(US) Where to buy inexpensive synthetic gemstones?
April 21, 2021 6:06 PM Subscribe
I'd like to make some simple jewelry, gift my wife, and perhaps have my D&D players face a dragon with an actual (but not terribly expensive) hoard. And, what can I say, I like shiny things.
Aliexpress has many shops, and there are many sites a google search away, but it's difficult to judge the reliability of the shops. Is there a standard place to buy these, or a crafting site that has recommendations?
I know you said synthetic, but if you want some real semi-precious stones, Alpha Imports has been known to have some good deals. I've made a handful of purchases from the site, and the items have always been the quality promised or better. The Gemstone Specials section might be a good place to start looking if you want to buy in bulk. Or the Deals and Steals section (under the Semi-Precious category). It also has a Simulated Gemstone category where you can pick up a fake 5mm diamond for $1.00.
If you want some suggestions, chrome diopside is a nice dark green that could make for cool dragon eyes. Chalcedony comes in an assortment of pretty colours. White topaz is often used as a diamond substitute. I got some fabulous citrines from the site. It's not a stone I'd buy for myself, but mystic topaz might be a good enchanted D&D stone. Amethyst is another solid option that might make a nice gift for your wife.
(I do want to say you're a terrible person for making me look at that site today. I've been a good girls and haven't been shopping on it in a while. Now, I've got a hankering to buy a kunzite lot.)
posted by sardonyx at 8:54 PM on April 21, 2021 [3 favorites]
If you want some suggestions, chrome diopside is a nice dark green that could make for cool dragon eyes. Chalcedony comes in an assortment of pretty colours. White topaz is often used as a diamond substitute. I got some fabulous citrines from the site. It's not a stone I'd buy for myself, but mystic topaz might be a good enchanted D&D stone. Amethyst is another solid option that might make a nice gift for your wife.
(I do want to say you're a terrible person for making me look at that site today. I've been a good girls and haven't been shopping on it in a while. Now, I've got a hankering to buy a kunzite lot.)
posted by sardonyx at 8:54 PM on April 21, 2021 [3 favorites]
Forgot to add garnets. Those good-sized marquise stones are a steal if you're making your wife some jewellery.
posted by sardonyx at 9:00 PM on April 21, 2021
posted by sardonyx at 9:00 PM on April 21, 2021
I got my tabletop props from ebay waaay back in the day, buying "lots" of mixed crystal bits.
I like corey flood's link. ebay has gotten to be ever more of a swamp. I'd google (maps - nearby) your area for local gemstone and rock tumbler places and ask if they have "chips" or crystal gravel.
Never did find a suitable model for loose (gold) coins, though I had been tempted to buy actual "gold grains."
posted by porpoise at 10:17 PM on April 21, 2021 [2 favorites]
I like corey flood's link. ebay has gotten to be ever more of a swamp. I'd google (maps - nearby) your area for local gemstone and rock tumbler places and ask if they have "chips" or crystal gravel.
Never did find a suitable model for loose (gold) coins, though I had been tempted to buy actual "gold grains."
posted by porpoise at 10:17 PM on April 21, 2021 [2 favorites]
Looking through ebay, there are still "faceted gems" sold in "lots" where random 250 to 500 carats of cut gravel are being sold for <>
That's a heaping teaspoon to a tablespoon of cut (tiny) gems.
The best prices I could find for gold grains is $100 per gram (a premium on $70/ gram list price for straight-up gold).
But back in the day I did manage to pull a couple of pieces from lots to set in silver to give as handmade jewelry gifts.
Sorry, no first-hand recommendations for specific merchants.
posted by porpoise at 10:39 PM on April 21, 2021
That's a heaping teaspoon to a tablespoon of cut (tiny) gems.
The best prices I could find for gold grains is $100 per gram (a premium on $70/ gram list price for straight-up gold).
But back in the day I did manage to pull a couple of pieces from lots to set in silver to give as handmade jewelry gifts.
Sorry, no first-hand recommendations for specific merchants.
posted by porpoise at 10:39 PM on April 21, 2021
If you do want to order from Ali Express, Wong Rain is a legitimate seller -- that's a link to the loose gemstones dragon hoard section.
Also your dragon can have 30 pieces of gold for $1.25 (and if it fails to deliver, it was $1.25)
posted by DarlingBri at 1:21 AM on April 22, 2021 [3 favorites]
Also your dragon can have 30 pieces of gold for $1.25 (and if it fails to deliver, it was $1.25)
posted by DarlingBri at 1:21 AM on April 22, 2021 [3 favorites]
Seconding Fire Mountain Gems. I haven’t looked lately, but they used to sell loose cubic zirconia stones in lots of colors.
posted by MexicanYenta at 2:31 AM on April 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by MexicanYenta at 2:31 AM on April 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
123stitch.com sells lots of crafty items and has a beading section. Most will have holes in them but you might find some that work. They have good prices and quick shipping for a flat $3.49.
posted by soelo at 3:15 PM on April 22, 2021
posted by soelo at 3:15 PM on April 22, 2021
Response by poster: For anyone running across this old question, I ended up doing a trial order from https://www.gemsngems.com/. It was relatively inexpensive (~$35 for qty 20 8mm round faceted rubies, or maybe "rubies", I haven't tested them). They're quite lovely. Compared to $278 per 5mm stone from Fire Mountain.... Fulfillment time to the US was a bit long, about a month.
posted by SunSnork at 10:20 AM on May 24, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by SunSnork at 10:20 AM on May 24, 2021 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by corey flood at 7:12 PM on April 21, 2021 [3 favorites]