The Gem Vault

OK I am working on a new, fabulous, exciting way for my clients to buy gemstones but in the meantime I want to list some of my current inventory right here. Soon you will be able to click on a gallery flip-book that shows what stones I have for sale as well as the “goods” section of the bitcoin forum where I sell under the “auctions” sub-heading.

Let’s start with a gorgeous 1.11 carat Mali garnet in top color. This very very slightly greenish-Yellow stone is a beautiful pear shape with a lot of sparkle and tons of personality. Besides being a very rare stone that you will not see in your local jewelry store, Mali garnet is a wonderful addition to any collection because it is one of the very few stones to have only a single source country- Mali, in western Africa.

You might have seen news lately of the unrest in Mali, and we are not sure of the impact that the fighting will have on the supply of this very special garnet. But like the garnet itself, Mali is a very interesting topic. Few people realize that there are countries this large- it is over a million square kilometers.

Mali garnet 1.11cts

Some of you might be hard-pressed to name a city in Mali but you all know the word “Timbuktu”. If any of you answered “Bamako” you might have studied world capitals at one time- good job!

With rebels in control of about two-thirds of the country there is a veil of uncertainty hanging over Mali which is the third-largest producer of gold in Africa. Cotton is another very important export and this also means that cottonseed oil is a significant revenue stream to Malians.

Rare and Unusual

Mali garnet is very rare, unusual, and beautiful and it is not at all typical of me to offer a stone in top color which is also pear-shaped and over one carat. There is no guarantee that the issues in Mali will be settled in the near future and if the supply chain is disrupted this could be the best opportunity that you have for a long time to own a top-color Mali at a reasonable price.

TOP COLOR MALI GARNET

This stone weighs 1.11cts and the dimensions are 7.31 x 5.76 x 3.91mm deep. This stone is not treated in any way, and perhaps that is one reason it is so highly regarded by stone collectors. But the top reason must be the sheer beauty of this amazing hybrid garnet. Like many garnets, this stone consists of two garnet family members. It has both grossular garnet and andradite garnet chemistry and characteristics, and Dr. Bill Hanneman was smart enough to make a chart that helps you identify your garnet using the refractive index of the stone (with a refractometer) only. Of all of my gemstone literature, this chart is probably the most valuable piece of work that I have seen with tons of garnet types, trade names, and refractive indices all in one compact area. If you own the book Naming Gem Garnets you already know this. If not, let me put the chart here for your reference. It is as amazing as the man who created it and the man who first notified GIA and the world that a garnet type can be ascertained by visual inspection and refractive index only.

Dr. Bill Hanneman's Garnet Identification Chart

If you would like to buy this stone please refer to #4311. I accept virtually every kind of payment- PayPal, Bitcoin (preferred!), check or money order. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by, and remember that your satisfaction is always 100% guaranteed. Also I will ship this stone via registered mail so you will have online tracking. $59 is a great price for such a beatiful stone with so much brilliance and presence, not to mention that it is top color! My price includes all shipping charges.

Let me know what you would like to see next- email me at dave@tiptopgem.com to buy this stone or tell me what you want to add to your collection!

I would like to extend a warm welcome to anyone in the bitcoin community who landed here! I am an avid bitcoin proponent and I believe that is has the power to change the world. If you don’t know anything about bitcoin please check out these websites:

http://www.weusecoins.com/

http://bitcoin.org/

Maybe the most important thing to do is get on the website below and start communicating about bitcoin!

https://bitcointalk.org/

If you already have bitcoins and just want to spend them, check out my auctions:

http://bitmit.net/user/tiptopgemdotcom

I am also a regular in the auctions section of the bitcointalk forum, so check it out regularly to see what I am offering:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?board=73.0

Take good care,

1.  Instead of 18K (750) gold, use 14K (585). As 18K is 75% gold and 25% other metals it is more luxurious (and costly!) than 14K which is 58.5% gold. You don’t have to use 950 platinum either- 900 anyone?

2. Use yellow gold instead of white. White gold is almost always plated or “flashed” with rhodium, so using yellow gold will eliminate this step.  Less labor, less materials= less cost!

3. Use a picture as a guide to make the wax model instead of CAD. It is exciting and gratifying to see your jewelry come to life in the form of a 3D rendering. It is also convenient and offers insurance that the finished product will be just what you want. But it’s not free!

4. Use fewer stones. Are you considering different designs that vary in the number of gemstones? One stone costs less because it reduces the labor involved.

5.  Use palladium instead of gold. Exotic metals are in, and most people don’t know the difference in price between platinum and gold and palladium. Your blue sapphire will look stunning in palladium and it will save you money while giving your finished jewelry an exotic and exclusive appeal.

6.  Recycle old stones into a new design. Most people have unused jewelry that has lost appeal over time. Don’t let those 2mm diamonds go to waste! They will accent a new ruby or tanzanite ring or pendant really well to create a stunning look. You can’t beat free; the flash for the cash is superb!

7.  Scrap that gold! Yes, we do take gold as payment for jewelry or stones- and we pay A LOT more than most jewelers or pawnshops. At current prices you shouldn’t ignore this source of jewelry-making capital lying in a drawer.

If you have a question you can always send me a note at dave@tiptopgem.com.  We would love to hear from you!

The Gem Vault is under construction for the first few days in June.  We appreciate that you came by and we hope to have new content for you soon. Please check back!!!