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Post by Bluesky78987 on Sept 10, 2012 16:37:39 GMT -5
Just received my order from Carleton.   ;D Ok, just so I don't fill up this post entirely with smilies, here are what was so great: 1. The material is beautiful. I ordered the AAA quality, and it is indeed AAA. Like, every speck of every piece has flash. Only the smallest specks here and there of that black inclusion that Lab gets. Otherwise, very clear, crystalline material, with smooth continuous flash planes. Going to be very little waste from this "rough". 2. He worked with me extensively to get me pieces I liked. When I told him what I wanted, he picked out a bunch of pieces that were about twice as much in total poundage, made videos of them all, and then let me choose. 3. He faced them for me, so I'd have a place to start cutting. He seems to have faced multiple sides of them too! wow. 4. He threw in extras. 5. His prices were ridiculously reasonable given the product and amount of personal attention and choice provided. You won't be disappointed in a purchase from Carleton! Edited to add: Got home and looked at them dripping wet. Need to add a whole bunch more smilies. He also tossed in a preform of a perfect diagonally pinstriped double sided cab! Can't wait to work that one. |
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Post by helens on Sept 13, 2012 1:32:21 GMT -5
I JUST got a trade box from Carleton... holy cow!! Unlike Susan who bought rough, I traded for preforms, so I don't know what the rough looks like, but the preforms are amazing:)! First of all, I'm wondering if his stuff is even labradorite, it looks like all the pix I've ever seen of spectralite. And the colors are so bright they are neon, and they are in big bands, not squares like other labradorite I've seen. Here's the gigantic heavy, humongous piece. This is AAA+ grade w/ some dead spots at edges, but the color is definitely omfg (it needs some more grinding).  Here's an AAA+ grade preform- is this stunning? It's almost dicroic it's so bright... actually, it matches dicroic for bright, but it's natural:)  This is the omfg piece... he says it's the best of the best of the best (this is DRY, and it's a ROUGH. Not wet, not polished either, it's shot out of the box, and so's the one above this):  Here's Carleton's AAA grade, but with dead spots that he says he doesn't charge for by weight:  And this is AA grade, with more dead spots (this is DRY, once wet it showed more color, but you have to flash it around for more color in the other spots, unlike the AAA, it's not a full sheet end of color from a single angle):  Carleton sent a box of 'sample' cabs too with varying degrees of colors and shapes. He sells them pretty reasonably (think he said $15) for 6 small cabs, and I think it's worth it for wrappers who don't need top grades. Now if you flash them around, they too are full of color, but shot from 1 angle, you know how labs are. 2 of the pieces are pinks (naturally the one showing NO color, but it's very pink when you hit the angle)... that's what I mostly wanted, pinks:), but didn't get a good pix of them:  And last but absolutely not least... this is incredible!!! Gold filled and sterling, his wife Chloey made it!!! :  So does Carleton have great labradorite and spectralite? Yes. |
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carleton
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2012
Posts: 277
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Post by carleton on Sept 13, 2012 2:28:39 GMT -5
I am glad everyone is happy  Bluesky, I am glad you noticed I faced a few other plains, I was not sure If I mentioned it before I shipped. Helen, I box of cabs? We are flattered that's our "Labradorite Sample Example kit" Its end cuts and other remnants we cant cab up that Chloey is always collecting to show the various colors Labradorite and spectrolite can come in. she did round them and give them a quick polish though. We started to not always cut out the lesser quality labradorite material as before, so the for example, the 4th picture, we would would charge it as though it was only 35% the weight it is, it allows you too either make a small cab of AAA Labradorite/spectrolite or a larger cab of lesser quality but the extra area is free. We are doing this on some slabs too. Anyone like/dislike the option? of course, we can always trim anything down for free. I cant wait to see how those pin stripe spectrolite cabs come out, I have not even tackled one yet, lol. Carleton |
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Sept 14, 2012 18:15:24 GMT -5
Dang, those are nice!!! Now I want some!
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fwfranklen (Mike)
spending too much on rocks
Rock-ON--Have you kissed your rock today?
Member since August 2012
Posts: 379
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Post by fwfranklen (Mike) on Sept 14, 2012 19:24:24 GMT -5
Wow real beutiflul rocks.
I have some rough but I don't think it is that colorfull.
Mike
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Post by Pat on Sept 14, 2012 21:58:55 GMT -5
Bluesky, can we see yours?
Those are beautiful pieces.
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Sept 14, 2012 22:57:56 GMT -5
I wasn't planning to photograph them (at least not yet). But Carleton made me a couple of videos showing them, if he doesn't mind I'll post the links.
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carleton
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2012
Posts: 277
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Post by carleton on Sept 18, 2012 9:26:33 GMT -5
Certainly I guess I should give the run down on the comedy too, lol. At 1:00 minute in Chloey sneezed ;D "are you kidding me?!? lol"..."Yes...lol" then she was about to turn it off "keep going, keep going... Susan is laughing right now" So each time after that if you see some shaky camera work its us laughing  Carleton |
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Charles
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2012
Posts: 161 
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Post by Charles on Sept 23, 2012 15:01:22 GMT -5
I have to chime in here. Saturday I got a package from Carleton. I had traded some emails with him, I was looking for a pound of Labradorite, and after Bleusky's post I got in touch with Carleton. He selected a couple of pieces for me to look at on a video.
After much consideration, I couldn't decide on which one to select, although I thought the second was a little better than the first. I decided that I'd take both of them, boy am I glad he didn't show me 4 to pick from. I think I would have went bonkers trying to decide ;D
Well Saturday came and so did the package. The labradorite is fantastic. Carleton had cut off a heal on one selection and it appeared to be dead black so he included some extras, and boy were they great. He included some slabs and some lesser Carleton said about 50% flash. I'm so tickled with the choices and the quality of all of the stones.
When the time comes and I run out without any doubt I'll be getting with Carleton again The selection, quality, and service was top of the line.
BTW Carleton, please remember 4 to select from is toooooo many.
Thanks Carleton.
Charles
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jukerocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 154
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Post by jukerocks on Sept 23, 2012 15:45:17 GMT -5
Where do you guys GET this stuff?!? Just Stunning
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Charles
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2012
Posts: 161
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Post by Charles on Sept 23, 2012 16:31:44 GMT -5
I would suggest you get hold of Carleton. His web site is: labradoritesandgems.comThat is how I got in contact with him. Charles |
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;D
