Etsom·ni·a (/etˈsämnēə/), noun, 1. a sleep disorder caused by obsessive Etsy browsing. 2. The surprising arrival of weird handmade merchandise ordered when one is only half conscious. (True story.) 3. An excuse for me to be an obnoxious, snarky New Yorker once in a while.
Above: Certified Natural Colombian Emeralds by NewYorkGemsCo
Since the mid-eighties, I’ve been collecting loose gemstones. My collection is relatively modest, but it still makes me happy. I have small diamonds in an array of colors, emeralds, sapphires, opals, and a few random gems as well. I love showing them to people, and I occasionally take them out and look at them just because. They currently at least serve no purpose. I originally intended to take up fine jewelry making and imagined how glad I’d be to have gems at hand on which to practice. I’ve never gotten past the collecting stage, however. Maybe someday…
That doesn’t stop me from occasionally perusing natural gems for sale, and Etsy has some wonderful ones! I’m especially drawn to unusual colors and shapes.
I can never seem to get enough opals… AAA+++ Faceted Opal Gemstone Lot by KareemGemsWorldWhile I’m mostly drawn to faceted gems, sometimes a carved gem is too handsome to pass up! (Wish I could afford this one…) 56ct Carved Amethyst by DavidJThomasJewelryMy collection includes a lot of sapphires in a lot of colors, but I don’t have this one… Peacock Sapphire by GemsVergeI’ve never seen a lip-shaped cut before. Cute! Red Mozambique Garnet by GemspectraThough not terribly valuable, Moissanites can be really striking gems! Cyan Portuguese Cut Moissanite by MoissaniteShopSquare cuts are always my favorites. Natural Fancy Yellow Moissanite by MoissaniteShopI have purchased a number of mixed colored diamond parcels over the years, and they make me so happy! Parcel of mixed shape natural color diamonds by JaitragemsI find bi-color gems to be so interesting! Bi-Color Emerald-Cut Tourmaline by HavengemcornerWhile perhaps not for everyone, I think these little coffin-shaped onyx gems would be perfect in Halloween-themed (or goth) jewelry. Natural Black Onyx Cabochons by LaxmiEnterprisesCoI don’t yet have a salt and pepper diamond. Tempting! 0.80ct Natural Salt & Pepper Hexagon-Cut Diamond by TirthGemsLtdGetting a pair of cut-matched, contrasting-color stones is a great idea! Natural Spinel Kite-Cut Pair by GemsVergeLike me, you might have assumed there’d be nothing too awful today. This carved quartz proves us both wrong.Gorgeous colors! Tropical Sunset Tourmaline by RavensteinGemCoOMG so cute! Natural Carved Fluorite Shells by IndianGemsHouseI mostly limit my collecting to natural, untreated stones, but I would make an exception for these beauties. Set of genuine treated colored diamonds by FrogRareGemsThey don’t exactly fit in with my collection, but I may have to give in to the lure of these gorgeous geodes! Rainbow Agate Eggs by BuyVibeCrystalsWow! Peach-Walnut Schiller Oregon Sunstone (Labradorite) by RavensteinGemCoBlue diamonds are my kryptonite, no matter how tiny. Parcel of natural blue diamonds by NarshihaGemAndJewelsYummy! Natural 130ct Copper Rutilated Quartz by SKJewelsHouseThese are amazing! Purple Copper Turquoise Briolette Pair by PBGemstonesI’m pretty sure I’m going to be dreaming about this set of 10 graduated pastel stones! Emerald-Cut Fancy Color Sapphires by GemsSources
Of course, I am smitten with the pastel rainbow at the end but I am also quite taken by that salt and pepper diamond – and I am not usually drawn to diamonds. You have also taught me about some gems that were unfamiliar to me as I don’t believe I had heard of Moissanites before – or else I have but have since forgotten.
The toothsome quartz made me laugh, even more so than it would normally because all of the other images were so alluring.
Glad I made you laugh! I remember Moissanites when they were advertising them as an alternative to diamonds in the late seventies. Then cubic zirconia became popular and I completely forgot about moissanite until I started the research for this post. They’re really quite striking!
My OBT 
January 12, 2023 at 10:43 am
I’ll take the green
LikeLiked by 2 people
January 14, 2023 at 8:11 am
Yes, indeed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
January 12, 2023 at 2:41 pm
I will take all of them. Not, just the green 🙂 Beautful collection. Hal
LikeLiked by 2 people
January 14, 2023 at 8:12 am
I had so much fun finding them!
LikeLike
January 12, 2023 at 3:23 pm
Of course, I am smitten with the pastel rainbow at the end but I am also quite taken by that salt and pepper diamond – and I am not usually drawn to diamonds. You have also taught me about some gems that were unfamiliar to me as I don’t believe I had heard of Moissanites before – or else I have but have since forgotten.
The toothsome quartz made me laugh, even more so than it would normally because all of the other images were so alluring.
LikeLiked by 2 people
January 14, 2023 at 8:22 am
Glad I made you laugh! I remember Moissanites when they were advertising them as an alternative to diamonds in the late seventies. Then cubic zirconia became popular and I completely forgot about moissanite until I started the research for this post. They’re really quite striking!
LikeLiked by 1 person
January 14, 2023 at 3:29 pm
I did not know about that history. They seem prettier than cubic zirconia.
LikeLiked by 1 person