24 Minerals and Stones more beautiful than Diamonds

Apr 22, 2017 3:15 PM

oodlemynoodle

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11410

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Luz Opal with Galaxy Inside

1. Luz Opal with Galaxy Inside

2. Sunset Fire Opal

3. Ocean inside an Opal

4. Bismuth

5. Lightning Ridge Black Opal

6. Opal Fossil

7. Rose Quartz Geode

8. Azurite

9. Burmese Tourmaline

10. Fluorite

11. Titanium Quartz

12. Worlds Biggest Amethyst Geode - "The Empress of Uruguay"

You know you've been playing NMS too long when you see this and think "vortex cube!"

13. Rhodochrosite

14. Scolecite

15. Chrysocolla in Malachite

16. Realgar on Calcite

17. Fluorite/Quartz/Pyrite Combo

18. Cobaltocalcite

19. Peruvian Blue Opal

20. Opalised Ammonite

21. Esquel Pallasite

22. Obsidian

23. Peacock Coal

24. Wulfenite

#10 Fluorite minecraft block

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

v

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Opals, moonstones, and other milky, transglucent gems with rainbow hues are my favorite things <3

9 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Those plus mother-of-pearl and abalone!

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

The problem is all of these are both much larger and much more fragile than diamonds. While I agree, your comparison is incredibly flawed.

9 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 2

Plus beauty being entirely subjective too.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

No Labradorite?

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

An opalized omanyte? Never saw that shiny pokemon

9 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

Fusion is just a cheap tactic to make weak gems stronger! I'll see myself out.

9 years ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 0

#13 Finally, a Rubik's cube I can solve.

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Can someone please tell Marie exactly what these are, she keeps calling them rocks.

9 years ago | Likes 286 Dislikes 7

?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=high

9 years ago | Likes 49 Dislikes 0

"Wheelchair"

9 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

The star of the show

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Who's Marie?

9 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 1

.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

What a stupid question, you should be ashamed of yourself. Go watch Breaking Bad right now.

9 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 7

This makes me rock hard.

9 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

OUT OF NOWHERE, IT'S FUCKING FELDSPAR!

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Stunning. But you mislabled #22, that's the Philosopher's Stone (Sorcerer's Stone for the Americans)

9 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 2

Dragonglass

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

geology rocks!

9 years ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 0

5+ of these are opals wtf you playing here?

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

You forgot aquamarine: http://imgur.com/Oz1anXe

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I'd way rather have my wedding ring bedazzled by these beauties than by a diamond

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

I mean, diamonds are pretty boring. They're valuable, that's about it.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

The last one looks like a Dorito.

9 years ago | Likes 183 Dislikes 4

Eggs and bacon

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Your comment was the only reason I kept going

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Same!

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Doritos are triangular?

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Paradot

9 years ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 0

i really want to argue with this but i can't

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

If that is A dorito then what fucking doritos do you have i want some

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

You still haven't recovered from 420 I see

9 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 1

Everything looks like a Dorito when you're high enough

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

You don't fool us, #7 is an alien egg!

9 years ago | Likes 27 Dislikes 0

How do I save that gif

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

We are the Crystal Gems. We'll always save the day!

9 years ago | Likes 31 Dislikes 2

And if you think we can't, we'll, always find a way!

9 years ago | Likes 16 Dislikes 2

That's why the people of this world believe in

9 years ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 2

Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl

9 years ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 2

And Steven!

9 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 1

If you could only know, what we really are. When we arrived on Earth, from out beyond your stars.

9 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 1

Oh! a repost!

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

Thank god someone else noticed

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

Love these more, but only went for diamond for my engagement ring because I'm clumsy and that's the only thing that I probably won't destroy

9 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Understandable. Sapphire might've worked, too, in case you ever want another ring. (Just don't do opal.)

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Glass door smashed my opal 2 days post wedding...as SO pointed out we were no longer engaged anyway! 2 opals later got London Topaz instead.

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Oh no! I'd be heartbroken.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

probably noone will see this but here is a boulder opal from my collection (grid is 1/4")

9 years ago | Likes 47 Dislikes 0

9 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

[deleted]

[deleted]

9 years ago (deleted May 7, 2017 7:27 AM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

thankies \o

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I bought my wife an awesome fossil opal necklace when we were in Australia. I'll have to post a picture of it.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

opals are awesome. do it!

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I think it may be a slice of a boulder opal, after looking at yours and then taking the picture of it.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I agree as far as opals like this look, but when they are just polished milky white opals, not so much. That's what I like hers so much!

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

And I have no idea how to share anything from my phone anymore!

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Hopefully this works. https://imgur.com/mgNeBxW

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

that's neat. it may even be matrix opal. i really can't tell the difference between the two. they both fill voids in sand/ironstone.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I wish the picture did it a bit more justice, it's so cool. By far my favorite piece of jewelry I've ever bought her, and that includes 1/2

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Nice stones

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

The bizmuth and titanium quartz are man made...not how you find them in nature

9 years ago | Likes 36 Dislikes 2

I was looking for this one, thanks hop373

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

What do they look like naturally? I've always been curious every time I see the pic of bizmuth

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

No such thing as "natural" titanium quartz.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

It is cool but not lab grown cool

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Still neat.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Its cornery

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

#6 #7 #9 #13 #21 are all labelled wrong

9 years ago | Likes 39 Dislikes 1

Mineral, Crystal and jewellery wholesaler here btw

9 years ago | Likes 21 Dislikes 1

Actual names? I thought that #6 seemed right. Guy who took 1 geology class once here :P.

9 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Thats boulder opal

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 2

What are the correct names? Ill try to update the post

9 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

#6 boulder opal #7 rhodochrosite #9 website tourmaline #13 is cinnabar I think and #21 is a slice of stoney iron meteorite

9 years ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 2

Don't think crystalline cinnabar has a cleavage pattern like that.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

9 is elbaite I meant. Autocorrect doesn't do minerals

9 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 1

#6 isn't opal that formed inside fossilized wood?

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

#13 is literally on the front cover of my mineralogy book. Rhodochrosite is correct.

9 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

Your username is very relevant.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

you and I may have the same Mineralogy book. >.>

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Yeah I googled both and I'm with you but they are pretty similar hey

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

And Steven!

9 years ago | Likes 527 Dislikes 9

All I could think as I was scrolling was that here was going to be a Steven shot at the bottom as a punch line.

9 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

And Josef

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

9 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

i fell out of my chair

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

*Deep Inhale* WE

9 years ago | Likes 53 Dislikes 0

Are

9 years ago | Likes 42 Dislikes 0

NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP, NEVER GONNA LET YOU DOWN, NEVER GONNA RUN AROUND AND DESERT YOU!!!

9 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 6

Thanks for playing!

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

THE CRYSTAL

9 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 1

GEMS!

9 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

We ALWAYS save the day!

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

The

9 years ago | Likes 38 Dislikes 0

Crystal

9 years ago | Likes 36 Dislikes 0

Gems,

9 years ago | Likes 35 Dislikes 0

Diamonds are not special so. They keep being expensive cause of a scam thats all.

9 years ago | Likes 243 Dislikes 10

Ok cool, try proposing with one of the other gems on this list. Let me know how it goes.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 5

I'll take a high grade gaming computer over a ring for a proposal.

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

Diamonds are one of the hardest materials in existence. Still a scam though. If I were a woman, I'd prefer a more colorful ring anyway.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

That's why you have to ask for "blood diamonds"! Those are the best & they're super-hard to find too!

9 years ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 2

That's just mean

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I prefer Mythril

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

That's a metal, though, not a mineral.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

But if you cut any of these into small enough pieces for a ring, most of them would look pretty boring.

9 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

It's because they're hard, makes them the best jewels for rings and whatnot.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Exactly Diamonds are you totally worthless just monopolize

9 years ago | Likes 20 Dislikes 6

Its the same stratagy i use to get women.

9 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

Can't cheat on you if there's nobody alive left to cheat with.

9 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

Red diamonds are one of the rarest gems. So meh... Some diamonds are truly rare. Brown yellow and clear are not rare at all.

9 years ago | Likes 71 Dislikes 1

Blue diamonds are pretty rare, and they're awesome because of their phosphorescence (briefly glows in the dark!)

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

IKR, marketing industrial grade diamonds as "Chocolate" diamonds!

9 years ago | Likes 24 Dislikes 0

The company I worked for got an order to do alternating black and white diamonds. Called them "tuxedo" or "penguin" diamonds in house.

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

I like colors more than the clear ones and know yellow are impurities, so I opt for sapphires when looking at stones.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

Diamonds come in blue purple green and red. Red being the rarest.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Congrats? Cost is still a very relevant part of all of this.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Color in sapphires is also caused by impurities.

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Yeah there's nothing wrong with it imo I just knew that diamonds being yellow were because of that since it's common information

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Their hardness is great for jewelry, other gems are likely to get sratched easier

9 years ago | Likes 34 Dislikes 1

Sapphire and ruby rank just below diamond on the Mohs scale.

9 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

Which is why I opt for them. Diamonds are great if you want impervious stones, corundum is nearly the same so fair compromise imo

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

The inflation to jump to a diamond due to artificial rarity or marketing is a complete rip off and can't justify it.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Mossianite is at least as hard.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Moissanite is a 9.5, diamond is 10. that said, for all practical purposes moissanite is just as good, looks better, and is cheaper.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Nah, it's softer than diamond, but harder than most other stuff.

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

Ah, then it's 1 point lower, but 1 point higher on luster.

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

It's 0.5 difference on the mohs scale of hardness. There isn't a lustre scale.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

Yes, exactly! There are many beautiful stones that flake or crack or scratch or react to everyday materials. Diamonds don't.

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

But they shouldn't cost thousands, especially when they're rather abundant and easy to manufacture.

9 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

I agree. Just making the point that beauty isn't the only thing a stone needs to be used in jewelry.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Corundum or miossanite? Gonna be hard pressed to damage those. much easier than diamonds. And they come without the cost

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Well sure. Lab-created stones too - the bias against those is silly. Just saying that not all pretty stones are suited to jewelry.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I feel most aren't. I wouldn't really go with anything softer than corundum just on the grounds of durability alone.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

They aren't rare, but *are* special amongst stones for hardness. Best use is industrial cutting tho, not for jewelry.

9 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 0

And we can make ones for industrial purposes now anyway

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

We can make small ones, not big ones for large blades / drilling

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

False

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Diamonds shine brighter than any other mineral when they're cut right due to a very high refractive index. That's why they're popular

9 years ago | Likes 22 Dislikes 8

No they are popular cause of the diamond scam. https://www.exposingtruth.com/diamond-engagement-ring-greatest-marketing-scam-history/

9 years ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 6

I thought they're expensive because of the scam

9 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 1

works both ways. so expensive and popular cause dumb people think they are rare.

9 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 1

Because of the high price. Dumb people wouldn't think they were rare if you could get them for the same price as your lunch.

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

And yet hematite has a higher refractive index. And is considered semi-precious. No, it's the brilliant marketing racket of De Beers.

9 years ago | Likes 35 Dislikes 5

De Beers conrol less than 40% of the market today. Their old monopoly is over. A jeweller told me that.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 4

Poor argument on the refractive index, refraction in gems results in "sparkle". so hematite having an R.I. higher than diamond is 1/?

9 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 3

Pointless, as it isn't transparent. Now I will openly admit that the value of standard diamonds is grossly inflated, but there are better2/?

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

Stones to use in your argument than that.

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

My biggest complaint about most all of these is their almost complete lack of durability. Beautiful as some of them are, as a jeweler, 1/2

9 years ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 0

I can't really appreciate them without thinking about how soft or fragile they are. Or heat / chemical sensitive.

9 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Maybe you're not meant to fuck around with something that already looks perfect

9 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 1

I pity the jeweler who tries to facet something like realgar.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

*shudder*

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Yeah, even if they look better it's not like you just buy a diamond to sit on your desk, ya know? I opt for corundum over diamond personally

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I feel it's a fair compromise with the stark price difference and being nearly as hard.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Always a good choice, ruby or sapphire? I'm a fan of some varieties of tourmaline, myself.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Sapphire since I'm not the biggest fan of red and everything not red I've seen has been called sapphire (unaware if there's more difference)

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

In simplest terms, rubys are red, sapphires are, well, everything else. Literally every color of the spectrum.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Jeweler friend, what is your opinion on moissanite? Good for enegement rings? I imagine that since there so hard they're not easily damaged?

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I'm a bit of a snob, I can't bring myself to recommend a synthetic stone like moissanite. My recommendation is to go diamond if you must,

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Or even better, go for a colored stone. It unlocks so many options.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Because it's lab grown, or...? Just asking for reasons. I think the fire this give off is quite pretty.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Yeah, because it's lab grown. Like I said, a bit of a snob.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

What ia wrong with synthetic? They look EXACTLY the same?

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Did you not see the "bit of a snob" disclaimer? I strongly prefer natural stones, if you don't mind something made in a lab, go for it.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

To a jeweler, they don't look the same.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0