Recently I have acquired some Rough of Purple Garnets from Africa. I believe it is quite Rare as it has a lot of Amethyst color stones. Also I would like to know about how to price the cut stones from 1 - 10 cts without inclusions.
I mean, the boring reality is that the price you realize is going to depend on a lot of factors. You'd do best to spend some time looking for comp prices in the market you want to sell it in.
Thanks for the links but these stones are not the ones I was talking about. These are Rhodolites from India while I have enquired about the Purple Garnets which resemble Amethysts and are of African origin.
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm Posts: 21602 Location: San Francisco
Good post BobSiv. Now in the spirit of GO, I'd like to know exactly what sort of garnet variety we are looking at here:
New Era wrote:
A very rare and beautiful variety of Garnet from Tanga, Tanzania. This material displays predominately purple color in white light and shifts to an intense magenta under Halogen or Incandescent bulbs. This is quite possibly the most popular garnet we’ve ever had in stock at New Era Gems, there has been less than 600 grams of rough found that would cut 1ct+ stones. We have several pieces out for testing at different laboratories to determine whether this is a brand new species of garnet or just an unusual variety of Almandine Pyrope. This material will surely cut an impressive gemstone!
It appears to be rather profoundly color shifting. I've found some more material here: The GIA is planning an upcoming article on the material, Summer 2015. Color-Change Garnets from Tanzania
Analysis on some of these garnets:
Quote:
The gems are approximately 80% pyrope, 10% spessartine, and 10% almandine, with an RI of 1.736.
Joined: Fri May 02, 2008 11:10 am Posts: 2698 Location: Rock and Roll Heaven
Yes, I know of the African Purple garnets. The rough looks nice, but from what I understand is their not as saturated as the Indian stones. Just what I heard, not saying I know for sure. The Indian stones do not shift, & are Rhodolites. Their typically a 5 or 6 in saturation on the GIA Gemset. Most stones of three carats & over tend to be to dark, but there are exceptions. My stones are medium dark, with the exception of a 13.5 ct stone which is dark in tone, but still beautiful. Very rare material.
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Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2006 5:00 pm Posts: 391 Location: Dolan Springs, Arizona
I think there is another source for purple garnet in Afghanistan or Pakistan as I have about two kilos of walnut sized garnet nodules which are amethyst colored in fluorescent light and magenta in Incandescent light which I got from Wali at Five Lions. He reports the material is from Afghanistan. I have found the material too dark to be attractive in 2 carat and larger sizes. I intend to try some smaller rounds to see if I can get some lively stones.
Thanks Bobsiv for the links...this is exactly like the Rough that I have. Thanks others also for shedding light on the subject. I am posting pics of the Cut stones that I have as samples...Enjoy this Gorgeous Garnet !
Joined: Fri May 02, 2008 11:10 am Posts: 2698 Location: Rock and Roll Heaven
There also use to be Purple Garnets that came out of Sri Lanka, very much like the Indian stones, but as far as I know that find was gone about 15 years ago. They did find big sizes.
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Joined: Fri May 02, 2008 11:10 am Posts: 2698 Location: Rock and Roll Heaven
Here is a pic of what was probably my best Indian purple Rhodolite. It was around 3.50 cts. Vivid! Damn thing looked liked a piece of grape jelly candy. Should of kept it, instead of selling.
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