was dirty, i figured it was the wax coating to add luster giving me wierd split readings on this dense green carving....luster,visual, hardness,and density were fine... . when i got home i was reading liddecoat on the matter and found that sauserite has part zoistite, part feldspar with ~ 1.71, and ~1.53 readings,.. ill have to get a second book for my shop.. I might find out if that is what it is when i get out the short wave tommorow.. oh well, i need some sauserite for my collection anyway.. gemology is one of those things where you feel like king of the hill one day, and the village idiot the next... dave. (also posted to gem equipment, bad news about the gemeter)
This site has what appear to be nice samples of the various forms of jade, as well as saussurite. I was thinking of investing in a few just to keep as "pocket pieces" to remind me not to settle for less when shopping - there's certainly a lot of spotty, snotty-looking nephrite out there...
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2005 10:20 am Posts: 186 Location: MONTANA
a local term here for cheap diamonds sold at the box stores is frozen spit,,, i think the terms that put accurate visuals in the mind are a great learning tool.. dave..
LOL dave, perhap's we should be in the diamond's forum,but, your comment's reminded me of the first time I heard the word spit as a description for low quality, highly included diamond's. I believe it was Anatase that used the word spit when describing them and it was the first time I had heard that description.
Before I had seriously studied gemology, I remember taking a diamond ring into a local jeweler to get his opinion on the piece. It was a nicely designed ring (one I would love to own with quality diamond's) and his reaction was "Cute design, diamond's look like rock salt".
Spit, rock salt, they both are pretty close in describing the quality of diamond's that show up in mass marketed jewelry item's. Although the item I spoke of looked more to be of a designer with imaginable potential, his/her, gemstone inventory budget was lacking at the time of production.
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2005 11:45 am Posts: 1107 Location: Cape Elizabeth, Maine
When did you get your course materials Daniel?
I just finished my G.G. and I asked my instructor in October when the new Gem ID course would be rolled out and she told me that was the million dollar question.
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2005 7:00 pm Posts: 181 Location: St Louis - Mo
Moderator wrote:
When did you get your course materials Daniel?
I just finished my G.G. and I asked my instructor in October when the new Gem ID course would be rolled out and she told me that was the million dollar question.
I originally started back in 03, but the new course came out in o5, and I paid the 265 dollars to get the updated course. I had already finished my diamonds by then. The best part was that that $265 extended my finish date. And with having to have some spinal surgery and then going through a divorce, the extra time was a godsend.
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2005 7:00 pm Posts: 181 Location: St Louis - Mo
Morning Dove wrote:
Umm . . . "snotty-looking"?? I can't seem to find that description in the GIA Lab Manual!
Morning Dove, I myself have found a lot of stones not listed in the lab manual. I think that is more for the stones GIA commonly uses in its lab classes. The Gem Reference Guide, which they gave out in the pre 2005 GG course. Then again , they also gave out the cool Wheel of Color * echo*"color-color-color-"
Those plastic pop sickles you can use to judge color. The new course, Nada. All paper and no plastic. Since I have both, I got the good stuff ,and the updated info.
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