Keris from Jogjakarta

[David]

Originally Posted by Marcokeris

Gayaman wood seems old sandal wood. Stones seeem yakut indeed.

How can you tell they are yakut just from the photo? They look like they could be quartz crystal just as easily. Or is yakut just a different name for quartz. I have always understood it to refer to low quality diamonds, but when i google it (yakut gemstone) i find no reference to diamond (except on account that diamonds where once mined in Yakutia). In some places it refers to a form of sapphire. In other places it is a ruby. Both of these are corundums, not diamonds. I understand that in Turkish it simply means gemstone.
I have a feeling that very often simple quartz crystal is passed off as "yakut". Is this the same as garnet being accepted as a form of ruby in this area? Can anyone tell me exactly what they are supposed to be in Indonesia in regards to keris?

[Marcokeris]

Originally Posted by David

How can you tell they are yakut just from the photo? They look like they could be quartz crystal just as easily. Or is yakut just a different name for quartz. I have always understood it to refer to low quality diamonds, but when i google it (yakut gemstone) i find no reference to diamond (except on account that diamonds where once mined in Yakutia). In some places it refers to a form of sapphire. In other places it is a ruby. Both of these are corundums, not diamonds. I understand that in Turkish it simply means gemstone.
I have a feeling that very often simple quartz crystal is passed off as "yakut". Is this the same as garnet being accepted as a form of ruby in this area? Can anyone tell me exactly what they are supposed to be in Indonesia in regards to keris?

Sorry David you are right.
I have alwawys considered yakut as simple quartz stone.
Low class diamonds are a different reflection/refraction: much more active (light's game seems to come from inside the stone)
On the contrary Zircon's light seems to me cold and unreal (too much cut sides on the stone)

[A. G. Maisey]

David, these stones are yakut.

Yakut is rose-cut rock crystal.

The low quality diamonds that they use in Indonesia are called "inten", or
"intan" in Jawa. They are much, much more expensive than yakut.

Regarding red stones, "mirah" are properly rubies, but the fact of the matter is that in the markets the sellers will call just about any red stone "mirah".

Ferry, I cannot really comment on the iron from a photo.

Would it be possible to provide a photo looking straight down onto the sirah cecak?

[ferrylaki]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

David, these stones are yakut.

Yakut is rose-cut rock crystal.

The low quality diamonds that they use in Indonesia are called "inten", or
"intan" in Jawa. They are much, much more expensive than yakut.

Regarding red stones, "mirah" are properly rubies, but the fact of the matter is that in the markets the sellers will call just about any red stone "mirah".

Ferry, I cannot really comment on the iron from a photo.

Would it be possible to provide a photo looking straight down onto the sirah cecak?

How about this picture?
it is a blur picture since lack of light.
I'll try for another shot.

[David]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

David, these stones are yakut.

Yakut is rose-cut rock crystal.

The low quality diamonds that they use in Indonesia are called "inten", or
"intan" in Jawa. They are much, much more expensive than yakut.

Regarding red stones, "mirah" are properly rubies, but the fact of the matter is that in the markets the sellers will call just about any red stone "mirah".

Thanks for clearing up my confusion on this one. I guess i had thought "yakut" and "inten" were different word for the same think.

[A. G. Maisey]

Thanks Ferry. That pic is good enough for my purposes. I was curious as to how rounded it might have been. Thanks.---alan.