News Release

For Immediate Release

November 1, 2004

Contact:
L. Allen Brown
Gemologist - GIA
All That Glitters
978-975-2272

World-Class Gemstone Finds New Home


Methuen, MA - L. Allen Brown of All That Glitters, has announced the sale of another unique and rare gemstone, which could make the record books. A Turkish Diaspore weighing 33.40ct was recently sold to a Los Angeles collector, investor and connoisseur of fine quality, exclusive gemstones.

Diaspore, a potentially color-changing gemstone from Turkey but fairly unknown by both the public and the trade, has been called "an affordable alternative to Alexandrite," which is the best-known color-changing gemstone. This particular Diaspore has shown a wide variety of colors depending on the available lights, including smoky beige, smoky green, green and green with hint of blue, to a deep bronze pink or strawberry red. Within areas possessing more than one type of light source, there can be a multitude of colors being displayed at the same time, forever changing as it is turned and the facets reflect differently from within the stone.

What makes this particular gemstone so unique is its large size, fine clarity, color change and quality of the faceting.For this rarity, Brown sought the expertise of a U.S. based cutter, Stephen Kotlowski (BS GG (GIA) CSM), who had cut many of the Diaspore gemstones that appeared on the market in 1995. In fact, it was one of Kotlowski's faceted Diaspores which won the prestigious American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) Cutting Edge Award in 1995.

Though the material disappeared from the market as quickly as it appeared in the mid-90s, Diaspore has been a much sought after collectors gem. Large quantities of this material do not exist, and major marketing to the retail sector would not be viable. Fine quality Diaspores are rarely large, frequently have too many eye visible inclusions, and the color change is slight to almost non-existent. Diaspore is also a very difficult material to facet. It possesses cleavage like diamond, typically has numerous inclusions, and grows in a crystal habit that is not conducive to faceting larger stones.The yield on the piece of rough that produced this gem was approximately 2% - this means that for every 100 carats of rough Diaspore, 98 carats were cleaved, sawn, trimmed and faceted away.

Another noteworthy gemstone sold this year was a 20+ct Neon Blue Apatite from Madagascar. This material is seldom seen in larger sizes that are eye clean. This gem was also worthy for a museum collection and was photographed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) - the world's foremost authority in gemology - for a future article in their Gems and Gemology Magazine. This Neon Blue Apatite was also purchased by the same individual as the new Diaspore.

All That Glitters will soon announce two major faceted Tourmalines from the famous Goldconda Mine in Brazil. This mine has been closed for decades and produced some of the finest known teal blue and blue green Tourmalines in all of Brazil. Brown acquired the rough a decade ago. Kotlowski has just finished faceting this piece of rough, producing two gems weighing 13cts and 23.98cts. Due to their exceptional size, clarity, color and quality cutting, these two pieces are destined to be purchased by a museum, collector, investor or someone who wishes to possess or wear a beauty of nature.

This world-class Diaspore has found its new home and has become a prized possession within a collection of other outstanding gemstones. This 33+ct gem may well be the largest, faceted gem quality Diaspore currently on record. All That Glitters continues to offer exclusive, unique, fine quality colored gemstones. Brown will now be seeking new exceptional rough. It is unknown in which country it may be found or what gemstone it could be, but rest assured, it will be world-class.



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