If you've gotten
this far, you probably know that this is as good as it gets with moldavites. No other locality even comes 
close to the deep, delicate ornamentation and emerald
color of these fine ladies.
BESEDNICE MOLDAVITES
A couple new pieces added 2/2007
If you've gotten this far, you probably know that this is as good as it gets with moldavites. No other locality even comes
The deeply and intricately sculptured Besednices come from an area about 50 meters on a side. Other sources within sight of this tiny area lack this incredible detail. This pattern also holds vertically: even within this special locality, specimens from the top 3 meters or so are not this ornate. At about 4 meters, the water table is encountered, and large volumes of water flooding the pits makes further digging very challenging. It is at this level that the classic Besednices were found.
The clay pits at Besednice, Czech Republic, have been closed for ten years*. Moldavite hunters burrowing beneath the 10-foot banks were encroaching on protected forestland (and were getting themselves killed). The area is now behind patrolled chain-link fencing and reportedly is slated to become a national park. Folks that were providing a supplemental income for their families by digging these fine gems are now selling their "keepers". When they're gone, they're gone. I deal directly with buyers in the Czech Republic who buy from the locals. At the big Tucson show this year (January,2007), I saw Czech dealers asking 3 to 5 times what I used to have to pay for top grade Besednices just a few years ago. Very soon they will be essentially out of reach (or simply not available at all).
* In 2006/7 a new operator has started up a mechanized operation cleaning out the
last little bit of the main pit. From reports and from what I have seen first-hand, their use of mechanical screen
decks is breaking the tiny fragile tips off of virtually every specimen.
By means of photos, I was offered what looked like a superb selection, but for
some reason I had cold feet and never parted with the money to place the order. Now I'm glad. I saw some of the
new output this year at Tucson. It is mostly below our quality standards.
The rumors about dwindling stocks of new Moldavite specimens are very real.
Here's an email that I just received from one of my best sources in the Czech Republic:
November 26, 2005
Hi Norm ,
I hope this letter finds you well ,.... the situation has gotten a bit serious now what with the police watching
all the areas and local landowners fencing off fields etc., but I still have a few if you might be interested ?
Best Regards,
-----------
(P.S., I ordered all the Besednices he had, and it came to a total of 40 grams. That's it. If you see something
you like, don't delay. At the bottom of the following tabulation, I've left up some pics of the truly great pieces
that have already sold. They will come again no more forever. Good hunting,
Norm)
Tucson show 2007; Further Update: Besednices were on our shopping list, and in past years have been a big piece of our
total expenditures. This year I bought two (2) pieces. For the first time I saw broken specimens that had been
retouched with a grinder!
These pieces are so unique and beautiful that they will always be in demand.
The supply-side is drying up.
You do the math.
(Besednice is pronounced "Bes ed neet' sa").
A comment regarding pricing: While moldavites are widely sold by the gram, we strive to select only the finest specimen-grade pieces we can find. We sort(ed) (past tense) through thousands annually, and bought only the twenty or thirty individuals that we considered best. These are sold as specimens, priced according to quality. If you see a piece that seems highly priced on a per-gram basis, rest assured that it is truly exceptional. We don't carry bulk moldavite scraps, so if you are looking for that kind of stuff, look no further here. If you want a classic piece of an increasingly rare material, we're working for you! Occasionally when we order a lot sight unseen direct from the Czech Republic, we get a few that we wouldn't have selected first-hand. You will find these discounted in the list below.
The pieces below are listed from heaviest to lightest, and prices generally correspond. We do have another page of moldavite teardrops, and also a selection of quality pieces from other localities that are not yet listed at all, so ask if you don't find what you want---. I have ordered a lot of thin, symmetrical, leaf-shaped pieces from other localities; so check back for a new page in a few weeks.
(Posted measurement is the maximum dimension for the specimen))
Click on thumbnails for enlarged view; Close resulting window to return here
Just for your viewing pleasure, here are some of the classics
that were sold this year. Congrats to the proud owners!
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or Click on this.
28.6 gms Whopper!
48.3 X 43.8 X 10.1
#7286: MONSTER! There are a couple of small chipped spines. I got a good deal on this, so here's a real
bargain at $150! Sold
12.5 gms
52.0 mm # 04125: $205 A free-form plate with very nice ornamentation and exceptional size!Sold
11.9 gms
38.1 mm #04119: $115 Thick hedgehog form, discounted for glassy chip on back.
9.7 gms
32.4 mm #04097: $175 A thick hedgehog form.
9.6 gms
41.0 mm # 04096: $145 A beautifully ornamented curved triangle
9.4 gms
48.7 X 36.3 X 4.6 mm
#06094: $250 SOLDA great new piece! A very thin plate, so you get huge
surface area for the weight. Classic ornamentation. There are a few tiny glassy sparklers along the edges. Probably
the best specimen we have left in stock.
9.2 gms
32.5 mm #04092a: $115 A thicker hedgehog form. Quite irregular.
9.2 gms
31.2 mm #04092b: $145 A disk with nice color and great ornamentation. The pie-wedge gap reflects a ruptured bubble.
There are some glassy chips along the bubble edge, visible only from the "back" side.
8.7 gms
45.0 mm
#05087: $220
Flawless, fine piece. SOLD
8.2 gms
29.1 mm #04082: $125 This is a fine thick-bodied hedgehog.
7.4 gms
33.3 mm #04074a: $175 This is a very high quality, richly colored specimen. Sharp, deep, pleasing ornamentation
pattern. AAA
7.4 gms
50.6 mm
#05074b: $185 A fine, classic specimen! gently curved like a big claw---
7.4 gms
27.5 mm #04074b: $100 Another thick-bodied "hog" with a large breached bubble cavity behind the light-colored
projection high on the left side.
7.4 gms
26.8 mm #05074a: $
115 A fairly thick, deep colored piece with great ornamentation.
SOLD
7.1 gms
48.1 mm #05071: $145 A nice Christmas tree blowing in the wind. Rich, deep sculpture!Sold
6.8 gms
37.8 mm #05068: $145 Nicer than the picture looks. This is a fine example of all that Besednice should be. Deeply,
sharply, beautifully ornamented.
6.7 gms
36.0 mm
#05067: $140 Gorgeous piece, but offered at a great deal because of a glassy break
(on the end beneath my index finger). The break is inconspicuous.
6.7 gms
43.3mm#05067B:$
150 One of the best of the most recent shipment. Delicate spines, glossy luster. SOLD
New posting 12/28/05
6.6 gms
34.3 mm
#05066: $125 Price reduced due to two glassy chips (broken spines). Curved like
a crescent moon.
6.6 gms
64.2 mm
New 2007#07066: $250; One of only two pieces purchased at Tucson, 2007. Lower tip curvee up like tip of ski.
6.2 gms
30.8 mm #04062: $95 A VERY prickly hedgehog! Probably the nose of a tongue-shaped teardrop.
5.9 gms
44.8 mm # 05059: $125 A sharply, deeply ornamented half-moon. Great specimen.
5.9 gms
35.8 mm #04059:
$ 85 A transitional "hog". Flawless, deeply ornamentedSOLD
5.8 gms
47.1 mm #04058:
$115 A superb willow-leaf classic! Great specimen.SOLD
5.7 gms
46.3 mm
#7057a: Beautiful angel wing. $200SOLD
5.7 gms
48.8 mm
#7057b: Classic symmetrical leaf-shape. $180
5.5 gms
37.5 mm#05055: $90 Very typical Besednice.
5.4 gms
47.5 mm#06054: $140SOLD; Peculiar two-tone leaf! Color difference is actually due to variation
in thickness. There's a thinner channel running diagonally across one side. Unusual piece.
New 3/11/06. Just received direct from the Czech Republic!
5.4 mm
33.0 mm #04054: $85 A cyclindrical hedgehog. Sharp!
5.1 gms
37.4 mm #05051a: $46 Discounted for a glassy chip on one edge, but invisible from the front. Otherwise a very
pleasing piece.Sold
5.1 gms
27.6 #05051b: $80 Deep ornamentation, nice form.Sold
5.0 gms
29.5 mm #04050a: $85 A sharply ornamented slightly dished diamond shape.
5.0 gms
32.7 mm #04050b: $45 Deeply discounted due to a glassy break across the top end that I overlooked when selecting this
one. Could still be a great economy piece for jewelry applications.Sold
4.9 gms
32.8mm
#7049: Twisted plate. $115
4.8 gms
46.0 gms#04048:
$100 A classic willow-leaf form that I consider stereotypic of Besednice. Sold
4.8 gms
33.8mm
#05048A: $150. One of my favorites from the new shipment. Again, a couple of small glassy chips on reverse,
flawless front.
4.8 gms
45.6mm
#05048B: $125. Beautiful piece. Couple of small glassy chips on reverse, flawless front.
4.7 gms
33.3 mm #05047: $85 Nice symmetry; deeply ornamented.Sold
4.5 gms
52.5 mm
#7045: Check out the delicate spines on this beauty! Remarkable preservation. $150
4.5 gms
38.1 mm
New 2007#07045(b): $125: Very fancy form, one of only two pieces from Tucson,2007.
4.3 gms
32.0 mm #05043: $85 Interesting elongate inclusion down the midline. Soil-filled bubble?
4.3 gms
32.1 mm #04043:
$75 Another deeply sculpted "hog" approaching cylindrical formSOLD
4.3 gms
34.5 mm
#05043b: $100
4.2 gms
56.6 mm
#05042: $150
Spectacular! Best piece of the entire shipment SOLD
4.1 gms
51.4 mm
#7041: Spectacular DEEPLY ornamented, spiny piece. $150Sold
4.0 gms
35.2 mm
#7040: Slightly curved rectangular plate. $95
4.0 gms
42.2 mm#04040: $
85 Did someone say "Christmas tree"??? SOLD
3.9 gms
37.6 mm #05039: $75 A fine, classic Besednice.
3.8 gms
28.1mm
#7038: There's a sharp point hidden in my index finger--- $75
3.7 gms
38.6 mm #05037: $75 Very interesting thicker free-form shape. Deeply spined.
3.6 gms
30.2 mm#04036: $85 SOLDIt's hard to imagine how these tiny, delicate spines survived. Stunning!
3.6 gms
29.7 mm#05036A:$75:A very high quality specimen with deep ornamentation.
New posting 12/28/05
3.6 gms
34.8 mm#05036B: $80: Perfect slightly curved willow-leaf. A classic Besednice form.
New posting 12/28/05
3.6 gms
37.4 mm
#7036: Sharp point at top. Exceptionally thin, so you get a lot of acreage for the weight. $65
3.6 gms
28.8 mm
#05036: $70 Nice ornamentation
3.5 gms
32.4 mm#05035: $80; any jewelry-makers out there? This rectangular form combined with a curvature matching the human
wrist makes this a natural. Fine specimen piece!
New posting 12/28/05
3.4 gms
33.4 mm
#05034: $60 One small glassy chip
3.3 gms
31.6 mm
#05033: $75 Interesting "U"-shaped pits, like a woodcarver's gouge marks.
3.3 gms
28.6 mm
#7033: Beautiful nearly circular plate. $65 on hold, J.L. 8/1
3.2 gms
33.7 mm
#7032: Nice, deeply ornamented. $65
3.1 gms
28.9 mm
#7031: Little Christmas tree. Glassy broken spine on lower right edge. Discounted. $40Sold
3.1 gms
22.5mm
#05031B: $65. Flawless, bright surface.On hold,2/23/07
3.1 gms
32.0 mm
#05031a: $65
2.9 gms
40.6 mm#05029: $70 A thin angel fish! Sweet.
2.9 gms
34.2 mm #04029: $
70; A nice, symmetrical aesthetic piece. SOLD
2.8 gms
34.1 mm
#7028a: Another thin angel wing. Sweet. $70
2.8 gms
28.6 mm
#7028b: Curved like a claw. Highly symmetrical. $70 SOLD
2.8 gms
28.2 mm
#7028c: Good deep spiny ornamentation. $70
2.8 gms
37.3 mm
#7028d: Slightly tapering rectangular plate. Great jewelry piece. $70
2.8 gms
27.2 mm # 05028: $55 Thin, squarish plate with nice surface character.
2.7 gms
26.0 mm #04027: $35 Has a couple of tiny glassy spine breaks on one side, but otherwise a cute piece. SOLD
2.6 gms
24.8 mm#04026: $40 Small, but flawless
2.6 gms
37.7 mm
#05026a: $65
2.6 gms
27.6 mm
#7026: Deep opposed side-notches could make for a neat wire-wrap jewel. $60
2.6 gms
34.0mm
#05026b: $70. Flawless. Beautiful deep ornamentation.on hold, J.L. 8/1
2.5 gms
31.4 mm#05025A: $65. Fine, sharply ornamented piece.
New posting 12/28/05
2.5 gms
30.1 mm#05025B: $65. Attractive, finely detailed surface pattern.
New posting 12/28/05
2.5 gms
40.3 mm #04025: $
65 If you love symmetry, this one's waiting for you. SOLD
2.5 gms
23.7mm
#05025A: $60. A comma-shaped curl when viewed from the edge.
2.5 gms
37.0mm
#05025B: $65. Thin, ornate form. Beautiful.
2.4 gms
39.5 mm
#7024: A gorgeous thin classic leaf! $65 SOLD
2.4 gms
20.2mm
#05024: $50. Heart-shaped and a bit thicker-bodied than many of the others in this
lot.SOLD
2.3 gms
29.1 mm#05023: $45. Nice leaf-like symmetry.
New posting 12/28/05
2.3 gms
25.7 mm
#7023: Is it a bird or a turtle? $45
2.3 gms
22.5 mm #05023: $35 A miniature "hog".
2.3 gms
35.3 mm# 04023a: $35 Another miniature willow-leaf form.
2.3 gms
28.9 mm
#05023: $35
2.2 gms
22.4 mm
#7022: A fine, deeply spiny sunburst. If you can only afford a little one, this is a gem. $45
2.2 gms
34.7 mm#05022A:
$35. Interesting shape! Check out #05012. You need the pair.Sold
New posting 12/28/05
2.2 gms
31.4 mm#05022B: $35. Arrow-head or Christmas tree shape, unusual very fine textured pitting.
New posting 12/28/05
2.1 gms
23.1 mm#05021: $35. Sweet little starburst! Jewelry?
New posting 12/28/05
2.1 gms
27.6 mm #04021a: $35 Another exceptionally thin plate.
2.1 gms
27.5 mm #04021b: $35 A nice miniature,
2.1 gms
25.1 mm
#7021: With great symmetry, this thin, flat plate is perfect for jewelry! $45
2.1 gms
28.8mm
#05021A: $40. Quite symetrical kite-shape.
2.1 gms
34.8mm
#05021B: $40. Thin, curved like a thin crescent moon in edge view.
2.0 gms
36.3 mm# 05020C: $30 Huge for its weight due to exceptional thinness.
2.0 gms
35.4mm
#05020B: $30. Very thin, pleasing form.
2.0 gms
37.2 mm
#7020a: Unusual form. $35
1.8 gms
31.1 mm#05018A:
$30: Like the spread wings of a bird. Nice symmetry. Sold
New posting 12/28/05
1.8 gms
33.4 mm#05018B: $35: Ultra-thin curved plate. Some of the ornamentation has etched clear through forming several natural
holes. You get a very large piece for the weight. Interesting.
New posting 12/28/05
1.7 gms
22.2 mm#05017:
$35: Another sweet symmetrical starburst begging to be incorporated into jewelry. A
natural jewel in its own right!Sold
New posting 12/28/05
1.6 gms
37.4 mm
#7016a: Remarkably ornate and deep-spined. $38
1.6 gms
23.0 mm
#7016b: A sweet little gem. $30
1.5 gms
25.1 mm
#7015a: Gently curved plate. $18
1.5 gms
24.7 mm
#7015b: Nice symmetry. Sharp tips hidden in my fingers top and bottom. $18
1.5 gms
25.9mm
#05015: $22: Another miniature with the unmistakable features of a fine Besednice.SOLD
1.4 gms
23.0 mm#05014: $20: Triangular little jewel
New posting 12/28/05
1.2 gms
26.9 mm#05012: $20: A smaller twin to #05022A. Very neat little classic.Sold
New posting 12/28/05
1.2 gms
25.6 mm #04012:
$18 A tiny little piece with very pleasing form.SOLD
1.2 gms
29.7 mm #05012: $18 A tiny little bird-wing segment.Sold
1.1 gms
18.3 mm#05011: $20. A totally beautifual little starburst jewel!
New posting 12/28/05
10.3 gms
46.5 mm #04103: Spectacular. One of our best pieces! Fabulous symmetry. Thin, square plate
with one truncated corner. SOLD
5.0 gms
70.7 mm #05050: Whoa! Amazing classic willow-leaf form. Thin and sharply spined. An outrageous piece by any standard.
Sold. He who hesitates is lost---
13.7 gms
55.1 mm #04137: SOLD Look close. An amazing piece. A uniformly thin, curving plate with
spectacular ornamentation. Impressively big for its weight. One of our best.
8.7 gms
41.7 mm #04087: A stunning, flawless, deeply ornamented specimen. Everything a great Besednice should be! Gorgeous
piece. Sold
6.3 gms
45.6 mm #04063: Tissue thin spine plates along either side of the top edge (in the image) cradle a bubble cavity.
A one-in-a-thousand chance for flawless survival, but this one made it. As delicate a specimen as you will ever
see, with very pleasing form! Sold
14.3 gms
60.3 mm
#7143: Amazing flawless fan-shaped plate. And HUGE!SOLD
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