An intense-blue, very color-saturated aquamarine from new finds in Vietnam. The color is EXTREME, and reminds me only of a very few Jos aquamarines I have seen in the past, quite more robust than aquas from Pakistan or Brazil. This 39-gram crystal is complete all-around, 360 degrees. It is pristine and has a fancy, pyramidal termination characteristic of this pocket (from which I understand only about a dozen specimens were recovered). The exact locale is not yet able to be released, but it IS a new location distinct from the current locale which produces flat-topped aquamarines of a lighter, more typical hue. Joe Budd photos.

An intense-blue, very color-saturated aquamarine from new finds in Vietnam. The color is EXTREME, and reminds me only of a very few Jos aquamarines I have seen in the past, quite more robust than aquas from Pakistan or Brazil. This 47-gram cluster of vertical crystals is complete all-around, 360 degrees. It is pristine and has a fancy, pyramidal termination characteristic of this pocket (from which I understand only about a dozen specimens were recovered, only a few of which were clusters like this). The exact locale is not yet able to be released, but it IS a new location distinct from the current locale which produces flat-topped aquamarines of a lighter, more typical hue. Joe Budd photos.

This cute miniature features a sharp, deep green, 13 x 10 x 10 mm crystal perched nicely in contrasting matrix! It is not of gem rough calibre, but DOES have a lot of transparency and brightness and is certainly a worthy specimen without breaking the bank. For a specimen emerald, the color is quite intense and the price very affordable!

If I did not know the source 100% on this, I would have sworn this to be a Colombian or perhaps Afghani specimen of emerald. But i KNOW this came from Brazil and the trail is well documented, and I have to say i am genuinely surprised. This is a vibrant green, lustrous crystal of a rich green color - quite uncommon from Brazil. In person, it has more apparent lustre. The termination is unusual in that it is prismatic (if shallowly so) instead of flat as usual for an emerald. (obviously not a Jonas tourmaline but it fit in well with this update and was also at Munich...)