Blogs

Exotic Gemstones

by on ‎07-16-2013 11:34 AM

Pink Tourmaline from California, Tashmarine from the high mountains of central Asia and Smithsonite from the Kelly Mine in New Mexico.  These are just a few of the exotic gems to be found during the upcoming Destination Gemstone Celebration.  Please join me during the 8:00am show with Leah Williams and the ll:00am show with Mary Beth Roe on July 18th for an amazing collection of extreme exotic gemstones.


Exotic gemstones are defined as limited and rare in the marketplace.  The finest blue zircon (J282582) I have ever seen with its intense brilliance and color saturation starts the first hour.  The show continues with gorgeous Rubellite in a cross (J277204) and a ring (J279104) with an amazing 3.2 carat oval Rubellite center stone surrounded by 2.15 carats of pink Tourmaline.  The 1.00 carat Ceylon Sapphire Ring with 1/2 carat of Diamonds is spectacular.  The fine Ceylon Sapphire has that true royal blue hue which you would expect to find in a fine Sapphire from Sri Lanka.



The Morganite TSV ring was one of the most challenging items I have ever worked on.  There are very few natural gemstones that exist in nature that are pink. Morganite, a member of the beryl family, has a beautiful soft pink hue and is becoming very difficult to source in large sizes with the quality and color saturation that QVC demands.  Please compare our fine quality to Morganite that you might see other places; it is very different material.  I especially love Morganite in rose gold; it makes an elegant blend of femininity and sparkle. 


When Allison and I were at the Tucson Show in February, we went to say hello to a good friend of mine from Brazil.  (Years ago we graduated from GIA together.)  He said he wanted to show us an extremely limited, special quality of Kunzite he had been saving for years.  Allison and I were blown away.  It was the finest color and quality Kunzite we had ever seen.  We immediately bought all of it (not much) and asked one of our major factories to design a special ring and earring from this limited material.  I can’t wait for you to see it! (J282787).  Please compare it to the color of Kunzite that you find other places.  I hope you will be as amazed as I am.


The 11:00am show, not to be outdone, starts out with a Siberian Mint Emerald Ring (J281808).  Known for their excellent color and crystal clarity, Russian Emeralds are very limited in supply and only a handful of gem dealers are able to procure the loose stones. 


In my 35 years in the gem and jewelry business I have never seen, outside of a museum, a genuine Alexandrite Cat’s-Eye.  A miraculous phenomenon in the gemstone world, it not only has a marked color change but also the Chatoyancy of a Cat’s- Eye.  A true gemstone Cat’s-Eye (J282104) when turned will appear to blink.


This blog is getting too long but I have to mention, also in the 11:00am show is the pink Tourmaline from California (J283471).  A real rarity, the color is gorgeous and the Stewart Mine, close to San Diego, is surrounded by the Pala Indian Reservation.  Also look for the Smithsonite from the Kelly mine in New Mexico, closed since 1931, and the Tashmarine with rich pure green color.  Please tune in for the stories on each of these fabulous gemstones.



I will be on air with Jane for the three hour finale answering any questions you might have about gemstones, jewelry, or anything else you might wish to know about.


Take care, Peyton