Druzy

[Taogem]

I mentioned in another thread that Medicanman (Randy) shared with me a perspective on cabs with a druzy finish to them.

More to the point, a natural druzy surface. Really unique and new to myself.

Some examples..

Brown, Spotted, White, Yellow and Carnelian Druzy


Black Drusy


Chrysocolla Druzy



I can't say that I have ever had any material come across my bench that offered these types of natural and unfinished druzy surfaces.

I just love it!

It seems like it would be hard to come by. Then of course once you trim this thin surface piece off a chunk of rough thats it. The rest of the piece of rough could only be cabbed with an actual polished finish to them.

Does anyone know of a source for purchasing druzy material like this that offers this unique unfinished druzy surface?

I just have never seen any. Probably just me, and am sure other long time cabbers are familiar with it.

Any way....... Any ideas on where a person might purchase various druzy material like this?

[freeform]

Hey Tao,

Druzy is something i enjoy working and have for several years. The easiest sorces for druzy is Brazilian agate. Sometimes ive seen vendors sell preped out preforms from dyed Brazilian agates slabs, heels, and cut rough. But most of the time, Druzy is about finding the hidden aspects of the vug or table(depending on the type) no matter the material, and trying not to cut into it, while cutting all around it.

Here are some old examples ive cut;
Full table druzy*Blue Chalcedony
(were its at in my opinion, need at least 95% druzy coverage of the table)


Vug Druzy* Baby Brailian agate


*Biggs Jasper


*Blue Mtn Jasper


Whos says druzy is just agate? *Azurite


*Vanadanite & Calcite


*hematite or geothite?


*Boulder Opal


*Cripple Creek Turquoise

There are online vendors who sell it, but really it can be found anywere you look real hard. Mineral vendors are always suspect to be well looked over for druzys.

[freeform]

Here is one from Hasan that ive cut before, though expsive make awesome druzy material that is totally natural.This piece would make a sweet cab no dout.
Kammererite

[Taogem]

Ya know, between Randys emails and seeing more cabs of yours here, I am seeing a whole new area of cabbing that I have been missing out on.

When you refer to "the table", your talking about the surface of the rough?

Seems like there might be a lot of times where a person could easily damage the entire cab while trying to remove or cut out the druzy area off the rough.   

That Kammererite is a good example. It just seems way to fragile to get a cab out of. Same with your Vanadanite & Calcite piece.

This is really cool cabbing...... !!

I am on it now 

[MedicineMan]

LOL,

George I just knew you'd get a kick outa that..

As a Jewlery designer I try to keep my eye on whats popular in the market (not zales) (but the actual nice Jewelry Artists)

I am looking for a druzy supplier and put George on the trail, so I hope he sniff's it out.

BTW George, if you can get your hands on some, I'll be looking for a custom "Dalmation Druzy" (New Mexico is only place I know that it comes from)... I'll send ya spec's, later this summer,  when and if ya find some.

freeform, your stuff just keeps making me drool... nice druzy work, "blue chalcedony" "crysocolla" "boulder opal, and the black" just scream for placement in a peice of jewelry...(or at the least hit my fancy)

Randy

[Taogem]

I am looking for a druzy supplier and put George on the trail, so I hope he sniff's it out.

BTW George, if you can get your hands on some, I'll be looking for a custom "Dalmation Druzy" (New Mexico is only place I know that it comes from)... I'll send ya spec's, later this summer,  when and if ya find some.



Randy

"so I hope he sniff's it out." 

I am on it Randy!

Really glad you brought this to my attention too....

[Taogem]

I ransacked my rough looking for druzy material that I might be able to cab up.

This first two reminded me of the Titanium coated. They are cut from a piece of Peacock Copper.



This is a portion of druzy crystals that came off a piece of Thompsonite.



These two pieces of druzy came off the same piece of Youngite  agate that I cut this weeks cab entry from

[freeform]

very cool Tao, i like the peacock ore,  would fool for Titanium coated no problem. lol

On your "table" question, think like a flat table you sit. The flatter the better(hence why so many druzy are cut very small), the table is small and a jeweler cant always set a stone with an even bezel(at least not unless they cast and can pull off the design). So if your looking for druzy, pieces with large flat tables can produce some of the best cabs, and easiest to work. I sent you that link to the vendor for this reason, though he may not sell the best druzy, most if not all Blue he sells has a good table. Vug druzy cutting can be harder, and often not well produce to really show off the crystal sparkle. As well, druzy comes in different sizes, with the finer sugar druzy always being the best for sparkle and shine. Get this type of druzy on a good table and you got a real winner. Add color or a designer cut, watch out.

I have a few local collecting spots right here a couple miles from my home were there is a heck of allot of Quartz druzy plates on chalcedony, sometimes with nice pinks. But i dont have to show right now, looks very similar to the youngite there. Thanks for sharing.

[MedicineMan]

The peacock is great,

agree with freeform, the finer the crystals the better.

[Taogem]

A few of the pics look a little deceiving.

The ones that seem to show small shadows are giving the impression they are not flat.

I did leave enough material completely covering the underside the druzy leaving a full flat backing area from edge to edge.

I have been spending part of the morning shopping around for some interesting druzy/chalcedony material.

I don't think shopping for it the way I am is the way to do it.

Looking for specific druzy seems to wind up being much more expensive than if just shopping for various rough and simply checking it for druzy surfaces.

Can't seem to get around this though if I shop for druzy on chalcedony. 

Pretty darn pricey...

[MedicineMan]

LOL, tell me about it, thats why I asked you >

Most are very proud with their prices (rightly so i might add), I agee George shopping for druzy on the net seems to be pricey as heck. So hopefully one of us will find something,somewhere....lol

anyways good luck.

Sent ya another email with a link, you should find interesting and encouraging.
(as you are trying your hand a bezel setting and PMC, that guy really shows how low tech ya can go, SO ENJOY)
Hope you jump in with both feet, I know ya can do it...

[freeform]

ya, i personally dont shop for Druzy on the internet. The contact i sent you, as well as others i have ive developed over years of going to shows. Most folks selling druzy rough online are on crack to be hounest. lol

The vendors you want to buy it from will not be selling it as "Druzy".

[Lavenderfish]

Love all the druzy cabs in this thread! I lucked into a small piece of druzy awhile back from a fellow in Oregon that he calls Blue Moon druzy. Beautifully formed crystals on kind of a blue-gray agate and was able to cut 2 cabs and 1 carving from it. This is one of the cabs with an Oregon sunstone inlaid into it.

[Taogem]

Beautiful piece of druzy Carol.

The Sunstone looks great in the center!

[Taogem]

I have been having a hard time finding druzy even in rough form that is affordable.

This Azurite Druzy was not cheap.

It is about 4" across.

She is a beauty though.

Hopefully I will be able to cut out the nice areas!