Charoite's mineral collecting chat.

Charoite said:
For the home jeweler those seem nice. If you ever find a way to get some sterling silver in the mix, people pay good money. Of, course, that also means that you are as well.
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Thanks. I think. lol

I do have some sterling silver and have made pieces from it as gifts. Unless you own a jewelry store though it is hard to sell your hand-crafted pieces. I've sold on Etsy, Ebay, craft fairs, the STL Pagan Picnic (did great there), even home sales (set up like a garage sale with signs in the 'hood, tables, booths, etc.) People seem to think if it's hand-made it should be better quality but lower priced than store items. I have seen people walk right by our booth with our (my friend and I) fabulous hand-crafted stuff and go right to a table filled with cheap Chinese jewelry crap selling for less than ours. Important vendor tip: Always get the spot next to the Empanada Guy's booth... tons of traffic! lol
 
ThatOwlWoman said:
Thanks. I think. lol

I do have some sterling silver and have made pieces from it as gifts. Unless you own a jewelry store though it is hard to sell your hand-crafted pieces. I've sold on Etsy, Ebay, craft fairs, the STL Pagan Picnic (did great there), even home sales (set up like a garage sale with signs in the 'hood, tables, booths, etc.) People seem to think if it's hand-made it should be better quality but lower priced than store items. I have seen people walk right by our booth with our (my friend and I) fabulous hand-crafted stuff and go right to a table filled with cheap Chinese jewelry crap selling for less than ours. Important vendor tip: Always get the spot next to the Empanada Guy's booth... tons of traffic! lol
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Don't worry, it's a compliment. You just don't have the expensive tools of the trade to up the game. No hobby jeweler would. Only worth the investments if it's much greater than a hobby. I have an affinity to cast pendants myself like the dragon one I showed you.

It's all marketing and aesthetics basically, the crap being sold by a jeweler will make more sales than a hobbiest. The average person doesn't see quality and if it's real, they just gravitate to luster. They are the ones that often end up with fake stones.
 
Do you have any star garnet. My state’s gemstone. Idaho. Apparently, they are not found anywhere else except India
 
domer76 said:
Do you have any star garnet. My state’s gemstone. Idaho. Apparently, they are not found anywhere else except India
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You don't find those selling as roughs that often since they are mostly carved up for jewelry. They are found in both India and Idaho apparently. That means they must be formed in very specific conditions.
 
Found a person selling gem specimens at bid on ebay. I only bought one to test the waters with it being from Pakistan. They are very well known for their gemstones there. They have some of the finest Aquamarine around from what I've read. I went for something cheaper though and am very satisfied with it. It was a type of Kunzite native to the area, and looks like it was meticulously dug out with simple tools. Happy enough with them I went and put a bid on a small Aquamarine. If all goes well I'm going to consider purchasing a larger specimen after I save for it. Here's a pic of what I'd save for.

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I can't believe the steal I got, I paid about $21 for a large Kambaba Jasper sphere. They showed up and there were two of them. I thought the bid was just for one by the wording. I guess it explains two in the photo. Seems someone was clearing out store real-estate. These things are basically rock cannonballs and I've been looking where to keep them. Here's the pic.

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I have nothing going on these holidays so I've been spoiling myself a bit. My last bids of the season are coming in and I've won a few. Here's a botryoidal Goethite.

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This year I've done too much online bidding for my new obsession. My New Years' resolution is to sell off all my other collectible stuff to pay for all the mineral pieces and fence in our backyard. I think it's time to show off my final spoils of 2020.

Here's a piece of Kabamby Ocean Jasper. The mines these come from in Madagascar are the only places these are found and they have mostly ceased. All pieces are mostly old stock or from people's collections.

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