[Jewelry making - Article 01544] - Re: [Orchid] Titania Stone

[Wayne Emery]

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>     Chemically, "titania" is titanium dioxide, which is found in
>     nature as the mineral rutile. Synthetic rutile has been used as a
>     simulant for diamond in the past because of its high index of
>     refraction and good optical dispersion. Unfortunately it is soft,
>     so It has been supplanted by cubic zirconia as a diamond simulant.
>     Titania is in no way the same as strontium titanate, an entirely
>     different material. The stones you have are small and man-made, so
>     are of comparatively little value, perhaps the cost of cutting. 

    And, he is correct. I don't know what I was thinking, as I have cut
    both many times, but my statement was WRONG. Thank you for the
    correction, Richard. 

    I would like to add that both materials are not very durable
    (tough), but synthetic rutile is not real cheap in the rough
    compared to other synthetics and a round would have at least
    $25-30/c in cost of materials, plus cutting, of course, so the 2.5 c
    plus stones would have to have a cost at least $60 plus cutting. 

    Not that it is very pertinent to the discussion, but I am called
    upon occasionally to make a reproduction of a client's large diamond
    for them to wear without worry or insurance concerns. For that
    purpose, I will use colorless CZ for the pavilion, with a synthetic
    colorless corundum for the crown. Bright, fiery and durable.
    Colorless YAG works well in smaller stones, if polished on ceramic
    with 200k diamond. A chore. 

    Thanks again for setting the record straight, Richard! 

Wayne Emery
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