New Sapphires

Some new fair trade sapphires -

4.75mm; ~0.5 carat each

 top row: 5mm; ~0.6 carat each

bottom row: 5.25mm; ~0.7 carat each

 5.75mm; ~0.9 carat each

 5mm; ~0.7 carat each

 5mm; ~0.7 carat each

5mm; ~0.6 carat each

New Stones

At long last, I have found a source for at least a limited supply of ethically sourced labradorite. Behold! :-)

 7mm x 5mm

 16mm x 9mm

 15mm x 10mm

18mm x 15mm

New Stones

 Ethically sourced sapphires, 4.5mm

 Ethically sourced andalusite, 5mm

 Ethically sourced rose cut green moonstone

 Ethically sourced moonstone, 11mm and 10mm

 Ethically sourced moonstone, 8mm x 6mm

 Ethically sourced moonstone, 8mm

 Ethically sourced moonstone, 9mm

 Ethically sourced rose cut moonstone

 Ethically sourced spessartite garnet

Afghan tourmaline, 5mm

New Stones

 Fair trade sapphire, 5mm (0.8 carat)

Fair trade pink sapphire cabochons

 Fair trade sapphire, 5.5mm (0.8 carat)

  Fair trade sapphire, 5mm (0.6 carat)

  Fair trade sapphire, 5.7mm (1.0 carat)

  Fair trade sapphire, 5.5mm (0.8 carat)

Fair trade spinel cabochon, 10mm x 8mm, (3.6 carats)

More lovely sapphires

More lovely sapphires from my fair trade supplier; alas, once again I can't afford to keep them all, but at least I get to choose a few favorites... what do you think?

Fair trade Malawi sapphires, 5mm (2.27 total carat weight)

 Fair trade Malawi sapphire, 6mm (1.29 carats)

 Fair trade Malawi sapphires, 6mm (3.87 total carat weight)

 Fair trade Malawi sapphires, 6mm (3.93 total carat weight)

New(ish) Stones

 Afghan tourmaline, 5mm (0.5 carat)

 Fair trade Malawi teal sapphires, 5mm (~0.6 carat each)

 Fair trade sapphire, 4.5mm

 Fair trade sapphires, 5mm

 Zultanite, 6mm (above) and 7mm (below)

 Fair trade pink sapphire, 5.6mm

 Fair trade sapphires, 7mm x 5mm

Fair trade peridot, 7mm

New Stones

Because of the limited availability of fair trade / ethically sourced gemstones, it is pretty rare for me to come across a new type of stone that is really beautiful and lives up to my ethical standards. But I am happy to say that today I have made just such a discovery - green moissanite!!!

I had heard vague whispers about green moissanite a few times, but for some reason I always imagined it as a muddy, murky light green (don't ask me why?!?) - in reality, these stones have the most incredible, lovely blue-green color - similar to Afghan tourmaline - but since they are moissanite, they are harder than tourmaline, have better clarity and sparkle, and less environmental footprint (since they are lab created).

I can't wait to work with these beauties!!!

Dark green moissanite, 5.5mm

Light green moissanite, 6mm

New Stones

I purchased some gorgeous new stones... most are available for custom orders. :-)

Afghan tourmaline, 4.5mm (approximately 0.31 carats each)
Sigh... the color is amazing...

Afghan tourmaline, 4.5mm (approximately 0.35 carats each)

Aquamarine cabochons, 9mm x 7mm

Aquamarine cabochon, 15mm x 13mm
(The weird two tone/bulls-eye effect is a trick of the camera - it doesn't exist in person.)

Nevada Variscite - I guess I will 'fess up and admit this one may be for me. :-)

I've been trying to leave my comfort zone a bit and branch out into setting oval stones (some examples of finished pieces) - so I bought some more to experiment with -

Afghan tourmaline

Afghan tourmaline

California green tourmaline

Aquamarine

Champagne quartz