The Search

     I have been on a search for opaque gemstones, looking for the unusual, the hard to find and the rare.  The Bamboo Jasper, as well as Orbicular Jasper are unusual Jaspers and hard to find.  The hard to find as well as rare, is Rhodochrosite, Malachite, Blue Lace Agate are just a few.

     If you can find them, which I have, it is hard to find them in high grade material - A rating or above.  The rating means better quality, color, striations, such as lines, waves and circles.  A low rating of C and below are more solid in color, no lines, waves or details that give the stone more character, they are small pieces and the quality is poor.  This can not only make the jewelry unappealing, but because some of the stones are lower on the hardness scale, which means they are easily scratch or chipped.

   This means the pricing of these stones are becoming more expensive to purchase and always have to be aware of the imitations.  Man-made and composite stones, as well as a dyed banded calcite (a deep red and very cheap).