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Gemstones

Antique 0.32 Carat Fancy Colored Old Mine Cut Champagne Diamond

Antique 0.32 Carat Fancy Colored Old Mine Cut Champagne Diamond
Photo Credit: MyDiamondZone

Antique 0.32 Carat Fancy Colored Old Mine Cut Champagne Diamond

Buy It Now Price: $169 (price as of 2016; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This is a 0.32 carat fancy colored old mine cut diamond, measuring 4.24 millimeters by 4.37 millimeters.

Old mine cut diamonds tend to emphasize fire (multi-colored flashes of light) over brilliance (pinpricks of white light).  This lends an enticing warmth and charisma to old cut stones that is lacking in modern brilliant cut diamonds.

-The old mine cut was developed in the early 18th century and remained popular until the late 19th century.  The quintessential Victorian diamond, old mine cut diamonds look amazing in both candlelight and gas light.

-Fancy brown diamonds are also known as champagne diamonds.  This exceptionally attractive stone rates around C3 – a pleasing light chocolate brown – on a scale of C1 (least intense color) to C7 (most intense color).

-This diamond has a relatively round, regular shape which is uncommon for an old mine cut stone.  Most old mine cut diamonds are distinctly cushion shaped.  Having been hand cut, it also isn’t unusual for old mine cut diamonds to be obviously asymmetrical – a negative trait absent in this specimen.

-Although the inclusions (flaws) look very noticeable in the photo above, in reality they will barely be visible to the naked eye.  It is normal for old mine cut stones to be more included than modern cut stones – a factor that should be considered when determining the value of older cut diamonds.

-The buy it now price on this fancy colored champagne diamond is only $169, which works out to a mere $528 per carat.  That is remarkably inexpensive, especially for a fancy colored diamond with so much eye appeal and charm.

-I don’t normally do this, but I’m going to reiterate how ridiculously cheap $169 is for an old mine cut champagne diamond of this caliber.  Pricing typically trends from $300 to $500 for a stone of this size and quality.

 

Cons:

-This diamond, at 0.32 carats, is definitely on the small side for an investment grade stone.  It is generally not advisable to purchase old mine cut or old European cut diamonds smaller than 0.25 carats for investment purposes.

-The seller claims this stone has a clarity grade of SI2 (better) to I1 (worse).  I believe it falls closer to I1 clarity.  This is on the edge of the acceptable range for investment grade old mine cut diamonds.  However, given the fact that the diamond’s flaws don’t interfere with its optical properties, it is still a desirable stone.

-Some people prefer their diamonds to be as white as possible.  If you are that person, a champagne colored diamond – old mine cut or not – isn’t for you.

Natural Gold Nugget Australian 9.94 Grams Genuine

Natural Gold Nugget Australian 9.94 Grams Genuine
Photo Credit: Grants-Nuggets-Jewelry-and-More

Natural Gold Nugget Australian 9.94 Grams Genuine

Buy It Now Price: $503 (price as of 2016; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This is a natural Australian gold nugget that weighs in at a chunky 9.94 grams (0.3196 troy ounces).  Almost the size of a U.S. quarter, it is a substantial specimen.  Gold nuggets this large are rare and highly sought after.

-Australian gold nuggets are renowned for their high purity, with gold content typically running in the mid to high 90% range.  Australia, along with the Alaska/Yukon region, is currently the world’s premier gold field with significant nugget production.

-This particular nugget is a marvelous specimen with an interesting shape, lots of intricate detail and a rich, golden color.  The highly textured surface is a physical characteristic common among Australian nuggets.  It is an indicator that this nugget has not been subjected to much hydraulic action which usually happens to nuggets found in streams and rivers.

-Assuming 95% purity this nugget contains about $388 worth of gold (with a gold spot price of $1280 a troy ounce).  Therefore, the premium you pay over spot for this specimen is $115, or a mere 30%.  A 30% premium is on the low end for a gold nugget of this size, taking into account the fact that premiums generally increase in tandem with nugget size.

-This gold nugget originates from Orocal Natural Gold Company, a well-respected firm based in California that specializes in buying and selling natural gold nuggets.  The specimen is also accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Orocal.

 

Cons:

-Although this is a large gold nugget, there are still larger ones available.  For example, one troy ounce gold nuggets – supposedly as rare as 5 carat diamonds – can still readily be purchased.  Pricing for such a specimen would, predictably, be significantly higher than for this (still sizable) example.

-This gold nugget has no matrix (mother rock) or quartz embedded in it.  An attractive gold nugget with matrix attached typically sells for a significantly higher premium than a similar nugget with no matrix.

Blue Guatemalan Jadeite Jade Rough

Blue Guatemalan Jadeite Jade Rough
Photo Credit: sbmalls

Blue Guatemalan Jadeite Jade Rough

Buy It Now Price: $60 (price as of 2016; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This is a beautiful block of jadeite jade from the Motagua River Valley in Guatemala. Jadeite jade is much rarer than its cousin, nephrite jade. Guatemala, along with Burma (Myanmar), is one of the few sources of jadeite jade in the world today.

-The bluish color of this specimen is both somewhat unusual and very attractive. It is also unheard of in nephrite jade. I believe that jadeite jade of this hue has more potential to appreciate in the future than other, more common colors of jadeite jade.

-This jade is almost certainly untreated and all-natural. It also has no visible fractures.

-There may be other pieces of jade out there that sell for less, but few – perhaps none – would be of this quality. The price of $60 per pound is well justified, if not a bargain.

 

Cons:

-The block is only moderate in size, measuring approximately 2.9 inches (7.4 cm) by 1.9 inches (4.8 cm) by 1.6 inches (4.1 cm) and weighing around 1 pound (454 grams).

-The jade was photographed wet, which is perfectly acceptable when properly disclosed – as it has been in this instance.