JTV Blog

JTV Gemstone Treasures from Tucson: Pakistani Color Change Sphene!

Color Change Sphene from Pakistan Available Now on JTV.com

During our recent trip to the Tucson gem shows, Jewelry Television co-founder and Graduate Gemologist Jerry Sisk, and Senior Gemstone Buyers for JTV Shawn O’Sullivan and Jay Boyle, made a wonderful purchase of a very special gem with a phenomenal physical property: color changing sphene from Pakistan! Now is the time to purchase highly collectible color change sphene before it sells out on Jewelry Television and jtv.com. Unknown to the world until its discovery 3 or 4 years ago, color change sphene was something that we simply didn’t know existed in nature! None of our seasoned buyers had ever seen these gems and were quick to recognize their appeal to gemstone enthusiasts the world over. They purchased every last one of these amazing gems that the vendor had! Except for a few gems scattered across the globe from the first small production, this buy from the second production represents the ONLY commercial lot of  the Pakistani color change sphene gems this amazing find has produced to date--and Jewelry Television and jtv.com has it!

And now the bad news--we don’t have an abundance of these special gems. From what our supplier tells us, the production of material hasn’t been anywhere close to what was anticipated. To date, there have only been two small parcels of color change sphene rough to come from the mining area. There has been no new production in more than a year.

The discovery of this color change sphene was so special and exciting news for the gem world that a recent article written about it in a major trade publication. With color that goes from a dark chartreuse green in daylight/fluorescent lighting to an amber yellow in incandescent lighting to a brilliant amber yellow under candlelight, these gems are truly spectacular and will represent a significant addition to your gemstone collection! And the RI’s of the tested gems were over-the-limit of the laboratory’s refractometer…giving them an extraordinary amount of fire!

Our supplier is now left to wonder if there is more material to be discovered or was this a one pocket find and currently, no one has the answer to this question.

About the Mining Area of Color Change Sphene

The country of Pakistan is located in southern Asia and is bordered by India, Iran, Afghanistan and China. Pakistan is home to some of the tallest mountains in the world and as you might suspect, the mining area for this phenomenal gem is located in a remote, treacherous region of the Punjab Mountain Range that crosses into India. The deposit was found in an isolated region near the Pakistan/Afghanistan border.

The mining area is found thousands of feet up in the mountains and is only accessible some 4 ½ months out of the year (from late June to October). A small team of 4 to 6 miners access the area as the region is so desolate it would be nearly impossible to get help if one person was alone and injured himself. The material is mined from a primary deposit, meaning that it hasn’t been weathered by nature.

About the Color of Color Change Sphene

Upon the discovery of these gems, our suppliers sent several stones to some of the world’s most prominent labs for detailed study. They did determine the gems to have trace amounts of chromium, but it is actually the stronger presence of vanadium that is the primary coloring agent responsible for the color change.

We must also mention the color change observed in these sphene gems. While the color change may not be quite as dramatic as that seen in alexandrite or sapphire, it has most assuredly been classified as color change. Because of the stones’ strong pleochroism, the color change will give the appearance of “traveling across the face” of some of the gems.

About the Cutting of Color Change Sphene

Upon closer inspection of the gems, our buyers were quick to note their excellent cutting. Our supplier sent the rough material to a cutting factory in China to have expertly cut gems fashioned. Even without the added bonus of their color change property, these gems have an incredible presence that cannot be denied!

More about the Gemstone Sphene

One of the world’s newest and rarest gems, sphene possesses the rather unusual ability to take a beam of light and break it into all the spectral colors, which is known as its “fire” or “dispersion”. As a matter of fact, its rate of dispersion is greater than that of diamond.

Named after the Greek word for “wedge”, sphene is so named because its crystals are usually wedge shaped. As it contains titanium, it may sometimes be called by its mineral name “titanite”. Today, most sphene is predominantly green or yellowish-green, with just about every other color of the rainbow displayed by its fiery, intense brilliance.

Sphene is notoriously difficult to polish well. But when a lapidary is able to achieve this, sphene’s luster can approach or equal that of diamond.

Sources

Jerry Sisk, Jay Boyle, and Christopher Clark, JTV

Eric Braunwart, Colombia Gem House

Gems and Gemology, December 2011 issue

www.jewelersethicsassociation.com

JTV Gemstone Treasures from Tucson: Sphalerite

Each February brings the Tucson, Arizona gem shows, some of the most diverse in the world. JTV is always in attendance finding you the latest and greatest material. In some instances, it takes weeks for the merchandise purchased at these shows to make it to the Jewelry Television broadcast and jtv.com. Such is the case with the incredible sphalerite available now on jtv.com. Tune in all weekend long for special values on this highly collectible gemstone. Here's more from our very own Joni Loveday about sphalerite and why it should be in your gemstone collection. - Dana Sebby, Jewelry Television and JTV.com Community Manager

Sphalerite: A Brilliant JTV Treasure from Tucson

Our buyers are willing to take the extra steps necessary to acquire the very best gemstones for our customers! Case in point: sphalerite (pronounced SFAY-luh-ryte). At the recent Tucson Gem Show, our Bangkok buying team left early one day to meet with a gem vendor in the middle of the desert at his home office. What they were after was brilliant, fiery sphalerite gems and they got them. After negotiating some excellent prices, they packed up the gems and took them back to their hotel to sort and grade so that we could get these sparkling gems on air as soon as possible, and now we’re excited to introduce you to this glorious gem from Spain!

A rare treasure for gemstone collectors, sphalerite has a much greater rate of dispersion than that of diamond—not to mention that of most other gems. When we think about diamonds, one of the first things that come to mind is probably their brilliance; yet the fire and brilliance of sphalerite is unforgettable. Lighter stones demonstrate even more exceptional fire.

This gem is named from the Greek sphaleros, meaning treacherous, because of the difficulty it presents to miners when trying to identify it in the field. It closely resembles several minerals in appearance, including galena.  Sphalerite colors include a full spectrum from yellow to red and it’s often seen in various shades from yellow to green. As iron content increases, stones become darker.

Depending on its origin, some sphalerite may fluoresce--from orange to orangey red and red under ultraviolet light. Additionally, sphalerite has a couple of interesting properties. It is both pyroelectric (becomes electrically charged when heated) and triboluminescent (begins to glow when rubbed, pressed or struck).

A challenging material to fashion into gems, sphalerite can try the patience of even the most highly skilled lapidaries. Not only is it extremely soft (3.5 – 4), it also has perfect cleavage—in six directions, making it difficult to cut and polish! And, add in the fact that it’s a brittle gem and you have an idea of the challenge that awaits its potential cutter. Yet, when that talented lapidary is able to complete his task with a fashioned gem, the results are spectacular.

While sphalerite is found in several locations worldwide, only a few locales provide material that is gem quality. Spain and Mexico are the two most notable sources for fine quality material and as buyer George Williams has said before, “nothing in the world compares to the colors of the Spanish gems!”

Other facts about Sphalerite
•    While Spain isn’t known as a gem-rich country, it is the source for one of the most beautiful gems in the world….sphalerite.
•    These gems have an adamantine (“diamond like”) luster, meaning that at first glance, they could possibly be mistaken for fancy colored diamonds!
•    One word of caution: please resist the temptation to set your sparkling sphalerite into a jewelry mounting. It really is too soft and brittle for wear in rings. if you want to create a piece of jewelry, we ONLY recommend setting these stones into pendant or earring castings or semi-mounts!
•    Sphalerite is more fiery than diamond with its incredibly high rate of dispersion!
•    Sphalerite--definitely not a gem you’ll find at your local jeweler’s establishment.

It is our pleasure to  bring you the most beautiful gems, like this amazing sphalerite from Spain!

- Joni Loveday

Sources: George Williams and Jerry Sisk, JTV
February 2012

JTV.com Learning Library: Gems & Gemology "Gemstone Enhancement and its Detection in the 2000s: Impregnation and Luster Enhancement"

JTV.com's Learning Library is delighted to share with you this excerpt from the important article "Gemstone Enhancement and its Detection in the 2000s: Impregnation and Luster Enhancement" from Gems & Gemology, Vol. 46, No. 3.* Part Four of Four segments to be shared in the JTV.com Learning Library, this fourth excerpt explored the impregnation and luster enhancement of gemstones. Read Part Four in its entirety at jtv.com/library to learn more about these important treatments. 

From: *Gemstone Enhancement and its Detection in the 2000s: Impregnation and Luster Enhancement" by Shane F. McClure, Robert E. Kane, and Nicholas Sturman, from GEMS & GEMOLOGY, Vol. 46, No. 3, pp. 218–240. © 2010 Gemological Institute of America, Fall 2010
Published on JTV.com: January 2012

JTV.com's Learning Library: Gems & Gemology "Gemstones Enhancement: Dyeing and Bleaching" (Part 3 of 4)

JTV.com's Learning Library is delighted to share with you this excerpt from the important article "Gemstone Enhancement: Dyeing and Bleaching" from Gems & Gemology, Vol. 46, No. 3.* Part Three of Four segments to be shared in the JTV.com Learning Library, this third excerpt explored the dyeing and bleaching of gemstones. Read Part Three in its entirety at jtv.com/library and to learn more about the treatments applied to the pearls shown in this fantastic image, and many others.

From: *Gemstone Enhancement and its Detection in the 2000s: Thermal Enhancement and Diffusion Treatment by Shane F. McClure, Robert E. Kane, and Nicholas Sturman, from GEMS & GEMOLOGY, Vol. 46, No. 3, pp. 218–240. © 2010 Gemological Institute of America, Fall 2010
Published on JTV.com: January 2012

JTV at the 2012 Tucson Gem Shows (part 6): Wrapping Up the Gems, Jewelry, Beads and More

Tucson 2012 continues with a jam packed day full of meetings and exploration. I visited one of the outer shows with JTV Style and Trend Jewelry expert Judy Crowell (pictured left.)  Judy travelled to Tuscon to research both color palette options for this Spring and Summer, as well as find new gemstones and beads to include in JTV's  "Stratify™" and Blooming Jewels™" Jewelry Collections. 

This particular show was much less formal than the AGTA or even the GJX  shows. There is an eclectic blend of gems, minerals, and products from a vast array of countries from around the world.  

You will see actual miners that have driven their trucks across the country to Tucson loaded with their treasures.  You can find wooden baskets carved from Banyon Trees, to giant Geodes. There were fossils, crystals, and slices of stones that look like they were hand painted with intricate details. Carved statues, tons of rough gem gems.

We were surrounded by beads of every possible origin. Pearls are a trending fashion theme, and with new advances in their culturing, they are beautiful, and offer endless possibilities for design. Everywhere you looked there was more and more inspiration for beautiful jewelry to be made from beads, pearls, or both!                         
                           
Tanzanite One Foundation representative, Hayley Henning (their rep) provides the JTV customer with a market update on the state of Tanzanite, and the beauty of this Gemstone.               
                           
Jay and Shawn filming the Jewelry Television "daily wrap up". Today they talked about the many JTV gemstone finds of the day--Fire Opals, Watermelon Tourmaline, Paraiba Tourmaline and much more! 

This beautiful southwest sunset greeted us as we left the show today. The Tucson gem shows are always a whirlwind, but the fun is far from over. Tune in to Jewelry Television and visit JTV.com all week long as we unearth JTV's "Tucson Treasures" for you! 

- Dan                         

JTV at the 2012 Tucson Gem Shows (part 5): Behind the Scenes Look at the Jewelry

Here's a few more "sneak peeks" on some beautiful JTV jewelry you can expect to see during our Treasures from Tucson Event, which began Saturday, February 4th on Jewelry Television and JTV.com. We are excited to have some of the Five Diamond Rated items back in stock and to bring you new jewelry as well! (Editor's note: all prices subject to change.)

Yet ANOTHER five diamond rated item back in stock to celebrate JTV's Treaures of Tucson Event! This Southwest inspired Hubei Turquoise necklace features sterling silver beads and toggle.  Equally appropriate with a business suit or jeans this design easily transitions from day to evening!  Our JTV price for this classic design is only $59.99. (JTV item number MDH153T)

                         
Over 4.50 carats of lush green Moldavite featuring cushion and baguette cut stones in classic 10kt gold.  Diamond accents highlight the heart shaped prongs.  Elegant, and unique, this ring will have your friends "green with envy"!  $329.99 (JTV item number BER036)                           
                           
This pendant is a Rhapsody in Blue!  A 4.50 carat Brazilian Swiss Blue Topaz center stone is highlighted with blue and white diamonds that total over 1/5 carat! The rich blue topaz features a checkerboard cut which brings even more brilliance to this stylish design!  10kt Gold, $269.99 (JTV item number DDM084)                           
                           
From the exotic land of Nepal…this regal Kyanite center stone weighs an estimated 2.70 carat.  This 10kt gold design features blue and white diamonds and features a vintage appeal.  $209.99 (JTV item number NBR158)                          
                           
This exciting debut item features a unique Canadian Ammolite Triplet weighing an estimated 1 carat.  The Pear shaped Chrome Diaopside highlight each side of the center stone.  The Chrome Diopside weighs over 1/3 carat.  There are also diamond    accents, all set in 10kt gold.  $259.99 (JTV item number DDM170R)         

Check the JTV blog (jtv.com/blog) tomorrow (Monday, February 6th) for my wrap up of our time at the 2012 Tucson gem shows. As always, you can see all of my photos on the Jewelry Television facebook page (facebook.com/jewelrytelevision) in the album entitled "Treasures from Tucson 2012".

- Dan

JTV at the 2012 Tucson Gem Shows (part 4): Behind the Scenes Look at the Jewelry

Thank you for following my blog!  I want to share with you a few "sneak peeks" on some beautiful JTV jewelry you can expect to see during our Treasures from Tucson Event. (Editor's note: all prices subject to change.)
                           
This Southwest inspired Red Coral necklace will be back in stock!  This Jewelry Television customer favorite has a five diamond rating, and features sterling silver beads and a toggle closure.  The perfect choice, and a pop of color, for only $59.99! (JTV item number: MDH153C)
                           
The dramatic Black Window Drusy Quartz, Painted Black and White Drusy Quartz, and Onyx stretch bracelet on the right is NOT for the faint of heart.  This item is fun and bold, for those who like substantial accessories. Perfect for those that like larger jewelry, or those that require a more generously scaled bracelet.  The stretch design makes it easy to slip on and off. $99.99 (JTV item number: KYH024B)           
                           
This FIVE Diamond rated slide features luscious Chrome Diopside in Sterling Silver. It features nearly 4.50 carats of round cut Chrome Diopside, and comes complete with a sterling silver  chain.  This item is generously scaled and has an estimated retail value of $250.00, and we offer it for only $149.99. (JTV item number: SUS027)   
                           
A striking 3 carat round Black Spinel center stone has the  presence of a black solitaire Diamond, at a fraction of the cost.  This substantial center stone is highlighted with over 1.75 carats total weight of White Topaz in a sterling silver mounting.  This item has a very affluent look and feel…and is a steal at only $39.99  (JTV item number: GRH308)   
                           
These 10kt yellow gold fish hook earrings are simply elegant in design, and feature well over 3 carats of coveted Moldavite stones. These cushion cut, checkerboard stones are a lush green hue and compliment all skin tones and fashion options. These earrings have a FIVE Diamond rating from JTV customers and are a great value at only $139.99 (JTV item number: AJP092)  

See tomorrow's blog for turquoise, moldavite, blue topaz, and unique ammolite rings, earrings, necklaces and more. It's our Treasures from Tucson 2012 Event. Only from Jewelry Television and JTV.com. 

- Dan              
                           

JTV at the 2012 Tucson Gem Shows (part 3): Behind the Scenes Look at Amazing Gems, Jewelry, Minerals

Another busy day ahead in Tucson!  Each morning the Jewelry Television buying team meets for breakfast to trade information, update the group on new buys/opportunities, and what points to follow up on.  This first photo (left) shows two of our three founders--Jerry Sisk and Bob Hall--strategizing on the activities of the day. This next photo (right) shows one of our Gemstone Buyers,George Williams, sharing a new stone discovery with one of the JTV Jewelry Buyers, Angela Patterson-Caldwell.

My first stop of the day was the Cathedral of Saint Augustine which has history dating back to 1776.  This beautiful structure has intricate designs in it's elaborate cast stone façade. The architecture is striking and very elegantly executed.

We chose this location to shoot some promotional spots for our new Diamond designer collection "Paul Klecka Signatures".  Paul (pictured right) is an award winning designer with awards from DeBeers, the AGTA Spectrum awards and more. His product has been featured in Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue!

These are a few behind the scenes pictures of Paul being filmed talking about his inspirations and the direction of his new exclusive collection for JTV.  I also captured some behind the scenes images of Paul sourcing Diamonds for his designs to be  launched in April. (Editor's note: See all of Dan's behind-the-scenes photos from Tucson on facebook.com/jewelrytelevision in the JTV "Treasures from Tucson 2012" photo album.)

Our talented guest expert Judy Crowell has come to Tucson to seek new designs, gemstones, and understand product and fashion trends for her "Stratify Jewelry Collection" which is exclusive to JTV.  In these pictures you see Judy (pictured below left, second from left and also on right) studying new ring models for consideration as a part of her collection. You also see her working closely with one of our valued vendor partners, and learning more about beautiful Ethiopian Opals.

My next blog will have exclusive SNEAK PEEKS of jewelry coming up during our Tucson Event, which begins Saturday, February 4th on Jewelry Television and JTV.com. You can pre-shop some of the newest items now on jtv.com! (Editor's note: See all of Dan's behind-the-scenes photos from Tucson on facebook.com/jewelrytelevision in the JTV "Treasures from Tucson 2012" photo album.)

- Dan

 

JTV at the 2012 Tucson Gem Shows (part 2): Behind the Scenes Look at Amazing Gems, Jewelry, Minerals

Greetings JTV friends! We have had another chaotic, yet fun and productive day here in Tucson. Jewelry Television's compliance officer Mary Edleman, along with Shawn O’Sullivan, attended a seminar yesterday to keep abreast of the latest technologies and advances in the gemstone industry. Continuing education allows us to be better buyers, and to be able to share this information with you, the JTV customer. Here's a photo of Mary  with Richard Drucker, the class instructor. (Photo right)

This morning several of our team members went back to one of the mineral shows to pick up some of yesterday’s purchases. Shawn and Chassidy (pictured left) explore and take advantage of some photo ops! Intricate ammonites, pyrite specimens, labradorite eggs and so much more. (My, Shawn, what big eyes you have....)

Here are some more photos from Tucson--and remember--you can see all of the behind-the-scenes photos on the Jewelry Television facebook page, in the photo album entitled "Treasures from Tucson 2012". Only from Jewelry Television and jtv.com, of course!

Marti Wry, JTV Pearl buyer, shows off some of her “Tucson Treasures”—beautiful LARGE “soufflé” pearls (on left). These are all natural in color!

And Ethiopian opal lovers, rejoice! JTV Buyer George Williams was seen sorting these precious opals for you. Look for them soon on the Jewelry Television broadcast and on jtv.com during our big Tucson event coming soon! - Dan

 

 

JTV at the 2012 Tucson Gem Shows: Behind the Scenes Look at Amazing Gems, Jewelry, Minerals

The Tucson Mineral show dates back to 1955. It started with just a few exhibiters in the cafeteria of a local elementary school.  In 1973, it grew as gemstones were officially added to the mix.  Today, gemstone, jewelry, and mineral enthusiasts from all over the world head to Tucson for these eclectic shows. Jewelry Television is always on the scene scouting out the next great deal for you!    

I arrived in Tucson late Monday afternoon. The weather was beautiful, sunny and clear. I was anxious to catch up to my JTV associates as several were already in town. I wanted to get an update on what treasures the Jewelry Television Gemstone Buying Team had found so far!   

Waking up in Tucson--here is the beautiful greeting outside my window! I had breakfast with the team. I learned that they had found some interesting Sphalerite, Ammonite, Trilobite, and Pyrite. 

Today, I found some very fun, interesting and historical items that were mined in Madagascar. Here are some pictures to represent just a few of these times. When you learn about this interesting country--and how many thousands of years these items took to form--you will be amazed.   

            
Every year in Tucson, we celebrate JTV Co-Founder Jerry Sisk's birthday.   It is the one night in Tucson we all get together to celebrate "family night" and all have dinner together.  Here are a few pics to share some behind the scenes with the  JTV family.  - Dan