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Post by velodromed on Feb 8, 2024 16:06:37 GMT -5
I’m just wondering if Botswana agate are headed the same way as many other materials that’s become unavailable and/or extremely expensive? Many thanks everyone!
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ThomasT
spending too much on rocks
Trying to keep the dust down.
Member since June 2022
Posts: 255
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Post by ThomasT on Feb 8, 2024 18:52:36 GMT -5
Perhaps a shortage of getting it out of the ground and/or loaded on the ship... or low number of wholesale buyers...
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Post by Starguy on Feb 8, 2024 19:14:02 GMT -5
I think Bots are easier to get now than when I started tumbling. They’re three or four times the price now though.
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Post by velodromed on Feb 8, 2024 21:43:38 GMT -5
Yup, I’m getting the feeling they will continue to go up. Thanks y’all! Since it’s one of my favorites, I will start slowly banking some. I really love the ones that the gem shop has. Couple years ago I got several pounds of their 1970s batch for six bucks a pound. Now they’re $12. At least they’re not pre-tumbled like others are.
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Post by catmandewe on Feb 8, 2024 22:01:57 GMT -5
Most of that comes from increased shipping/customs costs. A container used to be approx $2000 and now it is approx $20,000-30,000.
Tony
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,587
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Post by dillonf on Feb 8, 2024 22:33:53 GMT -5
Yeah I noticed the price creeping up as well. Last time I looked Kingsley had the best price so I bought 25lbs. Great minds think alike!
I noticed the same thing with Swazi/Mozambique Agate too. Rock Shed had the best price on that last time I looked, so I stocked up on that too.
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pebblesky
fully equipped rock polisher
Purchased another UV mini bowl for tumbling
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,401
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Post by pebblesky on Feb 8, 2024 22:58:41 GMT -5
Shall I stock some Bots...
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Post by Mel on Feb 8, 2024 22:59:40 GMT -5
Yup, I’m getting the feeling they will continue to go up. Thanks y’all! Since it’s one of my favorites, I will start slowly banking some. I really love the ones that the gem shop has. Couple years ago I got several pounds of their 1970s batch for six bucks a pound. Now they’re $12. At least they’re not pre-tumbled like others are. From what I have read, it is no longer legal to sell unpolished material out of Africa (from what I gather this excludes those who directly own the mine but I'm not 100% on that) so Botswanas have gone up big time, as well as other materials from the area like malachite, shattuckite, lazulite, dioptase, tigers eye, etc. It's pretty crazy and I think we're going to continue to see prices increase.
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Post by velodromed on Feb 9, 2024 7:04:54 GMT -5
Yup, I’m getting the feeling they will continue to go up. Thanks y’all! Since it’s one of my favorites, I will start slowly banking some. I really love the ones that the gem shop has. Couple years ago I got several pounds of their 1970s batch for six bucks a pound. Now they’re $12. At least they’re not pre-tumbled like others are. From what I have read, it is no longer legal to sell unpolished material out of Africa (from what I gather this excludes those who directly own the mine but I'm not 100% on that) so Botswanas have gone up big time, as well as other materials from the area like malachite, shattuckite, lazulite, dioptase, tigers eye, etc. It's pretty crazy and I think we're going to continue to see prices increase. I know it’s been like that for quite a while with Botswana agates, but I haven’t heard it being so with other rocks. Would be a bummer if it’s goes that direction.
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gunsil
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2023
Posts: 325
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Post by gunsil on Feb 9, 2024 8:49:31 GMT -5
I was shocked to see what they have gone up to. I used to make sterling jewelry with them back in the 70s-80s and the cabs were cheap, like a dollar apiece, often cheaper than crazy lace which was also cheap back then.
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Post by velodromed on Feb 9, 2024 15:59:04 GMT -5
I was shocked to see what they have gone up to. I used to make sterling jewelry with them back in the 70s-80s and the cabs were cheap, like a dollar apiece, often cheaper than crazy lace which was also cheap back then. Over such a long time as that I bet it is quite a shock. I got into this a couple years ago, and what Ive seen happen in just two years is kind of crazy.
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Post by velodromed on Feb 9, 2024 19:44:51 GMT -5
Shall I stock some Bots... I think I’m going to. Next Rock allowance will go towards those small ones they have at Kingsley North. Get 5 or 10 pounds+ It’s only $5.70 or something like that a pound. The more you get the better deal. But they’re not spectacular like ones they have at the gem shop, or even the Rock Shed. The ones at the gemshop are 1970s batch so they’re not pre-tumbled. Some of them are huge. But the Kingsley north ones are great little bots for giving away and basically tumbling media. My kid loves having small rocks like that to give away and I tend to as well.
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