Just a couple of new stones, as I was away for the weekend on a buying trip. I met with my main supplier from East Africa, and picked up some very nice stones, this red zircon being one. I was able to buy 4 very top color Tsavorite garnets, just perfect color, zircon, some excellent color Malaya garnets from Tanzania, a few Tanzanites, Umba garnet, beautiful color Umbalite Garnet and some Blue Sapphire from Songea and Kenya.

Here’s the new Red zircon



And a Asscher cut Purple Scapolite from Tanzania.



This is one of the Copper bearing Cuprian tourmalines from Nigeria. These are sometimes called Pariaba-Africana. This one is in the oven right now being heated, but I wanted to show the color right after cutting and before heating. We’ll keep our fingers crossed on how it will come out.



Below is a photo of the stone after heating. The color came out fantastic! Most of the stones don’t heat this well, and it’s always a big gamble... to heat or not to heat!

Tags: Zircon and Scapolite