topic Re: For all gem lovers in Jewelry

For all gem lovers

depglass — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 15:01:37 GMT

I rarely go to Facebook, but I happened to today and found several photographs posted by Michael Valitutti. He has some fabulous gem stones coming up the first week of October, blue opal, dark neon apatite, and some dark pink stone he doesn't identify. Save your money up for this visit. Give up lunch, whatever, you will want some of these goodies.

Re: For all gem lovers

AliJoi5 — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 17:22:21 GMT

I am THE gem lover @depglass! hee hee Just curious... would you mind posting a photo of the pink stone? I'm not on FB and I couldn't locate the page via google. I'd like to take a stab at identifying it. I aced my colored gem ID class at the GIA. lol Of course, I did have a boatload of instruments to help me in that respect. Also, did he say whether it was one he'd used before?

Re: For all gem lovers

sunshine 919 — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 19:42:40 GMT

Thank you ! I love Michael V.

Re: For all gem lovers

BlingQueen022 — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 20:15:49 GMT

@depglass wrote:
I rarely go to Facebook, but I happened to today and found several photographs posted by Michael Valitutti. He has some fabulous gem stones coming up the first week of October, blue opal, dark neon apatite, and some dark pink stone he doesn't identify. Save your money up for this visit. Give up lunch, whatever, you will want some of these goodies.

You're going to have to give more then just lunch. His prices are ridiculous now.

Re: For all gem lovers

Kachina624 — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 21:35:43 GMT

He's on at midnight one day this coming week so he must have a TS.

Re: For all gem lovers

Dallas-Dame — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 04:47:21 GMT

@depglass Thanks very much for the "heads-up" on Michael's upcoming shows. I've been very pleased with my purchases from him over the last year (thanks to BlingQueen's posts). Hope you enjoy the presentations!

Re: For all gem lovers

Dallas-Dame — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 04:51:41 GMT

@AliJoi5 I'd like to thank you for your extremely interesting threads on both native American silver and Larimar. I've enjoyed both threads tremendously and feel badly that I'm not positioned to add anything of interest to either. I do believe that I learned quite a bit and I'm most grateful for your contributions to this forum!

Re: For all gem lovers

Dallas-Dame — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 04:54:56 GMT

@BlingQueen022 wrote:
@depglass wrote:
I rarely go to Facebook, but I happened to today and found several photographs posted by Michael Valitutti. He has some fabulous gem stones coming up the first week of October, blue opal, dark neon apatite, and some dark pink stone he doesn't identify. Save your money up for this visit. Give up lunch, whatever, you will want some of these goodies.
You're going to have to give more then just lunch. His prices are ridiculous now.

Hi, Bling!

It was so nice to read your post as I've missed "talking" with you! I agree that Michael's prices have increased but I think folks are realizing the value of his settings, creativity and gemstones. Looking forward to his next visit and hope you and yours are doing well, dear lady!

Re: For all gem lovers

Dallas-Dame — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 04:58:06 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
He's on at midnight one day this coming week so he must have a TS.

@Kachina624 Thank you kindly for your photos and information in both the native American silver thread and the Larimar thread. I've been fascinated by both!

Re: For all gem lovers

Kachina624 — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 05:49:32 GMT

,Dallas Dame, I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures. Those of us who are passionate about t fine quality opaque gemstones just naturally want to share our collections through pictures.

Re: For all gem lovers

BlingQueen022 — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 10:13:08 GMT

@Dallas-Dame wrote:
@BlingQueen022 wrote:
@depglass wrote:
I rarely go to Facebook, but I happened to today and found several photographs posted by Michael Valitutti. He has some fabulous gem stones coming up the first week of October, blue opal, dark neon apatite, and some dark pink stone he doesn't identify. Save your money up for this visit. Give up lunch, whatever, you will want some of these goodies.
You're going to have to give more then just lunch. His prices are ridiculous now.
Hi, Bling!

It was so nice to read your post as I've missed "talking" with you! I agree that Michael's prices have increased but I think folks are realizing the value of his settings, creativity and gemstones. Looking forward to his next visit and hope you and yours are doing well, dear lady!

Hi there DallasD! Hope your vacation was a good one. Unfortunately, my vacation was spent in the hospital with a heart attack. I'm doing well now. Had a stent placed. It sure gave me time to think about retirement. This will be my last winter of working. Will fully retire next spring. Life is too short to keep working all the time.

Anyway, take a look at item number 147-701. I know you love London Blue. This is a 8 carat london blule heart shape ring. I just received this a little while ago. Unfortunately, the price has gone up. I managed to catch a sale on this one. I saved almost 100 dollars on it. It's a beautiful ring. Very plain but very classy looking on the hand. The stone is a perfect size. Not too big and not too small. Just gorgeous. Keep an eye on it during the Hong Kong show and maybe they'll reduce it down again in price if you're interested in it. It's definately a winner. Nice and weighty piece also. Lots of silver. Have to say this is one of my favorites from Michael. I wear it a lot.

Glad you had a fabulous vacation and a nice visit with your mom. Hope you are her are doing well. I'll be watching Michael's shows next weekend for sure. I'm looking for a ring that has a dark pink stone he showed on Facebook. He didn't say what the stone is though. That's about the only thing I'm interested in for now unless he pulls a rabbit out of his sleeve, lol lol. Glad you're back safely. You've been missed.

Re: For all gem lovers

SANNA — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 14:38:01 GMT

When it comes to dark pink www when it comes to dark pink I could only think of either tourmaline group(maybe even rubellite) or some group of garnets?

My bet is on tourmalines. Especially in October.

Re: For all gem lovers

AliJoi5 — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 16:11:13 GMT

Aww thank you @Dallas-Dame! That is incredibly sweet of you to say, and you made my day. Feel free to jump in whenever something interests you... any comment is a contribution and always welcomed! Thanks again!!

Re: For all gem lovers

AliJoi5 — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 17:04:38 GMT

Hello all - I was finally able to find those photos, and I agree with Sanna. I think I'm seeing some tourmaline and possibly "rubellite" (the darker shade). I was also thinking I might be seeing some coated pink topaz, but I'm not sure if Michael uses that stone? I only own one Valitutti piece and it's an SB turq eternity band. Pretty piece!

As a side note, technically rubellite should refer to tourmaline that shows red to reddish-pink in color. That's how it got its name (taken from ruby). But many vendors call any dark pink tourmaline rubellite. Also, pink tourmaline will "brown out" under incandescent lighting. Rubellite does not; its color stays true under any light source. Also, rubellite is usually quite a bit more included than pink tourmaline.

This is a ring I had made with a rubellite stone I sourced separately. It's 18kwg and diamonds. The second photo is a Burmese ruby ring that I also had made. You can see how the colors are somewhat similar, although the rubellite has more of a hot pink tone. So difficult to photograph these faceted stones, but you get the idea!

Re: For all gem lovers

SANNA — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 17:28:18 GMT

Gorgeous rings Ali!!!! Wear them in great health. I own Burmese ruby ring,pendant and a bracelet from years ago,but never had anything with rubellite.I know if it is really good ,clean Brazilian or Nigerian material it would cost a lot. So I rather spend this money on something else. John and Laura Ramsey ( if you recall them) used to bring fantastic

rubellites . Those were the days!

Re: For all gem lovers

VegasBusinessWoman — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 18:22:22 GMT

So sorry to hear about your heart attack, Blingie! Wishing you a speedy recovery and a long and happy retirement. Wish I could retire . . . DH and I have a business together and I really can't quit working as long as he wants to keep the business going. Then there is the matter of our employees who depend on the business for their livelihood . . . it's not easy.

In any case, enjoy your rings and your future! Good to see you back in the swing of things!

Re: For all gem lovers

Dallas-Dame — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 18:25:57 GMT

@BlingQueen022 Oh my heavens, Bling...I'm terribly sorry to hear of your heart attack and hope you're very much on the road to recovery. I understand why you're seriously thinking about retiring in the spring. Such a "life event" does cause us to think things through and re-prioritize our paths for the future. My plans to retire in three months are firmly in place and I'm truly looking forward to it. Although it will affect the household income and spending habits, it will allow time to enjoy myself, family and friends...which has become even more important to me as I grow older. My stretch with my mom and the rest of the family was wonderful. She sends her warmest regards to you!

Your new LBT ring is simply gorgeous! Wear it in the very best of health, dear lady!!

Re: For all gem lovers

SANNA — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 18:59:28 GMT

Feel better,Bling! Very sorry about your "little adventure". Take care of yourself !!!

Re: For all gem lovers

BlingQueen022 — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 19:42:55 GMT

@VegasBusinessWoman wrote:
So sorry to hear about your heart attack, Blingie! Wishing you a speedy recovery and a long and happy retirement. Wish I could retire . . . DH and I have a business together and I really can't quit working as long as he wants to keep the business going. Then there is the matter of our employees who depend on the business for their livelihood . . . it's not easy.

In any case, enjoy your rings and your future! Good to see you back in the swing of things!

Thank you so much VegasBusinessWoman. I have to say you and your husband are a rare find these days. It's so nice to work for somebody that cares for their employees. You're lucky to have your own business too. People that care for their employees gets better service out of them. You two are very compassionate people, and that plays an important role in the success of your business I'm sure. I wish both you and your husband many happy heathy years running your business. Thank you for your well wishes. I'm back at work and feeling much better. Enjoy watching the shows next weekend. Micheal always manages to get me to buy somethng during his shows. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Re: For all gem lovers

BlingQueen022 — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 19:55:52 GMT

@Dallas-Dame wrote:
@BlingQueen022 Oh my heavens, Bling...I'm terribly sorry to hear of your heart attack and hope you're very much on the road to recovery. I understand why you're seriously thinking about retiring in the spring. Such a "life event" does cause us to think things through and re-prioritize our paths for the future. My plans to retire in three months are firmly in place and I'm truly looking forward to it. Although it will affect the household income and spending habits, it will allow time to enjoy myself, family and friends...which has become even more important to me as I grow older. My stretch with my mom and the rest of the family was wonderful. She sends her warmest regards to you!

Your new LBT ring is simply gorgeous! Wear it in the very best of health, dear lady!!

Wow, DallasD three months will go by so fast. Happy retirement to you my dear!!! I bet you're all excited about it. Just think no more getting up at the crack of dawn and going out in bad weather in rush hour. That alone is worth it's weight in gold about retirement. Best thing of all you get more time with friends and family too. Please tell your mom thank you for her well wishes and tell her I say hello and hope she still loves her Micheael rings. I hear ya about the spending. Once I retire fully, my Michael ring buying days will be coming to an end. I plan on just wearing what I have in my collection. Being retired, wearing jewelry all the time won't really be necessary. I sold a lot of my jewelry on the Bay lately. Haven't sold anything from Michael, but have sold a lot from my Ripka collection. I can't part with anything from Michael. Thanks so much for your well wishes. This was the second heart attack I've had. Had my first one 13 years ago. I was only in my 40's. I'm doing much better and working again. My goal is after the winter is gone around March I'll be retiring fully. See ya for the Michael shows next weekend, and next time you talk to your mom, please send her my hellos and hugs!