My inner Taurus is getting the better of me. The other day I discovered this beeeeautiful stone that I'm beginning to obsesse over (yeah, so what else is new). It's the Aqua Aura, which is basically a quartz crystal that's been treated with 24k gold. It's this amazing, brillant blue stone with a sheen of purples and pinks.

Well, upon my obsessive "oooh, how they do that and what's it's qualities?!" research, I had the bad evil luck of falling upon this pendent. (http://www.wehug.com/polished-aqua-aura-point-small-silver-wire-wrap.html) :bigeyes: (http://www.wehug.com/polished-aqua-aura-point-small-silver-wire-wrap.html)

The automatic ME WANTIE started and ever since, anytime I go on the net, I end opening up that site just to stare at it for a few minutes. I even showed it to my mom, who is already asking to borrow it if I choose to buy it. $52 is ouchie for me, but I'm this close --> <-- to just biting the bullet and buying it. I have left over xmas money! :twisted:

My question is, is $52 really fair for a pendent that involves that kind of stone? I've seen loose aqua aura stones that range from $20 to $40 for ones that are rather small clusters. I love this one because the wire wrapping is done very artistically, it flows beautifully with the stone instead of just looking like it's something to hold it, and if I do buy it, I'd hopefully end up helping out an artist in the end.

Sorry if this is a stupid question but I can't..... stop.... obsessing over this stone!

Meg.... the stupid silly materalistic taurus at heart!

It's wrapped in fine silver, which is more pure than sterling. That in itself would make it cost more, plus the nice wrapping job. It's not very big, but I haven't seen one of these in person. New to me. It's very pretty though. I would go ahead and buy it if I were you. Otherwise you'll be doomed to drool over it forever. :twisted: :grin:

I agree.

It is beautiful!

I would buy it.

SF

Let me enable you..........buy it! :lol: Honestly it doesn't seem like a bad price. It looks very well done. And aren't you supposed to use your Christmas for something you wouldn't otherwise get? Go for it. Can a girl have too many pretty baubles?

I know they aren't the same but this one is pretty and less than half the price:


http://www.byregion.net/cgibin/healers/store.pl?item=157711&site_BritishColumbia-Healers


BUT, if the other one really calls to you, maybe you should get it.

You said you've seen that type of stone in small clusters. Do you know how much that type of stone would cost, in that size, and in a single crystal? How does that size compare to the size of the crystals you saw?

That should give you an idea for a starting price.

Then consider labor. If this is done by hand, in the US, by workers paid at fair wages, factor that in. Is it worth it to you to pay for fair wages? A skilled and beautiful setting made by reasonably paid workers will cost more than a plain setting done in a sweatshop. But a skillfully done setting will also be sturdier, and have more interesting detail, than one done by a sweatshop trying to make as many as possible as cheap as possible.

If the price for the pendant is about twice the price for the plain crystal, it is probably quite reasonable, when you figure in the labor of making the crystal into a pendant, business operating expenses, and a reasonable profit for the seller. Too much higher, and I'd be concerned about a ripoff, unless the setting was very special. Too much cheaper, and I'd be concerned about unfair labor practices.

Expect the price to double each time it changes hands, as a rule of thumb. That's standard economics. a $10 crystal from the ground, will be sold to an artist for $20, who will set it and sell to a distributor for $40, who will sell for $80.

Ya know, I heard a long time ago that you really don't choose a crystal...it chooses you :wink: Seems this pendant has found its person. I say buy it :thumbsup:

(I know, I know...it sounds like I stole that from Harry Potter but seriously, it's something I had heard probably 17 years ago :silly: )

Mamacat: your talking to a very witchy type here, that doesn't sound silly at all. Actually, that's what I believe in. Certian things call to you when you really need them. I found this beauty about a week ago and I still can't stop staring at it. It's beautiful.

Ursula: I'm a crafts person myself, but my trade is costume design, so I'm very supportative of helping out the individuals that are selling their wares. I try to help those people out more than the sweat shop ordeals. As far as I'm concerned, if I'm helping out an individual artisan, the extra $20 is worth it. The smallish clusters were about $40, the actual crystal points, from what I've seen, range from $15-20, so it seems like a very very fair price. I just need to justify the $52 to my rational brain. ;)

BAH! FINE! I'm ordering it tomorrow, I've caved. Still can't stop drooling over it and the more I look at it, the more it says "buuuuy meeee!" Heehee. The company has a good guarntee towards it's jewelry and their return policy is very fair. Must have!

Oh its very pretty. And the price seems fair to me. :)

And I agree with whoever wrote Christmas money is for stuff you would normally buy.

Ooooooo, fellow Bull, I can relate. My current passion is charoite.

The price for the aqua aura is reasonable, I believe. I've seen similar pendants with wire-wraps for $40, but the quality of the wrap is not as good as the one you have found.

And, of course, the energy benefit of this stone is well worth the price: Aqua Aura combats depression and releases negativity.

After you purchase it, that is. :wink:

Taurus here too ;)

Honestly, I tend not to buy stones I can't see and touch in person first. If I buy over the internet, it's more hit and miss as to how the stone "feels" to me. That's just me though.

Seems reasonably priced, definitely get insurance on shipping though. Very pretty stone, have fun once you get it!

Ooooooo, fellow Bull, I can relate. My current passion is charoite.


Ahh! I love Charoite. :) I'm also a big fan of Sugilite and Labradorite.

Taurus here too ;)

Honestly, I tend not to buy stones I can't see and touch in person first. If I buy over the internet, it's more hit and miss as to how the stone "feels" to me. That's just me though.

Seems reasonably priced, definitely get insurance on shipping though. Very pretty stone, have fun once you get it!
I'm the same. I'm a very touchy feely kinda person when it comes to stones, I have NEVER bought anything witchy or magickally related online, it makes me squirmy. But I doubt I could ever find anything like this around here. :( I've never had any stone scream out at me like this. After reading the magickal qualities, I knew I had to buy it. It fits PERFECTLY with what I need right now! :)

I too am taurus
I'm totally into gaspite right now.
How funny, I thought I was alone in my rock loving