January 24 Through February 4—TUCSON, ARIZONA: Annual show
Welcome to the GemologyOnline.com Forum
A non-profit Forum for the exchange of gemological ideas
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 7:00 pm

All times are UTC - 4 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 13 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: benitoite
PostPosted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 9:06 am 
Offline
Active Member
User avatar

Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:00 pm
Posts: 63
Location: Philippines
this ebay seller is auctioning a set of benitoite that has a colorless benitoite.

From my very limited knowledge of gemstones, I know that these are very rare with colorless being the rarest.
Please tell me if any of you guys have bought from this seller. I'd really love to get my hands on these beauties if they are what they really are.

ebay seller: wwwthegemtradercom
listing # 270661225397


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: benitoite
PostPosted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 9:57 am 
Offline
Gemology Online Übergod
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 3:24 am
Posts: 4997
Location: McDonough GA
Hi,

Those are being sold by Brad who is a well respected forum member. Guaranteed to be what they are claimed to be. :)

J-

_________________
http://www.selectgem.com


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: benitoite
PostPosted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 7:49 pm 
Offline
Active Member
User avatar

Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:00 pm
Posts: 63
Location: Philippines
Thanks!


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: benitoite
PostPosted: Fri Nov 19, 2010 3:13 pm 
Offline
New to the Forum or The Quiet Type

Joined: Fri Nov 19, 2010 2:17 am
Posts: 2
Why would you want colorless? The most expensive is the royal blue, similar to the best sapphire. The interesting thing about Benitoite is that it can have both blue and violet tones in one stone, similar to Tanzanite. I've purchased good stones for reasonable prices from the seller from Asia, can't remember the name now, but it's the only one from Asia and sells many other stones. I had them authenticated by a gemologist friend.
Lynn in Salinas, CA


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: benitoite
PostPosted: Fri Nov 19, 2010 3:29 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm
Posts: 21602
Location: San Francisco
Colorless benitoite is a rare curiosity.
I own a few of them.
They are highly dispersive and interesting.
There are serious collectors on the forum who are more interested in rarity than resale. :D


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: benitoite
PostPosted: Sat Nov 20, 2010 2:39 am 
Offline
Gold Member
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:05 am
Posts: 1499
I was hesitating to post one interesting peculiarity about colorless benitoite. But now I figure the topic has opened for peculiarities.

Everyone should know that all benitoite fluoresces a fabulous chalky blue under SWUV light. As has been published, and as my students have shown, this is due to a very limited amount of 290 nm light in the standard 250 nm SWUV lamp. Just imagine what happens when you shine pure 290 nm light upon one. But, not to digress...

The peculiarity of colorless benitoite is that some examples fluoresce red under LWUV light. This is not a bright red fluorescence, but it doesn't require strict blackout conditions to see it. I have one colorless piece that does fluoresce red, and one piece that doesn't. I've never seen, nor heard of, any blue pieces that can fluoresce red. I have about three dozen pieces of varying blue saturation, and none show even a hint of the red fluorescence.

So Barbra, since you have a few colorless pieces :D , thus outnumbering mine, do any of them fluoresce red under LWUV?

I'd be interested in Brad's offering if it did fluoresce red, as its size is way bigger than what I have. But if so, it would have been mentioned, as it would definitely add value. Oh, what was that bit I remembered reading "There are serious collectors on the forum who are more interested in rarity than resale." Sounds like someone I know. :roll:


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: benitoite
PostPosted: Sat Nov 20, 2010 7:48 pm 
Offline
Gemology Online Veteran

Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2008 6:43 pm
Posts: 615
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
http://wsfgems.com/benito.html

I bought a REALLY nice 1 ct benitoite from here, and I couldn't be more happy with it. It has a great cut so the dispersion is fantastic. Plus he always has quite a good number of them.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: benitoite
PostPosted: Sat Nov 20, 2010 11:51 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm
Posts: 21602
Location: San Francisco
I checked: no red fluorescence.
:(


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: benitoite
PostPosted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 1:45 am 
Offline
Gold Member
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:05 am
Posts: 1499
Oh darn. :(


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: benitoite
PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 9:36 pm 
Offline
Active Member
User avatar

Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:00 pm
Posts: 63
Location: Philippines
is 1.75mm considered a good size for benitoite?

it's so small that I'm worried that if I accidentally drop it on our dark carpet, I won't be able to find it anymore :shock:

_________________
You can call me Weng


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: benitoite
PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 10:21 pm 
Offline
Active Member
User avatar

Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:00 pm
Posts: 63
Location: Philippines
I hope it arrives safely to my country :)

Can't wait to see it in person!

_________________
You can call me Weng


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: benitoite
PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 10:39 pm 
Offline
Gemology Online Veteran
User avatar

Joined: Sun Dec 30, 2007 12:01 am
Posts: 556
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Hello lynxene,

Many years ago I was offered a Benitoite specimen that measured approx 6" x 4" and described as vivid blue crystal. It had a price tag of $250 CDN.

When I got to see it, I was less impressed as it consisted of a plate of the described size with a liberal sprinkling of crystals none of which was more than 3 mm.

I turned it down as I didn't see how it was worthwhile cutting material. Have been kicking myself ever since.

Tony.

_________________
www.thegemdoctor.com
Beautiful British Columbia


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: benitoite
PostPosted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 11:17 pm 
Offline
Active Member
User avatar

Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:00 pm
Posts: 63
Location: Philippines
they arrived yesterday! :)

very small but still very beautiful! :shock:

_________________
You can call me Weng


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 13 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 4 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
Gemology Style ported to phpBB3 by Christian Bullock