Start some threads

Well, it would appear that someone should start a thread or two.I have an
interest in several areas:

Seems to me that the price to quality ratio of Australian opal rough has
taken a real turn for the worse of late. I think it is causing a lot of small
time U.S. dealers to throw in the towel. Many U.S. “hobby” Cutters also seem
to be abandoning opal altogether or are switching to more “predictable”
material for this reason. Anyone have some thoughts on this or perhaps some
inside info?

What is “wholesale” on gems in general these days? I surf the web for gem
info and get flyers by snail mail most of which claim to be “wholesale”. Yet
prices for like items vary greatly!

Ilive within an easy drive of one of California’s premier Tourmaline mines. I
go there to buy rough pink tourmaline. If you don’t know already, this is
the best pink tourmaline on the world, Bubble gum pink, no brownish cast like
that stuff from S.A. My sons and I facet this material (to order if needed),
we cut for brilliance not weight. Anyone interested in purchasing some of
these stones?

Well, there you have three thing to start talking/posting about (I know that
last one is a bit self serving. Sorry if I offended anyone out there).

Tony Ruyter
@RuyterTTo: orchid@ganoksin.com
From: orchid@ganoksin.com on Wed, Jul 3, 1996 1:36 PM
Subject: Re: Was I disconnected from my subscription???
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Precedence: bulk
Reply-To: orchid@ganoksin.com

At 04:36 03/07/96 UT, you wrote:

to whom it may concern…
My name is Marc Williams. Some time ago I signed up to receive the on line
forum for jewelry. I had received entries from Orchid for about three weeks,

now i don’t get any E mail from any of the members. Was my subscription
cancelled. If so I would like to know why. If not I would like to know what
is
going on with the forum and why I am not receiving it anymore.
I appreciate you looking into this matter for me, and also appreciate any
help
you can offer to get me back in Orchid. One thing I might add. I often
recieved notices to cancell my subscriptiion. Why were these sent to me and
were they sent to other members or to just myself. If I did something wrong
please let me know.
Thank You very much,
Marc Willams
tdwgold@msn.com

  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com
    

procedures *

DEAR MARC,AND WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

THE SAME HAPPENED WITH ME.

I DON’T KNOW EXACTLY HOW ORCHID WORKS,FOR SO,

PLEASE ORCHID PEOPLE START MAILING AGAIN

RICARDO BRONFEN > BRAZIL

FAX + 55 31 221-0200

E-MAIL VANCOX@UNIX.HORIZONTES.COM.BR

  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com                                
    

procedures *

  •                   http://www.ganoksin.com/                             
    
  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com                                        *
    
  •                   http://www.ganoksin.com/                                     *
    

Tony,

How much are you selling the pink tourmaline for?

Sandra Good
@Good_Gal

Well, it would appear that someone should start a thread or two.I have an
interest in several areas:

Seems to me that the price to quality ratio of Australian opal rough has
taken a real turn for the worse of late. I think it is causing a lot of small
time U.S. dealers to throw in the towel. Many U.S. “hobby” Cutters also seem
to be abandoning opal altogether or are switching to more “predictable”
material for this reason. Anyone have some thoughts on this or perhaps some
inside info?

What is “wholesale” on gems in general these days? I surf the web for gem
info and get flyers by snail mail most of which claim to be “wholesale”. Yet
prices for like items vary greatly!

Ilive within an easy drive of one of California’s premier Tourmaline mines. I
go there to buy rough pink tourmaline. If you don’t know already, this is
the best pink tourmaline on the world, Bubble gum pink, no brownish cast like
that stuff from S.A. My sons and I facet this material (to order if needed),
we cut for brilliance not weight. Anyone interested in purchasing some of
these stones?

Well, there you have three thing to start talking/posting about (I know that
last one is a bit self serving. Sorry if I offended anyone out there).

Tony Ruyter
ruytert@starbase1.caltech.edu


To: orchid@ganoksin.com
From: orchid@ganoksin.com on Wed, Jul 3, 1996 1:36 PM
Subject: Re: Was I disconnected from my subscription???
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Subject: Re: Was I disconnected from my subscription???
Sender: owner-orchid@proteus.imagiware.com
Precedence: bulk
Reply-To: orchid@ganoksin.com

At 04:36 03/07/96 UT, you wrote:

to whom it may concern…
My name is Marc Williams. Some time ago I signed up to receive the on line
forum for jewelry. I had received entries from Orchid for about three weeks,

now i don’t get any E mail from any of the members. Was my subscription
cancelled. If so I would like to know why. If not I would like to know what
is
going on with the forum and why I am not receiving it anymore.
I appreciate you looking into this matter for me, and also appreciate any
help
you can offer to get me back in Orchid. One thing I might add. I often
recieved notices to cancell my subscriptiion. Why were these sent to me and
were they sent to other members or to just myself. If I did something wrong
please let me know.
Thank You very much,
Marc Willams
tdwgold@msn.com

  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com
    

procedures *

DEAR MARC,AND WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

THE SAME HAPPENED WITH ME.

I DON’T KNOW EXACTLY HOW ORCHID WORKS,FOR SO,

   PLEASE ORCHID PEOPLE START MAILING AGAIN

RICARDO BRONFEN > BRAZIL

FAX + 55 31 221-0200

E-MAIL VANCOX@UNIX.HORIZONTES.COM.BR

  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com                                
    

procedures *

  •                   http://www.ganoksin.com/                             
    
  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com                               
    

procedures *

  •                   http://www.ganoksin.com/                            
    

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Life is good.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com                                        *
    
  •                   http://www.ganoksin.com/                                     *
    

Hi Tony,

I’m your original opalholic. I was fortunate to buy opal 10 years ago when
the price was reasonable. I have a number of dealers who keep their eyes
aout for bargains for me, but I am told that the asians, especially thye
Japanese haunt the opal foields and glom on to the premium material before
it really hits the market. As a result opal rough has skyrocketed, and
truly fine rough for hobbyists is exhorbitant.

I have seen some fair Mintabe grey-base & crystal from an alleged Aussie
miner for $250.00/gram and it seemed to me to have a lot of potch.
I bid you Peace.

From: RuyterT ruytert@starbase1.caltech.edu
To: orchid@ganoksin.com
Subject: RE: start some threads…
Date: Thursday, July 04, 1996 1:34 PM

Well, it would appear that someone should start a thread or two.I have
an
interest in several areas:

Seems to me that the price to quality ratio of Australian opal rough has
taken a real turn for the worse of late. I think it is causing a lot of
small
time U.S. dealers to throw in the towel. Many U.S. “hobby” Cutters also
seem
to be abandoning opal altogether or are switching to more “predictable”
material for this reason. Anyone have some thoughts on this or perhaps
some
inside info?

What is “wholesale” on gems in general these days? I surf the web for
gem
info and get flyers by snail mail most of which claim to be “wholesale”.
Yet
prices for like items vary greatly!

Ilive within an easy drive of one of California’s premier Tourmaline
mines. I
go there to buy rough pink tourmaline. If you don’t know already, this
is
the best pink tourmaline on the world, Bubble gum pink, no brownish cast
like
that stuff from S.A. My sons and I facet this material (to order if
needed),
we cut for brilliance not weight. Anyone interested in purchasing some
of
these stones?

Well, there you have three thing to start talking/posting about (I know
that
last one is a bit self serving. Sorry if I offended anyone out there).

Tony Ruyter
ruytert@starbase1.caltech.edu

To: orchid@ganoksin.com
From: orchid@ganoksin.com on Wed, Jul 3, 1996 1:36 PM
Subject: Re: Was I disconnected from my subscription???
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To: orchid@ganoksin.com
Subject: Re: Was I disconnected from my subscription???
Sender: owner-orchid@proteus.imagiware.com
Precedence: bulk
Reply-To: orchid@ganoksin.com

At 04:36 03/07/96 UT, you wrote:

to whom it may concern…
My name is Marc Williams. Some time ago I signed up to receive the on
line
forum for jewelry. I had received entries from Orchid for about three
weeks,

now i don’t get any E mail from any of the members. Was my subscription

cancelled. If so I would like to know why. If not I would like to know
what
is
going on with the forum and why I am not receiving it anymore.
I appreciate you looking into this matter for me, and also appreciate
any
help
you can offer to get me back in Orchid. One thing I might add. I often
recieved notices to cancell my subscriptiion. Why were these sent to me
and
were they sent to other members or to just myself. If I did something
wrong
please let me know.
Thank You very much,
Marc Willams
tdwgold@msn.com

  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com
    

procedures *

DEAR MARC,AND WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

THE SAME HAPPENED WITH ME.

I DON’T KNOW EXACTLY HOW ORCHID WORKS,FOR SO,

    PLEASE ORCHID PEOPLE START MAILING AGAIN

RICARDO BRONFEN > BRAZIL

FAX + 55 31 221-0200

E-MAIL VANCOX@UNIX.HORIZONTES.COM.BR

  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com                           
    

procedures *

  •                   http://www.ganoksin.com/                        
    
  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com                           
    

procedures *

  •                   http://www.ganoksin.com/                        
    
  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com                                        *
    
  •                   http://www.ganoksin.com/                                     *
    

Sandra,

I will reply to you directly, today, in detail on pricing (sorry folks, don’t
want to get locked into prices that someone will throw back at me 6 Months
from now). Overall, since we are a cottage business I can charge a healthy
percentage less per ct. than you would pay for the typical imported
tourmaline. The stones are cut on precision equipment, none of that jamb peg
stuff here. Our price varies from time to time depending on what the mine
owner has available and how much he wants for it. Small pieces of rough tend
to cost less per gram than large ones. Hence, the larger the finished stone
the more likely that the per ct. cost will be more. Of course, this can be
said of most all gems.

Tony Ruyter
@RuyterTTo: orchid@ganoksin.com
From: orchid@ganoksin.com on Thu, Jul 4, 1996 12:59 PM
Subject: RE: start some threads…
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To: orchid@ganoksin.com
From: Freya@cpcnet.com (Good Gal)
Subject: RE: start some threads…
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Reply-To: orchid@ganoksin.com

Tony,

How much are you selling the pink tourmaline for?

Sandra Good
Freya@cpcnet.com

Well, it would appear that someone should start a thread or two.I have an
interest in several areas:

Seems to me that the price to quality ratio of Australian opal rough has
taken a real turn for the worse of late. I think it is causing a lot of
small
time U.S. dealers to throw in the towel. Many U.S. “hobby” Cutters also seem
to be abandoning opal altogether or are switching to more “predictable”
material for this reason. Anyone have some thoughts on this or perhaps some
inside info?

What is “wholesale” on gems in general these days? I surf the web for gem
info and get flyers by snail mail most of which claim to be “wholesale”. Yet
prices for like items vary greatly!

Ilive within an easy drive of one of California’s premier Tourmaline mines.
I
go there to buy rough pink tourmaline. If you don’t know already, this is
the best pink tourmaline on the world, Bubble gum pink, no brownish cast
like
that stuff from S.A. My sons and I facet this material (to order if
needed),
we cut for brilliance not weight. Anyone interested in purchasing some of
these stones?

Well, there you have three thing to start talking/posting about (I know that
last one is a bit self serving. Sorry if I offended anyone out there).

Tony Ruyter
@RuyterT


To: orchid@ganoksin.com
From: orchid@ganoksin.com on Wed, Jul 3, 1996 1:36 PM
Subject: Re: Was I disconnected from my subscription???
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To: orchid@ganoksin.com
Subject: Re: Was I disconnected from my subscription???
Sender: owner-orchid@proteus.imagiware.com
Precedence: bulk
Reply-To: orchid@ganoksin.com

At 04:36 03/07/96 UT, you wrote:

to whom it may concern…
My name is Marc Williams. Some time ago I signed up to receive the on line

forum for jewelry. I had received entries from Orchid for about three
weeks,

now i don’t get any E mail from any of the members. Was my subscription
cancelled. If so I would like to know why. If not I would like to know what
is
going on with the forum and why I am not receiving it anymore.
I appreciate you looking into this matter for me, and also appreciate any
help
you can offer to get me back in Orchid. One thing I might add. I often
recieved notices to cancell my subscriptiion. Why were these sent to me and

were they sent to other members or to just myself. If I did something wrong

please let me know.
Thank You very much,
Marc Willams
tdwgold@msn.com

  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com
    

procedures *

DEAR MARC,AND WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

THE SAME HAPPENED WITH ME.

I DON’T KNOW EXACTLY HOW ORCHID WORKS,FOR SO,

   PLEASE ORCHID PEOPLE START MAILING AGAIN

RICARDO BRONFEN > BRAZIL

FAX + 55 31 221-0200

E-MAIL VANCOX@UNIX.HORIZONTES.COM.BR

  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com                               
    

procedures *

  •                   http://www.ganoksin.com/                            
    
  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com                               
    

procedures *

  •                   http://www.ganoksin.com/                            
    

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Life is good.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com                                
    

procedures *

  •                   http://www.ganoksin.com/                             
    
  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com                                        *
    
  •                   http://www.ganoksin.com/                                     *
    

Seems to me that the price to quality ratio of Australian opal rough has

taken a real turn for the worse of late. I think it is causing a lot of small
time U.S. dealers to throw in the towel. Many U.S. “hobby” Cutters also seem
to be abandoning opal altogether or are switching to more “predictable”
material for this reason. Anyone have some thoughts on this or perhaps some
inside info?

Ilive within an easy drive of one of California’s premier Tourmaline mines. I
go there to buy rough pink tourmaline. If you don’t know already, this is
the best pink tourmaline on the world, Bubble gum pink, no brownish cast like
that stuff from S.A. My sons and I facet this material (to order if needed),
we cut for brilliance not weight. Anyone interested in purchasing some of
these stones?

I would like to hear more about the Opal rough situation,as my knowledge is
limited and hearing similar complaints form clients,I plan to go to the
State of Piaui soon to look into Brazillian Opal.
Pala Tourmaline is wonderful,but I would say you are not familiar with the
hot Pinks and Reds out of the Cruzeiro mine in Brazil,and same for the
material coming out of Arasuai.Quite better than Pala,and a lot more
reasonably priced.
The brownsih Pinks you are refering to,I assume are the newer material from
Morro Redondo.This rough is easily treatable to fine pure Pinks and Reds
with a combination of heat treatments and irradiation.Would you like me to
publish
here the current mining productions and the formula’s for treatment of this
fine material/
Mark Liccini

                                           LICCINI
                                Gemstone Rough Dealers since 1970
                                  E-Mail: @Mark_Liccini
                                  Voice Mail/Fax: 201-795-1115
                                  Mail             Mail Drop
                              224 7th St#2B    72 Van Reipen Ave#166
                        Jersey City,N.J.07302  Jersey City,N.J.07306
  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com                                        *
    
  •                   http://www.ganoksin.com/                                     *
    

Hi Mark,

Ithought you would be in Brazil about now. I’m glad to hear that you plan to
go to the source, Piaui, to look into the opal situation there. As I wrote to
you before, the Ausies have jacked the price of rough so high that the time
is right for someone to come into the US market to supply small time & hobby
cutters with decent material at a fair price. Time is of the essence though
because people are finding other things to do, the customer base may be
erroding rapidly.

Interesting comments, you made, about the tourmaline. I wish some of that
Brazilian tourmaline that you say is good as or better than Pala CA
tourmaline would make it to the West coast shows. I go to a lot of these and
most of the Brazilian Tourmaline (cut and rough) shown at these events is
pretty awful in comparison to the material from Pala CA. As you know the Pala
mines are in a pretty low production mode making this a niche player area.
The fact that the Pala tourmaline does not need to be cooked and/or nuked to
achieve it’s unique pink tone(s) makes it all the more desirable, to me
anyway. BTW, how stable is the color of that Brazilian baked/nuked
Tourmaline? I ask, because other stones, ie:topaz, that have been heat and
radiation treated fade or change if exposed to sunlight too long (Count
Dracula stones!).

Be sure to let us know what you find out about the Brazilian opal.

Best regards,
Tony Ruyter
@RuyterTTo: orchid@ganoksin.com
From: orchid@ganoksin.com on Fri, Jul 5, 1996 7:31 AM
Subject: RE: start some threads…
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Date: Fri, 05 Jul 1996 09:41:07 -0400
To: orchid@ganoksin.com
From: Mark Liccini mklic@cnct.com
Subject: RE: start some threads…
Sender: owner-orchid@proteus.imagiware.com
Precedence: bulk
Reply-To: orchid@ganoksin.com

Seems to me that the price to quality ratio of Australian opal rough has

taken a real turn for the worse of late. I think it is causing a lot of
small
time U.S. dealers to throw in the towel. Many U.S. “hobby” Cutters also seem
to be abandoning opal altogether or are switching to more “predictable”
material for this reason. Anyone have some thoughts on this or perhaps some
inside info?

Ilive within an easy drive of one of California’s premier Tourmaline mines.
I
go there to buy rough pink tourmaline. If you don’t know already, this is
the best pink tourmaline on the world, Bubble gum pink, no brownish cast
like
that stuff from S.A. My sons and I facet this material (to order if
needed),
we cut for brilliance not weight. Anyone interested in purchasing some of
these stones?

I would like to hear more about the Opal rough situation,as my knowledge is
limited and hearing similar complaints form clients,I plan to go to the
State of Piaui soon to look into Brazillian Opal.
Pala Tourmaline is wonderful,but I would say you are not familiar with the

hot Pinks and Reds out of the Cruzeiro mine in Brazil,and same for the
material coming out of Arasuai.Quite better than Pala,and a lot more
reasonably priced.
The brownsih Pinks you are refering to,I assume are the newer material from
Morro Redondo.This rough is easily treatable to fine pure Pinks and Reds
with a combination of heat treatments and irradiation.Would you like me to
publish
here the current mining productions and the formula’s for treatment of this
fine material/
Mark Liccini

                                           LICCINI
                                Gemstone Rough Dealers since 1970
                                  E-Mail: mklic@cnct.com
                                  Voice Mail/Fax: 201-795-1115
                                  Mail             Mail Drop
                              224 7th St#2B    72 Van Reipen Ave#166
                        Jersey City,N.J.07302  Jersey City,N.J.07306
  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com                                
    

procedures *

  •                   http://www.ganoksin.com/                             
    
  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com                                        *
    
  •                   http://www.ganoksin.com/                                     *
    

HIya all!!

I have a thread for discussion. Currently I am working on a project with
14k gold fill and Sterling silver. I am looking for the best way to solder
the gold fill onto the silver. Can Anyone help?

Harry Butterfield
HP Trading Company

Well, it would appear that someone should start a thread or two.I have an
interest in several areas:

Seems to me that the price to quality ratio of Australian opal rough has
taken a real turn for the worse of late. I think it is causing a lot of small
time U.S. dealers to throw in the towel. Many U.S. “hobby” Cutters also seem
to be abandoning opal altogether or are switching to more “predictable”
material for this reason. Anyone have some thoughts on this or perhaps some
inside info?

What is “wholesale” on gems in general these days? I surf the web for gem
info and get flyers by snail mail most of which claim to be “wholesale”. Yet
prices for like items vary greatly!

Ilive within an easy drive of one of California’s premier Tourmaline mines. I
go there to buy rough pink tourmaline. If you don’t know already, this is
the best pink tourmaline on the world, Bubble gum pink, no brownish cast like
that stuff from S.A. My sons and I facet this material (to order if needed),
we cut for brilliance not weight. Anyone interested in purchasing some of
these stones?

Well, there you have three thing to start talking/posting about (I know that
last one is a bit self serving. Sorry if I offended anyone out there).

Tony Ruyter
ruytert@starbase1.caltech.edu


To: orchid@ganoksin.com
From: orchid@ganoksin.com on Wed, Jul 3, 1996 1:36 PM
Subject: Re: Was I disconnected from my subscription???
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Precedence: bulk
Reply-To: orchid@ganoksin.com

At 04:36 03/07/96 UT, you wrote:

to whom it may concern…
My name is Marc Williams. Some time ago I signed up to receive the on line
forum for jewelry. I had received entries from Orchid for about three weeks,

now i don’t get any E mail from any of the members. Was my subscription
cancelled. If so I would like to know why. If not I would like to know what
is
going on with the forum and why I am not receiving it anymore.
I appreciate you looking into this matter for me, and also appreciate any
help
you can offer to get me back in Orchid. One thing I might add. I often
recieved notices to cancell my subscriptiion. Why were these sent to me and
were they sent to other members or to just myself. If I did something wrong
please let me know.
Thank You very much,
Marc Willams
tdwgold@msn.com

  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com
    

procedures *

DEAR MARC,AND WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

THE SAME HAPPENED WITH ME.

I DON’T KNOW EXACTLY HOW ORCHID WORKS,FOR SO,

   PLEASE ORCHID PEOPLE START MAILING AGAIN

RICARDO BRONFEN > BRAZIL

FAX + 55 31 221-0200

E-MAIL VANCOX@UNIX.HORIZONTES.COM.BR

  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com                                
    

procedures *

  •                   http://www.ganoksin.com/                             
    
  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com
    

procedures *

  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com                                        *
    
  •                   http://www.ganoksin.com/                                     *
    

I have a thread for discussion. Currently I am working on a project with
14k gold fill and Sterling silver. I am looking for the best way to solder
the gold fill onto the silver. Can Anyone help?

Harry Butterfield
HP Trading Company

Hi Harry, what sizes, shapes and surface areas have to be joined? Find out
if you using soldered gold fill material or diffusion bonded clad material.
Actually in my expereince it doesn’t really seem to matter much if it is
soldered, just that that might be an issue for certain things. Diffusion
bonded is common for gold fill material.
I’ve always just soldered it like normal.

Charles

  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com                                        *
    
  •                   http://www.ganoksin.com/                                     *
    

RuyterT wrote:

Hi Mark,

Ithought you would be in Brazil about now. I’m glad to hear that you plan to
go to the source, Piaui, to look into the opal situation there. As I wrote to
you before, the Ausies have jacked the price of rough so high that the time
is right for someone to come into the US market to supply small time & hobby
cutters with decent material at a fair price. Time is of the essence though
because people are finding other things to do, the customer base may be
erroding rapidly.

Interesting comments, you made, about the tourmaline. I wish some of that
Brazilian tourmaline that you say is good as or better than Pala CA
tourmaline would make it to the West coast shows. I go to a lot of these and
most of the Brazilian Tourmaline (cut and rough) shown at these events is
pretty awful in comparison to the material from Pala CA. As you know the Pala
mines are in a pretty low production mode making this a niche player area.
The fact that the Pala tourmaline does not need to be cooked and/or nuked to
achieve it’s unique pink tone(s) makes it all the more desirable, to me
anyway. BTW, how stable is the color of that Brazilian baked/nuked
Tourmaline? I ask, because other stones, ie:topaz, that have been heat and
radiation treated fade or change if exposed to sunlight too long (Count
Dracula stones!).

Be sure to let us know what you find out about the Brazilian opal.

Best regards,
Tony Ruyter
ruytert@starbase1.caltech.edu


To: orchid@ganoksin.com
From: orchid@ganoksin.com on Fri, Jul 5, 1996 7:31 AM
Subject: RE: start some threads…
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Date: Fri, 05 Jul 1996 09:41:07 -0400
To: orchid@ganoksin.com
From: Mark Liccini mklic@cnct.com
Subject: RE: start some threads…
Sender: owner-orchid@proteus.imagiware.com
Precedence: bulk
Reply-To: orchid@ganoksin.com

Seems to me that the price to quality ratio of Australian opal rough has

taken a real turn for the worse of late. I think it is causing a lot of
small
time U.S. dealers to throw in the towel. Many U.S. “hobby” Cutters also seem
to be abandoning opal altogether or are switching to more “predictable”
material for this reason. Anyone have some thoughts on this or perhaps some
inside info?

Ilive within an easy drive of one of California’s premier Tourmaline mines.
I
go there to buy rough pink tourmaline. If you don’t know already, this is
the best pink tourmaline on the world, Bubble gum pink, no brownish cast
like
that stuff from S.A. My sons and I facet this material (to order if
needed),
we cut for brilliance not weight. Anyone interested in purchasing some of
these stones?

I would like to hear more about the Opal rough situation,as my knowledge is
limited and hearing similar complaints form clients,I plan to go to the
State of Piaui soon to look into Brazillian Opal.
Pala Tourmaline is wonderful,but I would say you are not familiar with the

hot Pinks and Reds out of the Cruzeiro mine in Brazil,and same for the
material coming out of Arasuai.Quite better than Pala,and a lot more
reasonably priced.
The brownsih Pinks you are refering to,I assume are the newer material from
Morro Redondo.This rough is easily treatable to fine pure Pinks and Reds
with a combination of heat treatments and irradiation.Would you like me to
publish
here the current mining productions and the formula’s for treatment of this
fine material/
Mark Liccini

                                               LICCINI
                                    Gemstone Rough Dealers since 1970
                                      E-Mail: mklic@cnct.com
                                      Voice Mail/Fax: 201-795-1115
                                      Mail             Mail Drop
                                  224 7th St#2B    72 Van Reipen Ave#166
                            Jersey City,N.J.07302  Jersey City,N.J.07306
  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com
    

procedures *

  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com                                        *
    
  •                   http://www.ganoksin.com/                                     *
    

Hi
If yer topaz fades you are using the wrong supplier.
I have seen blue topaz sit in a sunny window in a case w/ halogen lights
for literially years and not fade.

  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com                                        *
    
  •                   http://www.ganoksin.com/                                     *
    

Interesting comments, you made, about the tourmaline. I wish some of that
Brazilian tourmaline that you say is good as or better than Pala CA
tourmaline would make it to the West coast shows. I go to a lot of these and
most of the Brazilian Tourmaline (cut and rough) shown at these events is
pretty awful in comparison to the material from Pala CA. As you know the Pala
mines are in a pretty low production mode making this a niche player area.
The fact that the Pala tourmaline does not need to be cooked and/or nuked to
achieve it’s unique pink tone(s) makes it all the more desirable, to me
anyway. BTW, how stable is the color of that Brazilian baked/nuked
Tourmaline? I ask, because other stones, ie:topaz, that have been heat and
radiation treated fade or change if exposed to sunlight too long (Count
Dracula stones!).

Be sure to let us know what you find out about the Brazilian opal.

Best regards,
Tony Ruyter
ruytert@starbase1.caltech.edu

Will post below more the most current info on Morro Redondo Tourmaline.It is
permenant at the final stage of treatment.And Often I hear Lapidaries state they
would never treat a stone,but that’s a cover up for the lack of knowledge or
the
reluctance to try.The Lapidary Arts is exactly that;a treatment of cutting
and polishing the stones.This general resistance to treating is why the
dealers at the shows have litte to no Brazillian material.And actually it is
the job of the Lapidary to treat at the conclusion of the cutting.Not the
rough seller.All stones subjected to heatings need to be as clean as
possible and even the pores
sealed by the “Beilby Layer” in polishing to avoid breakage.
About the Opal,it does’nt get down to the town where I have an office.You
have to go and get it.It will be a real adventure as it is quite remote and
I will have to book in there for a month or so.But I am sure it can be had for
considerably less than Australian goods.I hope to go before summers end.Let
me know what you think about the following analysis.

This is a report on the largest occurance of Tourmaline in the history of
Brazil gem mining;the Morro Redondo Tourmaline of the State of Minas Gerias
Brazil.The material was first discovered in 1992 near the village of Morro
Redondo,in the notheast of Minas Gerias.
The first pocket was found halfway up the side of a mountain.It contained a
modest amount of Gem Blue Tourmaline.Then on the following rise,they found 3
more pockets.One of all Black Tourmaline mostly terminated ends with a
layerlike surface termainations running parrell to the “C” axis.creating a
“Pueblo” effect.
The next contained Morganite crystals up to 2 kilo in size.Very clean Peach
to Bi-color material.It was at this point that a very unique treating process
was discovered that gave inspiration to the later developments in Tourmaline
treatmemnts. This Peach type of material was first heated to White,then
subjected to 450 megarads Colbolt irradiation.It turned to various shades of
Green.Then reheated to a uniform pale Pink.
The final Tourmaline pocket was 10-15 meters square.They began by sinking
holes to a depth of 3 meters.The Tourmaline discovered was a Brownish to Pink
“A” axis,often found complete in Bi-color Blue/Green and Brown/Pink;the “C”
axis being a Red to Pink/Peach. The bulk of the material was extraordinarily
clean and well formed.With the exception of the Blue/Green side of the Bi-color
pieces.This end is almost always lightly included.Where the two colors join
often is observed a light to heavy silk.Many having a Gem Cat’s eye effect.
This pocket(they named it Elba) produced a record 47 tons of Tourmaline
total from February 1992 to March 1996.The first 8 tons of production was
seized by local authorities and auctioned for Taxes to a Govenador Valadares
Firm of Miranda for $60/kg.At mid production they tunneled in from the side
and the entire top above collapsed.All along the sides and bottom of the
pocket were
matrix specimens of Tourmaline,Albite.Lepidolite,and Quartz.
Although sparcely reported in the United States,this Tourmaline dominated
the Gemstone industry in Brazil for almost 4 years.Sales of ton lots of
rejection(heavily included) material were common.There were over 400 miners
at the site at peak.The squares and Gem trading streets of Arasuai,Teflo Otoni
and Gov.Valadares were smothered with small miners selling their weekly
productions.Mine Runs went from a low of $60 initially to $150/kg in first
week of July 1996.Clean needles under 1 gram in size went from as little as
$200 per kilo to $4/gm(July,1996).Larger sizes(up to 100 gram)began at
$10-20/gm and
now are scarce,and almost seller’s prices.Material of all grades,although rising
daily in price,will continue on the market until sometime in August,1996,
attesting to the massive task of sorting out the tonnage produced.
This Tourmaline is preferably cut down the “C” axis,producing Strawberry-Red
and Peach-Pink Stones.Commercially the finished stones are first heated to 600C
to turn to white,then heated further to 680-700C to gain a Pinkish hue.Then the
stones are given 80-100 megarads of Colbolt irradiation to return a fairly
uniform “hot” red color.Adjustments by heating are made to those that treat too
dark on the final stage.
So,goodbye Morro Redondo.This Gemstone rough production now in it’s final
stages is only this year reaching the U.S. Market.And throughout it’s
introduction to present the cut stone prices appear to be stable at around
$35-50/ct for Parcels of calibrated goods in New York.Odd colors and
rejections trading as low as $3/ct.And certainly for several years to come
this discovery will be the Pink Tourmaline of choice due to it’s astonishing
production and
now widespread availability.

                                           LICCINI
                                Gemstone Rough Dealers since 1970
                                  E-Mail: @Mark_Liccini
                                  Voice Mail/Fax: 201-795-1115
                                  Mail             Mail Drop
                              224 7th St#2B    72 Van Reipen Ave#166
                        Jersey City,N.J.07302  Jersey City,N.J.07306
  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com                                        *
    
  •                   http://www.ganoksin.com/                                     *
    

Charles,

Thanx for the reply. The material is soldered 24Ga sheet from Stern Leach.
currently I am sweating it on to 22Ga Sterling using 65 silver solder. I
have also tried using 55 silver solder, but it contains cadmium, I would
like to stay away from it. I tried Paste silder but the floride flux is
just too aggressive and I got grey streaks on the gold fill. Also I am not
big enough to use a belt oven (I wish I was!!!), so I must rely in my
trusty torch.

Question…

What is the safest temp to which I can take the gold fill up to to solder…
i.e. can I use 70 silver solder?

Thanx Mucho!!!

Harry Butterfield
HP Trading Company

I have a thread for discussion. Currently I am working on a project with
14k gold fill and Sterling silver. I am looking for the best way to solder
the gold fill onto the silver. Can Anyone help?

Harry Butterfield
HP Trading Company

Hi Harry, what sizes, shapes and surface areas have to be joined? Find out
if you using soldered gold fill material or diffusion bonded clad material.
Actually in my expereince it doesn’t really seem to matter much if it is
soldered, just that that might be an issue for certain things. Diffusion
bonded is common for gold fill material.
I’ve always just soldered it like normal.

Charles

  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com
    

procedures *

  •                     orchid@ganoksin.com                                        *
    
  •                   http://www.ganoksin.com/                                     *