Episode 68: What's Your Gem?

[@glennaoro329]

Another great episode and now you’ve got me thinking about your question. I’m finding it difficult to answer because I love ALL gemstones and when I was a child...the more sparkle...the more I loved jewelry. I used to go to a store called Tops (equivalent of maybe Target) and I would scan the jewelry and my dad would usually buy me something (it was costume Jewelry, but that’s where my love for gems began. I still have those vintage pieces). I love diamonds (my birthstone), citrine, amethyst, sapphire, turquoise, and I have a fossilized sand dollar pendant that I really treasure....even though it’s a gift from my ex!!

[@maryeverett8394]

I think my favorite gem is emerald. I’m not sure why because I’m not particularly a fan of the color green. But when I go into the jewelry store the emeralds are the first thing I look at. I also love gemstones that have that inner light, Moonstone, labradorite, and opals.

[@robrabbit2773]

Australian Chrysoprase. I joined a local Lapidary club in my early 20's over 20 yrs ago and that was where I fell in love with it in the rough, even more so after being cabbed. Older club members would not share where they got it back then as a newbie and only sell nice rough pieces at high prices although I eventually got some cheaper as I was starting to hear stories of clubs in Australia being blocked from collecting it from mine tailings making it harder for international clubs to get their hands on. As a jeweller now I've seen those prices increase even more but not too crazily. To me theres something very special about it, like the amazingly glowing new found Aquaprase is. Chrysoprase will always remind me of my beginnings in the love of gemstones 😉 So it's my favourite 👍👍

[@AneesAlqudaihi]

Persian Turquoise and Yemeni brown and yellow Agates. Why? Great beauty and qualities. The demand on them will (hopefully) guarantee decent value into the future as well. So all in all, beautiful stones adored by the many.

[@zarbibazar1652]

Thank you from Switzerland for yours videos For the first gem i fall in love. Same story with one black crystal opal with some red colour from Australia, incredible stone 125000 euro, same the prise choc me. Now my favourite stone is aquamarine, for his purity and for his blue colour remember me water of lagoon. I have 37 years hold and I start study in gem to change new life. Thank you again, and sorry for my English

[@pauldeasygemstones]

So glad you found my channel and interest in studying gems. And don’t ever apologize for your English. Your country has four official languages, and I don’t speak any of them! I do like your chocolate, though. Keep up the good work!

[@pennym1547]

Paul, I love this class! I am loving reading everyone's ideas on their favourite gemstones... I've been away but I am back to your wonderful class! Had I been introduced to Chalcedony (Holy Chalcedony) I would have never purchased diamonds.. So I am doing my best to catch up! :) I love turquoise because I struggled to make my love for Sleeping Beauty Turquoise inclusive to the Matrix Turquoise (s). Through you, I have learned to accept Turquoise in her many faces. I love the many colours of Amazonite. I feel her friendship and a gentle hand holding when I need support. And of course, I do love Jade. I have packed my diamonds away since coming upon you and the Enormous Pleasure I experience with the many gems from Mother Earth. Thank you for asking this question, Paul. you're such an inspiration to me and clearly, to many :) Have a terrific rest of your week, see you tomorrow. :)

[@elizabethlinsay9193]

My favorite gem is the emerald because green is my favorite color. So I also prefer the greener turquoise, tho i love many of the blue ones. Pearls are also a very favorite because there are so many types and colors. Love you shows! Thank you.

[@janesmer3458]

Most definitely turquoise I try to collect different mines but my fav is sleeping beauty. Sounds silly but i feel a connection to everyone who has touched it. I try to find vintage as well...hopefully good spirits that have lent me a piece of their soul. Bte..is there some sleeping beauty with matrix and does that affect the quality? As always thx paul

[@carolwoolen9872]

I would have a hard time picking just one gemstone that started my love for them. I would say I always wanted that fairy tail engagement diamond. But colored stones are just as beautiful to me. Apatite, labradorite are a favorite right now but that may change tomorrow. I do favor the gorgeous blue Topaz that is found only in Mason, Texas. It has such a beautiful color and I saw a huge stone that the owner had in his safe. It was cut and polished about the size of a 5 yr olds fist. I love most of them.

[@johnmarkrocha9270]

Guatemalan Jadeite because it was valuable to some of my ancestors, Greenland ruby because of its incredible age, and purple topaz because of its rarity.

[@pauldeasygemstones]

That is a great group of favorites-then again, I shouldn’t be surprised. After all, your family name is a derivative of the word “Rock”. You didn’t stand a chance!

[@amyinalabama7529]

Turquoise chose me. It had to happen that way because I was too young to know what it was. I began collecting rocks from age 4. When I was 5 my Daddy took me to visit his friend from work whose hobby was lapidary. That kind older man and his wife let me touch and handle beautiful, smooth, polished, shiny rocks I had no idea even existed. I still have the agate given to me that evening more than 55 years ago. The following year I was given my first piece of turquoise by Daddy and it was so special I just knew it had to be the most beautiful rock in all God's creation. Sometime later, while at a flea market, I learned that jewelry was made from turquoise and got my first ring. From that time forward I've collected turquoise jewelry, my parents gave it to me almost every birthday, and Christmas. Numerous friends, family, and even acquaintances I barely knew have just spontaneously given me turquoise throughout my lifetime. All kinds including rough stones, polished stones, loose cabs, and jewelry. I have no explanation except the turquoise chooses me! I just wouldn't feel like myself without it. (I've been given magnasite and howlite by people with well meaning intentions and I choose to make them none the wiser.) I'm also very fond of my other December birthstone, blue zircon. It's much more appealing to me than a colorless diamond. Garnet, amethyst, rose quartz, pearls, and abalone are other gems I will wear occasionally and recently I've been drawn to the idea of pink sapphire earrings. Looking, but in no hurry, the right ones will present themselves when it's time. Thank you for publishing your content on you tube. I enjoy your manner of presentation and have learned a good deal of new information by listening to your videos as I go about my day.

[@richardseiferd966]

Paul, thank again for a great lesson. Once again, you have made me look deeper into my love of gemstones. I began this interest with Turquoise after seeing the series Turquoise Fever. I love the diversity of turquoise. There is always something new and interesting to discover when looking at these beautiful stones. However, after seeing your episodes on garnets I have found a new love. I know they are not the most expensive gem or the most sought after but they really catch my interest. Again I think it is because of all the diversity they offer, all the different types and colors. From pyrope to tsavorite to spessartine etc. I am enchanted by them all. As I now understand, there are even more types out there than the ones showed us. My next step is to research deeper into garnets and see what I can find. Can you suggest any books that might help? As an aside, I hope you can create a vehicle where we can purchase quality gems. I don't have the confidence or competence to go out on the open market yet. Thanks again for all you do. Richard

[@dianemiller3899]

What a wonderful question! My husband bought me a beautiful marquise cut amethyst ring. After it was stolen, along with my wedding rings (small solitaire diamond with simple gold bands that was a popular style in 1972), we shopped for something with color. I found a band of 4 small rubies separated by 3 diamond chips. Nearby, in the jewelry case was an engagement style ring with a ruby as the center stone and 3 diamond chips on each side. I love them and love how a different jeweler repaired the set when a prong had broken and I lost the original ruby. BUT, not this Christmas for monetary reasons, next Christmas I am going to ask my husband for earrings with a stone from your teachings. Mmm, what will it be? I hope I can choose a different stone each Christmas. By the way, I like sparkle but not particularly diamonds.

[@rebeccakanoff1681]

Dear Paul, I adore gems across the board. Aquamarines, Iolite, tourquise, tourmaline, citrine and opals. Without question, black opal with its mystical and magical powers is my favorite gem. I just ordered a black opal from down under. It is relatively small with one carat, but, I'll treasure it. I'll produce a beeswax model ring for it and cast it in a clay mold. All gems are unique works of art from mother earth. I love them all; however, black opal is without question the top gem on my list. Take care, Rebecca P.S. your videos are the highlight of my week. Thank you!

[@pauldeasygemstones]

I get it, Rebecca. It is really to limit your choices to just one favorite. Black opal will always be my favorite. But like a proud father, I love so many of my gem children!

[@judyfrey5919]

I’m attracted to Opal, Garnets, Labradorite and Indicolite because of the colors. I have all of these but the Indicolite.

[@pauldeasygemstones]

We are kindred spirits, Judy. I’m sure you are aware of my fondness those stones. Sounds like you need to get busy on your quest for the elusive indicolite!

[@salahnagina8598]

Alexandrite is by far my favorite gemstone. Especially the color-change bluish green to deep ruby red kinda paraiba neon blue with a tint of green to a pigeon blood alexandrite. Too bad it is the most expensive variety of it. The second favorite color is blue to purple color change. Hope i will get a good one some day😅 At number 2 for me is paraiba tourmaline. Unlucky to have both my favorites out of my price range😅.

[@glennaoro329]

Question: if someone has vintage solid sterling silver coins, should they sell to a coin collector or jeweler? Just curious. Thank you.

[@shaunwebb6406]

Not a jeweler Not a coin dealer either To another collector ok To a new starting collector ok However, you must know the value of your coins and current selling price. Do your research before you try to sell or you may lose a lot of $! I have years of experience in this area.

[@heleneflemingtaichi]

Well… how interesting ! I was wondering the same thing as I was just driving back from picking up my new turquoise ring! I have a heavy bias toward blue stones by and large and find I always have lapis, turquoise and larimar on me… why…. I adore them! I find them fascinating and unlike gems that are highly manicured those always have soul, they exude personality with their variations in color, shapes, matrix and inclusions. They have always been around me in my life in jewelry form as well as loose stones and I can’t see an end to this beautiful relationship. Did they choose me ? Did I choose them? I don’t know but those 3 are firm friends and here to stay 👍 well done on the channel by the way, very much enjoying your videos 🥰

[@pauldeasygemstones]

I love your comment, Helene. Your passion for those stones is palpable! An unabashed enthusiasm for your “friends”. Very refreshing. I happen to like those choices as well. Turquoise remains the most popular lessons on this channel, and I would have never become a jewelry professional with the GIA if weren’t for the lesson I learned about lapis! Glad you enj

[@vasilyresto5796]

It's an interesting topic to think. As a beginner you doubt your own taste and try to imitate the professionals on what is considered good or of high quality. Such a question does give me some control over the direction I take with my education. I personally like gems with flaws or irregularities. There might be a few 'flawless' gems which I understand are rare. But the ones with flaws I think are the most rare because no flaw or irregularity is the same. Other than that I try to emphasize the beauty of all existing gems. Thanks for another great lesson.

[@pauldeasygemstones]

Very insightful comment. If it were not or irregularities in gemstones, there would never have been a star sapphire, a rutillated quartz, and so much more. I am always amazed when I come across something I never found before-particularly in the opaques found right here in the USA.

[@vasilyresto5796]

@@pauldeasygemstones Very true. That does sound amazing.

[@Celestial_Reach]

labradorite and moonstone were my original love. but now, i am not sure. i love making jewelry. so im just happy getting stones to have options. but right now i am going for metal, and being more decerning.

[@Celestial_Reach]

oh, im also kinda sold on tanzanite. but I do need to say, I actually love the fire color corrundum, and garnets. i have had amazing luck with the pieces i tailor around those.

[@andreah6379]

I love looking at very rare gemstones, museum class stones. But with this question, I am divided. There are gems like azurite that straight from the earth, the geode is incredible in color and could be no1. Then there are gems that need to be processed; faceted and polished then their true beauty comes out, like Labradorite with brilliant blue color, not just flash. Too many variables to just say "one".

[@Bruce_S]

While I love many different gem stones, it's turquoise, particularly the Sleeping Beauty kind of blue, that will always be my go to. I'm not sure I even know why, other than growing up in the American southwest. Guess I was just exposed to it so often. Now I live in the UK where it's not always so easy to get hold of turquoise, but I've managed a few pieces that I find nice.

[@pauldeasygemstones]

I get it, Bruce. There is something amazing about that robin’s egg blue color. That said, don’t be surprised if you find your eye wandering to other turquoise varieties-like the number 8 turquoise from Nevada or the deep blue Kingman with the black spiderweb matrix! Don’t worry, I think the sleeping beauty won’t mind if you cheat on her with other turquoise!

[@Bruce_S]

@@pauldeasygemstones haha I shall 😀

[@charlesadkins7067]

i like topaz i have a 7287 ct imperial topaz rough

[@sism3028]

Paul..I love aquamarine because it is my birthstone and I love the color of it but not the lighter shade. Great video as always. Thank you for this.

[@pauldeasygemstones]

As I recall, you were the first to request I do a lesson on Aquamarine. I agree with you about preferring the deeper colors of Aqua. But for anyone who prefers the paler colors, there is nothing wrong with that. It just means you should pay less for the lighter color of aquamarine.

[@charlesadkins7067]

i like topaz i have a 7287 ct imperial topaz rough