Thanks~ and yes, I definitely agree with your perspective. I think it's the fear that holds a lot of people back, rather than evidence. There are many popular stones that are just as vulnerable. Design and placement can go a long way to add protection, absolutely. Cheers

Thank you for your kind words, and I agree that apatite deserves a better place at the table.

Thanks for your continuous support Coleen. Paraiba is nice when it's nice. I'm just so tired of potato-salesmen trying to sling aquamarine coloured tourmalines as if they were neon knights in shining armour. I can't turn away fast enough.

@@GemologyforSchmucks so true about the salesmen! I had one in Tucson showing me a big carved Tourmaline with ok color and very cloudy. Tried to convince me it was worth more than my house. My eyes almost rolled out of my head. I think we’ve reached peak Paraiba when I see YAG Paraiba all over ETSY. I guess I’ll find out in a few weeks in Tucson.

I'm glad that your client base appreciates this stone.

Given it's hardness it is practical for earrings and pendants and the color(s) "rock".@@GemologyforSchmucks

From a visual impact for price perspective, absolutely true.

Sounds like a good time to stock up whilst we still can then ;)

It's delightful, isn't it? Cheers

Howdy to the noble people of Malaysia~!

That sounds like a cool application, and definitely would protect the stone from physical wear. Cheers

Stunning indeed. I think what needs to happen for some of these softer stones that the general public is skiddish about is for the hobby lapidaries to become more visible. Repolishing a stone once in a decade or so isn't that tough or expensive. the mental gymnastics of trying to FIND the people who can do it for you is just so daunting. Perhaps that's one of the projects i'll have to undertake in my career. Connectivity with the right people is so important, and everyone benefits.

@@GemologyforSchmucks I can’t agree with you more Peter. Yea it would make a good business as I’m sure there are thousands of neglected gemstones out there that nee some T.L.& C. Probably just lying around in peoples drawers.

@@rogerhargreaves2272 Seems Japan and the US are fair full of this. I'm astonished what some of my colleagues come out of estate sales with. For sure it needs a make over, but children also need to be taught how to use knife and fork, don't they.

@@GemologyforSchmucks Haha. Yea, estate sales can yield some beautiful stones; especially as many are misidentified or not identifiable by the vendor. 🍴 lolz.

@@rogerhargreaves2272 one person's ignorance births another's opportunity.

The stone in this is video is definitely apatite, so i'm not sure what to tell you. I hope you enjoy your stone.

Oh wow - keep me posted on your progress.

Was just about to ask this too!

Thanks for the question. This year it's not in the cards unfortunately, but I hope to see everyone there soon.

Heliodor can be nice. What in particular attracts you to it?

@@GemologyforSchmucks I really like the yellow color of Heliodor. As well as the name, it’s just an amazing name… “Heliodor” sounds like a mythical character.

@@beartutor3377 It is indeed often a wholesome yellow, as opposed to the jaundiced and sickly varieties. And on the mythical character account ~ Greek language is pretty great for making mythical and magical sounding names. The secrets of history, eh~

A great question - many of the spectra are available free of charge (even wikipedia. or mindat.com) the problem is the sort-ability. It's important to have a starting point of what you think the stone might be when you're getting used to the spectroscope. We have to learn to trust our eyes, and also build a portfolio of patterns that we know.

Best thing to spend when in KL XD

Synthetic diamonds are here to stay. At this stage in history, you need advanced machinery to test diamonds to have any hope in distinguishing natural from synthetic. As long as it is clearly disclosed, folks are welcome to buy and sell synthetic diamonds. My opinion is that coloured stones are fundamentally more interesting, because of their inherent variety, rarity and collectability. I don't have any interest in owning things that are prized for having less and less personality (colourless range diamonds).

@@GemologyforSchmucks Synthetic Moissanite has better properties anyway. Better sparkle, better brilliance, no cleavage and it does exist in nature so… technically it is its own stone. A Simulant yea, but it is its own gem.

Apatite and tourmaline are totally different minerals. The one similarity is the range of colours. As to carborundum, to my understanding that is a synthetic industrial abrasive. Gem cutters use it some times to re-surface their faceting laps. It's not a gem material.

@@GemologyforSchmucks So it's basically a *Fake, a.k.a Synthetic Diamond, used for tools ! OK, Thank You

@@teodorkutzarov3866 there seems to be some overlap, but not a total synthetic diamond. There is definitely synthetic diamond used for abrasives (that's mostly why they were invented) but carborundum has some other characteristics, and may be cheaper to produce (i'm guessing based on the obvious availability of the material).

@@GemologyforSchmucks Ok, TNX. That is helpful again.

The short answer is no, but now i'm dreadfully curious to know more.

*superconductor! I posted a link, but it got deleted. But a Google search for superconductor at room temperature and apatite + a KZfaq video, explaining why it's so important will hopefully help!

Hah! Thanks for your kind words about my work. I'll think about some long form videos and see what can be done.