RARE COLLECTOR GEMSTONES from the Herb Obodda collection and dealer stock

RARE COLLECTOR GEMSTONES
from the Herb Obodda collection and dealer stock

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GEMS-245 - Morganite - $ 100
Minas Gerais, Brazil
thumbnail, 9.8 mm x 7.2 mm ; 2.30 cts

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Morganite from Minas Gerais, Brazil [db_pics/new2012/gems-245a.JPG]

Morganite from Minas Gerais, Brazil [db_pics/new2012/gems-245b.JPG]

Beryl is among the most popular colorful and sometimes priciest of gemstones. A wide range of color is represented from colorless all the way to opaque black with practically every hue in between. The pink variety of Beryl is called Morganite which was named after J. P. Morgan the investment banker and financier. The best source for Morganite throughout the years have been the granitic pegmatites around Minas Gerais, Brazil. This stone is wonderful light pink, virtually eye clean example of this highly sought after and beautiful gemstone. The cut on this stone is a "Pear" cut.

GEMS-250 - Gaspeite - $ 300
Australia
thumbnail, 14.38 mm x 14.23 mm ; 11.60 cts

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Gaspeite from Australia [db_pics/new2012/gems-250a.JPG]

Gaspeite from Australia [db_pics/new2012/gems-250b.JPG]

Gaspeite is a relatively rare carbonate named after the Gaspe Peninsula in Canada. The material is virtually always opaque, and is this is one of the few faceted stones of this material that we've had to offer in a while. The color of Gaspeite is a very attractive light green, typically marked by black streaks, and this stone is no exception. The gem is opaque with a "Square" cut, but for rare stone collectors, this would make a great addition to any rare stone collection, especially considering the size and the attractive and very high grade uniformity of color.

GEMS-249 - Eosphorite - $ 300
Taquaral, Minas Gerais, Brazil
thumbnail, 9.26 mm x 6.40 mm x 1.51 cts

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Eosphorite from Taquaral, Minas Gerais, Brazil [db_pics/new2012/gems-249a.JPG]

Eosphorite from Taquaral, Minas Gerais, Brazil [db_pics/new2012/gems-249b.JPG]

Eosphorite is one of the less common phosphate minerals that can be cut into collector's gems. This stone, despite some eye visible inclusions, does have a very attractive peachy-orange color. These stones are by no means common on the market, especially in gems over 1 carat like this "Pear" cut gem. Keep in mind that the vast majority of facet grade Eosphorite comes from Brazil, and is almost never 100% clean.

GEMS-248 - Milarite - $ 300
Jaguaracu, Minas Gerais, Brazil
thumbnail, 5.9 mm x 4.4 mm ; 0.51 cts

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Milarite from Jaguaracu, Minas Gerais, Brazil [db_pics/new2012/gems-248a.JPG]

Milarite from Jaguaracu, Minas Gerais, Brazil [db_pics/new2012/gems-248b.JPG]

Milarite is a relatively rare mineral, and even rarer in gem material. There are only a few localities in the world the produce gem quality Milarite, and stones are often small, with inclusions. A one carat Milarite is typically considered large in the gem world. The majority of Milarite crystals and gems have a light straw-yellow color, and that is the case with this stone. This "Oval" cut gem has SI clarity, but most rare gem collectors do not have one in their collections. Difficult to photograph, and it does not look as included in person.

GEMS-247 - Hambergite - $ 150
Madagascar
thumbnail, 7.9 mm x 5.9 mm ; 0.99 cts

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Hambergite from Madagascar [db_pics/new2012/gems-247a.JPG]

Hambergite from Madagascar [db_pics/new2012/gems-247b.JPG]

Hambergite is one those stones that is only seen from a few worldwide localities, and these are must have gems for rare stone collectors. The most unique aspect of Hambergite has to be the fact that it has the lowest density of any gem with high birefringence, meaning a bigger stone will not carry a lot of weight, but will still have the play of light that one would expect from uniaxial birefringent materials such as Calcite, Quartz or Zircon. This stone is a very good quality, colorless, virtually eye clean stone with an "Emerald" cut.

GEMS-252 - Goshenite - $ 240
Minas Gerais, Brazil
thumbnail, 13.6 mm x 11.4 mm ; 6.94 cts

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Goshenite from Minas Gerais, Brazil [db_pics/new2012/gems-252a.JPG]

Goshenite from Minas Gerais, Brazil [db_pics/new2012/gems-252b.JPG]

Beryls comes in virtually every color of the rainbow, but one of the less common shades of Beryl is actually the colorless (or nearly colorless) variety, Goshenite. These stones are much more rare than Aquamarine, Emerald or Heliodor, and true Goshenite is only found in a few localities in fine quality gem material. Brazil has probably produced more good Goshenite gems over the years than any other country. This particular stone is a very attractive, good sized, very very slightly included colorless gem with an attractive "Oval Brilliant" cut. Unusually clear and colorless!

GEMS-246 - Tsavorite - $ 420
Tsavo National Park, Kenya
thumbnail, 6.1 mm x 4.5 mm ; 0.70 cts

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Tsavorite from Tsavo National Park, Kenya [db_pics/new2012/gems-246a.JPG]

Tsavorite from Tsavo National Park, Kenya [db_pics/new2012/gems-246b.JPG]

Tsavroite is a Vanadium bearing Grossular and was discovered over 30 years ago in Kenya. This material along with Demantoid, is the best green Garnet in the world. Typically this material can be a very light mint green or an undesirably dark green, but this particular gem is a rich, very desirable, saturated, intense emerald green color. Tsavorite has for many years been a rare, high-in-demand gemstone in the retail market, and thus commands a high price due its rarity and beauty. Keep in mind that the top quality Tsavorite in the world only comes from one area and the supply has certainly been dwindling in the last 10 years. This gem is a superb, saturated, nearly eye clean, "Cushion" cut gem and is very good quality.

GEMS-233 - Prehnite - $ 300
Australia
thumbnail, 11.1 mm x 10.2 mm ; 5.68 cts

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Prehnite has always been a popular gem among collectors because of its lovely green color. Despite the amount of material on the market, it is almost impossible to find completely transparent stones. This stone is a beautiful yellow green color faceted stone with a "soft" almost "velvety" appearance from what is one of the most famous localities in the world for the material. The cut on this stone is "Cushion" cut. This gem is pretty gemmy for this material, and has such a unique appearance. This is a wonderful stone and considering it is relatively rare it's a great gem to fill a spot in your collection.

GEMS-239 - Beryllonite (cat's eye) - $ 750
Afghanistan
thumbnail, 15.7 mm x 13.0 mm ; 9.81 cts

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Beryllonite is a very rare phosphate, and until this new find was made in Afghanistan, the only known cut gems were from Maine. This stone is not clean by any means, but it is a rare gem that would make a great addition to any rare stone collection. Typically Beryllonite has many small "tube like" inclusions and it is those inclusions that create the "cat's eye " in this "Oval Cabochon" cut stone. I've photographed the stone with a penlight to help show off the "eye" better, and this is one of the largest stones of this material that I've offered in a while. These gems are not common, and with limited material coming out of Afghanistan, I expect the price will increase in the years to come.

GEMS-231 - Pollucite - $ 1000
Afghanistan
thumbnail, 17.24 mm x 10.25 mm ; 6.71 cts

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Pollucite from Afghanistan [db_pics/new2012/gems-231b.JPG]

Pollucite from Afghanistan [db_pics/new2012/gems-231a.JPG]

Pollucite is a very rare Cesium bearing Zeolite mineral, and one of the very few facettable Zeolites in the world. Cut stones are extremely rare, and are highly sought after by collectors. Strangely, this Zeolite is most often found in granitic pegmatites as opposed to Igneous deposits like most Zeolites. Recently, some great gem quality Pollucites have been found in Afghanistan, and really did a lot to help bolster the supply of gem Pollucites in the world. This gem is a remarkable, large, SI clarity, colorless stone with a "Pear" cut. This material is prized for its rarity, and all great rare stone collections need to have a good Pollucite in them.

GEMS-232 - Rutile - $ 165
Brazil
thumbnail, 10.1 mm x 3.9 mm ; 1.18 cts

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Rutile is usually only seen as inclusions in other gems like Quartz, and is rarely found in crystals that are suitable enough to cut stones. Rutile is usually cut as a novelty, and typically faceted stones are extremely dark. With that said, this "Narrow Emerald" stone actually shows an amazingly rich blood red color when backlit, and is nearly eye clean. You really don't see much faceted Rutile on the market, so this is a unique opportunity to obtain an unusually rare gem to fill a spot in your collection. Stone with this clarity and rich color are rarely seen, so don't miss out on this one.

GEMS-229 - Monazite - $ 50
Brazil
thumbnail, 3.0 mm ; 0.16 cts

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Monazite from Brazil [db_pics/new2012/gems-229a.JPG]

Monazite from Brazil [db_pics/new2012/gems-229b.JPG]

Here's one for you rare stone collectors out there. Monazite is only known from a few localities in gemmy enough crystals to cut fine stones. This little stone is not the finest quality gem in the world, but it is a rare stone to be sure. The stone has a "Round Brilliant" cut and a very rich golden-brown color and it is gem quality in areas. It does have some visible inclusions, but these stones are not seen in high capacity on the market today.

GEMS-228 - Amblygonite - $ 150
Brazil
thumbnail, 8.9 mm x 7.0 mm ; 1.72 cts

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Amblygonite from Brazil [db_pics/new2012/gems-228a.JPG]

Amblygonite from Brazil [db_pics/new2012/gems-228b.JPG]

Amblygonite is a relatively rare stone and is only found from a few localities in top gem material. Clean stones are not often very large, and they are becoming increasingly difficult to find on the market day. This particular stone is a lovely yellow-green color gem that is virtually eye clean with an "Oval" cut. Amblygonite is too soft and brittle for jewelry, but these are not very common today, and would make a nice addition to any rare stone collection.

GEMS-234 - Prehnite - $ 200
Australia
thumbnail, 9.6 mm x 8.9 mm ; 4.84 cts

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Prehnite has always been a popular gem among collectors because of its lovely green color. Despite the amount of material on the market, it is almost impossible to find completely transparent stones. This stone is a beautiful yellow green color faceted stone with a "soft" almost "velvety" appearance from what is one of the most famous localities in the world for the material. The cut on this stone is an "Emerald" cut. This gem is pretty gemmy for this material, and has such a unique appearance. This is a wonderful stone and considering it is relatively rare it's a great gem to fill a spot in your collection.

GEMS-235 - Adularia (Orthoclase) - $ 200
Zillertal, Austria
thumbnail, 9.1 mm x 8.0 mm ; 3.09 cts

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Adularia (Orthoclase) from Zillertal, Austria [db_pics/new2012/gems-235a.JPG]

Adularia (Orthoclase) from Zillertal, Austria [db_pics/new2012/gems-235b.JPG]

Adularia is another one of the gem quality Feldspars and is actually a variety of Orthoclase. The material is often found in "Alpine-type" formations but rarely in gem quality crystals. This stone is from the famous Austrian Alps and would make for a very rare gem to add to your collection. These gems are simply not seen on the market, especially in this clarity ! Most Adularia crystals from this area are "milky" in appearance and have what's called "adularescence". This stone is nearly eye clean, and shows a VERY light blue sheen when rotated in the light. The stone has an "Emerald" cut. Gems of this clarity and size are not often seen on the market, especially from the classic Austrian Alps ! A great "collector" gem, and much more than just a Feldspar.

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Rob Lavinsky, rob@irocks.com

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