At this rate it'll be July before I get to June's birthstone but I couldn't resist these pieces of Turkish Delight. Zultanite comes from only one source in a remote area of Anatolia, Turkey. It's mined by hand with chisels and pick axes in the mountains at heights of 4000 feet. It also belongs to my favourite category of gems, the colour change stones which show different views under different light sources, such as sunlight or indoor light.
Zultanite has durability, colour saturation, light play or scintillation. Its mineral name "Diaspore" comes from the Greek word "diaspora" to scatter. The kiwi greens with canary flashes in sunlight can change to pink raspberry hues in candlelight. The faceted stone can also show khaki, sage green, cognac pink, rich champagne, canary yellow or ginger in incandescent or candescent light. Like all colour change gems, the larger the Zultanite the more visible the colour change.
Zultanite has a double life as a gemstone. A few specimens show Chatoyancy, the cat's eye effect. It's a reflection that appears as a single bright band of light across the surface, caused by parallel inclusions in the stone.
The gem wasn't faceted until the late seventies and is still extremely rare in jewellery. The stone is very difficult to cut even by experienced cutters. Each crystal has to be orientated to get the best of its colour change and 98% of the crystal can be lost during the cut. Faceted Zultanite over 5 carat size is very rare.
As with all gems, it has esoteric properties attributed to it. If you want to believe, Zultanite can assist in the development of psychic power, astral force, ambition, intellect, desire and emotions.
It's definitely on my want list.
Personally I prefer the rock they're sitting on.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday for whatever day it is, JT!
ReplyDeleteWe had a young software tester at my work who would like to have a career change and become a gemologist. She was very keen on all things gem. I must give her the link to your blog.
She left recently to have her first baby. It fell to me as it usually does to buy the goodbye present. I discovered a fascinating shop in Swanston street - upstairs in one of those mysterious buildings which houses various businesses. Colours of the Earth was the name of the shop, no 55 Swanston.
Have you been there? They have millions of gem varieties just on basic string lengths, plus stuff to make jewellery.
Forty days to go Helen before the rot sets in. You might say I'm psyching myself to embrace the twilight age.
ReplyDeleteSecond only to a chocolate sale in pleasure is a gem shop and you just had to give me one. I feel a great need coming on for retail therapy.
Fleetwood, at last I know what to send you for Christmas, I love a cheap present.
ReplyDeleteI like my Turkish Delight softer, more chewy, and covered in chocolate. Been Turkish Delighted lately? (Anyone else remember that TV ad?)
ReplyDeleteI don't remember that ad and I protest at Turkish Delights being 98% fat free but Turkish Delight ice-cream makes up for it.
ReplyDeleteSad, I must be the only one in the whole world that remembers the turkish delight ad.
ReplyDeleteRiver, perhaps it only ran in S.A. as I have perfect recall for anything to do with chocolate.
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ReplyDeleteDeleted to save Miss Jahteh further weight loss.
ReplyDeleteShe's sweated off 10% in the last 21 hours.
ha ha ha!
ROBBERT!!!!!!!
League for the Preservation of Peeping Toms.
Rh, with the stress I had today, you're not wrong. It's nice to see that you now have a hobby.
ReplyDeleteWe were living in one of the eastern states when the ad first ran I think. It showed a girl at a bus stop unwrapping a turkish delight bar, taking a small bite, then there was the sound of harem type music (little jingly bells type of stuff) and the girl would do a little belly dancing type wiggle before looking around and taking another bite. I loved it.
ReplyDeleteI went to an Arab wedding, at the reception a belly dancer ("the lovely Fatima" or someone) came out wiggling through all the tables, she stuck her bum in the bride father's face, then got around behind me and I shit myself, thinking she'd do something.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately she didn't.
ROBBERT!!!
Now that jiggles a bell in the old memory. If I remember there were about three different ones and you realize that some ad agency is now congratulating itself.
ReplyDeletePoor Rh, have a turkish delight to cheer up.
I really like this site, it's so important to know more about this topic, keep it up and of course every time I have time I'll love to check out again
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