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Original poster

Tanzanite, rubelite etc ... what are they?

182 replies

nkf · 03/02/2012 21:18

Am idly watching some shopping channel and these gemstones keep coming up. Are they rare? Are they crap? Have they always been around but people have just started buying them? Also, does anyone seriously buy jewellery from the TV?

OP posts:
Original poster
nkf · 07/02/2012 19:17

I'm not sure what I think of Pandora jewellery. They're the beads that spell out your life right? Sort of charm bracelet. Am surprise theyre going under. Aren't they very popular?

OP posts:
Original poster
nkf · 07/02/2012 19:20

I can see why the diamond solitaire is popular. A colleague has just got one and it's lovely. Sort of timeless and clear and I can't imagine you could ever go off it.

OP posts:
mrsmartin · 07/02/2012 21:06

I think Pandora is a regional thing - not very big in the other places that I've lived but massive in Middlesbrough - seriously, I haven't met many women who don't have a bracelet/necklace with half a dozen overpriced charms on it. Each to their own though...

MuslinSuit · 07/02/2012 22:00

Mrsm - am only looking at silver rings and under £50 Blush there are several green amethyst ones. With a newborn and becoming a SAHM I can't be splashing the cash! The Pandora one I was eyeing up is this one and the gems.tv one is similar !

MrsC - what do you know of Pandora going under? I started with a simple leather woven bracelet with one charm to be worn with a simple Monica Vinader Fiji bracelet, but it's easy to get hooked on buying charms! I haven't bought any in ages but still do like it and it's not that common where I live. Or maybe my friends all have more taste than me Hmm

mrscumberbatch · 07/02/2012 22:48

nkf they've been opening large retails stores of their own to capitalise on this charms trend and the bottom has been falling out of it for the last two years.

They got too greedy. If they'd stayed as a concession within other's stores and online they would probably be ok but they overestimated their hold on the market.

I think they're looking for a buyer for the company last I read in the papers.

If they do go under there will still be loads of their stock on ebay and the like for anyone still needing a fix.

With all the company closures at the start of the year they have been earmarked as one that's been going downhill quite a while.

mrscumberbatch · 07/02/2012 22:52

guardian article on pandora

I like the quote at the bottom
"The main thrust, however, would be to reposition the brand firmly in the mass market and to cut prices.

"We are not a luxury goods business," said Leighton. "If we start to pretend or think we are a luxury goods business, we've got a problem.""

I've been saying this since it came out (we were one of the first stockists in scotland actually) that its overpriced for what it is. Even the company agrees.

Save your pennies, there's no resale value, prices will come down in order for the company to continue existing and you'll get a well priced item of costume jewellery rather than a vastly overpriced one.

mrsmartin · 07/02/2012 23:00

muslin the ring from pandora is the same one on their website and in the link you sent for HofF it is £100. What is the code for the gems one?

MuslinSuit · 08/02/2012 00:23

BTPS83 is the code for the gems.tv one - my link buggered up. try again

It's £21 for apparently the same thing as Pandora want £100 for Hmm

mrsmartin · 08/02/2012 11:47

The gems one is pretty - much much bigger than the pandora one as the pandora ring looks like a stacker and, although there are no measurements, I'm guessing that the gem including it's surround is only 6 or 7mm across, whereas the gems.tv ring is much bigger - the amethyst alone is 10mm across and 14mm long, and then it has all of those marcasites surrounding it. So, it comes down to style but you definately get alot more for your money than you would somewhere like pandora. I'll be watching today at 2 and flicking between the two channels - one channel is under £50 for the hour and the other is under £30 so I might get a treat today :o

MuslinSuit · 08/02/2012 15:38

MrsM - I am holding you personally responsible for my downfall, am watching the channel now.

'CAN YOU BELIEVE WE ARE PRACTICALLY GiVING THIS AWAY'

Grin
mrsmartin · 08/02/2012 15:56

muslin - don't blame me!! :o and don't believe everything you hear!! But if it seems reasonable and you like it - where's the harm? We really need a cheeky devil emoticon though!!

mrsC - what do you think of moissanite? I really can't understand why people are willing to pay so much for something grown in a test tube? I understand that it has come from meteorites and is found in diamond inclusions, but the crystals people are buying in engagement rings etc are all commercially produced and aren't even diamond simulations? The prices being expensive because of the short run left on the patents I can appreciate but I just can't fathom why someone would be willing to pay £1000 for fake gems?
Any thoughts??

mrscumberbatch · 08/02/2012 19:12

Hi Mrs Martin,

I like moissanite. I think it's interesting and part of the reason it's interesting is because it was grown in a test tube!
I get asked why I like wearing a big pyrite globule of a ring, because it's worthless etc but the value isn't in the stone itself it's in the design and the history of the stone itself.

That sounds a bit woo.

It's not a 'regular gem' or whatnot but i like that the jewellery scene is forever expanding, with new materials, different alloys and metals coming to the forefront and different gems.

If you look back in history, marcasite has always been cheap and easily available- but it could command a great price for some pieces as the jewellery was exquisite. Sometimes it's not to do with exactly what the stone is but what the entire thing comes to.

People used to pay £100s for well made French pastes- they're entirely man made but still beautiful and covetable over and above other seemingly more expensive proper gems. (Nifty collectors item as well.)

If there's a buyer for it, there's a place for it!

harbingerofdoom · 08/02/2012 19:17

MrsM I'm afraid my chemistry with crystals probably stopped after growing copper sulphate on a bit of string. I knew that copper gives the green colour.The malachite was quite common n the 80s and was found all over though I recall seeing my first piece at the Blue John Caves. Love the look of chrome diopside (no copper!).
MrsC You touch on something that has nothing to do with jewellery and that is how much we can absorb as children (from our parents) and then continue in the same or similar vein.
I'd like to thank both of you for giving me more confidence to walk into a jewellers. I never like to feel bamboozled and having a little bit of knowledge helps.[thank]

mrsmartin · 08/02/2012 19:51

mrs c - it is definately pretty - I think it's just because I've only seen it set in designs that are made to look like diamonds. I found a 50point emerald cut solitaire in 9ct yellow gold for £1400 - for that price I would rather have a diamond! I see your point about the evolution of the jewellery trade though - I would definately be interested in comparing moissanite to gems like danburite and petalite.

mrsmartin · 08/02/2012 19:54

harbinger I thought you would like chrome diopside :o
I'm sure you'll enjoy your visits to jewellers more now...I certainly do. It is nice to be able to chat to a jeweller and tell them exactly what you are after.

mrscumberbatch · 08/02/2012 19:57

Aww harbinger that's lovely. Thank you for indulging us and letting us talk shop Wink

Never ever be intimidated by a jeweller. They absolutely rely on people to make their daily wage. It's such a people focused trade that if they're getting it wrong then get out!!

I would never ever spend £20 on something never mind £2000 from someone who was trying to intimidate me. Just because they work in a jewellers doesn't mean that they actually own any jewellery! (I borrow quite often!)

mrscumberbatch · 08/02/2012 20:02

I think that if the gold price keeps climbing as it is, and the same for gemstones, then in the not too distant future people will be looking for alternative and cheaper substitutes for your classic solitaires etc.

Right now, the second hand jewellery trade is booming like never before and palladium is gaining a larger market. People would perhaps never have considered these before but price is such a large factor in choosing jewellery.

I think it's likely that more people diamond cut moissanite at £1400 than a diamond of a similar size at £4000 if you see what I mean?

mrsmartin · 08/02/2012 21:00

Oh yeah, that I totally get - I just meant in the current market. I'm not a diamond lady anyway - I would almost always go for simulated as I prefer them as accents or in clusters. And in general I would rather have kunzite or tourmaline etc.

I think you are definately right about the different metals - I think rhodium and palladium etc are just as lovely as platinum (have never understood white gold for rings - they just need redipping) and I love that they have made pewter safe to wear and cheap to buy - I think the colour of it is gorgeous.

As an aside - I'm moving to Manchester in a month and therefore jobhunting. I've just applied for a job in a jewellery wholesalers and some of their prices are ridiculous!! £570 for a 1ct diamond cluster in 9ct gold - no info on diamond grade or gold weight but that is pretty steep imho!

harbingerofdoom · 08/02/2012 21:18

Hope you don't mind more shop? Feel guilty asking now.
This is a bit academic-MOH Emerald 7,Tsavorite 7-7.5,Chrome Diopside 5.5.
Now that is the hardness. What about the fracture/brittleness?
I've only just found out that emerald eternity rings are not popular because of the brittleness (hit and it cracks?).
Perhaps DH was right to wait so long Hmm
That should have been Thanks

mrsmartin · 08/02/2012 21:28

I bought MIL a chrome diopside ring that stands very proud from her finger and it hasn't suffered any visible damage - she has had it 3 years and isn't the most delicate of creatures. That's the most I can comment though. I thank you for the flowers (oohh roses, my favourite, you shouldn't have) and I return the favour with Wine

delilahbelle · 08/02/2012 21:40

What do you think of this

I am in love, very pretty, I have a around £100 worth of 9ct gold jewellery to scrap, left to me my grandmother, but dated/broken tatty. I am trying to persuade myself I can afford it...

mrsmartin · 08/02/2012 21:57

delilah it is really pretty, though if it is Tanzanite that you want, I would watch one of their dedicated tanzanite shows - you really can tell what they will look like when you get them home and they go for a cheaper price (I'll say it again - if you do want to buy direct from their site - email them 1st and see if they can do a better price). Also, set up an account with them and add everything to your basket that you like when watching the auctions, as sometimes a better item will come up half an hour later (iykwim). Then just check out the item(s) that you want (this doesn't work with things straight off their website).

mrsmartin · 08/02/2012 21:58

Haha - ironically they have a tanzanite and diamond hour starting now...

delilahbelle · 08/02/2012 22:50

Have sent them an email asking for their best price... I am going to have to give DH my credit cards again to stop me spending!

mrscumberbatch · 09/02/2012 16:24

Haha Harbinger no problem Grin

Imho Emerald eternity rings are v v v popular. Yes an emerald is more brittle than,say, a diamond but to be fair you shouldn't be punching walls wearing your lovely jewellery.

So long as you aren't wearing your rings to the gym etc emeralds are fine. I've had a diamond and emerald three stone ring for 6 years and not even one issue. I wear it every day.

Delilah, I'm suggesting you get DH to change the pins on your cards as well, just for safety's sakes! Heehee!