It is always nice to sit down at least once during the holiday seasons to the smells and cheer of a familiar home cooked meal with family. Recently I have been cutting some smaller and unusual tourmalines that have pushed me to wonder how I managed to cut every tourmaline in my collection. Well I am finally sitting down to enjoy my holiday comfort food, pink tourmaline fresh from Africa. It is an average pink in color, size and tone value, while it has great crystal and is very clean. But the best thing of all, is it polishes like a dream. I feel in control as the grind marks melt away just as I reach my meets. I have found this to be the case before with medium pastel pinks. They have just enough manganese (possibly) to speed polishing without causing under cutting. (mostly on the table, perpendicular to the principle axis. They also don’t have problems with chipping that hot pinks can have a temper tantrum with.
I feel like it is still the holidays (01/05/2014) because I will finally get to see my new grand son next weekend after waiting out the weather. (He is in Michigan). I should have the pink done by then and I am feeling a bit of the glow from its pink heart already. (01/06/2014) Well it is finish and a real beauty. Unfortunately I chipped it a little next to the girdle, but it is a very strong tourmaline and should still be pretty in an appropriate setting.
Bruce
Picture to follow after I get my photographer in focus.
