Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Feb 22, 2016 7:08:55 GMT -5
Thanks, just had a quick look, looks like a good place to get some gems from!
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Feb 22, 2016 7:13:09 GMT -5
You're welcome. HTH. I got a lot of gorgeous 6mm Brazilian orchid/African amethyst and blue topaz rounds from them for earrings and rings. Big lots for $20, never been let down. Great quality. The only one that was a little dodgy was the apatite cabs, a couple tended to fracture and break, but that's also the nature of those stones. But all the faceted stones have been great.
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Post by toiv0 on Feb 22, 2016 18:05:32 GMT -5
What guage is the silver?
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Feb 22, 2016 18:36:36 GMT -5
10 g, its a beast:)
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Feb 23, 2016 17:33:50 GMT -5
Tom, you can get small, genuine stones real cheap. Just look around. I tend to agree with metalsmith. People don't don't put much value on fake stuff. It could bring the perceived value of your piece down. I'm sure you know, but fake is only fake when it is faking. Manufactured says what it is on the label: all cz is manufactured and thus not fake. Moissanite is manufactured; synth sapph the same. They're only fake when they're sold as something they're not, diamond and natural sapphire.
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Feb 23, 2016 21:26:10 GMT -5
Tom, you can get small, genuine stones real cheap. Just look around. I tend to agree with metalsmith. People don't don't put much value on fake stuff. It could bring the perceived value of your piece down. I'm sure you know, but fake is only fake when it is faking. Manufactured says what it is on the label: all cz is manufactured and thus not fake. Moissanite is manufactured; synth sapph the same. They're only fake when they're sold as something they're not, diamond and natural sapphire. That's very true, that Moissanite is pretty dang expensive as it is!
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 24, 2016 11:02:59 GMT -5
Tom, you can get small, genuine stones real cheap. Just look around. I tend to agree with metalsmith. People don't don't put much value on fake stuff. It could bring the perceived value of your piece down. I'm sure you know, but fake is only fake when it is faking. Manufactured says what it is on the label: all cz is manufactured and thus not fake. Moissanite is manufactured; synth sapph the same. They're only fake when they're sold as something they're not, diamond and natural sapphire. Yes, I know and I'm sure everyone knew what I meant. I didn't mean to suggest that Tom misrepresent what he was selling. A cz is a fake imitation of a gemstone by common vernacular.
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Feb 24, 2016 17:00:59 GMT -5
A very nice pendent Tom. To rescue the project with a rivet on bail is very clever. I wonder why the solder joint failed?
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Feb 24, 2016 22:23:37 GMT -5
A very nice pendent Tom. To rescue the project with a rivet on bail is very clever. I wonder why the solder joint failed? That's easy, I can't solder worth a s**t. LOL. I had trouble with it, I was soldering the light bail to heavy 10 gauge. Trying to keep the thick silver hot and not melting something was problematic for me. Hard was a fail, medium was a fail but a got a decent joint with easy. It likely would have held an eternity with normal use but the grab and smash was to much for it. At least I now know this one won't fail. If I was soldering the bail on first I could have easily got the whole piece up to temp. But with the bezel already soldered and in close proximity? I need more practice Tom
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Feb 24, 2016 22:31:27 GMT -5
I'm sure you know, but fake is only fake when it is faking. Manufactured says what it is on the label: all cz is manufactured and thus not fake. Moissanite is manufactured; synth sapph the same. They're only fake when they're sold as something they're not, diamond and natural sapphire. Yes, I know and I'm sure everyone knew what I meant. I didn't mean to suggest that Tom misrepresent what he was selling. A cz is a fake imitation of a gemstone by common vernacular. I knew exactly what you meant Tela. All good up here in Canuckle land. I will be getting some real gemstones soon. I actually have some. I could have used amethyst but CZ's are much tougher and more forgiving. And I am still learning, heck I will always be learning. But I have decided to set a real diamond one day. While a CZ is a fake gemstone I don't see the problem. They look as nice to the casual eye, are mostly flawless and pretty dang tough. I have heard that a lab grown ruby is pretty much the same as the real thing. Ok crawling back under rock:) Tom
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Feb 25, 2016 0:01:29 GMT -5
icatz, thanks for that link. I just bought some sterling tubing & was looking for a source of faceted stones to add accents to my silversmithed pieces. I'll give 'em a try. Lynn
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Feb 25, 2016 7:15:47 GMT -5
icatz, thanks for that link. I just bought some sterling tubing & was looking for a source of faceted stones to add accents to my silversmithed pieces. I'll give 'em a try. Lynn Hope it works out for you. I've always been happy with their faceted stones. I think shipping is always free, too, not positive.
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Feb 25, 2016 14:18:42 GMT -5
I wasn't suggesting Tom is into fakery and I also wasn't suggesting you were rockjunquie, my apologies if this thought even crossed your minds. Yes, CZ are pretty: my daughter wears some, but she's nearly 11. I also bought some synth sapph, but that was an accident: a bag of small ones at 1-3mm cost around the same as synth at 3mm+ for roughly the same number around a dozen for < $30. Real gem accent stones don't have to break the bank, but for bigger and quality (big 5) stones you do.
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Post by toiv0 on Feb 25, 2016 19:22:11 GMT -5
I have some cz and a bunch of real faceted stones. Most are heat treated or something done to them. Does that make them less natrual and part man made. This is always the turquoise delema also. I pretty much use anything including the neighbors dog tooth, just represent it to the best of my knowledge.
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Feb 25, 2016 21:13:27 GMT -5
Hmmm, tooth of dog....sounds like it oughta be in MacBeth or something...
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Feb 25, 2016 21:37:55 GMT -5
I have some cz and a bunch of real faceted stones. Most are heat treated or something done to them. Does that make them less natrual and part man made. This is always the turquoise delema also. I pretty much use anything including the neighbors dog tooth, just represent it to the best of my knowledge. Act This is actually a great point! Lots of the big 5 stones have been enhanced. So that kind of lessens the natural gemstone does it not? BTW Metalsmith I love that term never heard it before. Dave and I made a trade and he is sending me some real stones. Quite the little dilemma really. I see Telas point about them lessening they pieces value. I see Metalsmiths point about using real because they are not that expensive. Bottom line we need to disclose to a buyer if the stone is a CZ or treated or stabilized or whatever. I will from now on try to use real but if I need a certain colour I will still use them. People must use them because Rio sells millions and they are only one dealer. Plus for instance this posts subject pendent has CZ's they look as good as amethyst and are at least ten times tougher Toms 2 pennies worth
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Feb 25, 2016 21:39:20 GMT -5
I wasn't suggesting Tom is into fakery and I also wasn't suggesting you were rockjunquie, my apologies if this thought even crossed your minds. Yes, CZ are pretty: my daughter wears some, but she's nearly 11. I also bought some synth sapph, but that was an accident: a bag of small ones at 1-3mm cost around the same as synth at 3mm+ for roughly the same number around a dozen for < $30. Real gem accent stones don't have to break the bank, but for bigger and quality (big 5) stones you do. Hey Metalsmith no worries I never thought you were implying anything. All is good.
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