[Jewelry making - Article 00974] - Re: [Orchid] Synthetic quartz gems

[coralnut]

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    Steve, That was a great tome on color banding and natural/man-made
    amethyst recognition. Couldn't agree with you more. 

    One additional problem is one well known to cutters.  Some years ago
    I spent a week in Brazil and was able to pick up a few kilos of
    excellent amethyst rough.  After culling it, I sold enough of the
    medium grade stuff to pay for my purchase leaving me with a whole lot
    of top grade and some low grade. Now this is undeniably natural. I
    still cut a stone from that stock now and then. 

    The problem I'm referring to is caused by the miners using
    explosives to get it out.  This shatters a large percentage of the
    rough which, when coupled with natural inclusions and faults, makes a
    lot of it unusable. Thus, only 5 to 10 cts of a 20 ct stone might be
    cuttable resulting in a stone of a couple of carats. Even with good
    color, this effects the value of the final product.  Many cutters
    would rather not have to deal with these problems and find it easier
    and more profitable to work with the synthetic material which yields
    much more and doesn't require a lot of squirming and wriggling! But
    then, many cutters would rather cut milk of magnisia bottle bottoms
    too!! Hey if that gives them satisfaction....so be it. In the
    meantime, I prefer to squirm and wriggle!! 

    Cheers from Don at The Charles Belle Studio in SOFL where simple
    elegance IS fine jewelry! dcdietz AT attbi.com

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