Antique 18thC Siberia Pink Tourmaline Ancient Roman Gem Start Price USD 9.99 Current Price USD 9.99 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Monday, September 01, 2008 End Time Monday, September 08, 2008 Location Seattle, Washington See more about 'Antique 18thC Siberia Pink Tourmaline Ancient Roman Gem' Description Your browser does not support JavaScript. To view this page, enable JavaScript if it is disabled or upgrade your browser. Increase Sales by 18% and double your hits - Vendio Gallery Click here to see 1200 CD's, antique gemstones and handcrafted jewelry items on our eBay store! Exquisite Antique Genuine Natural Siberian One-Third Carat Intense, Saturated Pink Handcrafted Round Tourmaline. CLASSIFICATION: Handcrafted Pink Tourmaline Round Cabochon. ORIGIN: The Ural Mountains, Russia. 18th Century. SIZE: Diameter: 4mm. Thickness: 2mm. All measurements approximate. WEIGHT: 0.31 carats. NOTES: Upon request we can set your gemstone as a ring, pendant, or into earrings (click here for more information). DETAIL: Tourmaline occurred in many of the ancient mines that yielded precious gemstones in the ancient Roman world 2,000 years ago, however it was mistaken for (and thus called) emerald or topaz. The name “tourmaline” came from the Celanese word "turmali," which means "mixed". Bright rainbow collections of gemstone varieties were called "turmali" parcels. Here's a very vibrantly hued, almost "neon" pink hand crafted tourmaline cabochon round from the Southern Urals of Russia. Hand crafted by an 18th century Russian artisan, part of an heritage renown for the production of the elaborate gemstones and jewelry of the Czars of Medieval, Renaissance, and Victorian Russia. Originally used in indigenous jewelry, this is a very beautiful and valuable semi-precious gemstone. Pink tourmaline is rather uncommon, probably the most valuable of the ordinary varieties of tourmaline. There is substantially more demand than supply, so thus oftentimes can be quite costly. The color of this specimen is a very rich and saturated, almost "neon" pink. Pink tourmaline was held in such high regard by the (last) Empress of China, Tz'u Hsi, that she purchased bought almost a ton of it from a mine in California, and was eventually laid to rest (eternally) on a carved tourmaline pillow. In fact, many of the Russian crown jewels are tourmaline. In the Victorian Age tourmaline was enormously popular not only in Russia, but throughout 18th and 19th century Europe. However much favored tourmaline was by European Renaissance and Victorian Royalty, tourmaline tends to be characterized by the presence of small colorless inclusions. This particular gemstone is no exception. As you can see, there are a number of very small, colorless inclusions. However the images here are at 500%, so each little colorless inclusion, minute and tiny in hand, seem huge and glaring in these images. In hand, to casual scrutiny, these tiny little colorless inclusions are easy to miss. The gemstone could almost be called "near eye clean" § almost, but not quite. However to the casual observer, it indeed a large, beautiful, and seemingly eye clean gemstone. It is only upon very close scrutiny one can see a few colorless inclusions. However once mounted into a setting these tiny little colorless inclusions will be almost imperceptible. We think you will be pleased with the color and character of the gemstone - and if it turns out you are not, it is backed up by a no-questions-asked return policy. Keep in mind that these images here are at 500%, and every little blemish is going to appear absolutely huge, and you can make out each and every one of these tiny little inclusions. Just keep in mind, magnified five-fold while they might seem to be glaring, huge blemishes, they are mere pinprick-sized colorless inclusions. In hand to the casual view these blemishes simply are too small to attract much attention. To casual observation if seems simply a very large, beautiful, quite extraordinarily colored tourmaline. If we were less forthcoming, it would be advantageous to simply show "life size" images. But we'd rather you see the good, the bad, and the ugly. By today's standards it is not an exceptionally high quality tourmaline, though it is certainly not a low quality stone either - and its size makes it nonetheless extraordinary. But by 18th century standards, this was a very desirable and expensive gemstone. Even today there is substantially more demand than supply for tourmaline, and it is thus oftentimes can be quite costly and difficult to procure. However the Southern Ural Mountains of (Siberia) Russia have been producing quality tourmaline for centuries. Under magnification this gemstone shows the unmistakable characteristics of having been hand crafted - hand cut and hand polished. The coarseness of the 18th century finish is considered appealing to most gemstone collectors, and is not considered a detriment, and does not detract from the value of a gemstone. These characteristics are not only expected of hand-finished gemstones, most serious collectors consider such gemstones more desirable, possessed of greater character and uniqueness when compared to today's cookie-cutter mass-produced machine-tumbled gemstones. Unlike today's computer controlled machine produced gemstones, the cut and finish of a gemstone such as this is the legacy of an artisan who lived two centuries ago. The gemstone possesses great luster, wonderful color and texture, and to the eye is absolutely transparent and near eye clean; but as described, the gemstone is not flawless. It could not even be characterized as exceptionally high quality, though it is a good quality stone. In fact, it is quite typical of 18th century gemstones both in quality and finish. Keep in mind however that magnified 500%, as it is here, you can see every minor imperfections (included material) within the gemstone and irregularity in the finish. These characteristics are not only expected of hand-finished gemstones, you must also consider that two centuries ago the mining techniques even possible then, let alone in practice, did not allow the ultra deep mining operations which are so commonplace today. Two centuries ago mankind was more or less limited to surface deposits or near surface deposits of gemstones. Higher quality gemstones which today are routinely mined from beneath hundreds of meters, even kilometers beneath the earth's surface, were simply inaccessible then. This is why antique gemstones must be appreciated as antiques first, gemstones second. The relatively superlative quality of contemporary gemstones routinely mined from deep beneath the earth's surface today were simply not accessible two centuries ago, or at least, only rarely so. However for most, the unique nature and character of antique gemstones such as this more than makes up for included imperfections which by and large, are only visible under high magnification. HISTORY: Tourmaline occurs in more colors than any other gemstone variety, and has been used as gem material for more than 2000 years. Tourmaline was most likely mined by the ancient Greeks and Romans, but mistook it for emerald or topaz. Even as late as the 17th century the royal houses of Europe were purchasing "emeralds" which later turned out to be green ("chrome") tourmaline. Likewise many stones in the Russian Crown jewels from the 17th century once thought to be rubies are actually tourmalines. Gem-quality tourmaline is found throughout the African continent, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Burma, Ceylon, Brazil, and in both the United States and Russia (both in the Ural Mountains as well as Siberia). The rarest color of tourmaline is green, or chrome tourmaline, though there are very small quantities of even rarer Paraiba neon blue-green tourmaline produced in Brazil. The most popular color is peach (or pink) tourmaline, and one of the most famous mines in the world, played out and closed in 1913, was in California. You might guess I travel extensively for a living. My profession is a purchasing agent for antique gemstones, which generally come from Russia, India, Ceylon, and Siam. I grew up in the Southern Urals of Russia, just miles away from some of the greatest gemstone producing regions in the world's history. Alexandrite, diamond, emerald, sapphire, chrysoberyl, topaz, demantoid garnet, and many other rare and precious gemstones are produced from the mountains within mere minutes or a few hours from the city I once called home. My interest in the fabulous history of Russian gemstones and the fabulous jewelry of the Czar's led to further education and contacts in India, Ceylon, and Siam, other ancient centers of gemstone production and finishing. Though perhaps difficult to find in the USA, antique gemstones are commonly unmounted from old, broken settings - the gold reused - the gemstones recut and reset. Before this happens, before these gorgeous antique gemstones are recut, I try to acquire the best of them in their original, antique, hand-finished state - most of them centuries old. I believe that the work created by these long-gone master artisans is worth protecting and preserving rather than destroying this heritage of antique gemstones by recutting the original work out of existence. That by preserving their work, in a sense, we are preserving their lives and the legacy they left for modern times. Far better to appreciate their craft than to destroy it with modern cutting. Not everyone agrees - fully 95% or more of the antique gemstones which come into these marketplaces are recut, and the heritage of the past lost. But if you agree with me that the past is worth protecting, and that past lives and the produce of those lives still matters today, consider buying an antique, hand cut, natural gemstone rather than one of the mass-produced machine cut (often synthetic or "lab produced") gemstones which dominate the market today. In my travels back and forth between the USA, Asia, and Eastern Europe I also tend to accumulate a lot of books, CD's, and audio recordings. So I oftentimes have lightly used CD's, once-read books, audio recordings, and even some antique books I buy in Europe for sale as well. And occasionally I will find such a good buy on contemporary jewelry for my clients that I will purchase a few extra pieces to offer on eBay. These are always offered clearly labeled as contemporary, and not antiques - just to avoid confusion. I also end up with boatloads of jewelry and gemstone samples which were not fully distributed to the retailers I purchase on behalf of. Some really great pieces, including antiques, pearls, as well as some pieces of antique Russian jewelry. I have always been fascinated with jewelry and gemstones. Bangkok, Taipei, Hong Kong, Moscow, and Bombay are great places to find incredible deals on both gemstones and jewelry, and over the years I have made many friends within the trade in these five cities. So you can look for a steady flow of little treasures I discover in my travels, and I will be happy to share with you the best deals I can find through my industry acquaintances in these far-off Asian lands. Though I spend a good part of each year in Europe and Asia, most of the year I am here in the United States, and that's where all of my little treasures are. So you can count on quick shipping and careful packaging. And if I am not home - I have someone who does it for me! Domestic shipping is $3.99 for first class mail or $6.99 for Priority Mail. Domestic rates include USPS Delivery Confirmation (you might be able to update the status of your shipment on-line at the USPS Web Site). Canadian shipments are $3.99 for Air Mail; International shipments are $4.99 for Air Mail (and generally are NOT tracked; trackable shipments are EXTRA). I can add most other items I sell to the shipment for only $0.99 each. Your purchase will ordinarily be shipped within 48 hours of payment. We package as well as anyone in the business, with lots of protective padding and containers. Insurance is available for both domestic and international shipments ($2 for domestic shipments; $3 for international shipments; ONLY required when PayPal is used – you may deduct this amount if you prefer an uninsured shipment AND you pay by check or money order or EU transfer). We do NOT recommend uninsured shipments, and expressly disclaim any responsibility for the loss of an uninsured shipment. Unfortunately the contents of parcels are easily “lost” or misdelivered by postal employees – even in the USA. If you intend to pay via PayPal, please be aware that PayPal Protection Policies REQUIRE insured, trackable shipments. If you do NOT want an insured shipment, send us a check or money order or EU transfer and deduct the invoiced insurance premium. We do offer U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail, Registered Mail, and Express Mail for both international and domestic shipments, as well United Parcel Service (UPS) and Federal Express (Fed-Ex). Please ask for a rate quotation. I prefer your personal check or money order over any other form of payment – and I will ship immediately upon receipt of your check (no “holds”). If upon receipt of the item you are disappointed for any reason whatever, I offer a no questions asked return policy. Send it back, I will give you a complete refund of the purchase price. We do offer a certificate of authenticity (COA) upon request for all of our items. There is a $2 fee for mailing under separate cover. Please see our "ADDITIONAL TERMS OF SALE." Place a Bid!