Your Details
Please fill in your email address
Please fill in a password
GemSelect Newsletter - April 2009In our newsletter this month:
Gems for Collectors Back to Top
Many of our customers are gemstone collectors, so we get numerous requests for rare and unusual stones. Finding these gems is far from easy, even given our location in Thailand and the extensive contacts we've established over the years. But some months we get lucky and have opportunities to buy some unusual stones. Last month, for example, we found interesting specimens of 15 different gemstone varieties that we've never stocked before. When we started our online business 5 years ago we carried about 40 different kinds of gemstones. At the time we thought that was an impressively wide range. But now we have 119 different varieties in stock. We continue to search out the rare and unusual. Among the unusual varieties we found recently is idocrase, a brilliant olive green gem from the mineral vesuvianite. Idocrase is not only rare, but transparent specimens that can be faceted count as very rare indeed. Most gem-quality idocrase is opaque with an appearance similar to jade. Recently some very fine transparent specimens have come from Tanzania and Kenya, and we were lucky enough to buy a small amount. Another rare green gem is tashmarine diopside, a bright green form of diopside from Tajikistan. Many people are familiar with the chrome diopside from Russia, a saturated green that is so deep that it can only be cut in small sizes without becoming overly dark. The much brighter tashmarine diopside can be faceted in larger sizes. We've had a number of requests for larimar, an unusual green-blue variety of pectolite found only in one location in the Dominican Republic. Due to limited supply, it is very hard to find outside of the Caribbean region. Fortunately, we've found a small lot of excellent pieces. Among our recent acquisitions are some unusual cabochons. These include violet charoite, a recent discovery from Siberia with a distinctive swirling pattern; gaspeite, an apple green nickel carbonate from the USA; hemimorphite, a rare zinc silicate from the Congo that occurs in a vivid blue with white banding; hematite, one of the few gems with a metallic luster, and one of the densest materials in the gemstone world; and lepidolite, a lilac-gray or rose-colored lithium-bearing mineral of the mica group from Mexico. You'll find other interesting new stones in our stock this month, most in very limited quantities. Look for our new stock in melanite, nuummite, sodalite, sugilite, strawberry quartz and peanut wood. Rare and Unusual Gems Back to Top
Each month we feature a rare and unusual gem from our inventory. This month we feature an extremely rare 20 carat blue sapphire from the Diego Suarez Mine in Northern Madagascar: ![]() Large, Rare Blue Sapphire
There are rare gems and then there are very rare gems. High quality sapphires in very large sizes are very rare indeed. This 20.83 ct. blue sapphire from Madgascar displays superb color saturation and brilliance with outstanding clarity. Customer Questions Back to Top
Every month we answer questions of general interest from our customers. Please feel free to send your questions or suggestions to our support team at help@gemselect.com! Question
Thank you for your article on Madagascar in your recent newsletter. How is the latest news affecting the gemstone supply? PC, UK.
Answer
The situation in Madagascar has unfortunately gone from bad to worse. The elected government of President Marc Ravalomanana was deposed in a coup led by the opposition leader, Andry Rajoelina, with the support of some factions in the military. Latest reports are that supporters of Ravalomanana have taken to the streets en masse to protest the coup and the country is in a state of paralysis. The gemstone trade has come to a complete halt. Everyone in the gemstone trade is watching the situation closely, but there is no end in sight to the political turmoil at the moment.
Question
How are trillion cut gems measured? Do trillions come in calibrated sizes? Thank you for your help, NK, USA.
Answer
There are some manufacturers making standard settings for trillions, but they are not common. Trillions can be cut in different proportions, but the most typical proportions are those of an equilateral triangle. Trillions are measured across the widest points, so the standard settings would be 5 x 5 mm, 6 x 6 mm, and so on.
Keep up with our new arrivals before they hit the newsletter by joining our thousands of fans and followers on our social networking pages. We love interacting with our customers - you can visit us on Tumblr, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest! To ensure you can receive our emails, please be sure to add help@gemselect.com to your list of safe contacts, or you add us into your email address book! Please feel free to contact us with any questions, comments and queries! We respond to each and every email we receive. Happy Gem Hunting!
About Us
Overall Rating -> 10 excellent deals-excellent service-fair prices Posted By JD in April, 2025 Source: Bizrate Overall Rating -> 10 I trust this company to deliver exactly what is offered. I have never had to return a selection of Gems. I appreciate the company's detailed description of their product. It helps this customer find mounts before the gems arrive. Any day of the year one can find a wide selection of gems, be it by price, color, cut, lot or single. Pricing does not jump all over the place and stays reasonable. Be assured your items will arrive in perfect condition as the company's shipping department does a great job. Posted By Miss Sherrie in August, 2024 Source: Bizrate Overall Rating -> 10 I have been buying gems for several years off and on and love their selection and great low prices. I started out wanting to get an example of each type of gem but after looking at all the types of gems and reading about them I realize it is almost impossible for me to do. It took me years just to read about them all. Gem Select is the best gem site you can find. For information or to buy. Steve M. Posted By Stevee M. in January, 2025 Source: Bizrate Overall Rating -> 10 The selection is quite large, which is very helpful. Overall I'm very satisfied with my experience here. Posted By Nate in June, 2024 Source: Bizrate Overall Rating -> 10 I enjoy doing buisness with GemSelect. It is always a pleasure and you get what you ordered! Posted By Ballpark in December, 2024 Source: Bizrate Related Articles Sapphire Info Sapphire Gemstone: What is Sapphire? Sapphire Color and more Apatite Info Apatite Gemstone Information - An obscure gem in striking colors Aquamarine Info Aquamarine Information - Get the facts, figures and stories behind... Emerald Info Emerald Information - Vivid green gemstones of unequaled quality Fire Opal Info Fire Opal Gemstone - A Mexican sunset captured in a gem Iolite Info Iolite Gemstone Information - Facts & Benefits Orthoclase Info Orthoclase Gemstone Information: Unveil Its Natural Beauty Rhodolite Garnet Info Rhodolite Garnet Information - An elegant rose among thorns Ruby-Zoisite Info Ruby-Zoisite Information - A unique gemstone mixture Spessartite Garnet Info Spessartite Garnet: The Best Orange Garnet, A Detailed Guide Sphene Info Sphene Gemstone Information - GemSelect Spinel Info Spinel Gemstone Information - An often overlooked Beauty Tanzanite Info Tanzanite Information - Africa's wonder risen from the ashes Topaz Info Topaz Gemstone Information – Take a look beyond the blue Zircon Info Zircon Information - A gemstone as old as the earth itself Mystic Topaz Info Mystic Topaz Information - A kaleidoscope of colors Star Ruby Info Star Ruby Gemstone Information - GemSelect Birthstones by Month Birthstones by Month, Every Birthstone, Zodiac & Anniversary Caring for Gemstones Gemstone Care - Gemstone Information - GemSelect Gemstone Hardness Explained Gemstone Hardness | Mohs Scale with Images and Charts Precious and Semi-Precious Gemstone Glossary Gemstone & Mineral Glossary - Gemstone Information - GemSelect Medicinal Gemstones Medicinal Gemstone Information - GemSelect Gemstone Treatments All About Gemstone Treatments - Information - GemSelect Fracture Filled Fracture Filled Treatment - Gemstone Information - GemSelect Gemstone Prices Gemstone Prices - A review of what influences the amount you pay Loose Gemstones from Mine to Market Loose Gemstones From Mine to Market - Gems and Jewelry Information... Precious Stones Precious & Semi-Precious Gemstone History, Legends & Myths Rare Tourmaline Rare Tourmaline Gemstones - Unique and distinctive varieties The Secret of Spinel The Secret of Spinel Gemstones Sphene Brilliance Sphene Brilliance Gemstone Meanings Gemstone Meanings - What are their powers and symbolic use? Buying Aquamarine Buying Aquamarine - What you should know before you buy Fine Green Sapphire Fine Green Sapphire - A fancy gemstone colored from mint to forest Jean-Baptiste Tavernier Jean-Baptiste Tavernier Jet Black Gems Jet Black Gems February Birthstones Info February Birthstone: More than just a purple stone Pink Sapphire Pink Sapphire: A Complete Guide for Rare Pink Sapphires |
STAY IN TOUCH | NEWSLETTER |
*You're signing up to receive GemSelect promotional email. |
Switch to Mobile Version
Copyright © 2005-2025 GemSelect.com all rights reserved.
Reproduction (text or graphics) without the express written consent of GemSelect.com (SETT Company Ltd.) is strictly prohibited.
856
Please wait the page is loading!
|