Gem Collector Prices

[jayc]

A

greed Jeff would be good on GC but would they actually give him anything worth selling at a reasonable price?

Some items on Gumporia not as good quality as Claires Accessories

 

[historymystery]

Some items on Gumporia not as good quality as Claires Accessories

You can see much better ones on GemSelect or even Etsy. And much cheaper.

 

[Ant7t]

As I write, I am watching a video about lapidary. Agate Dad, if you're interested, but he has been playing with Fordite. GC have sold that, I know. It's glorified paint drippings. And there's GC et al, who say they never sell fake or non-natural. Ford paint became a gemstone, when?

 

[AndyW]

As I write, I am watching a video about lapidary. Agate Dad, if you're interested, but he has been playing with Fordite. GC have sold that, I know. It's glorified paint drippings. And there's GC et al, who say they never sell fake or non-natural. Ford paint became a gemstone, when?

Firstly, I watch Agate Dad too .

Secondly, Fordite is only a gemstone because someone wanted to make money out of the paint residue left from the collapsed car industry in Detroit. Some bits are pretty, for sure, and can make unusual jewellery pieces but it's as much a gemstone as Bakelite, Yttrium Garnets or Swarovski crystals, none of which you can make at home but Fordite you can. Stated as "rarer than diamonds" by some (which semi-precious gemstone isn't?!), it's a historical curiosity but that's about it.

GC did have a small selection a few years ago. Bought one (before I was more assiduous about checking the internet for facts) but sent it straight back, feeling an idiot for paying so much for layered paint. Much more suited to Jewellery Maker or Hobby Maker than Gem Collector.

 

[TheManWithNoName]

I'm mixed on Fordite - it's not technically a gemstone, but 'proper' Fordite has some history to it, and it's no longer available. There is some newer 'Fordite' on the market that isn't 'proper' Fordite because it's come from a completely different process that is still used today - therefore, it has no historical value.

I personally don't think that Pearls and Amber (or anything else that is organic) should be referred to as Gemstones either because they're not stones.

We could even go a step further and say that resin-filled Rubies and reconstituted Turquoise, that is compressed fragments of multiple stones, should not be considered 'real' gemstones either. To me, a filled Ruby has as much meaning and value as a piece of glass. They're junk.

I think things like Fordite and Roman Glass have a place - but it should be law that they're forced to declare exactly what they are more precisely. Non-gemstones should not be called 'gemstones'.

 

[Ant7t]

Firstly, I watch Agate Dad too .

Secondly, Fordite is only a gemstone because someone wanted to make money out of the paint residue left from the collapsed car industry in Detroit. Some bits are pretty, for sure, and can make unusual jewellery pieces but it's as much a gemstone as Bakelite, Yttrium Garnets or Swarovski crystals, none of which you can make at home but Fordite you can. Stated as "rarer than diamonds" by some (which semi-precious gemstone isn't?!), it's a historical curiosity but that's about it.

GC did have a small selection a few years ago. Bought one (before I was more assiduous about checking the internet for facts) but sent it straight back, feeling an idiot for paying so much for layered paint. Much more suited to Jewellery Maker or Hobby Maker than Gem Collector.

He's good. A random YouTube recommendation. Initially his laugh annoyed me, but now, it seems odd if he doesn't. But that's an aside.

Thinking as I write. Initially (my word for the post? ) I thought it was a real stone. Then when discovering it was just paint, as nice as it looks, it's quite expensive: at least on GC. That said, and this is the thinking as I write bit, IF it's paint layers, originally from the 50's and 60's: maybe later, maybe earlier, but I think the years I mentioned, what's to say it's safe for 'current' sale. Lead Paint and all that.

 

[Ant7t]

I'm mixed on Fordite - it's not technically a gemstone, but 'proper' Fordite has some history to it, and it's no longer available. There is some newer 'Fordite' on the market that isn't 'proper' Fordite because it's come from a completely different process that is still used today - therefore, it has no historical value.

I personally don't think that Pearls and Amber (or anything else that is organic) should be referred to as Gemstones either because they're not stones.

We could even go a step further and say that resin-filled Rubies and reconstituted Turquoise, that is compressed fragments of multiple stones, should not be considered 'real' gemstones either. To me, a filled Ruby has as much meaning and value as a piece of glass. They're junk.

I think things like Fordite and Roman Glass have a place - but it should be law that they're forced to declare exactly what they are more precisely. Non-gemstones should not be called 'gemstones'.

I agree. I find it hard to call them, or hear them called, gem 'stones'. Amber being fossilised resin, is still not a stone, even if fossil implies such. I can, off the top of my head, only think of three items of organic origin: Jet being the other one. Maybe they could be called Gems of organic origins, not stones.

Another 'I agree'.

 

[Qwerty123]

He's good. A random YouTube recommendation. Initially his laugh annoyed me, but now, it seems odd if he doesn't. But that's an aside.

Thinking as I write. Initially (my word for the post? ) I thought it was a real stone. Then when discovering it was just paint, as nice as it looks, it's quite expensive: at least on GC. That said, and this is the thinking as I write bit, IF it's paint layers, originally from the 50's and 60's: maybe later, maybe earlier, but I think the years I mentioned, what's to say it's safe for 'current' sale. Lead Paint and all that.

The only time I can remember seeing Fordite on air was a GC show with Matt Bennett covering and to be fair he gave quite a detailed explanation as to what it was and how it was formed. Whilst I can completely understand why some wouldn't be interested in owning any I could also see that some people who aren't particularly interested in gemstones having more of an interest in it than typical stones so it could well be a way for someone to introduce a friend or family member into the world of gemstones who wouldn't ordinarily be interested.

 

[TheManWithNoName]

The only time I can remember seeing Fordite on air was a GC show with Matt Bennett covering and to be fair he gave quite a detailed explanation as to what it was and how it was formed. Whilst I can completely understand why some wouldn't be interested in owning any I could also see that some people who aren't particularly interested in gemstones having more of an interest in it than typical stones so it could well be a way for someone to introduce a friend or family member into the world of gemstones who wouldn't ordinarily be interested.

Ironically, the first two 'stones' that got me into collecting were............. Fordite and Meteorite.

I've gone on to have about 4000+ 'proper' stones in my collection since.