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Post by susand24224 on Feb 22, 2013 1:17:36 GMT -5
I want to do a cab and wrap for a long-time friend, who specifically requested turquoise. Whew! When did this stuff get so expensive? I've looked, but only found "lots," and have been consistently outbid on Ebay, which makes me nervous anyway.
Does anyone have just one piece they are willing to part with? It doesn't have to be top grade, but I do want good "turquoise" color. I'm not real good at small cabs, so would like a slab or something slabable at least an inch long. I've got opticon, but haven't gotten very good at it yet, so would prefer stabilized (if necessary) but am willing to stabilize myself, especially with a little help.
Thanks!
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Post by phil on Feb 22, 2013 12:45:32 GMT -5
Tell us more of what you want. There is no standard turquoise color, it comes in many shades of blue from light blue to dark and everything in between plus green and many more subtle hues. There is chocolate turquoise, webbed turquoise, even rare white(ish) turquoise. Then there's the chinese stuff which even comes in purple, lime green, yellow, opange and etc. Fake as all get out, but many folks buy it and love it. What kind and color of matrix? What size? Cabbed or rough? Natural tumble (looks nice in a pendant) or untumbled? Unfinished slab or nugget? Calibrated or freeform? I've got about 40 pounds, 6 of which I just finished polishing in it's natural shape to preserve the way mother nature made it. I have some expensive dark blue Bisbee, and some inexpensive Kingman, some rare Lavender Pit material, and lots of others. Some with pyrite, some without. I have tiny pieces up to over an inch or two. I also have one nice 750 carat plus blue-green collectors specimen, all polished, about 6 inches by 3 inches by 3/4 inch thick from a mine that has long since disappeared into the maws of a copper mine. A mere $2 per carat. I'm thinking of making it into a bolo tie worth many thousands of dollars when done, but probably will just sell it instead and let some craftsman better than I use it. Thick and thin, blue, dark blue, green, also some variscite slabs. let me know what you want? Phil
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Post by Rockhobbit on Feb 22, 2013 13:01:52 GMT -5
I will send you a piece, no charge. Just pm me your address.
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Post by phil on Feb 22, 2013 13:03:42 GMT -5
Here are two of my favorites, natural gem grade Royston. These are in progress (The black marking is where I want to do more shaping.). Classic rare Royston Nevada Turquoise. I cut these out from the host rock, so I know these are top quality stones. probably more than you want to spend, around $60 to $75 per piece (will have to re weigh and price after I'm done removing that material), but these are as I said, my favorites. Attachments:
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Post by phil on Feb 22, 2013 13:06:52 GMT -5
Free is always good too.... ;D :cheesy:
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Post by orrum on Feb 22, 2013 13:12:10 GMT -5
Good info Phil! Susan most really good turquoise is from a known mine, most mines have a distinctive look and can be readily identified. I suggest you get ur friend a piece that is identified with the mine it came from. Also be sure to back it because a sharp knock on a counter edge etc can break it otherwise. You should look on Durango Silver for pics, Dillon Hartman has spent a lot of time getting pics to show what different mines look like. Be careful if it is stabilized and you get it too hot it ruins the color, too hot is not very hot, the waxy stuff used to stabilize changes at low temp. Of course there are many different stabilizations. My advice buy from Phil n get several backed pieces so you have backup. Buy a couple cheap Kingman to practice and a Bisbee blue.....Bisbee is tge king, queen and emporer of blue!!!!! Plus remember turquoise actually appreciates in value like the precious gems! A lot of folks only think tge dark blues are turquoise because of plastic costume stuff.
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Post by orrum on Feb 22, 2013 13:14:52 GMT -5
Fre is AWESOME!!!! Bless rockhobbit!
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Post by susand24224 on Feb 22, 2013 21:20:48 GMT -5
Thanks Orrum and Phil, for the education--and Sheri for your extreme generosity!
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Post by Pat on Feb 23, 2013 0:26:07 GMT -5
What's WTB?
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jason12x12
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 798
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Post by jason12x12 on Feb 23, 2013 1:35:40 GMT -5
Want To Buy wtb
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Post by Rockhobbit on Feb 23, 2013 10:10:47 GMT -5
Box will go out today. I am not sure of the location, all my turq is from an estate purchase. Maybe if you post a pic here, you can get it identified.
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Post by susand24224 on Feb 24, 2013 0:09:13 GMT -5
I will do that, Sheri--and perfect timing, as I am learning to use a new camera. And again, many thanks.
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Post by phil on Feb 25, 2013 12:26:21 GMT -5
For susand24224.
I grabbed a bag at random and got pics of both sides of the nuggets in there. This is one side. I can only get one photo attached at a time, so will follow up with the flip side. Pic which ones you want, if any, and I'll weigh them and let you know how much. These aren't the higher priced stones, are stabilized, and are from assorted mines in Arizona. Once Susan picks hers, then anyone else interested can pick and choose from what's left if anyone is interested. Oh... the stones are in the same position in each photo, so you know which is which. Phil
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Post by phil on Feb 25, 2013 12:38:17 GMT -5
Flip side. you need to click on the photo and view them full size to really see the character. These are all stabilized and come from assorted mines in Arizona. Kingman, Bisbee, Lavendar pit, etc. Even a Morenci or two, tho probably not in this batch. No Sleeping Beauty, that stuff has become hard to find since the mine shut down. These are the lower cost stones, each has been vibe tumbled and hand polished. You could even mount them as is. I didn't think you wanted to get into the high grade high price ones?
Phil
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Post by orrum on Feb 25, 2013 14:49:42 GMT -5
Nice, I like the second from the top on the right side of the ruler right beside the ruler.
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Post by phil on Feb 25, 2013 16:52:15 GMT -5
Cool. Susan says she doesn't know turquoise, but she was able to cherry pick 3 of the best (grin).... So if anyone else wants any, let me know.... I'll try and post a edited pic later if anyone is interested? Phil
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Post by phil on Feb 25, 2013 16:59:39 GMT -5
Susan, Are these the right 3? The top one has a small crack, but depending on how you cab it, it could disappear. All these are polished, but still "rough", so the end result will be better than the photos. All 3 are from Kingman area mines. Phil
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Post by phil on Feb 25, 2013 17:25:46 GMT -5
Ok, I just took a good look at that cracked one. It will probably break. I'm surprised it survived tumbling. So, it's free! <grin>. I have a deal for you... I also picked out 3 more from another bag that are sorta similar and of a suitable shape to cab up for a pendant. Send me your address and I'll send all 6 to you, you're on the hook only for the postage. Then if you think they're worth it, send me what you think is fair. If not, well then Happy Birthday! Can't make you a better deal than that! They all will need grinding and shaping. Oh.... evidently I fibbed. The cracks and pits tell me these are NOT stabilized, if they were, there would be no cracks and pits. So these are natural lower gem grade stones. Let me know... Phil
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Post by susand24224 on Feb 25, 2013 20:42:19 GMT -5
Phil, I don't know what to say except to babble on as I did in my PM to you. So I will spare you that experience again! Both Phil and Sheri, your turquoise will be a wonderful gift--my lovely friend will get both earrings and a pendant, and you will be credited with the donation.
And you both have made my heart smile!
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Post by phil on Feb 28, 2013 17:15:11 GMT -5
Your package is on the way!
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