Post subject: Re: gem source areas vs trading centres
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2013 12:55 am
Established Member
Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:27 pm Posts: 37
Thanks Qld Barry, Im located in Australia too, but in victoria. If you want to become a lion you must through yourself into the lions den either to be devoured or accepted as one of their own .
Post subject: Re: gem source areas vs trading centres
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2013 12:13 pm
Gemology Online Veteran
Joined: Tue May 28, 2013 9:44 pm Posts: 711 Location: Las Vegas
HAMISHWHITING wrote:
Thanks Qld Barry, Im located in Australia too, but in victoria. If you want to become a lion you must through yourself into the lions den either to be devoured or accepted as one of their own .
Perfect! you could visit Barry and get some hands on with a miner you know already that is honest. As far as throwing yourself to the lion's, well thats just foolish unless your a billionaire and dont care about your money.
_________________ Life is to short to worry about what others think of you.
Post subject: Re: gem source areas vs trading centres
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2013 3:45 pm
Gemology Online Veteran
Joined: Sat Jul 14, 2012 5:11 pm Posts: 657
Hamish, I believe that the Geelong gem and mineral club, is a very active one.If they are close to you, they would be worth contacting. Come visit during the winter, there is always hot coffee, and a chat! Barry.
Post subject: Re: gem source areas vs trading centres
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2013 7:15 pm
Established Member
Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:27 pm Posts: 37
Would it be a good idea to start with some very cheap rough, perhaps treated rough like diffused in order to get an idea of the cutting process and weigh retention , things like that, so I don't lose billions of dollars but rather just a few bucks? Thanks barry ill keep that in mind your in Queensland I'm assuming ?
Post subject: Re: gem source areas vs trading centres
Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 1:48 am
Gemology Online Veteran
Joined: Sat Jul 14, 2012 5:11 pm Posts: 657
Hamish, the problem is, that nobody will admit that they are selling diffused rough. I would love to get some, but it isn't easy as the cut stone is worth way more than the rough, as it is usually palmed off as natural. You must remember that most stones, around the 1-3ct size, are just not worth getting tested, and the scammers rely on this, so all the diffused stuff is cut straight away. You would need some pretty high powered help to get enough to make a relevant study. My feeling is that you are going the wrong way, and need to find good, natural rough, which will then teach you how to identify it. The folks we brought our mine off, went to live in Bangkok. They tried for a couple of years to organise gem buying trips to Africa, but I guess thats just too dangerous now. They are experienced miners/ gemcutters/ gemologists, and need a full, portable gemo lab to try and stay in front of all the scammers. They have found great parcels, and when checking the stone, find some very unusual things "slipped in". Often, they have said, even the person they are buying from, has been conned, and said dealers race off to rectify the problem. In the midst of the biggest gem markets in the world, they are having difficulty buying good rough, and come back to Queensland to buy direct from the local miners.( I'm talking sapphires here, but other rough is just as difficult, they tell me.) If you want to P.M me I can give you my mobile, and you can fire questions at me!! Barry.
Post subject: Re: gem source areas vs trading centres
Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 9:35 pm
Established Member
Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:27 pm Posts: 37
Thanks yea that makes a lot of sense. As for identifying natural rough, Im assuming the majority of the fake stuff will be flame fusion but do they also slip some flux grown synthetics in there? I can identify stones well as I'm a gemologist but I've never had a go with rough pieces before I guess I just look for natural inclusions ,colour zoning and growth ?
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