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Uparatnas: Alternative Gems
In addition to the
nine main, astrological, Jyotish gemstones, Vedic gemology uses alternative
gems as well (in Sanskrit uparatnas),
especially to substitute those main gems that are very costly in two
or three carats sizes ( namely diamonds and
rubies). It is found, however, that
an alternative gem has a
milder, astrological effect than the correspondent main gem.
See The Nine
Jyotish Gems page to know more about the main and
alternative gems used in Jyotish gemology.
Important:
Important:
The following pictures are highly magnified
(30X)
and do not show the gems' real
size. Color and
brilliance
can greatly vary from computer to computer, depending
on your monitor's settings.
Color will also, naturally, vary from sunlight to indoor, incandescent light. Dark and lighter
areas are effects from the digital camera. See description for accuracy
on clarity grade, color and exact dimensions in mm.
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(click thumbnail for detailed image)
One-of-a-kind, 14KY
gold, damburite and tsavorites, Byzantine cross talisman. No
reserve. Exquisite!
$600/cross |
An unique and compelling jewel, inspired by a Byzantine design,
this 14K yellow gold cross mounts a center, untreated damburite,
weighting 4.03 ct., top white, colorless, perfectly executed,
round, flower cut, 10mm in diameter, flawless gem, IF-VVS type2
from the Charcas region, Mexico. There are 8 tsavorite garnets
on the arms of the cross, top, emerald green, clean and bright,
2.2-2.3mm rounds. The large ribbed bail can accommodate any size
chain. The stone touches the skin, so it can be used for
astrological use. We guarantee this one so much nicer and
mystically propitious in real life. No reserve...Only one! |
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Holy Buddha, garnet
carving! Excellent details....unique!
$170/piece
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Holy Buddha,
red garnet carving, 8.25 ct., deep orange-red color,
measuring 11.5x24.2mm, flawless piece from East Africa. Carved in Thailand. The
details of
the Buddha figure are gorgeous. Finely carved. Gorgeous piece for a holy
pendant. Our suggestion is to frame it with a
row of accents such as bright sapphire melees, surrounding the piece.
Or set it alone, in a simple, bezel, gold frame, as an inexpensive, yet
auspicious, "Sun" talisman. |
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Blue
sapphire alternative! Exceptional, magical,
untreated, Burmese, natural blue spinel.
No reserve.
$500/gem
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This
is an exceptional, very rare,
untreated, Burmese blue spinel, 2.70 ct., beautiful,
deep, royal blue color, excellent oval step cut, measures
9.2x7.2x5.6mm, eye flawless, VVS type1 from
the famed Mogok tract, Upper Burma. Spinels come in a wide
range of colors (they are never treated!) and they are very brilliant
and durable gems (the next in hardness after sapphire and diamond).
Superb stone here! Very low price. Looks like a fine blue sapphire at fraction
of the cost! |
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Diamond alternative.
Round "flower" cut, flawless, untreated Mexican damburite. Classically mystical!
$65/ct
$245/gem |
A pure, untreated
damburite in the classical round shape. This beauty weights 3.78 ct.,
top white, colorless crystal, comparable to a D color diamond,
perfectly executed, round, flower cut, measuring 9.53mm in diameter by
7.18mm deep, flawless gem, IF-VVS from the Charcas region, Mexico. All
of our damburites are flawless, with finest cutting and blasting
brilliance. Do not settle for lower qualities. Guaranteed to amaze you
forever! |
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Holy Buddha, garnet
carving! Unique!
$140 / piece
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Holy Buddha,
red garnet carving, 11.67 ct. deep orange-red color,
measuring 13.2x17.7mm, flawless piece from East Africa. Carved in Thailand! Gorgeous
piece for a holy pendant. Our suggestion is to frame it with a row of accents such as
bright sapphire melees, surrounding the piece!
Or set it alone,
in a simple, bezel, gold frame, as an inexpensive, yet auspicious,
"Sun" talisman. |
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Emerald alternative. One-of-a-kind,
very rare 100+ ct., "emerald green", natural, Afghani
fluorite. A stunner!
$340/gem |
This a very rare find in
terms of size and clarity. This superb fluorite weights an impressive
102 ct., medium, intense, emerald green color, excellent, pear,
mixed cut with Portuguese pavilion, measuring 41.5x25.5x17.4mm, eye
clean, VS type3 from Afghanistan. A one-of-a-kind gem that has the
color of a fine emerald, with impressive size and an overall
magnificent eye appeal, this beauty will stand out in any gem
collection or will make a killer pendant for the right "femme fatale". Price is low! |
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Diamond alternative.
Uniquely cut, flawless, untreated Mexican damburite. A real mystical gem!
$75/ct
$381/gem |
A very rare and
uniquely cut natural damburite, weighting 5.09 ct., top white,
colorless, comparable to a D color diamond, perfectly executed,
rectangular cushion, with concave pavilion (newly developed gem
design), measures 12.91x10.13x6.34mm, flawless gem, IF-VVS type2 from
the Charcas region, Mexico. We have
been lucky to get few more pieces in flawless clarity, but the future
will be very uncertain. This one was cut in a gorgeous cushion ,
concave cut, which shows a very interesting and unique light return
pattern. Truly a mystical gem. Damburite is never treated. |
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Blue sapphire
alternative. Flawless, unheated, Ceylon blue spinel. Great
stone....low price!
$244/ct
$575/gem |
Bad picture of this
magnificent, Ceylon blue spinel. Weighting 2.35 ct., deep blue color,
perfectly executed, round, modified, diamond cut, measuring 8.7mm
x4.68mm deep, flawless gem, VVS type1 from Sri Lanka. We saw many spinels during our recent
Sri Lankan trip, but or too graysh or too greenish or
too dark or badly cut, finding the right gem was not easy. This is the finest
example you can get anywhere in a 2 ct. size. Simply perfect color,
top clarity, great color and the ultimate round shape. Only one....and
no reserve! |
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Emerald alternative.
Captivating, well cut, great size, Burmese
peridot. Real NICE!
$90/ct
$365/gem |
Such a perfect cut.
Awesome scintillation. See it in person to appreciate it. A
hard-to-get Burmese peridot, weighting 4.05 ct., medium,
intense, yellowish green, perfectly executed, oval, mixed cut, measures
10.37x9.12x6.5mm, eye flawless, VVS type2 from
the Pyaung
Gaung mine,
Upper Burma. A shimmering, gemmy Burmese peridot with top cutting and
clarity. Burma is also famous for producing magnificent peridots, even
in large sizes up to 100 or more carats. This one is a more
approachable size, having a great eye appeal. Will mount splendid! |
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Emerald alternative.
Fabulous green tourmaline. Flawless, top cutting, great size!
~Sold!~
Thanks D.
$100/ct
$333/gem |
WOW,
incredibly brilliant, untreated green tourmaline! Truly a perfect gem!
Weighting 3.33 ct., medium, "neon"
green, perfectly executed, round, "flower" cut,
measuring 9.2x6.6mm, flawless, IF, from Nigeria, West Africa. The
color in real life is truly very beautiful, and together with a
blasting
scintillation and perfect clarity, make
this gem a top quality, untreated tourmaline. No delays with this one!
This will make the ultimate, spectacular Mercury ring at a very low
price! |
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Diamond alternative.
Pure & crystalline, flawless damburite. Superbly sparkling!
$70/ct
$302/gem |
A real tantalizing
damburite, 4.32 ct., top, colorless, comparable to a D color diamond,
perfectly executed, round, "flower" cut, measuring 10.5mm in diameter
by 7mm deep, flawless gem, IF from the Charcas region, Mexico. For the
past 2 years, no gem quality rough has came out from the mines in this
area, and the only flawless pieces remaining are old stocks. Own it
because it has it all. A GORGEOUS GEM. Damburite is never treated. |
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Yellow sapphire
alternative. Very rare, unheated, Brazilian yellow beryl.
Very rare...alluring gem!
$100/ct
$398/gem |
A rare, not treated
whatsoever, yellow beryl, weighting 3.98 ct., light, pure,
yellow color (without the greenish overtones found in most stones!),
excellent, oval, fancy, mixed cut, measuring 13.27x8.94x5.86mm, eye
flawless, VVS type1 from Ouro Preto, Brazil. Usually the strong golden
colors of the beryl variety are all irradiated. The color in this
instance is natural, not treated in any way, making it a great gem to
propitiate Jupiter. Great size, flawless gem, great price! AWESOME! |
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Emerald alternative.
Simply gorgeous, big size, Burmese peridot.
$95/ct
$454/gem |
Big
size, good color and very well cut, Burmese peridot, 4.78 ct., medium,
intense yellowish green, excellent, rectangular cushion, step cut,
measures 11.9x8.75x5.95mm, eye flawless, VS type2 from
the
Pyaung Gaung
mine,
Burma. A real stunner, perfectly cut and clean, this
will make a most ravishing Mercury talisman at a very low price!
A REAL GORGEOUS GEM! |
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(click thumbnail for detailed image)
Ruby alternative.
One-of-a-kind, Ceylon rhodolite garnet. Stunning!
~Sold!~
Thanks M.
$85/ct
$161/gem |
I wish this stone
was bigger. Nevertheless, a beauty! This untreated Ceylon rhodolite garnet
weights 1.90 ct., medium, intense, reddish pinkish-purplish color with
pink flashes, excellent, square cushion, mixed cut, measures
7.15x7.10x4.5mm, flawless, VVS type2 from Sri Lanka. A real affordable
rhodolite of fine, top color, excellent shape and an overall, gorgeous
eye appeal. Will fit any standard 7x7 setting. A steal! |
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Emerald alternative.
Mystic, round shape, flawless, Burmese
peridot.
$80/ct
$208/gem |
This awesome,
untreated peridot weights 2.60 ct., medium, yellowish green color,
excellent, round, step cut, measuring 9mm in diameter by 5.62mm deep,
flawless, VVS type2 from
the Pyaung
Gaung mine,
Burma. Of course, round stones are considered the quintessence of
perfection and eye appeal. This one is the classic example of a top
clarity peridot in that ideal round shape and eye appeal. Great stone. |
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Diamond alternative.
Exceptionally well cut, flawless, huge size, rare, phenakite.
$118/ct
$700/gem |
Here is a truly
shimmering gem, guarantee much NICER than in the image. See it in
person how it shimmers with white light! A rare phenakite, 5.93 ct., top white, colorless, comparable to a D color
diamond, excellent, emerald, radiant cut, measures 13x8.5x7.25mm,
flawless gem, VVS type2 from Zambia. Phenakite is a rare gem with a
very good hardness (8) and high refractive index. It is usually found
in pegmatitic pockets together with emeralds. This one is a top
example of how beautiful, sparkling and pure this gem variety can be.
Guarantee to be far much nicer than pictured! UNTREATED! |
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Emerald alternative.
Sparkling, awesome shape, flawless, Burmese
peridot.
$80/ct
$238/gem |
Wow, a really
gorgeous peridot, weighting 2.97 ct.,
medium, intense,
yellowish green, excellent, square cushion, step cut, measures
8.5x8.5x5.75mm, flawless gem, VVS type2 from from
the Pyaung
Gaung mine,
Burma. A really nicely shaped peridot with perfect clarity that
translate in a lustrous and very pleasing result. A feast to the eye,
your spirit will benefit too. |
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Ruby alternative.
One-of-a-kind, rhodolite garnets set. Very low price!
$220/set |
Super gorgeous and
unique. Here is a set of top rhodolite garnets, 4 stones, 3.96
ct. total weight, top, deep, intense purple-red color, three
princess, graduating from 5.7 to 5mm and one trillion cut 5mm,
the colors also graduate a bit from darker to a bit lighter...,
flawless gems, VVS type 2 from East Africa. This set is truly amazing and
one-of-a-kind, with a total length of approx. 24mm. Ideally, it will
need to be set as the "arrow" pendant design pictured. To match
in color and size this quality is very, very hard., and this astrological
alternative to the ruby is a fantastic, unique and unrepeatable deal! |
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Emerald alternative.
Charming & unusual, rare, unheated, Ceylon green zircon. Top
color!
$130/ct $307/gem |
A rare, natural,
unheated green zircon, weighting 2.36 ct., excellent, rectangular
cushion, mixed cut, measuring 8.3x6.2x5.05mm, flawless gem, VVS type1
from Sri Lanka. A real beauty, perfectly flawless, top cutting and
with an excellent "mint" green color, not too dark, just an
ideal, perfect green, comparable to a tsavorite green. Furthermore, a good size for
that special ring. Unheated green zircon of good, "ideal" mint color is
very rare and command huge prices! Well priced! |
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Emerald alternative.
Beautifully shaped, mesmerizing Burmese
peridot!
$100/ct
$381/gem |
You have to see this
one. When I saw it, I had
already envisioned it into an one-of-a-kind pendant. A good 3.81 ct.,
medium to medium-dark, intense, yellowish green, excellent, rectangular, elongated,
cushion, step cut, measuring7.06x5.7mm, eye flawless, VVS type2 from
the
Pyaung Gaung
mine,
Burma.. A real
beauty, in its slender cushion shape, this will make a perfect,
ravishing Mercury pendant (of course with the length running
vertically). Very lustrous gem and a REAL BEAUTY! |
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Ruby alternative.
Huge, one-of-a-kind, African rhodolite garnet.
$40/ct
$410/gem |
Here
is something that is very hard to get. A huge 10.25 ct., deep, dark-red purple color, excellent, elongated emerald, step
cut, measuring 15.5x8.8x7mm, eye flawless, VVS type 2 from East
Africa. One-of-a-kind, super clean rhodolite with an awesome,
elongated em.cut that is simply ideal for that, Sun pendant for the
low budget person. Very rare quality at a below wholesale price! |
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Yellow sapphire
alternative. Superb, rare African scapolite. Well below wholesale!
$165/gem |
Here is something
that can substitute affordably a yellow sapphire. Untreated
& unheated scapolite, 5.88 ct., medium, golden color, excellent,
trillion, fancy cut, measuring 13.4x13.2mm, flawless gem, IF type1
from East Africa. Huge size, the cutting is so perfect and the
brilliance and vibrational energy are fantastic. Super buy for a
flawless gem. Pendant
setting recommended because of fair hardness of
this gem variety. |
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Diamond alternative.
Scintillating, great size, flawless, white damburite. Flawless!
~Sold!~
$180/gem |
Extremely beautiful damburite here. 3.35 ct., top
white, colorless, perfectly executed, emerald, scissor cut, measures
10.06x8.12x5.91mm, IF flawless gem from the Charcas region, Mexico.
Exceptional gem here, extremely well cut, with superior luster and
brilliance. Look at this cutting. Isn't simply gorgeous. Well, in
real life much better. Guaranteed to please. Will mount
exceptionally well in that Venus ring you have been waiting
for....Grab it now! |
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Ruby alternative.
Spell-binding, African rhodolite garnet. Well below wholesale!
~Sold!~
Thanks R.
$55/ct
$237/gem |
Wow, simply a
beautiful, rhodolite garnet, 4.31 ct., dark, red purple,
excellent, oval, step cut, measuring 9.9x8.3x6.3mm, eye clean,
VS type 2 from East Africa. Rhodolite garnets from Africa are very
easily available in lightly included material. Clean stones are
rare. Here is an oval that is exquisitely cut, with good
brilliance and eye appeal. Very low price for this beauty! |
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Ruby alternative.
Gorgeous, African rhodolite garnet. Fantastic buy!
~Sold!~
Thanks J.
$65/ct
$408/gem |
Huge & rare size,
rhodolite garnet. A whopping 6.29 ct., medium-dark, hot, red
purple color, excellent, oval step cut, measuring 13x9.8x6.3mm, eye
flawless, VS type 2 from East Africa. Gorgeous shape with great
spread, looking very large due the outstanding cutting proportions.
The brilliance, color and cut are truly top for this variety.
Will make the most
beautiful, Sun talisman at a very low price! Gorgeous gem here! |
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Ruby alternative.
One-of-a-kind, rhodolite garnets set. Very low price!
$170/set |
Beautiful and
unique. Here is a set of rhodolite garnets, 4 stones, 2.99
ct. total weight, intense pink color, three
princess, graduating from 5 to 4.6mm and one trillion cut, 5.5mm,
flawless gems from East Africa. This set is very eye pleasing and
one-of-a-kind, with a total length of approx. 21mm. Ideally, it will
need to be set as the "arrow" pendant design, as pictured. To match
in color and size this quality is very hard., and this astrological,
milder
alternative to the ruby is an unrepeatable deal! |
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Emerald alternative. Gorgeous,
huge, "fancy" cut, unheated, Brazilian green tourmaline!
$320/gem
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This is an absolutely stunning,
rich green, fancy emerald shape tourmaline from Brazil!
Stone has not been heat treated! The
pavilion of the gem (lower part) is cut rounded through
all the length of
the stone! The color is of a
gorgeous mix of dark, pure green & ocean green with bright
fire. This one weighs a huge 8ct.,
measuring approx. 14.1 x 8.1 x 6.9mm. Absolutely
Eye-flawless with a ravishing luster and brilliance! Don't you think it looks great?
Very low price for this quality! Top, top green color
for a tourmaline. |
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Ruby alternative. Gorgeous, 18K yellow gold, red tourmaline
pendant. Flawless!
$400/pendant
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Here
is a ready to go, beautiful reddish tourmaline set in 18K yellow
gold, bezel set pendant. This tourmaline is flawless under 30X
magnification. It weight approx. 3 ct. in a well executed, oval
step cut. Total length of the pendant is 3/4 of an inch. If you
are looking for a ruby uparatna pendant,
(Sun talisman), this red tourmaline pendant is the right
choice! Gem touches the skin. GORGEOUS! |
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Ruby alternative. Gorgeous, 18K yellow
gold, pink-red tourmaline pendant. Flawless!
$400/pendant
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Another
gorgeous, pinkish-reddish tourmaline pendant. Again, 18K yellow
gold, bezel set. The tourmaline weights approx. 3 ct. in a well
executed oval, step cut, and it is flawless under 30X magnification.
Total length of the pendant is 3/4 of an inch. If you are looking
for a ruby uparatna pendant (Sun talisman), and you do not have the budget
available for a ruby, this pink-reddish tourmaline pendant is the right choice!
Gem touches the skin. RAVISHING! |
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Emerald alternative! Fantastic
trillion cut, Brazilian green tourmaline!
~Sold!~
Thanks L.
$320/gem
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This
is a great size, gem grade, green tourmaline. Rich green, fancy
trillion shape, from Brazil. The color is a rich, medium green with
bright, stunning green fire. The color is very evenly distributed. This one weighs a HUGE 4.4cts! It measures approx. 11.9 x 10.6 x 6.8mm.
It is absolutely eye-clean. If you are looking for that special
shape, are on a budget for a Mercury stone, this trillion is definitely
the stone for you. Great gem at a great price!
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Emerald alternative! Untreated green
tourmaline & white
sapphire ensemble for pendant. Mystic!
$660/set
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Unheated
green tourmaline, 6.62 ct., medium dark, forest green, excellent
square cut, measuring 10x10mm, flawless gem from Brazil. Since it is
a calibrated square, we thought to add 5mm princess cut, 2 pieces on
top and bottom, 3.10 cttw. to make an unique, mystic combination.
Very hard to have matched, top white Ceylon sapphires in 5mm
princess cut. The difference that you see in white color is due to
the camera flash. This is how we would like to set this tourmaline.
We think the result in yellow gold would be just great!
Totally under priced! |
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Emerald alternative! Flawless,
spell-binding, Pakistani peridot
pair. Gorgeous!
$260/pair |
This pair is
fabulous. 3.70 ct. total weight, medium, very intense, top "spring" green,
slightly yellowish, 8mm round diamond cut, flawless, VVS type 2 from
Pakistan. We decided to separate the set, as they can work well as
separate entities. This 2 stones set can be mounted as a talismanic
pendant, perhaps a white sapphire, smaller in the middle connecting
the two....endless possibilities.
Gorgeous quality peridots and
hard-to-get! |
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Emerald alternative. Untreated peridot & white
sapphire ensemble for pendant. Fantastic!
$500/set
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Another
great set. Arizona peridot, 2 squares of 7.1x7.1mm, total carat
weight is 4.16 ct., medium dark, rich apple green, flawless from the
San Carlos Reservation, Arizona. Six pieces of white sapphires, 4mm
princess cut, all matching all flawless, for a total weight of 2.62
ct. could be set as seen in the picture. Don't you think it will
make a fantastic, unique Mercury pendant? Do not delay on this
one! |
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Yellow sapphire alternative! Rare, untreated
scapolite. Scintillating!
~Sold!~
Thanks K.
$125/gem
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Unheated Golden yellow scapolite 3.59 cts., 12x9mm superb oval
cut, eye flawless from Tanzania. This is a fantastic gem with a gorgeous medium golden
color. The price is excellent for this fine quality. Pendant setting recommended because
of fair hardness! |
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Emerald alternative! Rare
and huge, fine green Australian chrysoprase!
~Sold!~
Thanks E.
$95/gem
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Fantastic,
huge Australian chrysoprase, 8.85 ct., medium-dark
"summer" green, oval cabochon, measuring 18x13.2mm, eye
clean, opaque from Queensland, Australia.. Real nice cabochon, this one will make
the most beautiful Mercury jewel at a bargain price!
Looks like the most amazing piece of imperial jade! Nice! |
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USA.
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