Chocolate Calcite
Gemstone Quality Standard
About Chocolate Calcite
Chocolate Calcite forms through the deposition of calcium carbonate and other minerals, which are precipitated from mineralized water solutions.
Availability
We don’t know how big the reserve of Chocolate Calcite is. So far it is readily available. We are using lower-grade material for carved decor pieces. Jewelry-grade material does not make up more than 10% of the rough rock. We provide preselected jewelry-grade material as slabs, do custom-cutting of cabochons, sell our own cabs, and also sell jewelry with chocolate calcite.
Color
Chocolate Calcite shows layers with differing thickness in shades of brown.
Impurities
Chocolate Calcite rough comes with thick whitish layers, as well as very porous yellowish layers. The latter do not polish well.
While this material may be used for decor pieces it is not acceptable for jewelry-grade material.
Jewelry-grade material
Jewelry-grade material can either be a thick uniform layer of dark brown translucent material, or it is a material with very fine and crispy layers of brown shades ranging from yellowish to dark brown with good contrast. Rarely it can occur in a thick yellowish very traslucent layer that has a feel of amber.
Polishable
Jewelry-grade material can be polished to an incredible glass-finish
Cutting Quality
Advantages:
Chocolate Calcite does not tend to break or chip. Experienced cutters therefore can obtain very sharp unchipped edges between the backside and bezel as well as between the bezel and dome.
Top-cutting-quality is characterized by:
- a polished backside
- a sharp unchipped edge between the backside and the bezel
- a very straight and even highly polished bezel
- a sharp unchipped edge between the bezel and the dome
- a well-shaped dome, not showing any deformation
- Top-quality polish
Be aware of name confusion
Many times we find (Banded) Aragonite being offered as Chocolate Calcite. Please review our Gemstone Standard for Aragonite to learn how both materials differ.
Pricing
Adequate pricing must take into account the cost factors to obtain top-quality cabochons:
- Acquisition of top-grade Chocolate Calcite with strong color in the mine.
- Selection of material without impurities and discarding more than 75 percent of the rough rock as unsuitable for jewelry.
- A usual material loss of approximately 90 % of the selected material during the cutting and shaping process.
- The level of experience required by a cutter to produce a flawlessly shaped and highly polished cabochon.
- Our Jewelry Grade (A)
- Our Top-Quality Jewelry Grade (AA)
- Our Premium Jewelry Grade (AAA)
- Market research
Jewelry Grade Material:
Material with very fine and crispy layers of brown shades ranging from yellowish to dark brown with good contrast. No impurities.
Cutting Quality:
- Straight bezel (minor irregularities possible), 3 mm high
- Perfect dome (3-5 mm high)
- Edges between bezel and dome, as well as bezel and backside: sharp and crispy, minor chips on lower edge possible
- Backside flat at 280 grit, unpolished
Pricing:
Recommended Retail Price (A): 0.39 USD per carat
Top Jewelry-Grade Material:
Top Jewelry-grade material can either be a thick uniform layer of dark brown translucent material, or it is a material with very fine and crispy layers of brown shades ranging from yellowish to dark brown with good contrast. Rarely it can occur in a thick yellowish very translucent layer that has a feel of amber. No impurities.
Cutting Quality:
- Straight bezel, 3 mm high
- Flat and perfect dome (3 mm high)
- Edges between bezel and dome, as well as bezel and backside: sharp and crispy, minor chips on lower edge possible but very rare.
- Backside flat, at 280 grit
Additional Quality (AA+) Backside polished
Pricing:
Recommended Retail Price (AA): 0.69 USD per carat
AA+: 0.79 USD/c
Premium Jewelry Grade Material:
Top Jewelry-grade material can either be a thick uniform layer of dark brown translucent material, or it is a material with very fine and crispy layers of brown shades ranging from yellowish to dark brown with good contrast. Rarely it can occur in a thick yellowish very translucent layer that has a feel of amber. No impurities
Cutting Quality:
- Only cut by our best gem cutters
- Straight bezel, 3 mm high
- Flat and perfect dome (1-3 mm high)
- The edges between the bezel and dome, as well as the bezel and backside, are sharp and crispy, with no chips on the lower edge.
Additional Quality (AAA+): Backside polished to 3000 grit
Pricing:
Recommended Retail Price: 0.99 USD per carat
AAA+: 1.09 USD/c
The data in this sheet has been compiled by reviewing a great number of websites and sales platforms. We could not find a lot of cabochons offered from this material. The sellers we found did not publish sufficient information to be able to calculate prices per carat. We will update this sheet when sufficient information is available.
Material quality:
Cutting quality:
Quality Grading
Pricing
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Cutting services
Do you need reliable high-quality cutting services for a reasonable price? Are you looking for a service provider that is willing to develop new products according to your requirements? Would you like to get expert advice in order to improve your product? Do you wish for someone to optimize the process and get the most out of your rough? Just talk to us.
Get in Touch
+51 994104206
gemrockinternational@gmail.com