How do I get a rare gem checked out? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Mr.Kenny · #1 12-22-2014, 03:42 PM

I inherited a ring with a large Alexandrite mounted in it; and I want to find out whether it is real or synthetic. My Mom insists it is real as her uncle bought the gem in China back in the 1930's.
Large natural Alexandrites are very rare and quite expensive. I don't need a full expensive appraisal, I just want to know if it is real, and go from there.

I suspect it is synthetic, because it is too perfect and has a wide dramatic color change depending on the light.

↓SAMPLE PHOTO↓

Daylight...................Incandescence

aklim · #2 12-22-2014, 03:45 PM

Gemologist? Maybe a large pawn shop or a jeweller?

TnBob · #3 12-22-2014, 05:51 PM

aklim 2x, ANY jeweler or pawn shop will tell you if the stone is real or not.

aklim · #4 12-22-2014, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TnBob

aklim 2x, ANY jeweler or pawn shop will tell you if the stone is real or not.

If he sends it to me, I'm sure I would report back that it is a fake and not worth postage back.

elchivito · #5 12-23-2014, 08:30 AM

Be careful. If somebody tells you the stone is synthetic and then offers to buy it, run away. I had this happen two different times. I have have two rough crystals that family history claimed were Arkansas diamonds, pretty large as Ark. specimens go. I had three different "certified gemologists" tell me they weren't diamonds but something else and all wanted to buy them. Finally at a mineral show I had them verified by a retired mineralogist who was doing IDs and appraisals.
When I was a kid I used to play with this red shooter-marble sized stone my mother kept wrapped in a silk scarf in her "secret" drawer. My father had acquired it on his travels to Asia and the story was it was a raw ruby. When I was in high school she had it cut into a 5.5 carat stone and sent it to an artist she knew in Mexico for a mounting in 18K gold. A couple of years ago I took it to a reputable jeweler in Sedona to have it cleaned and the mounting sized for my wife. This guy tried to convince me it was fake when I asked him what he thought of it. When I told him it was cut from a raw stone that had been in my family since the 1920s he reconsidered his "appraisal".

Pawnshop? no thanks

Mr.Kenny · #6 12-23-2014, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elchivito

Be careful. If somebody tells you the stone is synthetic and then offers to buy it, run away. I had this happen two different times. I have have two rough crystals that family history claimed were Arkansas diamonds, pretty large as Ark. specimens go. I had three different "certified gemologists" tell me they weren't diamonds but something else and all wanted to buy them. Finally at a mineral show I had them verified by a retired mineralogist who was doing IDs and appraisals.
When I was a kid I used to play with this red shooter-marble sized stone my mother kept wrapped in a silk scarf in her "secret" drawer. My father had acquired it on his travels to Asia and the story was it was a raw ruby. When I was in high school she had it cut into a 5.5 carat stone and sent it to an artist she knew in Mexico for a mounting in 18K gold. A couple of years ago I took it to a reputable jeweler in Sedona to have it cleaned and the mounting sized for my wife. This guy tried to convince me it was fake when I asked him what he thought of it. When I told him it was cut from a raw stone that had been in my family since the 1920s he reconsidered his "appraisal".

Pawnshop? no thanks

↑This is exactly what I am talking about↑...whenever I casually ask a jeweler about verifying authenticity; the jeweler starts immediately talking 'full professional appraisal'. I reiterate I just want to know if it is real; Jeweler: "That information will be in the appraisal report".... So i slowly back away....
This has happened three separate occasions.......
We do have rock & gem shows here in Springfield......

aklim · #7 12-23-2014, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elchivito

Pawnshop? no thanks

Why not? If 5 of them toss you out the door, you probably have junk. OTOH, if they even start to say "Well, I don't know. I'm feeling generous so I will XYZ", you know you may have something.

elchivito · #8 12-23-2014, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Why not?

Because synthetic gemstones can be done so well that only a fully trained mineralogist or gemologist can tell them from the real thing. For example, over 90% of the sapphires on the market today are heat and color treated. They fool experts all the time, so do synthetic rubies. Call me cynical but I have a hard time believing a pawnbroker has the scientific credentials to verify gemstones beyond a rough guess, and is unlikely to be able to issue an appraisal acceptable to insurance companies.

aklim · #9 12-23-2014, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elchivito

Because synthetic gemstones can be done so well that only a fully trained mineralogist or gemologist can tell them from the real thing. For example, over 90% of the sapphires on the market today are heat and color treated. They fool experts all the time, so do synthetic rubies. Call me cynical but I have a hard time believing a pawnbroker has the scientific credentials to verify gemstones beyond a rough guess, and is unlikely to be able to issue an appraisal acceptable to insurance companies.

If so, he might be useful. Say you find a gemologist who says it is worthless. If the pawnshops will say it is worth $200,it might work out to sell it to them. Caveat Emptor, as they say.

97 SL320 · #10 12-23-2014, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Kenny

.whenever I casually ask a jeweler about verifying authenticity; the jeweler starts immediately talking 'full professional appraisal'.

I reiterate I just want to know if it is real; Jeweler: "That information will be in the appraisal report".... So i slowly back away....
This has happened three separate occasions.......
We do have rock & gem shows here in Springfield......

A jeweler is going to have a certain amount of liability attached to his opinion and isn't going to risk an off the cuff assessment. ( Especially for someone off the street he has never seen before. ) Build a relationship with a store and they might give you an unofficial likely real / likely not real.

I never got into the jewelery thing, got better things to spend my $ on than trying to impress people I've never seen before and probably don't even like.

aklim · #11 12-23-2014, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 97 SL320

A jeweler is going to have a certain amount of liability attached to his opinion and isn't going to risk an off the cuff assessment. ( Especially for someone off the street he has never seen before. ) Build a relationship with a store and they might give you an unofficial likely real / likely not real.

I never got into the jewelery thing, got better things to spend my $ on than trying to impress people I've never seen before and probably don't even like.

I suppose it depends on how much the professional assessment is. Anyone know? I don't.

Depends. What has my liking you got to do with wearing jewellery to impress? If that was the case, for most people, I'd be meeting them naked. We impress them because we need to and it pays us. I impress my boss to get a raise. I dress to impress my client because I want his business. If he had no business for me, I wouldn't piss in his mouth if his teeth were on fire for the most part. IF he has the business, I will gladly kiss his ass.