Agates and Jaspers: Beautiful Revenue Streams

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PinkDiamond
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Agates and Jaspers: Beautiful Revenue Streams

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I'm so glad Robert recommended Ron Gibbs' book on agates and jaspers, since I consider it to be the best one out there, which is why I bought it soon after it came out. :)

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September 9, 2020

Agates and Jaspers: Beautiful Revenue Streams
Long overlooked but long-term best sellers that many jewelers ignore.

For many years agates and jaspers have been considered by the main stream jewelry industry as the materials of hobbyists, lapidaries, collectors and old guys with little else to do but go out putzing around in agate producing fields. Little consideration has been given to these beautiful gem materials by traditional jewelers. Agates and jaspers have been considered the "step children" of the gemstone industry, leaving huge streams of revenue to go unnoticed.

That issue is changing.

Between the world diamond markets committing business suicide, and the new generation of "Millennials" seeking earth-friendly, natural gemstone adornments, the market for agates and jaspers has finally reached a point where demand is high, supplies are high, and prices are low. What more could you ask for in a new revenue stream for your store?

Before the drunk driver destroyed our Amazing Gem and Mineral Museum for Kids a few years ago, we were preparing a large presentation of the World of Agates and Jaspers. Unfortunately, a 20 year old kid on recreational pharmaceuticals destroyed much of the planned displays. However, we were able to recover the specimens you see below, and I wanted to share these with you to demonstrate just some of the amazing beauty to be found in gemstones from this beautiful material.

Why Agates and Jaspers Attract Attention

Anyone who has sat out on a summer day and watched the clouds to see what shapes you could find will understand why agates and jaspers are so inviting to customers. Each is different and each presents its own unique picture that is interpreted differently to each person viewing. The shapes, forms and pictures found in agates and jaspers evoke special meanings and interpretations to each viewer. Here are some examples below.

Agates and Jaspers

Before we begin, I have to tell you that the full scientific explanation of the formation of agates and jaspers is well above my pay grade. As a result, I am not going to delve into the science of this as it is a life-time study all its own, based on the people I know who are deeply involved in the agate business. The information I am presenting is based on knowledge sent to me by these folks, which I am passing along with full acknowledgement of the above. Our good friend, Ron Gibbs published a book in 2009 titled: Agates and Jaspers which is, in my opinion, one of the best information resources for agates and jaspers on the market. (The information on his book is at the end of this page.) The nice thing about this book is that it puts some pretty complicated concepts into languages that everyone can understand. Therefore, to describe the difference in "agates" and "jaspers" I will simply refer to the book:

Agates: "Agates are composed of a cryptocrystalline form of silica (it is called chalcedony)." Agates and Jaspers, pp 8.

Simply stated, agates are members of the chalcedony family of gemstones, which is of course within the quartz family.

Jaspers: "The formation of jasper requires a particulate and cement. On the earth's crust the major process of particulate creation is the sedimentary rock cycles." Agates and Jaspers, pp 108.

Simply stated, jaspers are created when sediments are glued together naturally by natural occurring materials.

That is about as far as I am going to try to take you on the formation of agates and jaspers. Ron's book is available on Amazon in case anyone would like to learn more. Agates and Jaspers. https://www.amazon.com/Agates-Jaspers-R ... oks&sr=1-3
For now, let's look at some really amazing agates and jaspers.

We will start with my favorite: Agate Creek Agates from Australia. The specimen below, along with a large collection of others, was donated to the ISG by Rene Boissevain of Agates Australia

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The amazing variations in colors and formations make the Agate Creek Agates the most beautiful in the world...in my humble opinion, of course. Agates are so diverse that opinions and appreciations of agates will vary widely, and no one agate is considered the finest or best based on personal preferences.

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Now, let's just look at some image of agates and jaspers. As always, these were photographed wet to bring out the true beauty. If you attend a gem and mineral show looking for agates and jaspers be sure and see them wet. The final polished gemstone will not need this but it does allow you to see how the material will look when polished if you wet the stone. An example is seen at left.

Below are a group of agates and jaspers (and a couple of others) from our collection. Where possible I have provided the names. Any error in a name is mine as we lost some of the documentation in the car wreck. I do not mind anyone sending in a correction to help us be as accurate as possible. Let's have some fun...

Image Cherry Creek Agate

Image Kambama Jasper

Image Fire Pit Agate

Image Brecciated Mookaite

Image Gecko Jasper

Image Australian Tiger Iron

Image Poppy Jasper

Image Rain Forest Jasper

Image Crystal Pocket Agate

Image Zebra Stone

Image Name Unknown.

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This one is also "Name Unknown" due to the loss of the documentation during the crash. The wide golden band toward the bottom has an iridescence that is much like labradorescence. Difficult to photograph but amazing to see in person.

If anyone has information on these we would appreciate your help.

I actually have many more specimens but we are running very long in this newsletter. Suffice it to say agates and jaspers provide a huge array of colors, formations and patterns. All are unique, all are beautiful, and all can be major revenue streams for the jeweler who can think outside the box and look to modern alternatives to some of the more traditional gemstones that are having major marketing problems.

I hope you enjoyed this review of Agates and Jaspers. Remember the gemstone world is not restricted to the big, expensive names. You will find beauty, uniqueness and affordability in many gem materials that most overlook.

Robert James FGA, GG
President, International School of Gemology
Property and Casualty Adjuster, Texas Department of Insurance #1300433


Visit the ISG to learn about our world class programs in gemology and jewelry appraisal by clicking here: http://www.schoolofgemology.com

©2020 International School of Gemology. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. We encourage sharing and caring throughout the industry as long as all copyrights are left intact. All images and logos copyright their respective owners and used here simply for learning and sharing.

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International School of Gemology
PO Box 1727
Helotes, TX 78023
PinkDiamond
ISG Registered Gemologist


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