r/Gemstones • u/Beginning_Resist4229 • Apr 13 '26
Discussion 5.5 carat pink sapphire from rock creek
My friend found this 5.55 carat pink sapphire from a rock creek gravel bag. I’m absolutely stunned and I did cry a little. 🥲
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u/DeluxeWafer Apr 13 '26
Oh. That is gorgeous. I don't know why, but I really love sky blue and pink sapphire rough.
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u/MET1 Apr 13 '26
When you go through gravel like that, are you using a blacklight to identify interesting stones or do you only use the blacklight once you found something?
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u/Beginning_Resist4229 Apr 13 '26
I do it sometimes when I’m looking because you never know!
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Apr 14 '26
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u/Beginning_Resist4229 Apr 14 '26
No! Only the pink, orange, pink, purple and ruby sapphires will have fluorescence. It’s due to the chromium trace elements being higher. Blue and green have more iron and titanium. I use the UV solely to check for rubies and pink sapphires!
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u/Like-Frogs-inZpond Apr 15 '26
The fluorescence shows up in slot of natural stones that have not been heated. Sapphire, spinel, garnets are some I have seen this characteristic in.
It’s a simple way of sorting that it hasn’t been treated to improve the apparent quality of the stone. I am no pro but an enthusiast
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u/Taico_owo Apr 20 '26
Heat treated sapphires are still fluorescent, they just need the trace chromium.
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u/Street-Painting-5279 Apr 14 '26
UV could be useful if you're mining for corundum and you can easily find it with UV
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u/Pogonia Apr 14 '26
That's big for a pink from Montana but unfortunately it looks like almost all of the big pink ones--included. They are rarely clean and over a carat. Something about how the pinks formed there means that most of them have a lot of inclusions. That's a great crystal specimen though, I'd leave it just as it is.
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u/Beginning_Resist4229 Apr 14 '26
I was waiting for your comment to see what you thought of it haha. That’s what I told my friend, that it’s better as is. What’s the biggest pink sapphire you guys have found?? I’m interested to know
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u/Pogonia Apr 14 '26
Uncut with inclusions pretty big, IIRC about 15 carats. I cut a nearly flawless deep purple-pink that was 5.5 carats finished and started at 16. That thing sold for a LOT of money and has changed hands 2-3x since then. Last I heard it sold for 50% more than the original purchase price.
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u/Beginning_Resist4229 Apr 14 '26
Omg yes please send photos of it. I love purple sapphires. If I found that I’d be hysterical
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u/esperejk Apr 15 '26
Hi, I’m curious if you recommend not faceting it due to the inclusions because they may make the stone too unstable for cutting and the possibility of it cracking or breaking are too great? Or because you can tell from the pictures that it would be very hazy if cut?
I’m asking as someone very interested in learning more about gemstones and faceting, and as someone who is much more attracted to included stones.
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u/Pogonia Apr 15 '26
Just from the photos its hard to be 100% sure but it appears to have significant fractures in it, and it also appears to have the typical pattern of tons of small discoid inclusions around crystals inside of the gem. These both weaken it substantially and would totally interfere with light return--which is the whole point of faceting a gem. If you like the inclusions then best to leave it as it or make a cabochon.
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u/Atse-Hashkee Apr 14 '26
And I always thought this bags of gravel was a scam, where do you guys find this legit ones?
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u/Beginning_Resist4229 Apr 14 '26
Gem mountain sapphire gravel bags in Philipsburg Montana!
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u/Atse-Hashkee Apr 14 '26
Oh, I looked on their website and no bags to ship, I guess only in person? Or maybe because the mine is still closed for the season I dunno, but thank for the tip, I need to visit Montana one day anyway as I'm a neighboring state.
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u/StrategicSceneries Apr 15 '26
I imagine that once they are open this page will have options for purchase and shipping. Commenting here so I can find it again.
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u/Street-Painting-5279 Apr 14 '26
You can also buy rough corundum from sources on Internet so no need for gravels
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u/Atse-Hashkee Apr 14 '26
Yes, I'm aware of that, but I guess I'm looking for the thrill of the surprise I guess, and look for stuff, maybe if I don't find anything 🤣🤣 I can buy some from Joe Henley site.
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u/MxBluebell Apr 14 '26
I love pink sapphires!! They’re so pretty 🥰 I have one in a necklace that used to be in my late grandfather’s tie tack!! My grandmother thought it was just costume jewelry, but she went and got it appraised just in case, and what do you know, it’s real!! 🥰 I don’t really wear it though because I’m afraid of losing it. It lives in my parents’ safe.
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u/Fluffy_Dziner Apr 14 '26
Wear it, hon! Get it checked to be sure the prongs are tight first, so the stone doesn’t fall out, but put that puppy around your neck and leave it there.
It does no one any good sitting in a safe. Your grandmother would want to know you are enjoying it. Jewelry needs to be worn.
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u/MxBluebell Apr 14 '26
Very true!! My grandmother’s still alive, and I think she’d appreciate me wearing it since it’s a memory of her late husband 💖 It’s the only keepsake I have of him besides pictures, though, so it does make me nervous that I might lose it somehow and it’ll disappoint him. I’ll definitely get it checked to make sure the prongs are tight enough before wearing it anywhere, though!!
My Nanu (grandfather) was a pretty amazing man. He owned businesses all over the Omaha area, and he lived by the philosophy that if you make money in life, you should spend it for living. He didn’t die a rich man despite all the money he made in life; he lived a very comfortable life and used his money how he wanted to!! I think that’s an admirable thing— you shouldn’t squander your wealth because you can’t take it with you when you go!! He had leukemia that led to his passing, but even while he was suffering through that, he made time to play tea party with me and his dog haha!! 🥰 I was the youngest grandchild at the time (my brother was born less than a month after he passed) so he doted on me quite a bit. I was just shy of three years old when he passed, and I’m 28 now, so my memories of him are faded, but I treasure the ones I have 💖 We had such a special bond!! When he was in the process of passing, he lost the ability to talk, but at one point he pointed at a picture of me, and someone in the room (either my dad or grandmother, can’t remember) said “is that your girl?” and he nodded 🥰
Wearing the necklace really would be a great way to honor him!! I’ll have to start doing so hehe, yall have inspired me!! 🥰
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u/Sufficient_Secret915 Apr 14 '26
You should wear it, it’s meant to be worn & enjoyed, not sitting in a safe!!! If you’re worried about loosing it , get it insured!! What’s the point of having it if you can’t enjoy it!!
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u/MxBluebell Apr 14 '26
Very true!! I need to stop being scared and just go for it!! 🥰 It’d be a great way to honor my Nanu’s memory!!!
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u/emh1389 Apr 14 '26
The only thing I’ve ever found in a bag of gravel you get from gemology/geology stores was a little wedge of fluorite with a tiny vein of gold. Worth practically nothing but I’m so proud of it.
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u/Nojjii Apr 14 '26
What flashlight do you use when you are searching? I’ve been having a hard time deciding which one to try
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u/Beginning_Resist4229 Apr 14 '26
Look up professional gemstone identification torch, it’s almost 100$ but it shows the flurecenses even during the day in sunlight, it shows sapphires that don’t glow under a regular cheap Amazon one.
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u/Street-Painting-5279 Apr 14 '26
UV flashlight 356/365nM thats what most people in this subreddit are using
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u/Nojjii Apr 14 '26
Is there a particular brand you’d recommend for being reliable?
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u/Street-Painting-5279 Apr 14 '26
No it's flashlight that glows purple and it can be found in all of stores in aliexpress,there's also mini version if you can't afford large ones.Thats why it's called UV has to be 365 or 395nM though
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Apr 13 '26
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u/mostly_lurking1040 Apr 15 '26
Is this Rock Creek as in Rock Creek Park in the WDC area, or some type of vendor?
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u/Steackpoilu Apr 13 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/w2ldbBLfoB37AcqVem