The Arkenstone: GEMSTONE GALLERY

A Joint Venture of Robert Lavinsky: rob@irocks.com
and Brett & Brian Kosnar: Minclassics@aol.com


ORDERS & INFORMATION: Contact Brian Kosnar at: Minclassics@aol.com






COLLECTOR
GEMS PAGE ONE
COLLECTOR
GEMS PAGE TWO
COLLECTOR
GEMS PAGE THREE
CUT & ROUGH
MOUNTED SETS

BACK TO
NEW SPECIMENS

 







RLKG-001  Zircon (multi-stone set) - $1350
Vietnam
13.5 carats (total weight)
Approximately 5.5 mm each
CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE:


Zircons are one of the most diverse gems when it comes to color. Vietnam has only recently made a significant impact on the world gem trade producing some very fine Rubies along with some very fine Zircons. Typically one associates Zircon gems with the color blue, but Zircon occurs in virtually every color of the rainbow. This set features 14 individual eye clean gems of varying hues, all from Vietnam. The colors range from blue to yellow to orange to red, with shades of pink and copper in other stones. No two stones are exactly the same color, and assembling matching sets of stones like this is not an easy task, especially since all the stones have the same style of round cut, so they match perfectly.





RLKG-002  Spessartine - $125 (SOLD)
Amelia County, Virginia
0.86 carats
6.9 x 5.0 mm




Next to the vibrant orange Spessartines from the Ramona area of San Diego County, California, the Virginian Spessartines are some of the most recognized orange Spessartines from the U.S. Rarely does one see facetted gems of this material. This stone has a very nice orange hue (from a high Manganese content) as is often seen in crystals from this area. The stone is very slightly included with an Oval cut.





RLKG-003  Hauyne - $345 (SOLD)
Eifel Mountains, Germany
0.23 carats
4.6 x 3.7 mm




Hauyne is one of the most sought after rare gems on the market today. The material belongs to the Sodalite group, but most species in this group rarely occur in such intense color stones like Hauyne. Obviously, the color is what attracts collectors, and the scarcity of the material makes for incredibly high prices per carat. These stones are often very small, and gems over 1 carat are extremely difficult to obtain. This little gem is a beautiful electric royal blue color stone that is very slightly included with a Brilliant Pear cut on it. Virtually all the facet grade Hauyne in the world comes from the Eifel Mts in Germany where it forms in basic vulcanism rocks. A very rare stone with a tremendously beautiful color worthy of any collection.





RLKG-004  Scheelite - $218
Khapalu, Pakistan
1.83 carats
6.7 x 6.3 mm




Scheelite can be some of the most beautiful among the less common gems. The high refractive index allows for very bright stones with vivid colors. Scheelite is found in many different environments, but one of the lesser known localities is in the high Pakistani Himalayas in the metamorphic contact at Khapalu. This is one of the most vibrant metamorphic Scheelites I’ve seen with a very bright orange color (richer in person than the photos show). The stone is only very very slightly included with a wide Trillion cut.





RLKG-005  Scapolite - $75 (SOLD)
Rangkul, Tajikistan
1.24 carats
7.0 mm



Scapolite is not a species, but is often assigned to gems as it is more recognizable to most collectors. The actual species are Meionite and Marialite, but I do not know which species this stone truly is. Nonetheless, Scapolite is much less common in purple stones, as most gems are either yellow or colorless. Purple Scapolites are often much smaller than their yellow or colorless counterparts, and they are one of the few purple gems out there beyond more commonly known Kunzite (which is rarely purple) and Amethyst. This stone is from a lesser known locality being from Tajikistan, and is one of the larger stones from this country that I’ve seen. The gem is virtually eye clean with a Round Step cut.





RLKG-006  Vanadium Beryl - $125 (SOLD)
Nigeria
1.04 carats
10.4 x 4.1 mm




The color in this stone is really unique. It's somewhere between a light colored Emerald and a darker colored Aquamarine. The stone is a good mix of blue and green, and somewhat reminds me of the color seen in the Copper-bearing Tourmalines from Nigeria. Almost all Beryl contains some kind of a chromaphore that causes the different color (i.e., iron, chromium, manganese etc) but you rarely see Beryls that carry a trace of Vanadium. Honestly, I have only seen a few of these stones over the years, and they're always small, but the color is really pleasing. This stone is virtually eye clean with a Long Oval cut. A great stone for Beryl collectors.





RLKG-007  Rutile - $90 (SOLD)
Brazil
0.77 carats
8.1 x 3.2 mm


Rutile is usually only seen as inclusions in other gems like Quartz, and is rarely found in crystals that are suitable enough to cut stones. Rutile is usually cut as a novelty, and typically faceted stones are extremely dark. With that said, this stone has a very rich deep blood red color! One doesn’t see much faceted Rutile on the market, so this is a unique opportunity to obtain an unusually rare gem to fill a spot in your collection. The stone is only very very slightly included with an elongated Emerald cut, and honestly looks MUCH better in person than the photos because it is so highly magnified. To see gemmy red Rutile is rare enough, let alone cut into a nice little stone like this one.





RLKG-008  Chrome Diopside - $395 (SOLD)
Russia
4.64 carats
11.0 x 9.0 mm




This is a beautiful, and very good sized Chrome Diopside stone with an intense, deep green, natural color. Chrome Diopside is a very rare gem considering that the only suitable and good-sized rough comes from one place in the world (which is under snow for many months out of the year), and the large percentage of the stones on the market are less than 1 carat. This stone is well over 4 carats (!) and is virtually eye clean to boot! It features a very attractive Oval Brilliant cut as well. It is very very difficult to find this material in clean stones and inclusions are accepted by most collectors and dealers, so a stone of this size with such clarity is always appreciated.





RLKG-009  Aragonite - $350
Czech Republic
10.19 carats
24.5 x 8.0 mm




This is another super rare collector's stone. When is the last time that you can remember seeing a faceted stone of Aragonite? This mineral rarely comes in facet grade material, especially in gems this size. It's a superb, very very slightly included well cut gem with an Elongated Octagonal cut. These gems are very difficult to find these days as I’m told that the locality that produced these stones is long defunct.





RLKG-010  Pyroxmangite - $95
Morro da Mina mine, Brazil
0.26 carats
6.5 x 2.6 mm




Pyroxmangite is rarely found in large enough gem sections to facet stones, and despite is simplistic chemistry, it is a relatively rare mineral. The only gem quality Pyroxmangite that I've seen is from the Morro da Mina mine in Brazil. These stones are rarely eye clean, but they are gem quality Pyroxmangite and very well known among rare gem collectors. This particular stone has a few slight inclusions, but the color is a pleasing pink (very similar to smaller Sweet Home Rhodos). The cut on the stone is a Freeform cut. There's truly only one mine where you can get gems of this material in the world. I must say that since the stone is somewhat small it was not the easiest gem to photograph, and it does look very nice in person, even though the photos are a bit fuzzy. Nonetheless, it is a beautiful rare gem to add to a rare stone collection. Keep in mind that not all Pyroxmangite is pink, as there are localities that produce dark brown Pyroxmangite which is not nearly as attractive as this material.





RLKG-011  Siderite - $50 (SOLD)
Brazil
1.02 carats
6.8 x 4.6 mm




Siderite is fairly rare in faceted stones, mostly because it is rather difficult to cut due to the perfect cleavage planes in several directions. Most faceted Siderites aren't larger than 5 carats. Some of the largest, finest, gem quality crystals come from Minas Gerais, Brazil. This stone has a few inclusions inclusions, but it does have a pleasing orangey-golden color and a nice Rectangle cut.





RLKG-012  Aquamarine - $125
Mozambique
1.07 carats
6.8 x 6.8 mm




Beryl is a favorite among collectors and dealers because of the broad spectrum of colors and the ability to obtain large clean gems. Aquamarine is one of the most popular varieties of Beryl on the market today. This particular gem is a beautiful, natural blue color, virtually eye clean Aquamarine stone from the Mozambique gem fields. The stone has a very fine Trillion cut as well. Gem quality Aquamarines are becoming more and more difficult to find, and the price seems to be rising throughout the gem trade. Please note that this gem has not been heated, and the color is very good for a natural Aqua.





RLKG-013  Bixbyite - $50
Utah
0.54 carats
4.3 x 3.9 mm




This is one of the very few facetted Bixbyite stones that I've seen from Utah. This rare oxide is almost never seen in cut stones, and for any rare stone collector I can't imagine that you'd want to pass up this chance to add a very rare cut stone like this to your collection. The stone itself it opaque, but I've never heard of anybody cutting one of these before, so I have to believe it's quite unusual. The stone might be small, but you'd be hard pressed to find another one on the open market. This stone would fit in very well amongst a “black” stone collection. Most rare gem dealers don't even have a piece of this material to cut let alone to offer for sale in the finished product. Enjoy.





RLKG-014  Benitoite - $295 (SOLD)
Dallas mine, San Benito County, California
0.32 carats
4.4 x 3.1 mm




Benitoite is one of the most popular rare gems around due to its vivid blue color and the fact that it was only found at one locality in any significance. The great Benitoite mine is now completely defunct and for all intents and purposes, will never produce these stones again. Benitoite is actually the state gem of California, and the price of fine gems has been on the rise since the demand is still high. This stone has a standard blue color with a slight purple overtone and a Cushion cut. The stone is only very very slightly included, and for the size has good saturation of color.





RLKG-015  Titanite (Sphene) from MEXICO - $145
Baja, Mexico
3.27 carats
8.4 x 7.6 mm




Sometimes this species is referred to as "Sphene" but it is an outdated name and the correct name is Titanite though both are accepted in the gem and mineral world. It seems to me that more often it is referred to as "Sphene" in the gem world and Titanite is used for crystallized specimens. One of the great aspects of faceted Titanite is the high dispersion of the material. This gem has a deep greenish-golden color, and is a good sized stone for this material. The stone has a Square Emerald cut and is only very slightly included.





RLKG-016  Ferro-Axinite - $150 (SOLD)
Bourg d’Oisans, Isere, France
1.50 carats
9.0 x 6.0 mm




From the type locality for Ferro-Axinite, this is one of the finer stones of this material that I have offered. Bourg d’Oisans is one of the most classic of all Alpine localities, and long stood as the standard of excellence when it came to Ferro-Axinite crystals. These crystals are often “gemmy” but not top gem quality. This stone is only very very slightly included with the classic purple cognac hue and an Oval cut. You don’t see these gems on the market very often, mostly because these specimens that produce these gems were collected over 100 years ago. An excellent quality “old time” gem from the French Alps.





RLKG-017  Bastnäsite - $475
Zagi Mountain, Pakistan
1.96 carats
11.0 x 4.6 mm




Within the last few years, the locality at Zagi Mountain in Pakistan has provided collectors with some of the finest quality and amazingly gemmy Bastnäsite specimens. Typically the species forms in relatively thin blades and was never suitable enough for cutting stones. The new find in Pakistan has produced some very thick crystals for the species, many of which are of gem quality. The stones cut from some of these crystals are extremely rare and highly prized by collectors. They often have some sort of inclusions, and completely eye clean gems are very hard to find. This particular stone is a beautiful, golden orange color gem with a Marquise cut. The stone is only very very slightly included, which is quite impressive for a stone this size. This stone would fill a spot in any rare gem collection, and it appears that the locality might be dwindling as less and less Bastnäsite comes out each year.





RLKG-018  Analcime - $95 (SOLD)
Nova Scotia, Canada
0.62 carats
7.7 x 5.7 mm




Analcime is one of the few Zeolites that forms in gemmy enough crystals for faceting. The Bay of Fundy area in Nova Scotia has been known to produce gemmy crystals of Analcime, though not very big. This stone actually looks much better in person, and was a real chore to photograph. Because the photos magnify to gem so much, they make it looks heavily included, and the stone actually faces up quite well with only moderate inclusions. The stone has a Pear cut, and is quite gemmy in areas. One does not often see gem quality Analcime on the market anymore as most localities produce chalky white crystals that rarely show any gem areas whatsoever. This stone would make a nice addition to a rare colorless stone collection, or even a facetted Zeolite suite.





RLKG-019  dichroic Triphylite - $75 (SOLD)
Brazil
0.46 carats
5.0 x 3.5 mm



This stone gets its name from the Greek, words "tria", three, plus "phylon", family, because it was thought to contain three cations (Fe, Li, Mg). There have been crystals of Triphylite found in South Dakota up to 6 feet long ! Most of those crystals are opaque and wouldn't be well suited for cutting gems. Brazil is one of the few places which produces gem quality Triphylite. This stone is only very very slightly included with a Rectangle cut. It has a very strong dichroic appearance as it faces up with a pinkish-copper hue and has a greenish yellow color when viewed lengthwise from the side. It's a really unique stone and a very attractive gem to fill a spot in your collection.





RLKG-020  Tourmaline Cat’s Eye - $195 (SOLD)
Afghanistan
3.21 carats
8.5 x 7.0 mm




Cat's Eye Tourmaline stones are created by orienting the gem perpendicular to the tiny fibrous inclusions inside which in turn reflect the light causing an "eye" to appear. This gem is a very beautiful bluish color cabochon gem with a distinct and sharp "eye" running across the stone. PLEASE NOTE: The "eye" shows up very well when a strong pen light is shone directly at the stone. This is truly one of the gemmiest and cleanest Cat’s Eyes I’ve had in while from Afghanistan.





RLKG-021  Milarite - $95 (SOLD)
Rossing, Namibia
0.24 carats
5.0 x 4.0 mm



Milarite is a relatively rare mineral, and even rarer in gem varieties. There are only a few localities in the world the produce gem quality Milarite, and stones are often small, with inclusions. A one carat Milarite is typically considered large in the gem world. With that said, this stone has one of the more distinctive colors of any gem showing a vibrant greenish-yellow shade. Many Milarite crystals and gems have a very light straw-yellow color, which makes this stone much more desirable. Even though this Oval cut gem does have visible inclusions, this is another stone that is not seen in many rare gem collections.





RLKG-022  Sillimanite - $147
Sri Lanka
1.03 carats
8.6 x 5.0 mm




Sillimanite is sometimes called "Fibrolite" because of the fibrous nature of the material. This is actually pretty rare material, and considering the clarity and color of this particular stone, it's a significant gem. In my experience Sillimanite stones are often very pale in color, almost appearing colorless. Most gems you see on the market are some light shade of blue, green or purple. This stone has a great greenish-yellow color with an "Oval Brilliant" cut and it is only very slightly included.





RLKG-023  Catapleiite - $40 (SOLD)
Mount Saint Hilaire, Canada
0.07 carats
3.8 x 2.0 mm



Catapleiite is one of the great rare gems in the world. The species itself is only found in a few localities world wide, and the ONLY known faceted stones come from Mount Saint Hilaire. Catapleiite gems over 1 carat are essentially nonexistent, so these stones are always small. With that said, I must stress that because this gem is so small, it was very difficult to photograph, though the photos give you the general idea. The stone is slightly included, like virtually every other Catapleiite gem out there, and it has a Freeform cut. It is a great rare gem for any collector of obscure and unique stones.





RLKG-024  Allanite - $75
Brazil
3.47 carats
11.9 x 5.8 mm




Allanite is a member of the Epidote group and is one of the rare cut stones from this group i.e., Epidote, Clinozoisite, Zoisite, etc. Allanite is the only member of this group that contains the rare earth elements Yttrium and Lanthanum. This stone is essentially opaque, with a very very dark brown (virtually black) color and an Elongated Rectangle cut. It's a great rare gem to add to a "black stone" collection, or to fill out one of the spots in the Epidote group in your collection.





RLKG-025  Moldavite - $350
Czech Republic
9.63 carats
18.0 x 13.5 mm




Moldavite is often referred to as the "gem that fell to earth". This material is believed to have formed when a shower of meteorites fell in what is now the Czech Republic within a one hundred mile area around the Vltava River, which was once called the Moldau, and from which Moldavite gets its name. These stones are actually tektites and Moldavite is a one-of-a-kind tektite. There are many theories where Moldavite originated and the inability of science to resolve the issues with one conclusive explanation of the true origins of Moldavite causes it to remain one of the great mysteries of the gem world. Nonetheless, Moldavite isn't often faceted into gems (usually it is left in it's original form or used for carvings - plus the very unusual form of the "rough" stones doesn't make for very good yield when it comes to cutting stones), and this is a VERY good size stone for this material. The stone has an Oval cut and is one of the larger Moldavites I've seen in a long time. There are some very slight bubble inclusions, but it's a unique stone and not often seen in this size on the market.





RLKG-026  Magnesiotaaffeite (formerly Taaffeite) - $700
Ratnapura, Sri Lanka
0.68 carats
5.82 x 4.68 mm




Taaffeite is one of the great rare gems out there. The species was actually identified from faceted stones that were thought to be mauve color Spinels, but show double refraction, which cannot occur in isometric mineral such as Spinel. Taaffeite has recently been split into two species, i.e., Magnesiotaaffeite and Ferrotaaffeite. The more commonly known gem Taaffeites are found at the type locality at Ratnapura in Sri Lanka, and are among the most highly sought after and valuable gems coming out of Asia. Stones are not often found over 1 carat. This stone is a beautiful, very slightly included, pale lavender color stone with a Step Oval cut. These are definitely some of the rarest and most desirable of collector's stones around, and this is a fine example of a great gem Taaffeite.





RLKG-027  Pezzottaite - $850
Sakavalana mine, Madagascar
1.39 carats
8.21 x 5.40 mm



Pezzottaite is one of the great new gem discoveries of the last 20 years. It is a Cesium bearing Beryl species discovered in Madagascar a few years ago, and is only found in two localities in the world. It is definitely one of the most rare and beautiful gems on the market today regardless of the rarity. It is actually one of the great combinations of rarity and beauty that puts it into an elite category of gems. This material was originally thought to be a variety of Beryl, but now stands as its own species. This material has one of the most unique colors in the gem world with a very rich, intense, distinctive pink which truly doesn't resemble any other gem. This is a beautiful stone with a lively rich pink color and an Emerald cut. This gem has obvious inclusions (like most stones over 1 carat), but does have clean gem areas. The supply of Pezzottaite seems to have dwindled to virtually nothing in the past year or so, and the price of the top stones is on the rise. A great rare gem for any collector. This stone was cut by Brett Kosnar.





RLKG-028  Clinohumite - $550
Tajikistan
3.00 carats
9.55 x 7.85 mm




Clinohumite is a relatively uncommon silicate that RARELY forms gemmy enough crystals with good color for faceting. Recently there was a find of some of the most spectacular Clinohumite crystals in the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan. These crystals were of a vivid color and excellent gem clarity. Many of crystals were cut into stones and set a new standard for the species as a cut gem. This particular stone is a stunning, bright orange color gem that is only slightly included and has an Oval Brilliant cut. This material is extremely difficult to find now as the locality seems to be exhausted and the best stones are long gone.





RLKG-029  Calcite - $50
Brazil
2.67 carats
11.14 mm x 7.09 mm




Though Calcite is the most abundant carbonate in the earth's crust, and is known to every collector in a variety of colors and forms, it is not a very common gem because the material has perfect cleavage plane running in 3 directions, so only very skilled faceters can create well cut gems. This particular stone is a nice light yellow color, very slightly included gem with an Emerald cut. Due to the birefringence of Calcite, the pictures make the stone look a bit fuzzy, but it looks better in person.





RLKG-030  Apatite (Neon) - $132 (SOLD)
Bahia, Brazil
1.32 carats
8.23 x 6.45 mm




This is one of the most phenomenal colors in the gem world. It is very difficult to photograph as it has a very bright electric blue color. It is a very good size stone, considering that the majority of stones I've seen from Bahia are well under 1 carat, and the fact that this stone is over 1 carat makes it very significant. These gems are not from Minas Gerais, but further north in Bahia. In my opinion, these are the BEST blue color Apatite gems that I have seen from anywhere in the world. Please note that this stone has been heat treated to enhance the color. This "sparkler" is one of the most attractive and rare colors for Apatite extant. I would like to point out that the color in person does not look exactly like the pictures, but it’s pretty close. This stone is slightly included with an Oval Brilliant cut.





RLKG-049  Sphalerite - $1025
Mogilata Mine, Rhodope Mts, Bulgaria
4.63 carats
8.90 mm



Sphalerites come in a wide variety of colors, but they are the most difficult to obtain in green gems. The Mogilata mine is one of the few mines in the world that is still producing good green gem quality Sphalerite. The stones are highly prized by collectors and dealers for having some of the finest green hue of any Sphalerite in the world. I’m told by my European friends that the top green Bulgarian gems sell for $400 per carat in Europe. They are becoming increasingly difficult to find these days and the best rough is already spoken for and the stones are presold before they’re even cut. This stone has superb green color for this mine, with only slight inclusions, and a lovely Eye of God cut. The stone was cut by Brett Kosnar, and is one of the best green Sphalerites we’ve had for sale from this locality.





RLKG-037  Hessonite Garnet - $1068
Tanzania
10.68 carats
13.00 mm



Hessonite Garnets are some of the most vivid and beautiful gems in the Garnet family. These stones are beloved for their great color and large size stones. Garnets are generally very difficult to find in stones over 4 or 5 carats because the material simply does not often form large, gemmy sections that produce big stones. This gem is really impressive with a rich red color (with a slight orange overtone) and an attractive Flower Round Brilliant cut, but the greatest aspect of this stone is the sheer size! It is very difficult to find a gem of this quality with this color over 10 carats. They are truly few and far between in this size range. The stone is virtually eye clean and the color amazingly very rich. A great opportunity for a Garnet to collector to add a significant gem to their collection.





RLKG-048  Demantoid Garnet - $1300 (SOLD)
Telyanskai River, Urals Region, Russia
1.30 carats
7.00 mm



Demantoids are among the most highly prized and valuable of all the gem Garnet varieties. This material has the high refractive index of any Garnet, and the top green gems are among the most beautiful in the world. Good gem Demantoid rough is only found at a few world wide localities, but the classic Russian material is still the standard of excellence for color and quality. A good Russian Demantoid is characterized by the classic, golden “horsetail” inclusions of Byssolite in the stones, and these inclusions typically do not lower the value of a gem. Virtually all Russian Demantoids have these inclusions, and they are key to identifying whether or not a stone is truly from Russia or another locality. This gem is a beautiful, well cut, rich green color Trillion cut stone with a few classic fibrous Byssolite inclusions. The stone is eye clean save the Byssolite, and to find a stone over 1 carat is not very common.





RLKG-051  Hauyne (Huge stone !) - $1780
Eifel Mountains, Germany
0.89 carats
7.9 x 6.0 mm



You RARELY seen Hauyne gems this size ! Hauyne is one of the most sought after rare gems on the market today. The material belongs to the Sodalite group, but most species in this group rarely occur in such intense color stones like Hauyne. Obviously, the color is what attracts collectors, and the scarcity of the material makes for incredibly high prices per carat. These stones are often very small, and gems over 1 carat are extremely difficult to obtain, and considering that this close is approaching a carat is an incredible attribute. This gem is a TOP electric royal blue color (like the finest Kashmir Sapphire) stone that is very slightly included with a Brilliant Pear cut on it. You can easily forgive the few inclusions in this gem because stones this size are next to impossible to find these days. Virtually all the facet grade Hauyne in the world comes from the Eifel Mts in Germany where it forms in basic vulcanism rocks. This is a superb stone because it meets the criteria as being the ultimate combination of rarity and beauty in the gem world.





RLKG-052  Ametrine - $900
Anahi, Bolivia
18.13 carats
15.92 mm



This is a very unique variety of Quartz, and this stone is from the finest occurrence in the world. Ametrine is a naturally occurring purple and yellow bi-color variety that is formed by a unique twin law ("Brazil Law Twinning") where two separate individually colored crystals are intergrown to form an alternating "radiation" pattern of purple and yellow triangles when viewed down the c axis. The two colors are oriented to cut the bicolor gemstones, This gem is a unique, one-of-a-kind, superb quality, well cut, 20/80 purple/yellow bicolor, virtually eye clean Quantum Square Burst cut gemstone. This is a truly beautiful stone and when Ametrine is well cut, it looks amazing. It has come to my attention that the mine is no longer in production of this material and the market has quickly "dried up". Don't miss this opportunity to own a unique, colorful, large, naturally occurring gemstone.








COLLECTOR
GEMS PAGE ONE
COLLECTOR
GEMS PAGE TWO
COLLECTOR
GEMS PAGE THREE
CUT & ROUGH
MOUNTED SETS

BACK TO
NEW SPECIMENS







Rob Lavinsky, rob@irocks.com

ALL PICTURES, TEXT, DESIGN © THE ARKENSTONE 1996-2008