Hi, kirk here; I'm an almost-retired jewelry-designer, lapidary and metal-smith who can't stop designing/fabricating because of my passion for it... BUT I have too much to be able to work it all before I leave the planet- 'Wanna help?
All of my gems are 100% natural with NO treatment or enhancement and are available at LOWEST importer's-wholesale prices-PLEASE EMAIL or call me: for prices or detailed information not shown. I DO have more material in all categories. You may return ANY unsatisfactory items.
Phone: (319)400-4549
E-mail: kirkstephan(at)hotmail.com
Not putting the @ sign in my address eliminates 100's of SPAM messages-just substitute @ for (at) above to email me (for questions/orders).
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AMBER:
LOW individual piece prices OR, if over 15 grams, LOW Gram prices, From $.50/gram(rough)and up. I have rough, polished/shaped, and cabs of many different colors. SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THEM
DIAMONDS in the sky too: I custom-design using the finest pieces of amber along with high-grade diamonds like these=
This beautiful, cognac-red, very clear, amber pendant, about 2 inches long, has a full-cut, AAA grade 2.5 pt diamond set on the top in a tiffany mounting= $60
Fantastic nearly 3 & 1/2 grams of red amber nugget with a full-cut 2 point AAA grade diamond = $75
Amber was used medicinally for centuries, usually in the form of an elixir. The stone is one of the few stones that can be charged with electricity, and the Greeks referred to it by the name of "elektron" because of this property. The stone has also been used to intensify meditation by wearing it as beads. Amber has also been used in amulets, as charms repelling evil, and carried as a stone that provided protection against poisons. The ANCIENT MAYAN MINES OF CHIAPAS (Mexico) is probably the only mine in the world that consistently produces NATURAL/UNTREATED Red and Green AMBER.
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Giant highly polished cognac colored nugget with medium light green sheen. 54.9 grams, 80x50x35mm (a bit more than 3 inches in length) special price=$125
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Rare red amber-deep cherry red, VERY clear, with 14KGF clasp set into the top. 58mm (2 and 1/4 inches in length) 11 grams. 'Makes a stunning pendant=$55
This is a wonderful piece with good green 'flash' and a rounded pyramid shape. It has tiny, beautiful plant inclusions. It's 11 grams, 1 and 3/4 inch (46mm)in length = $45
This is a fine piece of cherry red highly polished material and rounded pyramid shape. Intense green flash on one end. 17.8 grams=$80
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Many different custom shapes/cabachons are available in various colors/qualities-call for prices (average cab=$10)
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This teardrop shaped nugget has great green flash. The natural green amber of Chiapas is actually a flourescence, not seen in all lighting situations or from some angles. This piece has very dark cognac body color. It's 1 and 3/4 inch in length (46mm), weighs 11 grams= $35
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Highly polished red WITH green flash! Unusual stalactite shape. 90mm in length, 50.3 grams. Perfect for a large pendant.$250
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Various pairs of hand-crafted amber ear-rings=-$10-$15 each pair
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Various custom shapes available including small spheres; ask for specifics
Rainforest FROGS, beautifully hand-carved= $15 each
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Polished nugget, cognac body color with medium intensity Green 'Flash'.45x38x15mm, weighing 18.3 grams. $55
Polished nugget of cognac body color with slight Green 'Flash. 40x40x20mm, weighing 22 grams. $45
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Golden and cognac rough available for $1.50/gram and green rough for $4/gram. A bit of cherry red I have left for $4.50/gram. All is very clear with no sediment and a few inclusions per piece.
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(15.2 grams) wine RED highly polished nugget of unusual natural shape with spectacular effects-$95
(52.2 grams) RED highly polished nugget of unusual natural shape with great green 'flash' effects (not seen in this photo-ask for other shots), reminds me of the lightning bolt of Zeus in shape-$250
I can custom-design for you and make similar necklaces to these with rare red or green amber and precious stone beads: pearls, red coral, amythest,turquoise, etc, of your choice.
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...Italian red coral with good green flash amber centerpiece= $75......
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Genuine Black Tahitian Pearls and center-piece amber=$75
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Kingman turquoise w/green amber centerpiece, 16 and 1/2 inch length, thumb-sized amber drilled center-bead= $50
((11))*OPAL*
Small fine quality crystal rough and opal turtles available.Classic FIRE OPAL is orange or red colored.Shown 2 carat crystal=$7, This turtle shown (sterling silver) is $40, with lesser stones beginning at= $15
ROUGH OPAL chunks and many, many, many different sizes and qualities of CLASSIC FIRE OPAL, including, on occasion, freeforms like the one right above=$10
I custom-design and fabricate opal and Sterling rings for the individual; send me your requiremants and I'll photograph special gems for you: Like the filagree ring with small round black opal(top-man's OR woman's=$65)And,(middle) a stunning men's sterling ring with a very large 'Crystal Opal'=$49.50 And(below-sterling silver band w/Black Opal-$50)
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Black opal (Honduras) cabachons of various sizes and qualities are available at GUARANTEED lowest prices. Black opals 4x6mm=from $10 , Large Black opal oval cabachons (15x18mm) $75-$200.
Black opal (Honduras) Huge black opal w/light but well distributed 'fire' of red/blue/green. Slightly over 19 carats, 17x22mm. $100
Black opal (actually a greyish black), light but evenly distributed 'fire' of red/blue/green. 11.5 carats, 13x21mm. $75
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I custom-design and fabricate Sterling or 14K Goldfilled handcrafted pendants with natural crystalline Opal. This one was=$45 (ALL of these photos are of the SAME pendant with different angles of lighting further showing the magic of this type of opal
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Many, many different sizes and qualities of CRYSTAL OPAL available; send me your requirements. From $2.50/carat.The one shown is $20
Many, many different sizes and qualities of loose BOULDER OPAL available and I custom design/make pendants with them too; send me your requirements-shown opal is $20, the pendant=$35 (sterling silver)
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Boulder Opal Eggs are Shamanic Healing devices for the Huichol tribe. I have natural sized ones that don't have much fire and small, marble-sized ones with really good fire-$10 each, large or small.
Various beautifully carved turtles from this same fiery material = $15 each or 6 for $60.
OPAL:
I have larger rough chunks of boulder opal like the ones shown here(They run from $5 to $40 each).On the top= $30, the bottom= $15 (about 4 inches by 2")
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( other magic BELOW-scroll down)
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17 - Huichol Tribal creations
Medicine bracelets by the incredible sorcerer-healer named 'Salvador', peyote Shaman of the Sierra Madre. These glass-beaded power bands are on the wrists of all Huichol Shamans and use the designs they "see" in their spirit-quests with Nagual-Peyotl. $45 each. Below: Also Huichol made, silver, copper and brass 'Love Bracelets', given to lovers before wedding= $15 each or 2 for $25.
Genuine, strands of natural Tahiti Black Pearls and Red Coral are+ $40 each with a $50 minimum order
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HUICHOL Peyote Tribe Yarn paintings-Mystical Doorways to the 'Other' world=$50
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-I Sometimes run across possible ancient artifacts, but without absolute verification I pass them on you as 'Reproductions'-these beautiful Jade Head pendants sure "look" like genuine Classic-period pieces, around 1000 years old- $30 each
each.
The blackish green heads at the bottom are definitely contemporary Maya: $10/each
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#21< Amythest crystal 'points', ear-ring size for $1 to $5 each. Deep purple faceted stones in many shapes and sizes-write for photos/prices.
((#26))Incredible TIBETAN POWER PENDANTS (4 in all) used by Tibetan Shamans for healing purposes-silver/cats-eye (top), center 3 pieces have sapphires, pearls and garnets, bottom has turquoise= $35 each
((#27))AUTHENTIC ANCIENT ARTIFACTS: In the 40 years I've lived and worked with Indians in Latin America I've collected these few genuine ancient pieces: "Hacha",Miniature ceremonial jade axe-heads, Classic Period MAYA=$45 for one or $35/each for a few.
((#28))Pre-Classic Period Mayan Jade bead with (unknown aged mother/pearl beads)= $75
((#29))TAIRONA Culture (Colombia) Necklace w/genuine green jade-granite beads= $250
((#30))TAIRONA Culture (Colombia) Necklace w/genuine carved carnelian center-bead pendant and unknown-aged abalone beads= $100
((#35)) Mayan Indians make these 'replicas' of insects-in-amber from copal or some other type of resin, perhaps synthetic, which they melt and insert interesting specimans like these WASPS-$15 and SCORPIONS-$20 each
(ABOVE)((#36< Many one-of-a-kind rarities available, like this quartz-crystal pyramid(ABOVE)=$45 and (BELOW) MIXTEC ceremonial mask, antique, alabaster, new condition=$65
Mexican Red Amber
MEXICAN RED AMBER is usually only found in the area of the mines that is closer to the surface. The particular layer of earth, in which it is found, is more porous and not as dense as the layers of earth in the interior of the mine. This oxygen rich, porous earth, has allowed for a slow oxidation process (in the millions of years) to turn the color from yellow to red
This amber absorbed and combined with oxygen, starting from its exterior, and ongoing slowly but not always fully into its interior (oxygen is known to be red in color)
MEXICAN RED AMBER is rarely ever found very deep within a mine, as no oxygen was present in the denser earth; therefore, New Mines have to be found before allowing production of red amber, which is not always present.
This natural oxidation process has been tried to be recreated artificially in Baltic amber by heat treatment, accelerating the oxidation process; However as all amber has microscopic moisture bubbles inside, they burst when heated leaving tiny circular fractures inside, these marks being the proof that the amber has been heated.
The naturally oxidized Hymenea red amber is chemically different from yellow Hymenea amber. This can be proven by a simple test:
When heated or burned it has a much sweeter or more pleasant smell, any artificially died yellow Hymenea amber, would never have the same smell as the naturally red, as they would be chemically different.
Mexican Cognac Amber
Mexican Cognac amber is natural Red amber that has had some of its oxidized surface removed, by hand sanding. This makes it clearer & allows more light to enter the piece, This material is very bright in color, this is why this is the most popular.
Mexican Black Amber
Mexican Black amber is heavily included with organic materials such as dirt tree bark, moss, therefore its dark color, etc.
Mexican Green Amber
It is the rarest and most cherished amber in Mexico. It is gold, cognac or red in color, but will seem flourescent green in a natural lighting situation.
All the amber pieces that I have for sale on my website I personally collect by visiting miners in very remote areas of Chiapas .
Mexican Amber History and Origin:
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Mexican Amber has become better known throughout the world only since the mid 1970's. It was originally discovered by the ancient Maya Indians, long before Columbus came to America, Tales were told by Spanish Conquistadores witnessing the great Aztec emperor Moctezuma stir his native chocolate drink with an amber ladle.
Mexican Amber has only been found in the Chiapas region of Mexico, where heavily forested mountains overlook the Huitipan River. It is believed to be a resin formed from 25-35 million years ago.It is believed to be formed from an ancestral "Hymenea" tree. All amber found in this area is of Hymenea origin. Yellow being the most known natural color, but it also occurs in Black, Red, Cognac, and very rare Green colors.
The ancient amber tradition has survived & is flourishing. Locally, natives collect & mine amber, for wear as amulets, or make small trinkets, carvings and pendants to sell to tourists. All of my pieces are in the natural shape formed millions of years past and are only hand-polished to bring out the sheen. I also have rough material with no sediment-just pure uncut amber.
All the Mexican amber I sell is 100% Natural, it has not been heated, treated, or color enhanced by any artificial means, and is certified to be authentic, by the Mexican Government.