Bitcoin Forum

Hello.

I thought this might be a fun and interesting offer.  For 1 BTC, I will send you a random assortment of 3 cut gemstones in a plastic, padded gemstone container.  2 BTC gets you 8.  I do NOT know what many of the gemstones are.  But, I also have a few other gemstones the identify of which I DO know.  If I receive two or more offers, I can guarantee that I will include at least one of the following in someone's shipment - Chrome Diopside, Peridot, Ruby, and Emerald.  I am not a gemstone expert, so the others you receive may be valuable and I wouldn't even know it.

10 9 BTC gets you 50 including a guaranteed pink sapphire, a guaranteed beautiful forest green chrome diopside, and a pair of identical and exquisitely-cut peridot gems that would make fantastic earrings for a lady friend.

Who's interested?


Edit:  Here are some sample pictures.
http://i56.tinypic.com/2e546md.jpg
http://i55.tinypic.com/292qv86.jpg
http://i53.tinypic.com/2nlwxg8.jpg
http://i52.tinypic.com/1zb9wd5.jpg
http://i53.tinypic.com/raor4x.jpg

pics?
and what about shipping?

I will take pictures tomorrow if you are interested.  I do not own a digital camera and will need to borrow one from a relative.

Shipping to US only (preferably) and will be free for the 10 BTC offer.

Add .2 BTC for the 1 BTC offer.
Add .1 BTC for the 2 BTC offer.

So,

3 for 1.2 BTC shipping included.
8 for 2.1 BTC shipping included.
50 for 10 BTC with guaranteed inclusions, shipping included.


3 for 1 BTC  U.S. shipping included, 1.2 BTC International
8 for 2 BTC U.S. shipping included, 2.2 BTC International
50 for 9 BTC with guaranteed inclusions, shipping free everywhere.

Supplies limited  ;D

Edit:  If you are outside the U.S., let me know and I'll think more seriously about international shipping.
Edit 2:  Taking pictures "tomorrow" really means "today," but I haven't slept yet, so it seems like tomorrow to me  :D

im outside :) denmark to be precise.

I'll say .5 .2 BTC flat rate international shipping for up to 3 2 BTC worth.  Any 4+ 3+ BTC orders will be free shipping.

photos? and sizes?

Photos will be up tonight.  I'm heading fishing with a buddy shortly and I will grab the camera on the way home.  The sizes range from probably about .15 carats to up to several carats, but I would guess all are less than 5 carats.  Also, when I say you will receive a "random" selection, I am essentially referring to the fact that I have no idea what the hell I'm giving you (other than the ones I know for sure -- i.e. the pink sapphire, the chrome diopside, peridot, etc.).  But, when I piece these shipments together, I will try to hand-pick a variety to ensure that you do not get (for example) 3 of the same color, same cut, or same size.  Also, I will make sure that earlier offers receive the gemstones with the highest visible clarity and cleanest cut.  If you have a request for a specific color gem or type of cut, I will try to arrange that for you.  It really makes no difference to me.

Pics added.  There are many more unique gemstones available than the ones shown. 

What will you find in your shipment?  Garnet?  Tanzanite?  Emerald?  Ruby?  Who knows, because I haven't a clue!

Did you buy these off ebay and have you had them tested by a gemologist?

No, I bought them at a gemstone convention in Tuscon, Arizona around 2005 when I was living in California.  I visited Tuscon with a buddy cause he had relatives out there.  Him and I have always been interested in looking for cool rocks and fossils out in nature, so I wanted to have some cut gemstones as novelty items.

The gems I purchased were selected from a random parcel assortment (so, what you're receiving is, in essence, a random assortment from a random assortment).  It was a very interesting deal to me because they stipulated that absolutely anything could be included in the random assortment, including white and colored diamonds, rare tanzanite, extremely rare alexandrite, etc.  There have been some that have found alexandrite in their parcels and I believe alexandrite can go for several thousand dollars per carat if the clarity and cut is nice enough.    Another friend recognized that I had at least received some pink sapphire in my parcel as well as ruby and emerald.  I also purchased several gems individually -- the chrome diopside and the pair of round-cut peridot.

I have not had them tested by a gemologist because I assumed it would cost a heck of a lot of money for them to individually identity the type, clarity, and weight of nearly 100 gemstones.  

I thought this would be an interesting and fun offer because there is a definite chance that you may receive something extremely valuable and I wouldn't have the slightest idea.  Additionally, I don't know of anywhere else that you can currently buy gemstones with Bitcoins.

Well, personally I am running BitGem which there's a thread about in the general discussion, but we seem to be doing very different things so I'm not going to try and get all take-over-y on you. :)

I had more to say but I think it's best reserved for a PM.

Haha, I wasn't aware of BitGem, but I like the idea.  And thanks!  Haha I really just want to make a transaction or two on here so that I can build a reputation, and I thought it would be a fun offer since it aligns somewhat closely with the whole Bitcoin/precious metals relationship.  Nobody wanted my N64 games or my carburetor :(

how much did you buy the random assortment for?

i get the feeling these are lab created gems due to the size and cheap price.

doesn't mean they're not still awesome though.

I've looked at some other stones over PM and I can tell you that those and these are almost certainly not lab-made. For example, the blue heart is a blue topaz, and that isn't synthesized ever. There's also a ruby and a sapphire with visible inclusions, which aren't seen in synthetic stones. I'd venture a guess that there's a couple of stones in that pile that are synthetic, but that doesn't make them any less interesting.

If I remember correctly, I paid about $60 for the parcel and I bought the chrome diopside and pair-of-peridot individually for I think somewhere between $15 and $25 each.  I remember talking to the lady at the convention center and I asked her why the parcel seemed so cheap.  She said it was because the convention sellers typically make the most profit selling individually graded stones which typically have the greatest clarity and depth of color.  She also said that people get excited by the possibility of finding extremely rare gems in a random parcel, but of course, the key word here is 'rare' and so it is possible that while a person may end up with a diamond or something very rare, it is more likely they will end up with a handful of more common gemstones.  Plus, I guess it costs them a lot of money and time to have every single gem individually identified, graded, and weighed, so they can still profit by selling them in bulk even if they give away some rare ones for next to nothing.

Nonetheless, it's kind of exciting to know that my parcel at least contained things like rubies and emeralds even though they have inclusions.  There are also tons of gems (in fact, the vast majority) in my parcel that I have no idea what they are, and many of these gems truly appear to contain no inclusions or have very nice and precise cuts.  Again, with the 9 BTC for 50 offer, you also are guaranteed to get the chrome diopside and the pair-of-peridot which I purchased individually, and the sapphire.  

Any offers?  I'll give the first to order an extra deal.  This is because they will be helping me make my first transaction on here and I want to become known as someone who will appease his customers, especially as I may be interested in starting up Bitcoin-related businesses in the future.

First to order will receive 6 gems for 1 BTC and 15 gems for 2 BTC with free U.S. shipping (still must ask for .2BTC for international orders)

If the first person orders the 9 BTC deal, they will receive 60 gems (not 50) plus the chrome diopside, the dual-peridot, and the sapphire.

pm'd

First order placed!

60 gems for 8 bitcoins is my offer  ::)

Are you international or U.S.?

A 2nd and larger order has been placed!  This customer will receive the sapphire.

Unfortunately, while I do have 33 gems remaining, only about 10-15 of these are in a condition such that they do not have both easily visible chips or inclusions (since I'm not a gemologist, I'm not sure how much that matters, but as a consumer, I wouldn't be as pleased).  I had to make sure that I was picking some of the nicest-looking gemstones to give to the first 2 customers - first come, first serve.  Therefore, I will offer the remaining 33 gems for 2 BTC shipped U.S., 3 BTC shipped international.  It should be mentioned that in the two previous shipments, the buyers had their gems shipped in individual gem containers.  Because I had more gems than containers, these remaining gems would be shipped in only 3 gem containers and therefore not really suitable for display -- unless, of course, you were to remove 30 of them and keep you favorite 3 in the containers.

Here are pictures of these 33 gems to be sold as seen
http://i56.tinypic.com/ix6wwp.jpg
http://i52.tinypic.com/24d1teo.jpg
http://i53.tinypic.com/2quj211.jpg

On the bright side, I still have 3 gems (aside from the 33 previously mentioned) that in particular are worth selling/buying individually as I know their identities and have a good idea of their relative value.

Because of this, you still have the opportunity to buy...
1.)  A pair of identical, round-cut peridot (as shown in the first picture in the original post) that are beautiful to look at and would make wonderful earrings for a lucky lady.  These are in pristine condition and have zero visible chips or inclusions.  I purchased these individually myself and will be sad to part with them.  They really are quite stunning, especially up close.  You can purchase these as a pair for 2 BTC shipped US or 3 BTC shipped international (tracking will be included).

2.)  A beautiful, deep forest-green, emerald-cut chrome diopside (as shown in the 4th picture in the original post).  Again, I purchased this one individually and it too has zero visible chips or inclusions.  This one can also be yours for 2 BTC shipped US or 3 BTC shipped international (tracking will also be included).

These exclusive gems will, of course, be given their own individual gem cases.