Druzy Quartz: From Bombay to Minnesota to Your Jewelry Studio

BY ANIL DHOLAKIA

Druzy quartz is 100% natural quartz stone that has an agate (quartz) base and a top thin layer of crystalline quartz.  The thin layer of crystal growth that is tightly spread out on the base is what gives druzy the beautiful look that makes it such a popular gemstone.

For the past 5 years, I have been pursuing a project to mass produce calibrated and flat surfaces.  The small occurrence in Mexico and Brazil in Amethyst and Citrine Druze is no comparison to vast quantities I have acquired in South India, Madhyapradesh and Maharashtra where growth comes from nodules as  big as 2 kg per piece.  We finally obtained 100 tons of materials in the raw – from which a final stock for 100,000 stones in different calibrations has been produced.

Cobalt Blue Ovals

The yield per kg (2.2 lbs) was two or three useable stones with flat and even surface selected from the raw roundish nodules based on the nature of formation.   To get stones flat in sizes of 20×15 is almost impossible.  So calibrations have been kept to 8, 10, 12 rounds and some 14 mm as well as ovals:  10×12, 10×14, 16×12 and 18×13 ovals.

The uneven stones are produced in free sizes and some are even drilled for beads . We also produce the so called “eye stones” which has flicker on top of the cabs, but is not as attractive as the flat calibrated stones.

The selected quantities of flat and calibrated stones are gathered and collected in our warehouse in Bombay.  From there, they are sent a distance of 300 miles to Cambay for the hand oriented process called “hand trimming”, which is done with vertical spike of steel and wooden or steel mallet.

Then, the stones are transported for final grinding and polishing to the Jaipur area factory where we control the thickness, polish and calibration of the final product.  The calibrated stones are then returned to Bombay for export to our facility in the USA.

S. I. Opal Ovals

When the final product arrives in the US, it is sorted for different grains of crystal growth before it is sent to Azotic Coating Technology, Inc. in Rochester MN for the final vapor deposition.

The patented Azotic® process is a proprietary procedure that combines different salts and elements at high heat for even distribution of colors and hues.  Once treated, the stones are then ready for outsource marketing in their perfected colors of cobalt blue, peacock blue green and green blue hues,  S.I. Opal and other shade variations.

Anil B. Dholakia, Inc. is a respected manufacturer and supplier of wholesale quantity Drusy Quartz loose gemstones.    Calibrated sizes available in Azotic® designer colors  including  S.I. Opal and vibrant Cobalt Blue.  Visit our Wholesale Gem & Jewelry website to learn more.

New Blue Sapphire – Nepal’s Kyanite

Nepal's Kyanite

Everyone is looking for the rich velvety blue Kashmir Sapphire gem.

Yes!  We have an alternative solution:  Nepal’s Kyanite.

The name “kyanite” comes from the Greek “kyanos“, meaning “blue,” the common colour of the species.  Oftentimes the rich Kashmir blue color is mistaken for sapphires.  So much so that  in the past, unscrupulous dealers in India have sold it as sapphire in set jewelry to the unsuspecting tourist.

Kyanite is a rare gemstone and is only available in small supply.  It’s yield is  3% to 5% and supplies are finite as mines do run out of production.  Also, because this Kashmir Blue Kyanite is from Nepal, the political situation there makes it very difficult and expensive to get it to the cutters.

The cutting of Kyanite is very difficult because it comes in blades and three (3) hardnesses.  It is tricky to polish as well.  We have found a few “expert” cutters who can skillfully cut and polish this rare gemstone – providing us with a select inventory of beautifully cut loose gemstones and cabochons in addition to our accumulated stock of fine quality rough.

Current loose Kyanite gemstone stock includes:  Oval and Emerald shapes in 8x 6, 9 x 7 and 10 x 8 sizes; Rounds in 6mm, 8mm and some 10mm; and a selection of large stones in free sizes and cuts.   Anil B. Dholakia, Inc. is currently offering this rare gem at $50 (USD) per carat.

Physical and Optical Properties of Kyanite

• Chemical Formula: Al2OSiO
• Lustre: Vitreous, Pearly
• Diaphaneity (Transparency): Transparent, Translucent
• Colour: Blue, white, green, yellow, orange, pink
• Streak: Colourless
• Hardness (Mohs): 5½ – 7
• Comment: 5.5 parallel to [001], 7 parallel to [100]
• Cleavage: Perfect on (100), good on (010)
• Fracture: Splintery
• Density (measured): 3.53 – 3.65 g/cm³
• Density (calculated): 3.67 g/cm³
• Optical Properties: Transparent to translucent.
• Color: Blue, white, rarely green, gray, yellow,pink, black, can be zoned; colorless to pale blue in thin section.
• Luster: Vitreous to pearly.
• Optical Class: Biaxial ({).
• Pleochroism: Weak; in thick sections.

Timeless Observations About the Gem Market

As a gem merchant since 1950, I buy and sell precious and semi-precious gemstones from all over the world.  Below is a reprint of a June 1995 article I wrote describing my observations about some of the gem markets at that time.   While prices have certainly changed over the last 15 years, these observations about the factors that influence gem prices remain as they have always been – valid and useful.

Reprinted from “The Gem News” – June 1995 – by Anil B. Dholakia:

Please allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Anil Dholakia and I have been in the gem and precious gemstone business for approximately 45 years.  I would like to share my observations about some of the markets that I have done business in during the last 45 years.  During that time frame, many new gemstones have come and gone.  I have noticed a number of factors that can contribute to this.  One such factor is the fact that sometimes the deposits become depleted.  Another factor includes geo-political conditions that can affect the prices of gemstones.

When I was in my 20’s, I started visiting Far Eastern gem sources and traveled to Thailand, Burma, Indonesia and  had an extended stay in Japan during the 1950’s.  The Japanese market was young and most of the jewelry was made of pearls and some white gold.  Some opal, jade and amethyst was also used; however, there were no colored gemstones being used in Japan to make jewelry.  Now it is one of the largest gemstone markets in the world.

During this period, Burma was under various socialist/communist regimes which was the main reason why there few gemstones coming out of this area.  One good example of a gemstone increasing in value was in the late 1950’s when Jade was becoming scarce in the United States.

Another example of gemstones increasing in price includes Kunzite.  Back in the early 1950’s, Kunzite could be obtained from Brazil for as little as 25 cents per carat.  Good Kunzite now sells for $35 to $50 per carat.

Of course everyone is now familiar with the increasing value of Tanzanite — which back in the 1960’s could be had for about $2 to $3 per carat in commercial quanity.  Now Tanzanite can sell for up to $200 to $500 per carat.

Iolite was not even on the market back in the 1960’s.  The only people who bought Iolite were collectors who purchased the gemstone for themselves.  Back then, Iolite sold for about 25 cents a carat.    A good Iolite now is in the range of $50 per carat and above.

Alexandrite is another exmaple of gemstone that rocketed skyward in terms of price.  When Alexandrite first came out, it was considered only semi-precious.  It has now become one of the rarest and most expensive gemstones in the world.

Demantoid Garnet is another example of a gemstone that has become rare and very expensive. Back when Demantoid was not considered rare or precious, it was used in the United Kingdom in silver jewelry during the last century.  It is not an extremely valuable and expensive gemstone – often bringing anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 per carat.

It is not hard to see that there is a pattern here.

Anyone who has dealt in selling gemstones for profit and replacing their inventory can tell you that this story repeats itself over and over again.  The gemstones you used to buy ten years ago at 25 cents per carat cannot be had for less than $25 per carat.  It happens over and over again.

Some other factors that affect the prices of gemstones are:

1. Demand for the gemstone.
2. Acceptance of the gemstones from one or another major world markets (Asia, Europe, USA).
3. In many cases, a particular mine or deposit will become depleted with a 5 to 10 year period.
4. Political conditions inside a producing country can change.

These different forces alone or in combination with one another have almost always had the effect of pushing the price of a particular gemstone(s) upward for as long as anyone can remember.

More information about Rare and Collectible Gems is available on our business website – www.gemanil.com.