Gemscapes News
July 2008

248-327-6898

Luscious Summer Gems

Summer Greetings Friends,

I hope you are well and thriving, and getting plenty of sunshine.

I am enticing you today with 11 delightful gems to stimulate your senses and excite your gem imagination.

All my best,
Sherris

All gems are listed at 2007 prices, without adjustment for higher rough costs. Unaltered and undamaged gems can be returned for any reason within 1 week of your receiving them. Shipping is by registered mail, although next day delivery is available. We take checks, Mastercard & Visa, or wire transfers.

All gems come with colored stone grading reports from the North American Lapidary Laboratory.
To see the grading report of the 4.99 Golden Scapolite click HERE.

This glorious aquamarine is the first in a new series of “mandala cuts,”
so named for their circular circumference and entrancing visual patterns.

Completely reversible, with the girdle edge spaced evenly between the
back and the front of the gem, this aquamarine will be easy to set. The
carving is deep but intricate and creates a surprising change in
appearance as you rotate the gem, or rock it back and forth
(see two views).

This is fine, unheated Pakistani aquamarine at 2007 prices. I do have
more of this rough, but this was the largest round stone the rough
would yield.

 21 mm round, 9 mm deep
 $10,400.00

I love this gem, so wing like and open in design. The large size
and fluid carving show off the natural reflective qualities so
often overlooked in crystal opal. But it is the precise,
radiating pattern of carving on the pavilion that
really moves light through this gem and
makes it come alive.

When viewed in a subdued light, this opal practically glows. Held up
to skin, it exhibits an ephemeral blue hue, and next to clothing
it will pick up whatever color you are wearing.

Fantastic as the center of a pearl collar, or in any setting with pearls;
this opal would also be gorgeous set with other colored gems.

45 mm long. 23 mm wide, 16 mm deep
$4,950.00

With the deep, clear color of the finest Uruguayan amethyst this
gem will light up any ring or pendant.

It is perfect for a bezel or partial bezel mounting, and the flat edge
provides an interesting place to position a diamond, or perhaps
another colored gem.

10 mm long, 10.85 mm wide, 8.4 mm deep
 $870.00

The girdle of this reversible, chevron shaped iolite evenly divides
the front from the back, creating a flat or tabular shape that is
easy to set. The lovely blue color will not go black, and the
matte and bright finish is practical in many settings.

This gem is particularly well suited to a man’s ring, and would
combine admirably with a diamond or colored gem accent.

14.10 mm long, 9.80 mm wide, 5.05 mm deep 
$720.00

You just can’t beat this color! Apatite is a real attention getter when set
in pins or pendants. Apatite is a softer gem ( 5 on the Moh’s scale),
so I don’t recommend it for rings.

This lovely blue-green gem is cut with a pavilion and can be
mounted in prongs or bezels.

 12.82 mm long, 11.07 mm wide and 8.53 mm deep
 $2580.00

Mined in Pakistan, this peridot flaunts the pure apple green
color that the region is known for.

With a faceted pavilion and carved top, this tapered peridot
will glow in either a fluid, organic design, or
a straight-edged geometric style.

12.8 mm long, 8.8 mm wide and 8.5 mm deep 
$2175.00

The color of scapolite is very difficult to capture, but we have done our
best. It is a delicate but pure yellow, and many customers who
claim not to like yellow, fall in love with Scapolite.

Scapolite is a 5/6 on the hardness scale, so it is best set in pins or
pendants. This particular gem has a modified kite shape that will
be easy to design around and is very bright and lively.

 13.7 mm long, 12.38 mm wide, 7.45 mm deep.
 $825.00

I rarely cut a gem with a flat surface and circular depression on top,
but the shape of this gem and the placement of the circular lens at
that precise spot, created a wonderful reflection of the radial
back-carving. It was too good an opportunity to pass up!

Deep in color, very bright, and an intriguing cut,
this citrine will fantastic in any style of jewelry.

13.27 mm long, 10.22 mm wide, 7.84 mm deep 
$1185.00

6.15 ct. Citrine
(Namibia origin, heat treated to enrich color)

Small but elegant, this curved triangular tourmaline will carry a mounting
by itself, or pair well with another gem. A delicate wire mounting is
all it needs for a lovely pendant, but it is also durable enough to
be set into a ring.

With an easy-to-set pavilion cut, this rubellite will be beautiful
combined with diamonds.

 9.75 mm long, 12.56 mm wide6.32 mm deep
 $870.00

Is it red or purple?

When I purchased this rough it was sold to me as red zircon. However
when it was graded after cutting, it was described as purple zircon.

So what we have here might be better described as a chameleon
zircon, because it changes appearance in various lights,
and in varying positions.

Destined for a collector who will appreciate its
uniqueness, this zircon is a true beauty.

12.34 mm long, 8.92 mm wide, 5.07 mm deep 
$1275.00

In daylight this lovely Brazilian tourmaline is a gorgeous pink, while in
incandescent light it is a beautiful peach color. This lovely tourmaline is
not a color change gem (like an alexandrite), but it certainly exhibits a
strong color shift.

The three photos show the gem in daylight on a white background, in
incandescent light on a white background, and in daylight
on a black background.

So get out from under those incandescent lights and take this
tourmaline for a walk outside!

 12.13 mm long, 12.95 mm wide, 8.22 mm deep
 $2025.00