Iolite
Date - Pricing as of April 2008

Color: Pale to straw/yellow to blue/purple.

Note: Iolite has to be orientated and cut for the blue/purple color because it is very strongly dichroic.

Note2: Iolite is rare in sizes clean over 1 carat, stones over 3 carats clean are in the upper scale of the price range. Stones over 5 carats clean are collector stones.

Pale (almost colorless to 15% tone) - Pale to light.
Comments - This material actually can be valuable, especially when cut into a large stones and nice designs.
Pricing - I generally price this material $35/ct to $65/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor.

Light (15% tone to 30%) - Light saturation.
Comments - This material is valuable and I sell it faceted quite well, especially when cut into a large design.
Pricing - I generally price this material $45/ct to $90/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor.

Light/Medium (30% tone to 45%) - Light/medium saturation.
Comments - This material is valuable and not easy to acquire. I cut this material in what ever the rough needs and typically use unique designs
Pricing - I generally price this material $65/ct to $140/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor.

Medium (45% tone to 65%) - Medium saturation.
Comments - This material is valuable and not easy to acquire. I cut this material in the smaller to medium size ranges and typically use unique designs
Pricing - I generally price this material $90/ct to $190/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor.

Medium/Dark (65% tone to 85%) - Medium/dark.
Comments - This material some times nice but generally tends to be a bit dark and saturation becomes an issue as well as color. I cut this material in the smaller to medium size ranges and typically use unique designs
Pricing - I generally price this material $65/ct to $120/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor.

Dark (85% tone to 100%) - This material is around, usually very dark. I seldom cut any thing this dark.
Comments - The best use for this material is small (melee) stones so that the color will show. I almost never cut this material.
Pricing - Pricing this material is cost of goods and labor.

Special - As we all know as cutters some times a stone just comes out "special" for what ever reason. On these kinds of stones I basically price how ever I feel like. Because this stone comes under the "special" category I often do not care if I sell the stone or not. So I usually price it high enough that if I do sell it, I get a very good price. Enough to make me say "Oh well..." and sell it. So be aware that some times I just price a stone high because I do not care if I sell it. Ironically these stones usually sell the fastest...

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E-mail to inquire or order: jeff@faceters.com