Jewelry

[AliJoi5]

Those sound like very interesting finds @Justice4all!  I love one-off, unusual pieces like that.  And the beauty part about turquoise is that everyone is attracted to different things, and there seems to be a stone or stones that speak to each of us uniquely.  I'm guessing that's why we love it so much! 

[Justice4all]

@AliJoi5

yours looks like a view above the earth!

[AliJoi5]

lol I thought so too!  It reminded of looking out the window of a plane flying over an archipelago or something.  I will admit that's partially why I bought it. 

[chrystaltree]

 I own some, I love it.  Of course it's dyed.  It's no secret, all the shopping channels tell you and give people some credit.  Everyone knows that Apple green and purple and orange turquoise with the copper matrix is compressed turquoise that was dyed.  Actually, most of the gemstones we buy have been dyed and treated.  Much of the traditional blue color has been dyed.  

[FlowershopGirl]

I know that the LC tells how the mojave turquoise is Kingman compressed with copper and dyed to get the color.  I found a very pretty purple and a blue ring from them that I like for a really fair price, I think about $20 each.  I know its dyed and not worth a hoot but its pretty and I like the copper swirling through it. 

[AliJoi5]

Love your avatar @FlowershopGirl!  Yes, I agree.  If a piece speaks to you, you're properly informed of its treatments, and the price is right, you should go for it!  I tend to be a gemstone purist, but I do own some dyed (or otherwise treated) stones too.  All of the red sea bamboo is dyed, and I still love it.  I also own some Mediterranean coral, which is not treated, but it's rare and expensive (and, I believe, protected as well).  So it's nice to have options! 

[FlowershopGirl]

Alijoi5, Thanks! I love flowers and dogs so this avatar was the perfect one for me, I just googled dog and flower and that came up. 

[redhead65]

I saw a large carat purple  EMERALD  the other day in a gorgeous 18K fancy designed gold ring.

A first for me. So I guess there can be a purple turquoise.

I've seen diamonds every odd color of the spectrum, along with other gemstones, especially from other countries and mines from other era's, also.

Anything is possible, do you think they all are dyed ????

[AliJoi5]

Hi @redhead65 - I think as long as you're purchasing from a trusted vendor with a long history of honest dealings and proper disclosure, you can rest assured that the turq you're buying is authentic and untreated (if that's what the description states).  Otherwise, assume it is at least stabilized and possibly color enhanced.  If, however, the turq is of high value and supposedly from a depleted mine (which increases its value and collectability), then I would recommend having it authenticated in that case. 

But high value transparent gems, such as diamonds and emeralds, are a horse of a different color.  I would always be sure to have them certified by a duly accredited gem lab, such as the GIA.  No matter how much I trusted a gem dealer, I would never, ever take their word for it.  I have seen too many instances where a very experienced gem dealer was unknowingly duped by a middleman (until he or she had it tested).

Diamonds do come in a rainbow of colors naturally, but they're exceedingly rare (some shades more rare than others).  Any colored diamonds you see on shopping networks, whose descriptions don't state otherwise, are irradiated (treated with radiation) to create the colors.  The color is stable but the value of the stones is markedly less than naturally occurring stones of the same color. 

May I ask where you spotted the purple "emerald?"  I'm curious because this is a very, very rare stone.  Actually, use of the name "emerald" here is a misnomer.  The stone would be a purple beryl (the name of the family of stones that emerald comes from).  The only time the name emerald should be used is when a green beryl has been colored by chromium (some also consider green beryl with the coloring agent vanadium to be emerald).  But vendors love to use the name "emerald" with a color qualifier in front to make the stone sound more valuable, familiar, exotic, etc.  Anyway, unless the purple beryl you saw was in fact one of these rare and natural specimens, it could have been treated to produce the purple color.  The price the seller was charging would be another indicator.

I love to talk about this stuff (I studied at the GIA and hold a degree).  So hopefully I've been a bit of help and haven't bored anyone to death in the process.