All That Glitters - Gem News

All That Glitters Website and Info Changes for February 2012!

2012-01-21T08:47:00.000-08:00

Here are the changes to look for on the All That Glitters Website for February 2012:

This Months Special: 11.09ct Chrysoberyl Crystal from Ratnapura, Sri Lanka

http://www.atggems.com/Monthly_Special.htm

A Unique Specimen showing good crystal habit, color, clarity and terminations.

This Months Gem News: US/Burma Relations Thawing

http://www.atggems.com/Monthly_News.htm

Relations between the United States and Myanmar (Burma) warm as the

political climate within Burma changes...

Newly Faceted or Photographed Gemstones:

http://www.atggems.com/Photos_New.htm

Our Master Cutter has returned the 3 gemstones sent him for recutting, obtained from our month long trip abroad. They include a Ruby, a Sapphire and Blue Tourmaline.

Recent Arrivals from our trip abroad:

Many Certed Gems

Ruby - Fine Examples

Sapphire - All Colors

Tsavorite (Green Garnet - miscellaneous shapes and versions of green)

Color Change African Garnet (blue green to purple)

Incredible one of a kind Natural Alexandrite - super in every way!

Sphene - two different colors; very dispersive!

Sapphire Crystals

Sapphire Crystals on Matrix

Chrysoberyl Crystal

Eye Agate

Fossilized Coral

Fossilzed Sharks Tooth WITH Serrations!

Agatized Coral

Opal - Ethiopian

Fire Opal

Several Demantoid Garnets from Namibia including a PAIR!

Spessartite Cabs (2) look like gum drops, very clean

Hackmanite (an important variety of sodalite) exhibits unusual phenomenon known as reversible photochromism

Reddish Orange Spinel from Burma

Red Spinel (fine color) from Burma

Unheated Tanzanite

10mm Blue-Purple Tanzanite

Namibian Blue-Green Tourmaline

Purplish Mozambique Tourmaline Cab

Unusual and Rare Blue Zircon

Unique Example of Broad Flash Fire Agate

Black and White Zoned Agate Cab

Included Quartz with large Breadcrumb inclusion with Tourmaline needles

Chinese "Year of" bracelet

1500+ct Carved Lizard - Jade (could be much heavier - we don't have a scale that weigh it!)

Three Brasilian Naturally Terminated Tourmaline Crystals

3.59ct Yellowish Pyrope-Spessartine Garnet

Gemstones in Cutting:

Three gemstones are currently being refaceted by our Master Cutter. They are a certed Ruby, an unusual Teal Sapphire, and a nice deep Blue Namibian Tourmaline! We thought that the beauty of these gemstones could be improved by being tweeked eventhough the cost of recutting and weight loss willbe costly. We hope to have them available on line just before the next monthly email is sent out.

===> These have been received back from our Master Cutter and can be seen on the Newly Photographed page:
http://www.atggems.com/Photos_New.htm

Tucson Gem Show is here....

We will be at the Tucson Gem Show, which we believe is our 26th year in attendance.

New Page!

We have a decent inventory of Fine Tsavorite (Green Garnet) and so we have added a New Page dedicated to this Grossular Garnet.
http://www.atggems.com/Photos_Tsavorite.htm

This page can be accessed in two places within our Photo Gallery Page:

http://www.atggems.com/Photo_Gallery.htm

A Few Photos From Our Trip to the Ratnapura Gem Pits

Living conditions and mining tools haven't changed much is many decades of mining in Sri Lanka...

http://www.atggems.com/Photo_Gallery.htm

(Ratnapura Gem Pit Photos located near the bottom of this page)

All That Glitters Website and Info Changes for January 2012!

2011-12-26T10:37:00.000-08:00

The Latest All That Glitters Website News for January 2012 includes the following:

Monthly Special: A New Price on a Large Interesting Quartz with Pyrite Inclusions!

Monthly News: A Few Photos From Our Trip to the Ratnapura Gem Pits

Newly Photographed - Approx 150 Newly Photographed items available
Many Certed Gems
Ruby - Fine Examples
Sapphire - All Colors
Tsavorite (Green Garnet - miscellaneous shapes and versions of green)
Color Change African Garnet (blue green to purple)
Incredible one of a kind Natural Alexandrite - super in every way!
Sphene - two different colors; very dispersive!
Sapphire Crystals
Sapphire Crystals on Matrix
Chrysoberyl Crystal
Eye Agate
Fossilized Coral
Fossilzed Sharks Tooth WITH Serrations!
Agatized Coral
Opal - Ethiopian
Fire Opal
Several Demantoid Garnets from Namibia including a PAIR!
Spessartite Cabs (2) look like gum drops, very clean
Hackmanite (an important variety of sodalite) exhibits unusual phenomenon known as reversible photochromism
Reddish Orange Spinel from Burma
Red Spinel (fine color) from Burma
Unheated Tanzanite
10mm Blue-Purple Tanzanite
Namibian Blue-Green Tourmaline
Purplish Mozambique Tourmaline Cab
Unusual and Rare Blue Zircon
Unique Example of Broad Flash Fire Agate
Black and White Zoned Agate Cab
Included Quartz with large Breadcrumb inclusion with Tourmaline needles
Chinese "Year of" bracelet
1500+ct Carved Lizard - Jade (could be much heavier - we don't have a scale that weigh it!)
Three Brasilian Naturally Terminated Tourmaline Crystals
3.59ct Yellowish Pyrope-Spessartine Garnet

Gemstones in Cutting:
Three gemstones are currently being refaceted by our Master Cutter. They are a certed Ruby, an unusual Teal Sapphire which will be a Radiant, and a nice deep Blue Namibian Tourmaline! We thought that the beauty of these gemstones could be improved by being tweeked eventhough the cost of recutting and weight loss will be costly. We hope to have them available on line just before the next monthly email is sent out.

The Tucson Show is around the corner....

All That Glitters Website and Info Changes for November 2011!

2011-10-28T10:20:00.000-07:00

Here are the changes to look for on the All That Glitters Website for November 2011:

This Months Special: Two Pieces of Very Fine Mushroom Jasper - Cab and Bead

This Months Gem News: Flooding in Thailand Continues...

Newly Faceted or Photographed Gemstones:

A nice smoky orange 0.35ct Round Diamond, former possession of the owner of
All That Glitters.

An unusual piece of Opal with Dendrites, with an internal landscape - visible only when hydrated!

Two super Watermelon Slices - decades old and removed from our vaults.

Large piece of Mookaite from Australia, with one side being polished and the other, natural.

The Kunzite from the OceanView Mine (Big Kanuna II) is faceted - 18.85cts; museums have been contacted but

unforunately, they tend toward donations vs. purchases! One person from GIA whom we sent the photo to, had the following to say - "What a beautiful stone! I have been following the Oceanview story, and am quite pleased to see such a nice kunzite cut from the recent production. "

Two Nice Pieces of Mushroom Jasper - one cab and one tablet which can be strung.

Due to our traveling abroad for about a month, please be patient with email inquiries. Phone calls to our main office will go unanswered during our time away, but if you wish, you can leave a message. We would recommend email as we hope to have an internet connection every few days. Sales will be based on the date/time stamp of emails or via payments received using PayPal.

No December Email or Changes(?) to the Website due to Buying Trip - Thailand and Sri Lanka.

In preparation for our trip abroad and to turn inventory into cash, we have offered a number of items on our website to those in the trade. Normally, the trade will look at items on a regular basis or find us via search engines. The trade is welcome to make purchases when they see items of interest on our website. The website is designed more for the public and we don't necessarily offer all of the stones found on the website to the trade - we have several thousand items and it is easier to show stores/goldsmiths items that have not been photographed so that the website does not have to be updated. The trade has been quite active by purchasing many of the pieces recently offered to them, so you will see many items that are currently marked as Sold, and there will be more to follow as payment is received.

On a related topic of the above - Many of you might have noticed that SOLD items and their associated photos haven't been removed from our website for a number of months. We will update all pages and clean up the SOLD items by the end of the year or just into the New Year. We used to remove sold items after 30 days, but have been asked to leave photos/descriptions longer so that people can see unique pieces that we have sold and that had been previously available.

All That Glitters Website and Info Changes for October 2011!

2011-09-30T06:53:00.000-07:00

Here are the changes to look for on the All That Glitters Website for October 2011:

This Months Special: 4.58ct US Faceted Oregon Sunstone

A large ROUND 4.56ct Natural Oregon Sunstone, mined in October 2008 and faceted in the U.S. Not seen very often in larger rounds. Interesting pattern which gives the design a slight swirl - LOTS of sparkle

This Months Gem News: Gemstones Continue to Rise - Investing in Gemstones with Clarity...

An interesting article including comments from All That Glitters

Newly Faceted or Photographed Gemstones:

Large piece of Mookaite from Australia, with one side being polished and the other, natural.

The Kunzite from the OceanView Mine (Big Kanuna II) is faceted - 18.85cts; museums have been contacted but

Two Nice Pieces of Mushroom Jasper - one cab and one tablet which can be strung.

No December Email or Changes to the Website (?) due to Buying Trip - Thailand and Sri Lanka.

Gemstone Prices Continue to Rise - Investing in Gemstones with Clarity...

2011-09-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

We found an interesting article on line that discusses gemstones as an investment. We have allways said that gemstones should be purchased because of a need (engagement whether Diamond or Other Gemstone - Most recently a couple created an engagement ring with an Alexandrite!), or for the appreciation or rarity and beauty. As the article explains, gemstones can be a good investment (and we do have many collectors and investors that purchase our gemstones annually), but it is necessary to purchase at the right price and not overpay. All That Glitters was founded because the owner had a desire to purchase gemstones, did not have sufficient funds to overpay for gemstones and therefore, the best way to purchase at the right price was to delve into the topic, become a Gemologist, travel the world and buy at the best price - they expanded to recutting gemstones as well as faceting from rough, designing and creating custom jewelry, and much more... The goal of All That Glitters was then to pass the savings onto our customers, whether the public or gemstone/jewelry trade. Our income is 90% to the trade. Our prices online range from below wholesale, wholesale or in between wholesale and retail - it all depends on how we buy.

Due to the economy, bank and CD interest, the stockmarket and other investment vehicles, we feel comfortable with our money in Fine Quality Colored Gemstones. Bank and CD interest is essentially nill. We have never made money in the stockmarket, and a financial advisor indicated last month that funds invested over past 30 years in the stockmarket (individual stocks, mutual funds, bonds, money market, etc.) will NEVER be re-couped with such high value losses. With many companies disappearing, as well as those funds invested in their stock, the end result is thousands of dollars disappearing without even a pretty stock certificate to hang on the wall. At least with hard assets (precious metals, precious gemstones, art, antiques and the like), at least there is something to tangibly hold and sell in the long run...

As our main page states near the bottom:
All That Glitters: Making the Unaffordable, Affordable - for over 30 years.

The article below is worthwhile reading. Again, due to where we stand in the gemstone foodchain, so to say, there are some incredible buys on our website. As one of our new customers found out late last year with the purchase of a fine blue Sapphire, it was appraised at twice what he paid from All That Glitters....

<< Investing in Gemstones with Clarity... >>

As indicated previously, we do go directly to the source for gemstones.
In fact, there will be no website changes (Monthly Special, Monthly News, Monthly Email, etc.) because we will be abroad in Asia and neighboring countries purchasing gemstones over a months timeframe.

All That Glitters Website and Info Changes for September 2011!

2011-08-31T16:49:00.000-07:00

The Latest All That Glitters Website News for September 2011 includes the following:

Monthly Special: 4+ct Greenish Yellow Cats Eye Tourmaline!

Monthly News: OceanView Mine Big Kahuna II Kunzite in Cutting

Newly Photographed:
Two Doubly Terminated Spodumene Crystals
6.4mm, 1.23ct Wonderfully Colored Round Blue Sapphire
Clear Quartz with Hedenbergite crystals in a starburst like pattern
Framed Moss Agate sections - looks like stained glass when held up
Canadian Ammolite Pieces
780+ct Malachite with Chrysocolla mineral specimen from Zaire
Moldavite from Benednice frequently called a 'hedgehog' due to structure
Ethiopian Opals
Blue-Green Brasilian Bi-Color Tourmaline
2.94ct Round US Faceted Fuchia Tourmaline (old stock - Nigeria)
2.27ct Very Dispersive Greenish Yellow Sphene, U.S. Faceted
==> In cutting, an OceanView Mine Big Kahuna II CA Kunzite
(see this Months News!)

All That Glitters Website and Info Changes for August 2011!

2011-07-27T12:46:00.000-07:00

The Latest All That Glitters Website News for August 2011 includes the following:

Monthly Special: Certed Natural Unheated Ruby - 10% off!

Monthly News: U.S. Gemstones/Minerals in Recent News
Maine Continues to Produce Tourmaline

Newly Photographed:

A large Rhodolite over 6cts

4 Newly Cabbed Ethiopian Opal of various colors and qualities
New photos of a 0.93ct Natural Alexandrite

The last of the Uniquely Colored Purple Garnet to be photographed - just under 3cts

Purchasing of new gemstones has been difficult as explained in previous emails, our blog, the news, etc. due to dramatically increasing prices and two countries that have incredible buying power and a rapidly emerging middle class.

All That Glitters Website and Info Changes for July 2011!

2011-07-01T17:50:00.000-07:00

We have been trying our best to find fine quality colored gemstones at good prices so we can offer stores/goldsmiths, as well as our on-line customers prices lower than expected - but to no avail. We are constantly being outbid, and it isn't as if we are missing by a few dollars or even a few hundred dollars. It can be thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. For instance, one item sold for 6 times what we were willing to pay. Other items we have seen were up to 10 times what one would expect to pay; and we have seen all kinds of prices in between. This is the norm of what we have been hearing from our associates abroad. These prices will trickle down to everyone in the future.

Here are the changes to look for on the All That Glitters website for July 2011:

This Months Special: Petrified Wood from Arizona!

Petrified Wood from Arizona weighing approximately 6.2lbs and measuring approximately 6.5"(h)x4.5"9(w)x3.5"(d); currently in the East Coast Office but will be traveling west to the winter office; may become a permanent fixture there!

This Months Gem News: U.S. Gemstones/Minerals in Recent News

Update on the large Emerald found in North Carolina. It has been faceted from

the original rough and then re-faceted!

Newly Faceted or Photographed Gemstones:

We have been trying to purchase new material, but with prices increasing so rapidly, we are always outbid. However, we did manage a real find - An over 1ct (1.18ct to be exact) certified UNHEATED Natural Ruby from the famous Winza strike in Africa. Nice color, good sparkle, eye clean.....

A wonderful example of fine Ethiopian Opal in Matrix - a must for a collector!

Recent American Gems/Minerals in the News....

2011-07-01T17:47:00.000-07:00

In one of our past editions of our Monthly News, we noted the large Emerald found in North Carolina (August 2009). This 62.09gram (310.45ct) resulted in a faceted free-form step cut that weighed 74.66cts - that's about a 24% yield from the rough, but about 20% more than the average rough calculations estimate. This was recut by another facetor and yielded a 64.83ct hexagonally shaped gemstone. When looking at the shape of the piece of rough, this is the shape that I personally believe would produce the best yield, as this was roughly the shape of the rough, the habit of a Beryl (Emerald) crystal. The final yield is about 21%. This gemstone has been named the Carolina Emperor and is the largest faceted U.S. Emerald.

One can read more of this on line by using a search engine or by obtaining a copy of Gems and Gemology Magazine (GIA), Winter 2010.

Canadian diamond fetches $2.8 million...

2011-06-11T05:38:00.001-07:00

As the Art Market Goes, So the Gemstone Market Goes....

2011-06-04T08:23:00.000-07:00

In keeping with some of our other posts about the new world order of buyers, the art market is very much alive in Asia. As indicated previously, China is now buying art, gemstones and everything in general, so watch prices increase dramatically...

Check out the recent news below regarding a recent Christies auction:

The Asian market was on every enthusiast’s radar this past week, following a series of highly successful Christies auctions spread over six days. Works by Zao Wou-Ki, Zeng Fanzhi, Fang Lijun, and Zhang Daqian drove the art spree, with sales climbing to more than HK$1.77 billion ($227 million). "The art market tends to follow wealth and the greatest wealth is being created in Asia," said Magnus Renfrew, director of Art HK, which ended Monday night.

Following the fallout from Bainbridges over the unpaid Chinese-vase fiasco, Christie’s initiated a deposit requirement of HK$1 million for bidders on any items valued at HK$8 million or more. This did not seem to deter the big-ticket buyers, as five lots sold for more than HK$30 million and 17 more sold for over HK$10 million while eighteen world records were broken.

Saturday’s sale of 20th Century and Contemporary Asian art alone fetched HK$492.6 million ($63 million), doubling the pre-sale estimate and setting the bar as Christie’s highest-ever sale in the category. At the blockbuster evening event, 45 lots were offered and all but two found buyers with 95% sold by value. The top two lots of the night came from Zao Wou Ki, whose 2.11.59 was hammered down at over HK$40 million ($5 million) to a private Asian buyer for several times its pre-sale estimate (HK$10-15 million).

All That Glitters Website and Info Changes for June 2011!

2011-05-28T05:45:00.000-07:00

Gold continues to climb and prices in gemstones and most things are increasing. As noted before, Americans will be out in the cold as more of the population of India and China continue to buy everything of interest and value as their standards of living increase as well does their income. China's salaries are catching up to those in Mexico. As stated on NPR yesterday, in the future the America economy will continue to improve as China continues it's growth; those living in that country will become wealthier. As Americans shift position in the list of global salaries/income, America will not be purchasing from China as we will not be able to afford Chinese products, but we will certainly be SELLING to China and that will increase income and stimulate the American economy....

Sales have been quite brisk. It is interesting to note that there have been several inquiries of late requesting more information on items. Once provided, given assurances on returns if necessary, indicating that they should read more on our website to understand who we are, testimonials, ATG in the News/Trade, they don't pull the trigger to make the purchase and then loose the item because another customer or store made the purchase first.

If there is something that you feel you would like to purchase, don't be afraid as it is a win-win situation. We have a 7-day return policy and a lifetime guarantee. You can read more on our Policies Page:

http://www.atggems.com/Policies.htm

We have an outstanding 30 year record of customer satisfaction, which includes value. With only about 5 returns in all those years, this is an unheard of track record. Those 5 returns were not because the customer didn't like the gemstone or didn't feel it was a great purchase/value, but related to loosing one's employment on the Monday following the purchase, or one's family member believing that Emeralds only come from Columbia and not Brasil! (Of course, we typically know the country of origin when selling an item since we are very close to the source which saves our customers money. We do attempt to put origin on our receipts. Had we not stated Brasil, there would have been no problem. There are some extremely fine Emeralds that come from Zambia, Brasil and at times even North Carolina!)

Here are the changes to look for on the All That Glitters website for June 2011:

This Months Special: Last of the Smaller Purple Garnets...

An incredible true saturated purple, this color has been hot for us due to the

rarity. A bargain for this months special, and the price includes shipping!

This Months Gem News: Canadian diamond fetches $2.8 million

Diamonds in Canada? Oh yes, and they have been there for many millions of years. Only in the past few decades has the exploration truly begun and more and more faceted Canadian diamonds are being seen in certain markets...

Newly Faceted or Photographed Gemstones:

A wonderful example of fine Ethiopian Opal in Matrix - a must for a collector!

Two pairs of partial brass gold counterweight cups used in Nevada in probably the late 1800s.

Lots of unique one of a kind pieces, exactly what one expects from All That Glitters - see below!

We have added a number of fine agate pieces. We couldn't pass on these items because the colors, patterns, sizes and the fact that they were aesthetically beautiful and all natural! Hard to believe that nature can create such wonderful items and we don't even have to facet them - just polish.... Another great find was a piece of Arizona Petrified Wood with the top and front polished, but all the sides have intact bark - really a nice specimen!

Also, Recently Photographed Items Include the following:

Faceted Quartz with Blue Fluorite Crystals

3 INCREDIBLE Flashy Ethiopian Opals, chosen from a large parcel. The Best of the Best. Amazing Colors - photos do not do them justice.

A large Agate Slice with stand - great in reflected light and even better via transmitted light!

4 Fine Pieces of Canadian Ammolite (spent hours choosing only 4 pieces)

18 Pieces of the Finest ARIZONA Fire Agate that I have seen. Got first pick on new material - scarce and not being mined and prices are crazy...

6 pieces of the much awaited Fordite (haven't had this material for years)

Purple Garnet including 3 sets of Matched Pairs - selling below the current wholesale prices seen in two dealers inventory

Two sparking Green Grossular Garnet (1 Round Tsavorite and 1 Cushion Deep Neon Mint Merelani)

270cts Owyhee Sunset Picture Jasper - and what a picture!

Quartz with Tourmaline Needles and some other mineral that looks like Cotton Candy!

62ct Quartz Crystal with phantom(?), green chlorite inclusions and ???

Round NEON Pink Sapphire

Deep Purple Sapphire with blue highlights

A signed Rapp With Wood Rhodochrosite/Turquoise Custom One-of-a-Kind Wooden Jewelry box - usually sold in high end galleries

A Fossilized Wood (Agate) Hand-Carved Octopus watching over eggs

Fossilized Walrus Ivory worked by Eskimos for their survival with scrimshaw applied hundreds of years later - both items have appeared in a book on gemstones

Large Price Increases Expected on Gems and More...

2011-05-25T12:32:00.000-07:00

Sales have been quite brisk and might be due to the fact that Gold continues to climb and prices in gemstones and most things are increasing. As noted before, Americans will be out in the cold as more of the population of India and China continue to buy everything of interest and value as their standards of living increase as well does their income. China's salaries are catching up to those in Mexico. As stated on NPR yesterday, in the future the America economy will continue to improve as China continues it's growth; those living in that country will become wealthier. As Americans shift position in the list of global salaries/income, America will not be purchasing from China as we will not be able to afford Chinese products, but we will certainly be SELLING to China and that will increase income and stimulate the American economy....

It currently looks as if Americans will be out of the gemstone market shortly due to pricing, until they recognize that this is a new world order and Americans no longer control the market. As the owner of All That Glitters stated to other dealers in Tucson this year - "American dealers will not be able to purchase gemstones abroad and the only selling or buying that will occur in the US will be between dealers, until our old stock is depleted. Once our inventories are gone, we WILL HAVE TO PAY the current prices if we are to remain in business."

All That Glitters Website and Info Changes for May 2011!

2011-05-25T12:29:00.000-07:00

Here are the changes to look for on the All That Glitters website for May 2011:

This Months Special: 2.33ct Deep Pink Round Tourmaline, U.S. Cut

This is OLD Nigerian Pink Tourmaline - selling at this months special below the current

wholesale!

This Months Gem News: $25 Million in Jewelry From Paris Harry Winston Store Recovered

Read more by visiting our Monthly News Page and visiting the link for more details...

Newly Faceted or Photographed Gemstones:

http://www.atggems.com/Photos_New.htm

A large piece of uniquely colored Opal that had issues and we cannot continue to cab it, but a great collectors piece!

Two pairs of partial brass gold counterweight cups used in Nevada in probably the late 1800s.

Lots of unique one of a kind pieces, exactly what one expects from All That Glitters!

All That Glitters Website and Info Changes for April 2011!

2011-03-30T11:31:00.000-07:00

Here are the changes to look for on the All That Glitters website for April 2011:

This Months Special: Save 10% on Fordite - Choose the piece that you like best!

Choose from several pieces of this naturally occurring oddity!

This Months Gem News: 12,000+ct Rough Tanzanite Found!

TanzaniteOne Ltd. has recovered a 12,000-plus ct. tanzanite, one of the largest tanzanite gemstones ever found, it announced March 1...

Newly Faceted or Photographed Gemstones:
http://www.atggems.com/Photos_New.htm

Lots of unique one of a kind pieces, exactly what one expects from All That Glitters!

We have added a number of fine agate pieces. We couldn't pass on these items because the colors, patterns,

sizes and the fact that they were aesthetically beautiful and all natural! Hard to believe that nature can create such wonderful items and we don't even have to facet them - just polish.... Another great find was a piece of Arizona Petrified Wood with the top and front polished, but all the sides have intact bark - really a nice specimen!

Also, Recently Photographed Items Include the following:

Faceted Quartz with Blue Fluorite Crystals

3 INCREDIBLE Flashy Ethiopian Opals, chosen from a large parcel. The Best of the Best. Amazing Colors - photos do not do them justice.

A large Agate Slice with stand - great in reflected light and even better via transmitted light!

4 Fine Pieces of Canadian Ammolite (spent hours choosing only 4 pieces)

18 Pieces of the Finest ARIZONA Fire Agate that I have seen. Got first pick on new material - scarce and not being mined and prices are crazy...

6 pieces of the much awaited Fordite (haven't had this material for years)

Purple Garnet including 3 sets of Matched Pairs - selling below the current wholesale prices seen in two dealers inventory

Two sparking Green Grossular Garnet (1 Round Tsavorite and 1 Cushion Deep Neon Mint Merelani)

270cts Owyhee Sunset Picture Jasper - and what a picture!

Quartz with Tourmaline Needles and some other mineral that looks like Cotton Candy!

361ct Enhydro Light Smoky Quartz (if not sold by late April, a dealer wants it for his private collection)

62ct Quartz Crystal with phantom(?), green chlorite inclusions and ???

Round NEON Pink Sapphire

Deep Purple Sapphire with blue highlights

A signed Rapp With Wood Rhodochrosite/Turquoise Custom One-of-a-Kind Wooden Jewelry box - usually sold in high end galleries

A Fossilized Wood (Agate) Hand-Carved Octopus watching over eggs

Fossilized Walrus Ivory worked by Eskimos for their survival with scrimshaw applied hundreds of years later - both items have appeared in a book on gemstones

Customer Purchases $8,000+ 3.30ct Blue Sapphire from All That Glitters, appraised in PA store at $15,000 retail!

We know that our prices are at wholesale, below wholesale, just over wholesale, or in between wholesale and retail, but our forte is not the retail market since our sales are 90% to the trade. Our thoughts were that this piece would be perhaps 50% more in a storefront, but the appraiser felt otherwise, appraising it at over 80% more than the All That Glitters customer purchase price...

All That Glitters Current Inventory of our Available Published
Gemstones - View All That Glitters Gemstones that have appeared in Books, Magazines and Articles and that are available for purchase...

http://www.atggems.com/Photos_Published.htm

*** Updated Recently so please visit and let us know your thoughts!

Another Trade Perspective on Sales, Increasing Prices and the New Buyers....

2011-03-30T10:54:00.000-07:00

Although the foot traffic at our booth (Tucson 2011) seemed to be about the same as last year, people spent more money and high end goods were in demand. Other dealers we spoke with supported our view that high end and unique goods did quite well.

...the challenge has been to buy stones at the price we like. All fine stones have increased; some dramatically. Good to fine rubies lead the increases (verified by Christie’s sale of an 8+ carat stone for $3.6 million).

Sapphire, Tsavorites, Spinels, Tourmaline and other high quality stones have also taken big jumps. The reason is simple; increasing world demand and not much supply. Countries that are getting wealthy, like Russia, India and China, have populations that have historically stored their wealth in gold and gems. The continuing world turbulence, as witnessed in the Middle East and Japan, as well as the well documented financial crisis in the U.S and Europe, has increased people’s interest in owning portable hard assets.

The lower end and middle markers in the U.S remain sluggish, although they are showing some slight improvement. I have noticed that even these markets are getting somewhat more demanding as they require better cutting of stones and higher quality of workmanship. Our expectation is that the U.S market will continue to improve.

Another factor impacting our industry has been metal prices. With the surges in prices of gold, platinum and silver have come some interesting reactions. Palladium is getting closer examination by manufacturers. Silver is taking a more prominent position in high end goods. More consideration is being given to designs that use less metal.

(As we indicated in a previous publications, silver is becoming the new gold - visit our Jewelry Photos page for custom hand-made sterling silver pieces with unusual All That Glitters gemstones, cabochons and more! http://www.atggems.com/Photos_Jewelry.htm)

12,000ct Tanzanite Crystal Found

2011-03-25T13:58:00.000-07:00

Posted on March 1, 2011 (JCK Online Article)

TanzaniteOne Ltd. has recovered a 12,000-plus ct. tanzanite, one of the largest tanzanite gemstones ever found, it announced March 1.
The 12,100 ct. rough stone was discovered at the company's flagship tanzanite project in the Simanjiro district of Tanzania. Initial examinations have indicated that it is the third largest tanzanite recovered by the company and could be the third largest tanzanite stone ever found....

Read More on the following page and view a Photo!
http://www.jckonline.com/2011/03/01/12000-carat-tanzanite-discovered

If the above page is not found, use a search engine with key words of:
12,000 carat Tanzanite Found

Large Gold Nugget Sells at Auction in March 2011

2011-03-25T13:32:00.000-07:00

The nugget found in 2010 in Nevada County that has been reported on the news, in the newspapers, on-line and in the All That Glitters Monthly News as well as our Blog, has been sold. The nugget sold for $460,000 in mid-March 2011.

The actual gold content was somewhere about $170,000 (depending on the price of gold and this figure is based on approx $1400 per troy ounce). Fine mineral specimens, whether gold or crystals, typically sell well above the price of gold or gemstone content, due to rarity and beauty. Unfortunately, many fine specimens are melted or faceted, thus saving fine specimens can actually increase the final selling price.

You can read more on the following link:
http://www.usgoldbureau.com/news/565-washington-nugget-sells-460000

Should the above link be broken, use a search engine with key words of:
gold nugget $460,000

The nugget was sold to an East Coast client and was discovered in Nevada County, only about 40 minutes away from the All That Glitters winter office. (Can you think of any mineral/gemstone collectors from back east who would have an interest in a unique/rare specimen of California Gold Country, living in one hour proximity of where the nugget was auctioned????)

Note that All That Glitters has some fine small gold specimens from Australia, typically sold as 3 piece parcels and there is one large 1/2 ounce specimen! Though they sell for more than the current price of gold, it is nothing like the markup that one sees in the large nugget mentioned above! You can view our gold nuggets by searching the Misc Pages (1-5) found in our Photos Gallery Page: http://www.atggems.com/Photo_Gallery.htm

3 Compliments from All That Glitters Customers in 1 Day!

2011-02-21T09:01:00.001-08:00

Though we typically ask our customers to send an email when they have received their gemstones and let us know their thoughts, we only sometimes hear back. With everyone being busy, unless there are problems or issues, we don't often receive acknowledgement. In 30 years in this business, we have rarely had any returns; perhaps about 5 in that timeframe. For those returns, it was due to reasons/circumstances which we understand - in one case, the woman lost her job upon returning to work on Monday after purchasing an aquamarine at our show on Saturday. Another involved a ring purchased for someone by their boyfriend; the women loved the gemstone, but didn't care for the design of the setting - so we redesigned it for her! One person was trying to match another gemstone and that can be difficult to do in more rare gemstones, even for those in the trade.

This past week, we received some feedback from our customers; three emails with feedback to be precise. We wanted to share them with those that read our blog.

I just received my Purple Garnet the other day,and it is a knockout! It is truly a very impressive stone. Beautiful color,large size,a real treasure to behold. This is my first order with Allen,and i am very impressed. Not only with the stone. Allen is more than just a professional in his trade. He is a real pleasure to talk to. A real down to earth guy. And very helpful too. If you are thinking about ordering from Allen,i highly recommend that you do. You will not be disappointed! Thanks again! (JF)

Thank you for the beautiful sapphire. I exceeded my expectations. The blue color is outstanding and the color change is remarkable. Anytime I need a gem in the future, I will make sure to contact you. Also, I will recommend you to family and friends looking for an honest gem provider. (RB)

I really appreciate the notice... I do look at your site weekly and at times daily. I love your gems and your customer service is second to none. (BB)

Price Increases in Gemstones Verified First Hand

2011-02-21T08:40:00.000-08:00

While in attendance of the Tucson Gem Show (not the retail show, but the wholesale shows), the owner of All That Glitters talked with dealers both in the US and abroad. It was evident in pricing that this is a new market. Russians have been buying over the past year or so, but now gemstones have been selling internally within India whereas gemstones were mostly all exported previously. The biggest change and influence is that China has entered the market, paying whatever is necessary to obtain what they want. All three countries were not considered buyers in this market or even other markets until recently. The Chinese are literally moving the market prices.

Price increases of 50% to over 2000% (that's 20 times) over last year were seen. Though All That Glitters sell gemstones based on prices paid and attempts to price below wholesale, at wholesale or between wholesale and retail, our current prices are outrageously low. We examined similar items 'when' we could find the same size, good color/cutting/clarity, etc. Similar All That Glitters Burmese Ruby was way below what NY companies and one Russian company were asking wholesale. Their prices ranged from 1.3 to 3.5 times (respectively) higher than the All That Glitters price. Since this was wholesale, one can expect to see a 50% to 100% market on material like this in retail stores 'if' one can find similar quality of these rubies. The embargo also affects the price of this material and nothing new has come into the country for years.

The above is just one case. We have also heard that China and other countries are driving up other prices. Corn (and therefore, beef, chicken, pork, cereal) are increasing and the price of cotton has increased to record levels and one will see this in clothing prices. It is expected to increase about 26% or so this year.

With the interest yields of banks/CDs and the option of putting ones funds in the stockmarket, our belief and experience here is that though one may do very well in a few stocks stocks at times, other stocks that are held may be losers, so the end result is that one breaks even after x number of years without even keeping up with inflation,. Fine quality gemstones continues to be a better place to put funds if one buys quality at a good price, and also enjoys what one has purchased.

Welcome to the new reality as other countries become major purchasers of commodities across the world stage.

Gemstone Dealer Sees Prices of Fine Gems Increasing

2011-01-22T09:34:00.000-08:00

In an email from one of our associates living abroad and who travels to different countries to purchase gem materials, he had the following to say recently:

"Prices are very high as the Chinese and Russians are buying up top stones ans paying top prices. Not much new stone coming."

Update on the 9 lb CA Gold Nugget

2011-01-09T09:11:00.000-08:00

The 9 pound CA Gold Nugget supposedly found in the Northern California early in 2010, is apparently a true story for the most part, but the weight has decreased by 33%.

The 6 pound nugget goes up for auction in March 2011.

Information is still available on line should you wish to use a search engine to read more. Try key words such as "6 pound California Gold Nugget".

All That Glitters Monthly Info and Website Changes for January 2011

2010-12-29T18:43:00.000-08:00

2010 has passed with record speed. 2011 is here and we celebrate our 30th year selling to the gemstone trade, investors, collectors and the general public!

Happy New Year to All!

Here are the changes to look for on the All That Glitters website for January 2011:

This Months Special: Yellow Zircon - Choose the shape you desire!
These gems have a great color, are well cut, eye clean and under the right lights, dispersion!
There are 3 gemstones that you can choose from and you can save money on any of them - choose the trilliant, the pear shape or the fancy cut. Three people can be satisfied with a gemstone from this parcel as well as the savings - or perhaps once wishes to purchase all three; make a ring, pendant and pin!

This Months Gem News: 9 Pound Gold Nugget Found in California - Fact or Fiction????

Newly Faceted or Photographed Gemstones:
Our Synthetic Alexandrite has arrived back from the cutters, and we have sizes ranging from 6mm to 10mm Rounds as well as Square Princess Cuts. Of course, we have our Exclusive Custom All That Glitters Elegante Cut from approximately 5x7mm up to 9x7mm.

It's Almost Tucson Time:
If there is anything on your wish list, I will be meeting with many of our associates and perhaps they have what you seek/desire even if we don't. Feel free to send us a note telling us what you would be interested in, and we will attempt to do our best to locate it at the best price possible!

9 Pound Gold Nugget Found in California - Fact or Fiction????

2010-12-29T18:21:00.000-08:00

A story seen on tv and appearing in newspapers earlier in 2010 is raising some questions about whether this unusual find is indeed true. If true, this is another one of natures wonders, but there have been even larger nuggets found in California - we have read where a 50+ pound nugget being found in the past. In order to remove all skepticism, the nugget has to be produced and made available to the media...

Read more about the controversy regarding this nugget which was found not too far from the All That Glitters West Coast Office!:
< Nugget in Question >

You can read more about this story by Googling '9 pound gold nugget'.

All That Glitters Monthly Info and Website Changes for December 2010

2010-11-29T21:02:00.000-08:00

Here are the changes to look for on the All That Glitters website for December 2010:

This Months Special: 3.57ct Golden Yellow Oval Chrysoberyl - Save $200!

This Months Gem News: 24.78-Carat Pink Diamond Breaks Record

Newly Faceted or Photographed Gemstones:

http://www.atggems.com/Photos_New.htm

A 1.42ct Round Deep Red Burmese Spinel is available, as well as some unique one-of-a-kind Tourmaline Slices. We have some of our Synthetic Alexandrite being fashioned into the ATG Elegante Cut of various sizes, and perhaps a few rounds too.

24.78-Carat Pink Diamond Breaks Record

2010-11-26T15:19:00.000-08:00

Recently sold at a Sothebys, this exceptionally important and exquisite fancy intense pink diamond sets a new record!...

View Video Discussing this Rarity! < Video >

Auction Catalog Description and Selling Price: < More Info >

All That Glitters Monthly Info and Website Changes for November 2010

2010-11-01T05:37:00.000-07:00

Latest All That Glitters Website News for November 2010 includes the following:

This Months Special: Nice Yelllow 11.76ct Opal from Brasil with Dentritic Incusions

This unique piece shows perfect symmetry displaying the lacy fern-like growth of the dentrites. Super for a pendant or a collects piece - wouldn't make a bad ring either!

This Months Gem News: Two Interesting Articles in Gems and Gemology, Summer 2010 Issue!

The Wittlesbach-Graff and Hope Diamonds: Not Cut from the Same Rough

Play-of-Color Opal from Wegel Tena, Wollo Province, Ethiopia

Newly Faceted or Photographed Gemstones:

We have posted the Dendritic Watermelon Tourmaline Slice that was featured in last months Gem News. GIA and one of THE authorities of Inclusions within Gemstones, have never heard of this occurring previously. Though everyone agrees that the conditions could occur for dendritic formation, an example has never been found until now. All That Glitters has what could be the first known piece of Dendritic Tourmaline and it is also a Watermelon Tourmaline! Now offered for sale...

A 56.35ct Tourmaline Slice of Clear, Various Greens and Black - mercedes symbol internally? Possible, this came from the country known for this - Madagascar.
An incredible multi-colored Tourmaline Slice of pink, orange, green and more! This is a whopping 90+ct piece. We haven't seen anything like this before in the past either!

Two small specimens of Demantoid Garnet from the relatively new Madagascar strike!

Nothing currently in the faceting process. We are considering having some of our Ethiopian Opal fashioned, as well as our Synthetic Alexandrite faceted in our Custom Elegante design. The smaller pieces of 2-3cts are hard to keep in stock when available.

All That Glitters Current Inventory of our Available Published
Gemstones - View All That Glitters Gemstones that have appeared in
Books, Magazines and Articles and that are available for
purchase.

Changed - We have updated this page as the author has informed us which

All That Glitters photos will be published.

The owner of All That Glitters appears in one of the photos!

Lower Prices On Some KEY Gemstones....

Some gemstones which appeared on the Published paged have been removed from this page and their prices have been lowered - In some cases, dramatically. Though still fine and unusual for many reasons, since the photo will not appear in a book or magazine (for the time being), the associated premium has been removed. Even those gemstones which have been published and seen around the world, are still at prices that one would expect to pay on a Retail level. Though higher than our norm, they are still very reasonable when compared to the quality, rarity and the fact they may respresent their species in a book or magazine!

Lead Glass-Filled Ruby in Antique Jewelry

2010-10-29T16:14:00.000-07:00

Another article recently found in Gems and Gemology, Summer 2010, in the Gem News International section....

Paraphrasing the article - More and more of the lead glass filled rubies are being seen in retail stores, jewelry websites and TV Shopping Channels. Even an old setting with seed pearls and mine cut diamonds had a new lead glass filled ruby in the center!

We stay away from this type of enhancement. Heat is now a normal occurrence in Sapphire and Ruby - it is more rare NOT to be heated and unheated gemstones can have a premium associated with them. Many Rubies are being filled to hide the cracks and issues most have. Our Burmese Rubies are free of this issue as can be seen in the certs. Though heated, even if some of the borax used as a catalyst gets sucked into a pit the size of a pin prick, the cert will indicate some sort of filler. This is very different than the lead glass filler which is usually performed on gemstones that would otherwise not be considered gem grade. We have seen some Rubies while in Chantaburi, Thailand, that were more glass than Ruby!

Learn more about what is being done to Ruby and Sapphire on our Learn More Page:

< Learn More >

To see Fine Ruby from Burma (prior to the embargo), visit our Ruby Photos Page where we discuss treatments of Ruby also:

< Ruby Photos Page >

Tanzanite and Other Gems Set with Colored Adhesive

2010-10-29T16:05:00.000-07:00

Article appears in Gems and Gemology Magazine, Summer 2010, in the Gem News International section.

To paraphrase, a goldsmith in CA was working with gemstones set in a few bezel set rings, and mounted with Colored Glue. Rings came from a customer who had obtained them from a TV Shopping network. This colored glue enhanced the color of the original gemstones - Ruby, Amethyst and Tanzanite. After the adhesive was removed, the colors of the gemstones appeared much lighter. "The colored adhesive was obviously intended to enhance the appearance of the stones, as well as to help hold them in their mountings...buyer beware!"

Gee, where else have we heard Buyer Beware? We have been tell our customers and the public about all the issues, scams and enhancements that are out there - all meant to take your money! Visit our Learn More page to read some of the articles that All That Glitters has written.

< Learn More >

With All That Glitters, we disclose all we know about the gemstone and have an incredible Life Time Guarantee when it comes to something like this....

< Life Time Guarantee>

Gems & Gemology Articles, Summer 2010

2010-10-23T08:38:00.001-07:00

Two good articles have appeared in Gems and Gemology Magazine, which is published by GIA - The Gemological Institute of America. http://www.gia.edu

The Wittlesbach-Graff and Hope Diamonds: Not Cut from the Same Rough

As the title indicates these two diamonds, thought to possibly be from the same piece of rough, have been determined to have come from two different pieces of diamond rough.

All That Glitters heard this information first hand before any articles had been published because of an unexpected discussion over dinner in Tucson of 2010. A number of distinguished members of the gem related trade/community assembled for dinner at the invite of All That Glitters. This included a former colored gemstone editor, a well known facetor and a few custom jewelers. The topic of conversation was soon opened up by the past editor of a well known jewelry/gemstone magazine. He was unexpectedly invited to the Smithsonian to perform some of the photography and be present when these two important historical diamonds were studied side by side. This gentleman slid his laptop computer around the table as we viewed still images and video clips of these two famous diamonds, while he told his story of how he even got to photograph the Hope Diamond while in his hand.

The owner of All That Glitters was also friends of art dealer who was raised/lived in NYC area and who went to school with Evalyn Walsh McLean's daughter (Ms. McLean was the last owner of the Hope Diamond prior to it's arrival at the Smithsonian). He said that he had even held it during one of his visits to the McLean's household. This same gentleman also had the good fortune to know Mr. Gallo, of the famous Gallo Wine Family - Mr. Gallo had given him a small painting by one of the Dutch Masters! Though this acquaintance of the owner of All That Glitters has had good luck, the McLean family had the opposite luck. Mr. McLean left Evalyn for another woman, lost his fortune and ended up in an asylum. Their son was killed in a car accident, and the daughter mentioned above, died of a drug overdose.

To learn more about the interesting history of the Hope Diamond, visit the following link:
http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/hope/hmain.html

Play-of-Color Opal from Wegel Tena, Wollo Province, Ethiopia

This relatively new find of Opal from Ethiopia has been taking the gem trade by storm, so to say. Previous material from this country tended to be chocolate brown as well as what one normally thinks of Opal. The older material had a tendency to crack. With this new find, the material has been quite stable and the colors span the rainbow, displaying play of color in various patterns. They are gemologically interesting as when they are placed into water, they become entirely transparent. Upon drying, they return to their original body color. This is called Hydrophane Opal. To quote the article - "Tena Opals become transparent when soaked in water, showing a remarkable hydrophane character....the white, opaque to translucent opals are remarkably durable...(the deposit) could become a major source of gem-quality opal...The Wegel Tena area has the potential to become a leading supplier of high-quality white play-of-color opal."

Some are saying that it is equivalent to fine Australian Opal. To view a few pieces of our Ethiopian Opal, visit the link below - we show an example of a before and after photo of a piece exposed to water; also, we have 3 cabs displayed on the page. Just scroll down until you see Opal! < Newly Photographed Gemstones >

All That Glitters Website and Info Changes for October 2010

2010-10-01T14:33:00.000-07:00

Here are the changes to look for on the All That Glitters website for October 2010:

This Months Special: Tricolor 7.03ct Tourmaline

It is rare to see a tricolor, though bicolors are more common; less common when clean and in a decent size like this. The color can best be described as Smoky with a nicely defined Pink separation followed by Smoky once again...

This Months Gem News: All That Glitters Finds Dendrites In Tourmaline!!

So far, no one in the gemstone world that we have contacted has found dentrites or heard of Dendritesoccurring in Tourmaline. Not only does the Tourmaline we have contain Dendrites, but they are found in a Watermelon Slice!!! WOW! Currently in transit to our office and will be offered for sale shortly. This is another One-Of-A-Kind piece offered by All That Glitters!

Newly Faceted or Photographed Gemstones:

Two oval Diaspores weighing 2.09cts and 3.17cts have come back from one of our US cutters. Also, two wonderful specimens: Copper Ore from Morency, AZ with bright blues. and an incredible example of Rainbow Obsidian in the shape of a butterfly, done by the mine owners son who chooses the best pieces for his sculptures. Another two items consist of jewelry,an agate druzy set in a custom made sterling silver pendant and a watermelon quartz (dyed) pendant.

NOTE - All That Glitters heads to our West Coast Office for the winter at the end of October at about the timeframe our November Newsletter goes out. Not all of our inventory will be delivered to us by Brinks, so if you want to insure that you can make a purchase of anything you have been considering, please make that purchase over the next few weeks. In general, we will have a good selection of our inventory out there, but if we do not have it, it may be April or May before we have access to some items.

All That Glitters Facebook Page

2010-08-31T15:33:00.001-07:00

NEW - All That Glitters Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1142661844

All That Glitters Website and Info Changes for September 2010

2010-08-31T15:30:00.000-07:00

Here are the changes to look for on the All That Glitters website for September 2010:

This Months Special: Large Mookaite Set in 18kt GP

Mookaite is always an item of interest because of the unique colors and patterns...

This Months Gem News: Huge Emerald Found in NC

Newly Faceted or Photographed Gemstones:

We haven't faceted any new material, nor have we made any purchases.

Just saving up for one of our trips abroad to purchase rough and faceted gems!

NEW - All That Glitters Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1142661844

Huge emerald found in North Carolina

2010-08-31T15:25:00.000-07:00

Huge emerald found in North Carolina

By Emery P. Dalesio

of The Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. — An emerald so large it's being compared with the crown jewels of Russian empress Catherine the Great was pulled from a pit near corn rows at a North Carolina farm.

The nearly 65-carat emerald its finders are marketing by the name Carolina Emperor was pulled from a farm once so well-known among treasure hunters the owners charged $3 a day to shovel for small samples of the green stones. After the gem was cut and re-cut, the finished product was about one-fifth the weight of the original find, making it slightly larger than a U.S. quarter and about as heavy as a AA battery.

The emerald compares in size and quality to one surrounded by diamonds in a brooch once owned by Catherine the Great, who was empress in the 18th century, that Christie's auction house in New York sold in April for $1.65 million, said C.R. “Cap” Beesley, a New York gemologist who examined the stone.

While big, uncut crystals and even notable gem-quality emeralds have come from the community 50 miles northwest of Charlotte called Hiddenite, there has never been one so big it's worthy of an imperial treasury, Beesley said.

To read more details on the find and to see a video, visit the following link:
< ABC NEWS >

Note - the owner of this faceted piece is someone that is known to the owner of
All That Gltters. He mines Amethyst and is known for Chromium bearing Hiddentite from N.C. also!

Can't Please Everyone.... (But We Try!)

2010-08-15T14:18:00.000-07:00

We frequently receive emails with attachments of gemstones, jewelry and other gem related materials from those who have found us on the internet. They ask questions about these items, typically seeking to know if we are interested in purchasing them, where they can sell them, what labs would we recommend, what could the item be worth, etc. We do attempt to help them out or point them in the right direction.

A recent email was received with a subject of "pezattoitre" with photos of a piece of rough. We assumed that they meant Pezzottaite and his spelling was probably a French version of that mineral, but there are a few diferent versions of the spelling; we haven't encountered this one before. In the two line email "what would eventually be the market value of a 167 ct rough pezzottaite please find attached pics" it becomes clear that we are talking about the same mineral, a fairly new find of Beryl from Madagascar. The photos were not that clear and one cannot see if there is any clean sections to facet gemstones or even create cabs. It is a thin slab, which looks like what most people would call a rock. There could be some crystal faces or part of a flat tabular crystal structure present.

This is an item which may have one value to a collector, another value based on any faceted or cabbed gems that could be created. This material is typically highly included with many gemstones, including the faceted ones, looking like plastic because there are so many inclusions.
Larger nicer gemstones that are "somewhat" clean would be unusual.

We have no idea as to the value of a piece that we cannot hold and examine in person. Even then, we would only be able to determine if there some cutting sections. We currently don't have any point of contact to send this person to for more information, and they too, would be at a loss without seeing the item in person. The true intent of the emailer is questioned as to what is meant by "what would eventually be the market value" - we would assume he means now and not a number of years in the future, but we could be mistaken as he might be hoping that it will increase in value with time.

Due to the difficulty in trying to help him out, there was some thought as to not replying. Not to disappoint him and to be professional, we did reply. Our reply was short as we couldn't recommend contacting others, we didn't have the item in hand, we were not sure if this was a specimen or something that could be fashioned. We were honest and just indicated "Sorry. Really no idea. Best way to tell is that when you sell it, you have found the market price." That is sometimes the best way to determine value - advertise it's availability and see what it sells for. Many people place items that they have (items that are antiques, art, collectibles, etc.) and the best way to find out the market price is to sell it by placing it into a local auction or on ebay or similar sights. People, collectors, those with knowledge and others, will determine what something is worth. That would be the true definition of market value - what that particular item sells for on the market.

Unfortunately, our response did not please him and he went off on a tirade. So here is a case of where probably whatever we said, or even if we didn't respond, he wouldn't have been pleased. As they say, no good deed goes unpunished or damned if you do and damned if you don't!...

We are sorry that we couldn't be of help and that was deemed unacceptable by the person seeking more specific answers.

All That Glitters Monthly Info and Website Changes for August 2010

2010-07-31T06:30:00.000-07:00

Our recommendation to our on-line customers and dealers is that the fine quality unique gemstones has been and always will be a wise choice...

Latest All That Glitters Website News for August 2010 includes the following:

Monthly Special: Two Pieces of Paraiba Quartz - Save 25%!

Monthly News: New AGL Certs on Corundum in the ATG Inventory

Newly Photographed:

Copper Ore Slab from the famous Morency, AZ locality
Incredible Rainbow Obsidian Carved Butterfly
Custom Hand Made Sterling Silver Pendant set with Fancy Agate Druzy
A Super Pair of Matched 8.2mm Tanzanites!
Opal with Dentritic Inclusions - unusual and aesthetically pleasing
Pinkish Zircon
Burmese (Mogok) Deep Red Spinel
Ethiopian Opals

FREE Scale - Purchase items totaling more than $2000 and receive a
FREE Multi-Function Scale!!!!

New AGL Certs on Corundum in the ATG Inventory

2010-07-31T06:13:00.000-07:00

Not much to report in Gem News over this past month. All That Glitters sent several pieces of Corundum (Blue and Orange Sapphire, as well as a Ruby) to AGL for Certification as to heat and verification of natural color. Those gemstones with the certs will be available for viewing and the newly certed gemstones will be noted on our Sapphire and Ruby page. We were verbally told the results over the phone by the lab, and will be making these available on line as soon as we receive them and are able to have the certs scanned. For those who feel certs are an added plus and bonus to their gemstone purchase, you will want to check these out!

Putting Simple Gemological Knowledge to Use in the Field

2010-06-28T10:47:00.000-07:00

A number of years ago, the owner of All That Glitters attended a well known outdoor antique market. Just in case some antique jewelry of interest was found, Mr. Brown took along the Rapport Diamond Report, dichroscope, charts of the Refractive Indexes of gemstones, his GIA Refractometer, thermal conductivity diamond tester, millimeter gauge and loupe. The day was to be spent looking at antiques, but if some piece of jewelry tweeked his interest, there were a few gemological instruments at hand, or at least, in a knapsack.

A large orange gemstone set in a ring was discovered and said to be a Topaz. The dichroscope showed slight dichroism, so this was either natural or synthetic mineral. In utilizing the Refractometer, the reading indicated that this gemstone was Citrine and not Topaz, and the gemstone/ring was no longer of interest. Had the average person purchased the ring as having a Topaz center stone, they would have overpaid and perhaps never discovered the issue. (In a discussion with a local well known gemologist/appraiser, a similar story was recently told. This associate of ours was talking to a woman who thought she had an Imperial Topaz but his testing, as well as GIAs Lab, indicated that it was Citrine. Visual inspection by those with knowledge in the field could tell that it didn't look right for a Topaz and was certainly not the color expected for Imperial Topaz).

This particular antique show was visited in another year, but no gemological equipment accompanied Mr. Brown. In one booth, was this small carved transparent monkey about 2 inches high, well executed, with a polished stomach. In the stomach area, was an embedded insect. The dealer indicated that it was amber. If Amber, this object d'art was a must have! Being suspicious that this could be plastic, Mr. Brown did not want to make the purchase and then have to return it should the item not be Amber after testing in the All That Glitters office. Improvising, Mr. Brown visited a nearby food stand where he obtained a plastic cup and a number of salt packets. The cup was filled with water and the salt was added and dissolved in the water. Amber will float in heavily salted water; plastic will sink. The salted water was taken back to perform a non-destructive and simple test. The monkey was gently placed into the water, and it sank to the bottom. As Mr. Brown had suspected, this was a piece of resin or plastic, and somewhere along the way, was created to deceive. The dealer was told of the issue with the identification.

There was another case where Mr. Brown had visited a pawn phop in NH. Looking at some diamond rings in the case, Mr. Brown used his thermal conductivity tester which could differentiate diamond from CZ or other 'simulants'. One of the rings tested as non-diamond and Mr. Brown brought this to the attention of the owner of the shop. Note that the older diamond testers have been replaced with updated versions since new products have entered the market. Diamond coatings on items may soon be a problem in some cases.

All That Glitters Website and Info Changes for June 2010

2010-06-28T10:41:00.000-07:00

Latest All That Glitters Website News for June 2010 includes the following:

Monthly Special: 1.00ct Russian Demantoid Garnet with Horsetail for Collectors

Monthly News: 99 Cent Natural Sapphires on ebay - Not Natural - No Big
Surprise... (Surprise is that people are falling victim)

Newly Photographed: A 0.94ct, clean, well cut Demantoid believed to be from
Madagascar - SUPER price; One Malaia 9x7mm recut Garnet oval; 3 ORIGINAL Mining Related Tobacoo Labels over 100 years old; Nice 80ct Spessartite Garnet Specimen; True Purple Garnet; Wonderful and one-of-a-kind Tigers Eye Cabinet/Desk Piece!

All That Glitters in San Diego

2010-06-28T10:36:00.000-07:00

All That Glitters:

The Splendor and Science of Gems and Minerals

The exhibition features a stunning selection of spectacular natural mineral crystals, exquisite jewelry, and works of art... Read more

Finally, Someone has Caught on you can't buy a $25,000 Sapphire for $0.99 on ebay!

2010-05-11T07:24:00.000-07:00

This entry follows our blog of the other day on more fraudulent sellers on line, specifically "Natural" Sapphire on ebay. See blog entry directly below entitled - "and when you think that fraud can't get worse on line...".

Yes, as we predicted, eventually someone would have the "Natural" Sapphire tested that they had paid a few dollars for, and find out that it was Synthetic.... What is surprising is that they seem shocked! This was one of the most blatant scams on ebay that we have found recently, but then again, we can find numerous ones and it only takes us a few seconds. Below is the feedback that has just started to show up with this seler on ebay; currently the feedback hasn't affected the seller, as they are still at 100% satisfaction. We can bet that the buyers of these fraulent items will not even return them. Why? Because the cost of their purchase (including shipping) is less than the cost to send the item back! Keeping their Synthetic Sapphire will actually save them money.

Recent ebay feedback for seller of "Natural" Sapphire:
LAB-CREATED stones. Seller promised me before payment that they were earth mined
Tested As Synthetic NOT Natural, but beautiful. Obvious by price.

I wish that the material was natural, we would purchase ALL of it - after all, we can't facet those gems at $0.99 nor can we even ship/insure for $10, and the value if natural would run into very large numbers. Actually, faceting the sizes of the material shown would run us literally hundreds of dollars.

Again, if people use some common sense, do some research, etc. one will not get taken. With All That Glitters, we have a proven track record and history going back 30 years in the gemstone trade, 90% of our sales is to the trade itself, our gemstones have appeared in Magazines, Newspapers, Gemstone Books, listed with the Jewelers Board of Trade and have been on line since 1999. All of this is easily verified. We travel the world seeking out fine quality colored gemstones and purchase rough if possible to have our cutters facet. We are your closest link to the miners and gemstone producing countries. It is said that our prices at times are at wholesale, below wholesale and most of the cases, grey sheet - between wholesale and retail. If our prices seem low, this can be explained due to our business, low overhead and the original concept of the business - be honest, purchase right and sell at the best price possible, whether to the trade or to those that see us in shows or find us on-line! Some may feel that some items are high, but this would include those items that are exceptional for some reason, photographed in books, a one-of-a-kind, etc. However, we feel that even these items are far undervalued and might only be approaching the retail price for a similar gemstone of just commerial quality or fine quality. One must compare like to like. Our inventory consists of gemstones and related items that you will not see even in some of the finest high end custom stores. With All That Glitters, you have our 100% Customer Satifaction Guarantee as well as our Lifetime Guarantee:

http://www.atggemscom/Guarantee_Lifetime.htm

http://www.atggems.com/Guarantee_Satisfaction.htm

Whether you buy from All That Glitters or another reputable business, do your homework and use common sense. Don't join the ranks and be included in one of P.T.Barnum's most famous quotes....

and when you think that fraud can't get worse on line...

2010-05-08T10:27:00.000-07:00

just continue to monitor ebay...

We have offered our services over the past 10 years to help patrol and point out issues to ebay to protect buyers on their website, but to no avail. Perhaps it is just because they make money with the ad, they make money when the item sells, and they make money if someone uses PayPal. Self policing by viewing Feedback has an inherent time delay. When they realize there are issues, it is too late! When the fraudulent users get caught, their account is closed - and they just create a new one and continue on as if nothing has happened, frequently using the same photos. The owner of All That Glitters has seen this happen before, and wrote an article (including photos) on this particular topic.

Just saw a seller minutes ago selling fancy Sapphire. Large, clean, decent cutting and Natural - Great Blues, Yellows, Pinks, Purples and even Orange/Padparadschas. They all start at $0.99... The starting price, no reserve, the large size, fine color/clarity and decent cutting would raise flags on an individual basis, but all these issues indicate one thing.....if it is Sapphire, it is synthetic, and inexpensive synthetic at that. Similar pieces from this dealer have been selling at prices under $10, with many being sold at $0.99. The cost of shipping is $10 - a piece of this value should be insured based on the value and one cannot insure anything of this value for $10, if these gems were truly natural. Now if real, these pieces should be retailing at about $3000-10000/ct minimum, making the value of one piece about $10,000 to $40,000, easy! Does the public think they are purchasing a Natural Sapphire as the ad states, for only $10.99 (that includes shipping)? The company has positive feedback, but that is most likely because the company has a number of accounts or associates that literally purchase a number of pieces solely for the purpose of leaving positive feedback. We have heard of this happening in the past. It is illegal to do so, but one must get caught and if caught, little will be done.

It is only a matter of time before someone has their purchase tested before they learn the truth and begins entering negative feedback. Then again, with so many flags and using common sense, one knows there is something wrong and it wouldn't take much research to have an idea of what the truth really is. When the dealer is caught, he will be up and running in 24 hours under a different name, most likely with similar photos, auction setup, text, etc.

We encourage any customer, as well as our customers, to have their purchases examined by professional labs. The gemstone trade is becoming very complicated due to the enhancements that now exist, and the only way to discover many treatments is to send the gemstone to a lab capable of verifying your purchase and who can test for these enhancements/treatments.
We have recently added AGL to our list of professional gem labs, as the AGTA Gem Lab is now defunct.

< Professional Gem Labs >

All That Glitters Website and Info Changes for May 2010

2010-04-28T11:28:00.000-07:00

All That Glitters returns to East Coast Main Office - Up and Running Again...

Latest All That Glitters Website News for May 2010 includes the following:

Monthly Special: Faberge Jade Diamond Gold/Silver Enamel Letter Opener

Monthly News: Cartier Exhibit - Legion of Honor - San Francisco

Newly Photographed: Australian Gold Nuggets

Other: Due to not being able to find high quality Purple Garnet, as well as the Yellow Beryl Cat's Eyes, prices have increased. Lower end material is currently selling in the vicinity of what we asked for our Cherry Picked inventory of these gems. These were initially displayed/offered upon purchase for a quick sale and in keeping with our IPO policy, prices had to increase. It is unlikely that more of the high grade will be seen, so prices of the rare fine examples will continue to be above the typical commercial quality prices. We will continue to offer them at prices we still feel are a good buy due to their size, color, clarity and rarity.

Need a Scale that does EVERYTHING?:

Personally, I think that every household should have one of these. It weighs in grams, ounces, troy ounces, pennyweight, grains and a few other units - AND it counts too! It fits in ones shirt pocket with room to spare - $30 including postage. Visit our Newly Photographed page and scroll down until you see the scale - maximum in grams is 300, with an accuracy of 0.01 grams! Needless to say, this is not money maker, but our customers, both on line and stores, have been grateful for such a small unit that does everything and at a give-a-way price. Those in the business have been ordering a few dozen at a time. Makes great gifts to customers, family members, etc. Everyone can find a use for one!

http://www.atggems.com/Photos_New.htm

Blue and Pink Flash in Amethyst

2010-04-28T06:10:00.000-07:00

One of my person favorite shows on tv is Antiques Roadshow on Public Broadcasting. I know professionally or personally a number of the people who do the appraising in jewelry and art. I was watching it the other day and there was a group of Amethyst jewelry, some of which had blue flashes. They indicated that this material came from Siberia and was only found in that part of the world, so when you see Amethyst with this color flash, it came from Siberia and was typically quite old (to quickly summarize what was said).

My understanding over the past 30 years is that Siberian Amethyst had a pink flash. The blue flash I have seen in the fine Pau D'Arco Amethyst we purchased in Brasil, and have seen it in Uraguian that we have purchased, as well as in a few gems from Georgia and Maine. The blue flash is not too common, but is a nice color which appears in some saturated Amethyst. It is not seen in all Amethyst but adds a nice glow to the gemstone. The term Siberian is outdated, as the pink flash, like the blue flash, can apparently be found in different deposits throughout the world and not just from what may have been the original deposit that gave a particular feature its name.

The mis-understanding about naming and location, even among Gemologists, is due to the fact that most Gemologists do not purchase rough and see similar types of gemstones being unearthed around the world. One is dependent on items brought in or seen. When one sees thousands of gemstones per year, one increases their knowledge rapidly and sees many gems that the public or even the trade may never see. There are many gemstones that we encounter and have in stock that most Gemologists could not sight ID or even guess what they are within 3 guesses because the material is unusual in size, color, clarity or just simple rarity. Even our finely saturated Aquamarine has stumped Gemologists in the past. Many may not realize that Zoisite (Tanzanite) may be found in green, teal, pink and yellow! There is always something to learn in the gemology field. Things change annually, and it is exciting to see what will be found that is rare and unique and this is what All That Glitters is all about. Check out our Amethyst colored Garnet that is new as well as our very fine Yellow Beryl Cat's Eyes - two fairly new gemstones to the market.

What the TV Gem Shopping Channels Don't Tell You!

2010-04-28T05:56:00.001-07:00

I never watch any of the home shopping channels regardless of whether it is for gemstones or jewelry. It usually takes only a minute before I hear mis-information or incorrect information. Some of what is said is down right laughable or shocking is more like it, at least to those in the know, but the real danger is IF the people watching believe what they are being told.

When we had our own TV Show featuring gems and jewelry back in the mid-90s, those viewers that really enjoyed the content were those in the jewelry trade - I would tell the audience about heating, irradiation, natural color, issues or concerns about gemstones and much more. The trade loved the show because I was telling the public exactly what they were telling their customers. The information was backed up with facts and not what one frequently hears on many shows currently on air.

I was watching one show the other day that was selling jewelry set with smaller round Orange Sapphire. The seller indicated that orange is the most costly or rare colors in Sapphire - Yes, that was correct. BUT, the seller never mentioned during my time of watching/listening, that the orange Sapphires in the jewelry were not entirely natural - they were of natural origin, but the color was artificial and added in a lab. They were Beryllium treated Sapphires and that color was due to treatment. Now that being said, the price for these treated gemstones are inexpensive in this size and not rare at all when compared to any natural (or natural and heated) orangy Sapphire. In fact, how many thousand would you like to purchase? The non-disclosure that these were enhanced to this color is against FTC rules and regulations. I also think that implying the Sapphire in the jewelry was rare and expensive was misleading.

The only way the public understands what they are buying is for the seller to explain everything - not just give bits and pieces of information to make a sale.

United States Postal Service - Second Only to God?...

2010-04-04T15:52:00.000-07:00

The below was readily found online using Google in doing some research regarding the insurance claim we filed with the USPS -

Can You Sue the US Post Office in Small Claims

My question involves small claims court in the state of: California

I had a package insured for $130.00 (a porcelain toilet, no less) delivered destroyed by the US Postal Service. So far I have four trips to the post office (hauling around a broken, 40 lb toilet bowl) trying just to FILE my claim for the insurance. On each trip I'm told there is some new reason why they cannot accept my claim. Searching online it becomes pretty clear that this is a tactic used by USPS to erode the resolve of the claimant to the point where they just give up. From the very first contact, it was pretty clear that USPS has no intention of honoring the insurance they were only to happy to sell when the parcel was mailed. I think it is called "bad faith". Can one sue the USPS in small claims court? If so, whom do you serve?

Re: Can You Sue the US Post Office in Small Claims

No, you cannot sue the USPS in small claims. The Post Office, being an agency of the Federal government, cannot be sued at the state level.

You would first need to serve the USPS a Federal Claim for Damages (you have two years to do so). If the claim is denied, you would then need to file suit in Federal court.

It's pricey and headachey and cannot be done properly without counsel versed in arguing at the Federal level.

Original posting can be found at:

http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63723

Is it Me, Only the US, Worldwide or ????

2010-04-03T15:33:00.000-07:00

What is it now with the United States or is this world wide? No matter what one does, signs up for new service, orders something from a store, makes a purchase from a store, etc. there are issues. In fact, those high priced items that used to last for decades last 1-2 years, and at the time of purchase, they want to sell you a service contract. Sounds like planned obsolescence.

Just about everything that we have been involved in over the past few years, has required extra time to look into the issue, send letters, send emails, make phone calls, and spend too much time attempting to correct issues that shouldn't have happened in the first place. The following is a representation of the companies where many hours and sometime months were required trying to resolve simple issues: USPS, Verizon, Comcast, HughesNet, Directv, PayPal, eBay, Columbia, numerous blind/shade related companies on line, local contractors, FatWallet, and many more. Most issues have been resolved, but it takes so much time out of ones day and is frustrating, that one doesn't want to get involved in having to make a new purchase even when needed!

This wasn't going to be an advertisement for gemstone purchases but a real question as to what is going on with services, quality of products, rebates and just getting what one orders. In discussing the issues above, I realize that with gemstones, one has a lifetime guarantee with us, they still look the same after hundreds of years, and the service at All That Glitters is wonderful... So what started out as a lament for the good old days or stating issues encountered, ends up showing how these issues won't happen when making All That Glitters purchases!...

United States Postal Service (USPS) Dropping the Ball...

2010-04-03T15:04:00.000-07:00

It is no wonder that the USPS is having problems. Not only is there less mail going through the postal system, but when they cause their customers undue aggravation and do not pay out insurance claims, people go elsewhere - like FedEx, UPS and others.

We have been using the USPS for 30 years in this business. USPS gets about 99% of our business, and ALL of our packages are insured, registered, etc. costing far more money. I cannot recall an incident currently where we have had to file a claim over 30 years of paying out for insurance - until NOW.

We sent out an insured package via Click N'Ship. We have been using this feature for items less than $500 for years now without incident. Over $500 we use Registered/Insured. The Click N'Ship insured package arrived at its destination city in record time (it is usually not that fast though they do say it is typically two days because it is Priority). The package is currently lost because the USPS delivered it to the wrong company AND the wrong address. We have a copy of the signature and address indicating this. I submitted a claim via the USPS website and it was denied. The reason: They delivered it. Yes, USPS delivered it, but to the wrong business and address. From their perspective - end of story. Though emails were sent referencing the internal claims tracking number, emails are no longer being answered.

I visited the local post office and the woman I spoke to the woman behind the counter and she couldn't believe the denied claim when the evidence was shown to her. Now there is a USPS employee with common sense!

We would recommend to customers, the trade and anyone shipping items of value that are insured or would like the item to ARRIVE at the proper destination without issues, to consider using other shippers. If the USPS has evidence (signature and delivery address) and that evidence indicates incorrect delivery, it is their responsibility to correct the issue - insurance was paid for and the claim should not be denied just because they delivered it - payment was made to deliver it to the CORRECT address without issues...

Attention all those in the gemstone, jewelry, mineral dealers and all those shipping items of value: Shipping via USPS with insurance, signatures required, registered, etc. does not mean you will be reimbursed if there is an incident.

Glass Filled Ruby Discussions - In The News...

2010-03-31T11:19:00.000-07:00

Glass-filled rubies appear in investigative report

(National Jewelry Network)
San Francisco--A TV news report claiming that lead-glass filled rubies were sold without proper disclosure at Macy's stores aired earlier this week on the West Coast, marking at least the second time that the stones made consumer news headlines... Lean More -
< National Jeweler Article >

Treatments Under the Microscope

Important gemstone industry issues took center stage at Tucson conference.
By Deborah Yonick (diamonds.net)

...Although they’ve been on the market for many years, lead glass–treated ruby continues to plague the industry with concerns. A buyer-beware report that aired prior to Christmas on “Good Morning America” alleged that inexpensively priced glass-filled rubies were being sold at Macy’s without disclosure... Learn More -
< Treatment Discussion >

Putting Things in Perspective

(owner of All That Glitters Comments)

Yes, MANY Rubys are glass filled, especially those coming from Madagascar. This is similar to the Oiling of Emeralds, and improves the clarity of the gemstone by filling cracks. Unlike Oiling, this glass filling is more stable when ultrasonic and/or steamed cleaned. However, the trade does believe that treatments/enhancements should be disclosed. Since we have known that many Rubys are glass filled, our finer important Rubys like our Burmese Rubys, have been tested and the reports indicate heating (expected for the most part, as most Sapphires are also being heated as well as most Tanzanites to create that blue purple color. Aquamarines are typically heated to drive off the yellow component leaving a more true blue color behind). We don't feel that heat is really an issue unless someone seeks a non-heated gemstone. For the Burmese Rubys we have encountered, they have been heated in borax which acts as a flux and if there are any pits, scratches, etc. the borax will fill in these voids. The reports that we obtain will indicated the slightest 'filler' which in these cases is usually just the borax filling in voids, and it is not glass. In fact, we have a beauty of a Burmese Ruby that did test out as having filler, but this is borax and the amount was nothing to be concerned about. We would purchase similar gemstones because of the beauty, clarity, color, etc. However, while in Thailand, we have seen the glass filled Ruby coming out of the ovens. The glass filling is used for typically the poor quality Ruby to make it marketable. At times, there may be more glass than Ruby! This is something that we have stayed away from - though for some in the trade as well as consumers, having a very large Ruby that has passable inclusions and is glass filled, is ideal because of the price usually associated with it, but the seller should disclose this fact.

All this said, it sometimes pays to know the exact questions to ask when it comes to specific gemstones. In the case of Ruby, a simple question of - "Is it Natural Ruby" is not enough. Answering Yes from many sellers may indeed be correct - it is a natural Ruby, BUT, it may have been Glass Filled, Heated, etc. Glass Filling or Heating has nothing to do with Natural Origin - so the seller would have been correct if the Ruby was indeed Natural and mined from the ground. It is the disclosure that is the issue. We have even read an article written by an American living in Thailand who was indicating the questions to ask - his question of whether it was Natural in relationship to the Beryllium Treatment of Ruby or Sapphire was again, not sufficient. He needed to ask not only if it was Natural, but whether ANY treatment had been performed, and this would include Heat, Glass Filling, Be Treatment, etc.

The other issue with asking questions about treatment, natural origin, etc. especially in a store (and in the case of a large retail store such as Macys), is that the person providing the information just doesn't know. That information is typically lost or never even disclosed. They might know that it is a Natural Ruby, but the origin and any treatments is beyond their knowledge. This is even beyond the scope of many selling gemstones in the very countries where dealers like myself make purchases to disperse gemstones to the public and the trade throughout the world. Many people in Thailand, Brasil, African and all other gem producing and cutting areas of the world, are selling their wares to make a living or a profit to supplement their income. They are not gemologists. They have no idea at times about treatment. They are purchasing from other individuals who tell them perhaps only one thing - it is a Ruby they are buying. Saying something is a Ruby too, doesn't mean that it wasn't grown in a lab and is therefore a Synthetic Ruby. (A Synthetic Ruby is indeed a Genuine Ruby, just not of natural origin!) These sellers don't know if the Ruby originated in Africa, Sri Lanka, Burma, Madagascar or even from North Carolina, never mind about any form of treatments... They are just concerned about buying an item for resale and have limited knowledge.

This is why it is advantageous to purchase gemstones from those in the know, who travel the world and see/read what goes on out there. Buying from those mining the rough gemstones or purchasing with only one source between the miners provides All That Glitters with insight to where something originated, what treatments might have been applied. If we have concerns, we will have it certed for verification of what we were told or what we believe or suspect. This dealing direct with All That Glitters gives the trade and online customers a big foot up on all other sources out there. The history, the origin, the treatment and much more is known in detail and hasn't been lost when purchasing from one of the direct sources - All That Glitters.

Many times the information that a store has is limited, and the person behind the counter may not have any information at all. They are salespeople and are many people removed from the source. With All That Glitters, you are right on top of the source, where we may have even faceted the gemstone from the rough. Again, know those you purchase from. We have a 7 Day Satisfaction Guaranteed Policy, not to mention our LIFETIME Guarantee. We do our best to provide you with all the information we know about a particular gemstones. What you purchase from us today, may be returned at any time for non-disclosure. Buy direct from those who shield you from issues and be safe in the knowledge that you won't have to worry or question your purchase...

All That Glitters Website and Info Changes for April 2010

2010-03-30T11:11:00.000-07:00

Can you believe that it is April of 2010 already!?

Transition between our West Cost Office and our East Coast Headquarters is now complete....

Latest All That Glitters Website News for April 2010 includes the following:

Newly Photographed: Most of our Newly obtained items have been photographed
and includes the following:

1.) Sapphires of ALL colors including Blue, Orange (one is UNHEATED), a medium Pink deeper than Pink Ice, a Color Shifting Sapphire, and hard to find shapes in good sizes such as Rounds, Radiant and Emerald Cuts - much sought after by stores. Yes, you might find them in your average store, but they will not have color like this! They will be the very dark, almost black, with green overtones at times and inky. Ours were selected for color, size, cutting, clarity, beauty and price...

2.) A Fine Large Ruby

3.) Unique and New to the Market - Grape Juice Colored Garnet - GIA thinks this is really interesting too!

4.) Glowing Chrome Tourmaline believed to come from Mozambique - a new gemstone for this area!

5.) PURPLE Tourmaline from 2 unexpected localities - Africa and Afghanistan; not to be found in other companies inventory, as we were told that the pieces found were very limited - we bought what we could!

6.) Indicolite Tourmaline - these three Blue Tourmaline show what Indicolite SHOULD look like

7.) 10+ct Neon Paraiba Blue Checkboard Faceted Apatite - a super color which can be seen from 30ft away

8.) Never seen before by All That Glitters - Yellow Beryl (Helidor) Cats Eyes - we bought the best available (as usual!)

9.) LARGE PURPLE CUPRIAN TOURMALINE, CERTED

10.) Unsual Opal Tablet

11.) Paraiba Quartz

12.) Clear Quartz with Epidote Crystals

13.) 18kt Yellow Gold 2.5mm Princess Cut Sapphires (totalling about 6cts)

14.) Fine Emerald Specimen from the Malipo Area, Yunnan, China

15.) Medium Sized Spessartite Garnet Specimen from Loliondo area

16.) Amber with Insects - approx 40-50 MILLION Years Old

17.) Fire Agate from Arizona - 8 pieces

18.) Libyan Glass - Formation from Extraterrestrial Forces - Amazing Material

19.) A few fine specimens of Rainbow Andradite Garnet from the Kouse Mine, Tenkawa mura, Nara Prefecture, Japan

20.) 4 Exceptional Meteorite Fragments from the Sikhote-Alin Meteorite in Russia - one resembling a horse

21.) 7 Russian Ural Jasper Plaques - all unique and ready to hang, frame or place into a curio cabinet

22.) 3 Rough Pieces of Mookaite - can be cabbed or just for collection

23.) Carved Rhodonite from Santa Barbara, CA in the shape of an Octopus

24.) Framed Diplomystus Fish Fossil from Wyoming - 50 Million Years Old

25.) Framed Knightia Fish Fossil from Wyoming - 50 Million Years Old

26.) Bronze Buddha Head from Sukothai, Thailand, from approx 1800 timeframe

27.) Terra Cotta Head, Tolita-Tumarco C, 500 BC/AD; La Tolita, Ecuador

28.) Terra Cotta Warrior with Jaguar Mask, Aztec, 1300-1500AD, Coatlinchan

29.) Tang Dynasty (Repro) Horse, made China in the same area using the same methods as the originals

30.) Opal Specimen for Collection or Cabbing/Sculpting

All That Glitters Website and Info Changes for March 2010

2010-03-30T11:07:00.000-07:00

Latest All That Glitters Website News for March 2010 includes the following:

Monthly Special: Choose between 2 oval Yellow Zircons

Monthly News: Are Larger Tanzanites Now Being Enhanced for Better Color Saturation? Also, Comments Received in Email Regarding the 2010 Tucson Show

Newly Photographed Inventory Includes: