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 Post subject: Intense pink/Magenta Katlang topaz specimen on eBay
PostPosted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 9:22 pm 
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8500 is waaaay out of my price range, but it's not common to see a Katlang topaz of this color for sale at any price.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/35grams-Facet-grad-100-Natural-Pink-Katlung-Topaz-Rarest-in-world-Mineral-SP-/171216089444?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27dd463164
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 Post subject: Re: Intense pink/Magenta Katlang topaz specimen on eBay
PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:57 am 
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OUAH !

:smt118

This is an unrivaled rarity ... or a pearly trap !! :lol:

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 Post subject: Re: Intense pink/Magenta Katlang topaz specimen on eBay
PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 12:46 pm 
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Wowzer! Beautiful color! The seller says it is facet-grade, but I have no experience in that area; what say you faceters?

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 Post subject: Re: Intense pink/Magenta Katlang topaz specimen on eBay
PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 5:27 pm 
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Is it facetable? Sure. Facet grade? Perhaps. I think "facet grade" means anything you can see through, to most sellers at least. Would I facet it? I don't think so. I see what looks like full fractures in it, and certainly a lot of smaller inclusions.

It is a remarkable color--and the fact that it's in matrix (to me) means it's either untreated or a heck of a fakeout ;)

And at $8,500, or even $85, I sure wouldn't buy it without being able to touch it first ;)

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 Post subject: Re: Intense pink/Magenta Katlang topaz specimen on eBay
PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 5:45 pm 
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With a dealer, facet grade can mean anything. :lol:
Without closer inspection or better pictures it would be hard to tell.
Topaz can have fractures, bubbles ( with gas or even liquid inside them ) or other inclusions that are not easy to see unless you look at it from all angles before cutting.
And then you can still miss some. I have a topaz on the dop, at home now, that I found some small bubble inclusions only after cutting and polishing the pavilion, heh.

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 Post subject: Re: Intense pink/Magenta Katlang topaz specimen on eBay
PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 7:48 pm 
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upcyclist wrote:
It is a remarkable color--and the fact that it's in matrix (to me) means it's either untreated or a heck of a fakeout ;)

Note that Katlang topaz actually often are treated on matrix which is indeed an impressive fakeout, but that's for irradiation only (which can turn pinkish stones a very intense Imperial orange-red). I doubt a matrix specimen would stand up to heat, which is the treatment you'd use to bring out pink in these stones (as it drives off color centers which can mask the color).
I also suspect that more inclusions would be tolerated in a faceted topaz of this color than in others, considering its beauty and rarity. But it is likely worth more as a specimen given its excellent form and presentation than it would be in a much smaller cut stone.

upcyclist wrote:
And at $8,500, or even $85, I sure wouldn't buy it without being able to touch it first ;)

I'd shell out a crapton more than 85 for it on the basis of the photos. Even if it is paler and more included in person, a nicely-formed distinctly pink topaz is always a welcome sight. I've bought lots of specimens on eBay and I'm rarely disappointed with the results--photos (aside from color doctoring, which is rarely sophisticated on that venue) almost never convey the full beauty of a mineral specimen.

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 Post subject: Re: Intense pink/Magenta Katlang topaz specimen on eBay
PostPosted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 12:52 am 
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Hi Barbara, you would be brave indeed, to risk facetting this beauty!!
I can just imagine the faint "tinkle", as topaz pieces fly away.
Barry.


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 Post subject: Re: Intense pink/Magenta Katlang topaz specimen on eBay
PostPosted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 1:39 pm 
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As I said, Barry, I have no experience in faceting; I was just curious as to "facet-grade". I'm hoping one day I'll understand just what makes one piece of rough worthy of being cut while another not.

Sure would make a beautiful ring, though =P~ . But, then again, it would be a superb specimen just as it is. Wonder if my hubby has a rich OLD relative somewhere 8) .

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 Post subject: Re: Intense pink/Magenta Katlang topaz specimen on eBay
PostPosted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 11:45 am 
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Worth more as a specimen, no?


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 Post subject: Re: Intense pink/Magenta Katlang topaz specimen on eBay
PostPosted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 2:10 pm 
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When checking the matrix for eventual hints about irradiation (or other issues), just consider that specimens where crystals are "artistically" glued onto a matrix are not that infrequent. ;)

I'm not saying it's the case here, mind you...

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 Post subject: Re: Intense pink/Magenta Katlang topaz specimen on eBay
PostPosted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 4:13 pm 
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Seems it didn't sell at $8500, so perhaps it will re-list at a new price :P .

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 Post subject: Re: Intense pink/Magenta Katlang topaz specimen on eBay
PostPosted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 6:03 pm 
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Personally, I think the seller has delusions of grandeur pricing it at $8500. :lol:

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 Post subject: Re: Intense pink/Magenta Katlang topaz specimen on eBay
PostPosted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 11:02 am 
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This "gem" is something very difficult to value, even if you completely trust the dealer. Another difficulty lies in where it sits; Pakistan. I talk to this guy on a regular basis and I like him but it seems to me, and as long as I've spoken with Pakistan dealers, Their pricing is always in the high retail range...true bummer, especially in this case!

I believe there are 2 factors; proximity to valuable and rare materials and proximity to buyers with access to clients in China and India...just my opinion...


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 Post subject: Re: Intense pink/Magenta Katlang topaz specimen on eBay
PostPosted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 4:29 pm 
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I dunno, I've had fairly good luck with Pakistani dealers (though some of them have been at least partially based in Bangkok, so there is that).

Well, I decided to stay within my budget, but I did get a nice Katlang specimen anyway.
Image
To be honest, much as I love this piece, it has two very clean stones in it, which would likely heat to pink...

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 Post subject: Re: Intense pink/Magenta Katlang topaz specimen on eBay
PostPosted: Fri May 02, 2014 12:26 am 
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This is only tangentially related, but it's a very odd picture I just came across in an image search:
Image
It's supposed to be a katlang topaz. The color is right. The matrix is right. But darn, that crystal form is all wrong! It looks like an igneous cavity-formed topaz, ala Shigar. Weird! This is the first example I've seen of a chromium-bearing (indeed, 'imperial-type') topaz with this crystal form.

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