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This is a very unusual garnet because it is a combination of three different garnets in chemical composition and each adds it's own "slant" to the appearance.  The term pyralspite comes from the three root garnets- pyrope, almandite, and spessartite.  If you have ever see the cherry-red ant hill garnets you know how beautiful those can be.  The most popular garnet of all time, almandite, is generally sold as rhodolite in the trade.  Spessartite you may know from the tangerine or "fanta" colored gemstones that you have noticed for sale.  You may even have one or two  of these types of garnets in your collection or in a piece of jewelry.

http://s12.postimage.org/gen1g2cnx/DSC_1310.jpg

The garnet group is called a "group" because it is extremely broad in chemical composition, color, and appearance.  You could easily collect only garnet and spend a lifetime acquiring examples of different garnets.  This color is very hard to describe but let me try.  In daylight the pyrope component pulls it toward red, but the slight orange keeps it a more "touch of copper" pink.  This stone has very good brilliance and the tone is medium to medium-dark.  Under incandescent (light-bulb light) it is bright cherry red.

http://s12.postimage.org/gen1g2cnx/DSC_1310.jpg

For a little bit better understanding of gem garnets, please take a look at the following charts.  There is tons to learn in the garnet group!

http://gemstonemagnetism.com/garnet_magnetism_3.html (http://gemstonemagnetism.com/garnet_magnetism_3.html)

http://s17.postimage.org/m7y0dbfan/Hanneman_Garnet_Chart.jpg (http://s17.postimage.org/m7y0dbfan/Hanneman_Garnet_Chart.jpg)

It should be noted that if you are to learn about garnets you have to understand those two charts and you must first and foremost realize that the second chart- the one that Dr. Bill Hanneman gave the world (bless his heart) uses refractive index along the X-axis- going from left to right.  On the left are garnets that have a lower refractive index.  On the right they are higher RI, or refractive index.

http://s17.postimage.org/pwgoi0q8v/DSC_1308.jpg

But Dave!  I have no idea about refractive index!  Well, it's like clothes on a clothes line.  The harder the wind blows, the more that clothes line bends.  The higher a stone's refractive index, the further it bends the light that passes through it.  Too easy.  Here is an example of what I see when I take a refractive index:

http://s9.postimage.org/ab3gmefdb/1_80_RIimage.jpg

Anyone can buy a refractometer and learn to use it.  It's easy (once you get the hang of it- like riding a bike) and it makes you a much, much more knowledgeable gemstone consumer.  To me, it is the holy grail of gemstone instruments.  It was once said that "Junior Kimbrough is the beginning and end of all music."  This is what the refractometer is to me.  Once you have bounced the stone on you palm to get an idea of how dense it is- its specific gravity or SG (done by weighing in air and water) might tell you it is a heavy or light stone relative to its size.  But the very next procedure, after looking at the color and feeling the "heft" or weight of the stone is to take an RI.  When light passes through a stone it bends the light to a certain degree.  Some bend it more, and some less.  Some turn a single ray of light into two, some let a single line pass through without "splitting" the light.  But they all have an RI.  They have a refractive index.  They bend light- some a ton (natural zircond) and some not so much (opal). 

If you look at th x-axis of Bill Hanneman's chart, that's the one along the bottom remember, you see the readout you will get with different garnets.  Follow the line up, and everything on that line will be that RI.  Look at the 1.80 line and move your eyes up.  You should land on 8 different possibilities of garnet that could be 1.80.  Always remember that garnet can be in many different colors, and the refractive index can vary.  I bought several of these stones- some will stay in my personal collection and some will be sold- and they varied from 1.748 to 1.749 to 1.750.  This "three in one" hybrid garnet is extraordinarily rare, and even more rare in such a fine color.  Under a cloudy sky or under candle light or incandescent light it will dazzle you!

http://s10.postimage.org/vk2fz7kih/DSC_1303.jpg


The starting bid is 1BTC and the increment is .5 bitcoins.  This auction will expire at GMT 8:00 AM on Tuesday the 20th of November. 


This stone was mined in Tanzania's Umba River Valley and is a great example of one of the most exotic stones to come from East Africa.  It is 100% UNTREATED.  No heat, no chemicals, no diffusion, no dye, no quench-crackling, no treatment at all.  It was mined from the earth and it was cut and polished ONLY.  This is an untreated stone.

Please bid with confidence.  I am a Graduate Gemologist (GIA) and I understand my obligations to describe stones accurately and to disclose any treatments.  I always offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee.  Bid now!

Can't find it on bitmit.net


Koelen3.

he's using this thread to collect bids. and sometimes he extends the auction duration ...
thing not possible with bitmit afaik.

Well, I start bidding 1,5btc then :D

Koelen3 is in the lead!  And this auction can not be extended- it already has a bid.  If it had no bids, then I can extend.  If I say "seven days only" and get a bid, to me that is a contract.  If there are no more bids Koelen3 will own this stone on Tuesday, November 20th.  Time will tell!!!!

Here are the dimensions by the way:  8.05 x 6.68 x 4.89mm deep.

How much is the shipping cost to Europe?
Though, starting bed was 1btc, so I'm going to call my offer from 1,5 to 1 for now.

Koelen3.

Shipping anywhere on the globe is free.  I don't ship within Thailand, to Africa, and any other place that is high-risk.  Don't order if you live in Detroit.  LOL- I'm funny, no?  You will get online tracking and registered mail.  There is now a 2.75 carat pyralspite garnet on Bitmit:

https://www.bitmit.net/en/trade/i/9544-very-rare-east-african-pyralspite-garnet-2-75cts-trillian (https://www.bitmit.net/en/trade/i/9544-very-rare-east-african-pyralspite-garnet-2-75cts-trillian)

Koelen3, you have an active bid at 1.5.  On more than one occasion folks have bid more than the opening bid and it is accepted as valid.  I doubt any of this is relevant though- if it doesn't bring 10 bitcoins I will be shocked.  But I have been shocked before.  Rare colored stones are a funny animal.  The right set of bidders (or wrong set) can make the impossible possible. 

I guess bottom line is decide how much you want to bid before you bid, and I will state in the future that here shipping is free.  Or that is the case now.  It is included in the price.

Okay, so my offer of 1,5btc still has the lead here.
But the dimensions of the stone on bitmit are the same as it is here???

Koelen3.

No, I put the wrong dimensions on the bitmit auction!  Let me correct that, and you get a gold star for pointing it out.  That trillian over on bitmit.net is 9.62 x 7.36 x 5.66mm deep.

Congratulations on the lead Koelen3!  And the strangest things can happen.  You never know unless you try.  I was once auctioning a 4 carat star ruby from Madagascar (if memory serves correctly) with an unbelievable star (NOT diffused- not treated at all) and it went on eBay for I think $200?  But the man who bought it turned out to be a close personal friend and he is just retired and is here in Bangkok for two months hanging out with me and gem shopping.  That ruby is worth $1,000 easily- so I'm down $800 but where can you buy a truly great friend and honorable, intelligent man for $800?  A friend like that has no price.  He's not a bitcoiner so I'm not worried about embarrassing him.

This is a large stone at 2+ cts.  Not only is pyralspite not often seen in the marketplace but it is also not seen in large sizes when it is available. 

I hope I win mate!
I love you so much if I win!

Although he doesn't need it, I put a huge vote of confidence for Tiptopgemdotcom. I have bought a sizable amount of stones from him for past projects, and not only was the price and service great, but he is also a great guy.

And my stone are BEAUTIFUL!  Thanks Salty!!!  This pyralspite deserves another bid.  Even if you have never owned any gemstone before, to start with a 2+ carat rare garnet is a great idea.  The garnet group is huge and you could spend a lifetime or two collecting only garnet.  Garnets come in so many magnificent colors and each has its own special character.  This pyralspite is very rare especially in this size. 

Don't hesitate to ask me a question if you have one!

2 BTC ;D

Haha, you're kidding right?

Koelen3.

2,5 Bitcoins ;D

Koelen3.

Lol was thinking of betting 3 just for fun :)
Congratz. Looks nice and tiptopgem is a good seller. Also bought some stones and i am still happy with them :)

Well, no1 stopped you from doing that :)
And thanks mate.

Koelen3.

Koelen3 is the winner for a bargain-basement price on a truly rare gemstone.  Congratulations!!!

Mr. Spitoon has agreed to be the escrow agent for this transaction.   Salty once you have received payment for this item please let us know and I will get this out to Koelen3 via registered air mail.

the escrow address is: 1DJ9xKDgvrUUxUysqD9tUExUACA6mZdRwD

this has also been pmed to koelen3

https://blockchain.info/address/1DJ9xKDgvrUUxUysqD9tUExUACA6mZdRwD

When the final balance says 2.5 BTC, payment has been received.

2.5 BTC received.