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GEMS-026 - Magnesiotaaffeite-2N2S (formerly Taaffeite) - $ 700 SOLD Ratnapura, Sri Lanka thumbnail, 5.82 x 4.68 mm ; 0.68 carats
Taaffeite is one of the great rare gems out there. The species was actually identified from faceted stones that were thought to be mauve color Spinels, but show double refraction, which cannot occur in isometric mineral such as Spinel. Taaffeite has recently been split into two species, i.e., Magnesiotaaffeite and Ferrotaaffeite. The more commonly known gem Taaffeites are found at the type locality at Ratnapura in Sri Lanka, and are among the most highly sought after and valuable gems coming out of Asia. Stones are not often found over 1 carat. This stone is a beautiful, very slightly included, pale lavender color stone with a Step Oval cut. These are definitely some of the rarest and most desirable of collector's stones around, and this is a fine example of a great gem Taaffeite.
GEMS-099 - Magnesiotaaffeite-2N2S (formerly Taaffeite) - $ 1900 SOLD Sri Lanka thumbnail, 9.0 x 5.0 mm ; 1.14 carats
Taaffeite as a mineral species is incredibly rare, and facetted gems are becoming more and more difficult to obtain. IT IS THE ONLY GEM SPECIES I KNOW OF WHICH WAS DESCRIBED FIRST FROM ITS BEAUTIFUL ROUGH, LONG BEFORE A CRYSTAL WAS FOUND! Purple material remains among the most rare of all gems today despite decades of hunting. Taaffeite (the correct name is actually now Magnesiotaaffeite-2N�2S) is one of the great rarities in the gem world. This stone is from the TYPE LOCALITY for the material, and it is a superb quality gem. The clarity and size make this more than just collector quality, it's top notch! Taaffeite is very similar to mauve colored Spinel, and the original stones were actually all sold as Spinel (which can still happen to this day), but it is the characteristic birefringence of Taaffeite which now allows gemologists and gem dealers to identify the material and prevent it from being labeled as the much more common Spinel. This stone is a very attractive, purplish-pink color, virtually eye clean, Marquise cut gem. The fact that this stone is over 1 carat is weight makes it truly collector quality, and a very worthwhile stone. Every rare gem collection needs a top quality Taaffeite like this stone in their collection. For future reference, it is most likely that in the gem trade the name "Taaffeite" will mostly likely continue to be used instead of the more cumbersome (though correct) Magnesiotaaffeite-2N�2S.
MD-53105 - Magnesiotaaffeite-2N2S - - Archived Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka thumbnail, 1.3 x 1.3 x 0.6 cm
Taaffeeite was an odd story - a gem crystal species first identified from gem rough material, rather than from a crystal. It was a long time before anybody found a crystal to work with, and today they are still extremely rare, probably the rarest and most desirable of the various gem species found in Sri Lanka. This remarkable floater, complete hexagonal crystal is considered by the gem trade experts , Bill Pinch, and others to whom i showed it at Tucson to to be the world's best yet known for species. It would also cut one of the largest known stones and perhaps the best, as it has good uniform purple color. Most specimens are tiny broken chunks, or the occasionally fine transparent crystal with SOME faces. This is COMPLETE all around. It is so remarkable, it is off the charts. The crystal's rear face was polished slightly for a refractive index test , just to be sure of its verification (this is an important test for the species). 1.3 x 1.3 x 0.6 cm , 9.63 carats
MD-76500 - Magnesiotaaffeite-2N2S - - Archived Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka thumbnail, 5 x 4 x 2.5 mm
A rare full crystal with nice lavender color! and complete! Taaffeeite was an odd story - a gem crystal species first identified from gem rough material, rather than from a crystal. It was a long time before anybody found a crystal to work with, and today they are still extremely rare, probably the rarest and most desirable of the various gem species found in Sri Lanka. This remarkable floater, complete hexagonal crystal is extremely fine and GEMMY. Most specimens are tiny broken chunks, or the occasionally fine transparent crystal with SOME faces. This is remarkable for the quality ,and would cut a small gemstone with high value. it has been analyzed, for confirmation. 5 x 4 x 2.5 mm (1.47 carats)
MF00 - Magnesiotaaffeite-2N2S (formerly Taaffeite) - $ 1450 SOLD near Ratnapura, Sri Lanka small cabinet, 8.0 x 2.3 x 1.2 cm ex. Dr. Mark Feinglos | ||||||||||
CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: |  |
More commonly referred to simply as "Taaffeite", this is one of the HOLY GRAILS of the gemstone collector, a rarity almost impossible to find in natural crystals. This one, actually of fairly large size compared to those few crystals known to me, is a beautiful specimen with rich purpley hue and sharp faces that stand out nicely! This is one of the most excruciating rarities I have ever had to offer.
CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: | CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: |
Taaffeeite was an odd story - a gem crystal species first identified from gem rough material, rather than from a crystal. It was a long time before anybody found a crystal to work with, and today they are still extremely rare, probably the rarest and most desirable of the various gem species found in Sri Lanka. This remarkable floater, complete hexagonal crystal is considered by the gem trade experts , Bill Pinch, and others to whom i showed it at Tucson to to be the world's best yet known for species. It would also cut one of the largest known stones and perhaps the best, as it has good uniform purple color. Most specimens are tiny broken chunks, or the occasionally fine transparent crystal with SOME faces. This is COMPLETE all around. It is so remarkable, it is off the charts. The crystal's rear face was polished slightly for a refractive index test , just to be sure of its verification (this is an important test for the species).
