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Direct Links to popular gemstones and cabochons:
Amazonite
Opals, Boulder
Parrot Wing Understand mm sizes: Quick guide: 1" = 25mm 1/2"=13mm 1/4"=6.5mm Change can help: 1 quarter= 24.2 mm 1 dime= 18mm Both coins: 42mm |
On this page: Specular Hematite Black Garnet Druzy Black Agate Druzy White Quartz Druzy "Wind Cloud" Druzy Speckled Druzy
Next Page: Natural-Color Druzy Previous Page: Dazzling Druzy Pendants
It's no secret that most black drusies on the market today (except for the Black Garnet Druzy shown below) have been processed to change them from white or grey to black. Leave it to lapidarist Greg Genovese to unearth some of the last fine-crystal naturally-black drusies around. These are his cuts, too, so these stones are true treasures. Satin-finish backs. This is everything I was able to obtain.
ZBW335 $150.00
ZBW336 $150.00
ZBW339 $80.00
Garnet is a versatile gemstone. It's hard, durable, and it comes in a
wide range of colors. This is a totally new (and natural) color of garnet druzy
for the Heart of Stone Studio website: It's Andradite, which comes in yellows,
yellow-browns, greens, and black. This Andradite is a deep, dark brown--the
exact color of strong espresso coffee. This material creates its own
interest--Medium-sized, well-formed druzy crystals tumble across the face of a
piece, freely punctuated by shimmery areas where other garnet crystals are laid
down in sheets, creating artistic contrasts of surface texture within the same
stone. These natural variations make this stone much more affordable than other
garnet drusies such as Uvarovite or Black Garnet Druzy. In some lights, Espresso
Drusies can appear almost black, but it's a warm black that is different
from the patent-leather black of regular black garnet druzy. All have flat, grey
matrix backs, and most sport very splashy sparkles.
ZBW312 $22.00
SPECIAL VALUE: HIGHLY TEXTURAL CONTRAST ESPRESSO GARNET DRUZY These pieces are all-natural, and they cost less than the regular Espresso Garnet Drusies shown above because their surface texture is highly variable: In some, chunky garnet crystals give way to neighboring flat crystals, while others intermix crystals of either champagne or lime green. Still others have a bit of the matrix peeking through. Their irregularities and imperfections give them a highly individualized character. Unpolished matrix backs.
ZBW291 $34.00
ZBW292 $32.00
ZBW295 $34.00
ZBW299 $30.00
ZBW302 $30.00
ZBW304 $24.00
ZBW305 $24.00
ZBW309 $22.00 If perfect: $32.00
I must admit that when I came across these stones, I nearly passed out, they
are so gorgeous: Imagine tiny cubes of shiny, jet-black tumbling over
one another, sparkling and flashing like stars in the night, and you might have
a sense of how spectacular these pieces are. Mined in Julimes,
Chihuahua, Mexico,
they are real garnet: all natural color, undyed and untreated. Like any druzy,
these are not meant for high-wear jewelry, although the crystals are real
garnet, a hard stone. All have flat backs, but their sides
are mostly unpolished and need to be covered. Please note: I have deliberately made
some of Doug's photos lighter than reality so that
you can make out the crystal structure. In person, all the crystals are shiny
patent-leather black. Click on photos to
enlarge images. ZBW180 $90.00
ZBW29 $30.00
ZBW21 $36.00
There are two main types of black druzy: Black agate druzy and psilomelane druzy. Psilomelane druzy, with black crystals in a hematite-colored matrix, had been mined in New Mexico until a few years ago, when highly unstable matrix conditions forced the closure of the mine. Now psilomelane druzy is very rare and difficult to obtain. A replacement for psilomelane druzy is black agate druzy. The agate is mined in South America, and emerges from the ground white or clear. It is not technically dyed; rather, it receives an unusual treatment: The finished cabochons are soaked in a warm sugar syrup for 30 days, which turns them a bright orange. After this, they are dipped into sulfuric acid. The resulting chemical reaction gives them a permanent black color. The black druzy cabs on this page are
extremely high quality, perfectly cut and calibrated, with fine, uniform
crystals. They will add a touch of elegance to any piece of jewelry, and would
look spectacular set in gold. They are extremely versatile--the pairs can be
used in studs with other cabs hanging beneath. All have satin-finish
backs unless otherwise noted.
ZBW276 $85.00
ZBW274 $74.00
ZBW271 $70.00
ZBW332 $90.00
Specular Hematite is not a druzy exactly; rather, it's a rare, crystalline form of hematite where the rhombohedral (diagonally-tilting cubic) crystals are layered atop one another throughout the whole stone. Also called Specularite and "Alaska Black Diamond," the effect is stunning: Imagine the silvery grey-black of regular hematite, and make it sparkly. Usually Specular Hematite is fairly crumbly, but in a small proportion of specimens, you can find jewelry-quality material that is densely-packed, forming a sturdy stone. That's what I'm offering here. Be forewarned, however: These pieces are definitely not meant for rings, buckles, or even bracelets. They should be fine for pendants, earrings, and other light-wear jewelry. Some very slight flaking of pinpoints of material might occur when handled extensively, but it won't be noticeable because the underlying material looks just the same as the surface crystals. The beveled sides and backs are smooth and flat. Not to make too much of a pun on these, I'm trying them on "spec," so these are all that I have now.
ZBW79 $34.00
ZN729 $48.00
ZN730 $38.00
ZN731 $44.00
ZN575 $48.00
ZN560 $54.00
ZN572 $32.00
ZN565 $42.00
Jumbo Drilled Druzy Pendants
ZBW261 $120.00
ZBW150 $36.00
ZN536 $30.00
Small White Quartz Druzy Ovals
Small White Quartz Druzy Rounds
Small Wind Cloud Druzy Rounds
ZBW94 $17.99
Call me a romantic, but I named these natural druzy pieces "Wind Cloud" because to me, they are the color of light clouds skimming in front of the sun on a windy day. They are somewhat translucent in that you can perceive a whisper of background color through them, which enables them to look very different against different-colored clothing. Very lovely, and somewhat mysterious.
ZN566 $40.00
Next Page: Natural-Color Druzy Previous Page: Dazzling Druzy Pendants Tips for successful shopping: Designer Gems Remember that your satisfaction is guaranteed! To see what you've ordered, click: |
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