Post subject: Heliodor vs Citrine for practice and any difficulties
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 2:57 pm
Valued Contributor
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 10:15 am Posts: 352 Location: Cary, NC
To all,
Given that Heliodor (Golden Beryl), and the higher grades of Citrine are running about the same in cost per carat in rough. Is Heliodor going to give a 'brighter' and better looking stone (given good cutting and selection of the cut)? Also, are there any issues or tricks with polishing Heliodor with 100K diamond or are there better alternatives (I've known the horror of polishing quartz until I found the Gearloose products)
I've been looking around to stock up on practice material and I love the look of some of the Heliodor cut stones. I know it's a Beryl but would appreciate some views from people that cut both and which one they prefer more.
My thanks,
_________________ Bob Hodges
Faceter: When turned into a zombie, they stumble around crying "roooouuuuggghhhh"
Post subject: Re: Heliodor vs Citrine for practice and any difficulties
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 6:01 pm
Gold Member
Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 2:18 am Posts: 1542
Durnik wrote:
To all,
Given that Heliodor (Golden Beryl), and the higher grades of Citrine are running about the same in cost per carat in rough. Is Heliodor going to give a 'brighter' and better looking stone (given good cutting and selection of the cut)? Also, are there any issues or tricks with polishing Heliodor with 100K diamond or are there better alternatives (I've known the horror of polishing quartz until I found the Gearloose products)
I've been looking around to stock up on practice material and I love the look of some of the Heliodor cut stones. I know it's a Beryl but would appreciate some views from people that cut both and which one they prefer more.
My thanks,
I would rather cut and polish Beryl than quartz any day. Beryl has a higher RI, and is one of the easiest materials to polish. It is a joy to work with.
Can you really get Heliodor rough in top color, clean, and big sizes for a couple of dollars a gram like you can top citrine?
Post subject: Re: Heliodor vs Citrine for practice and any difficulties
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 6:08 pm
Valued Contributor
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 10:15 am Posts: 352 Location: Cary, NC
1bwana1,
private PM sent with the dealer info as I do not want to put one dealer in front of another. I've bought a lot of rough from the people on this forum and in every case I have been astounded with the quality and customer service.
All of them were even kind enough to recommend a cut and where the table should be placed to help a rank amateur. You can't ask for better service than that.
My thanks,
_________________ Bob Hodges
Faceter: When turned into a zombie, they stumble around crying "roooouuuuggghhhh"
Post subject: Re: Heliodor vs Citrine for practice and any difficulties
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:22 pm
Established Member
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2017 11:28 pm Posts: 16
If anyone could supply me with a good Heliodor source, I would greatly appreciate it. I have been Faceting for a little over a year and would like to start cutting something other than Citrine, Amethyst and synthetics.
Post subject: Re: Heliodor vs Citrine for practice and any difficulties
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2019 2:43 am
Valued Contributor
Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2013 9:16 am Posts: 239 Location: Germany
Hi Durnik, as Steve stated, beryl is always the first choice before quarz. Cutting and polishing is really easy and through the higher RI the brilliance is better. But good cuts look good in both varieties. But the advantages are clear on the helidor sides. You can send me your dealer too, if the prices are in that range. Thanks!
Typically it is cheap because it is relatively easy to produce via irradiation (which of course drags the price down for natural and treated alike when there isn't an effective test). But the color is beautiful and stable, and even with a note about possible irradiation helidor has been a great seller for me.
Post subject: Re: Heliodor vs Citrine for practice and any difficulties
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2019 7:58 pm
Valued Contributor
Joined: Fri Dec 25, 2015 8:31 pm Posts: 276
I've been seeing lighter yellow rough going for around 1-2USD/carat myself, apparently from Vietnam? Unfortunately the poor shapes have stopped me from buying any, how well-shaped has the rough your supplier is selling been like?
I've been seeing lighter yellow rough going for around 1-2USD/carat myself, apparently from Vietnam?
Note that Vietnam produces aquamarine but has no known sources of naturally colored heliodor (at least as of the last time I read up on it). A lot of more poorly-toned aquas from there are treated though. Just another thing to be aware of.
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