Freshly hand-cut gems!!!

BurntBear

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Jul 4, 2014
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Fresh, hand-cut gems!!!

Here are four hand-cut gems cut by Doc at Doc's Rocks Gem Mine in Blowing Rock, N.C..
My partner & I found these stones; not in a mine, but in a stream (except for the Ethiopian Opal) and had them cut at the gem mine.

First photo is an Ethiopian Opal .90 ct. 6mm Cab Cut - North Carolina Emerald .65 ct. 7x5mm Oval Cut

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Ethiopian Opal .90 ct. 6mm Cab Cut - Untreated

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North Carolina Emerald .65 ct. 7x5mm Oval Cut - Untreated

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North Carolina Ruby 1.10 ct. 7x5mm Oval Cut - Untreated

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North Carolina Black Sapphire .95 ct. 7x5mm Oval Cut - Untreated

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All of these gems are natural and untreated. The Black Sapphire is interesting! Black Sapphire is actually a very, very DEEP blue that appears black as night!

Thanks for looking! :occasion14:
 

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Saintsfan

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Dec 4, 2014
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Hi BB, Is the black sapphire pictured above opaque ? I read your comments about it being very very dark blue, and I'm asking because I have several pieces of rough I believe are sapphire but are black as night and opaque. I hesitate to admit that I bought some El D bar gravel, and it has some nice coloured sapphires in it, but a few pieces that felt like sapphire were "black". They don't really mark when I scratch at them with what I know are sapphires.
 

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BurntBear

BurntBear

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Black Sapphire is the darkest, most opaque blue of corundum. They appear black, even in the rough in my experience.
 

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Saintsfan

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Dec 4, 2014
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Thank you BB. That was my first post, and I fealt a little daft asking. Books can only tell you so much. What's the weather like down there this time of year ? Is the ground frozen ? We're having a heat wave on the north coast (40f), but we've already seen the teens this fall, and they'll be back shortly. Thanks again.
 

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yakker

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Jan 20, 2012
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Welcome Saintsfan!

Beautiful stones you have there BB! And YAY VIRGINIA! Those are most excellent- Yakker
 

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DDancer

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Mar 25, 2014
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Got a regular gem show going :) Noticed EU's pics disappeared?
 

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rdawg14

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Aug 13, 2012
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Absolutely amazing! that black sapphire is beautfiul! I have always collected herkimer diamonds since I am so close to the mines but I want to start collecting semi and precious gems!
 

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jentheartist

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Jan 10, 2014
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Hum...I may have to find a place near Boone to get my very very dark sapphire appraised - I actually found it at Doc Rock's while playing on my birthday (Sept) LOL It is about 2 ct and Doc cut it for me too.
 

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