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| Ebay Seller with FAKE gemstones--from India |
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| "Emerald" Sillimanite |
After a little internet searching, I've discovered that a number of articles have been written since 2009 regarding the use of the mineral Sillimanite in jewelry, that has been dyed and sold as emeralds, rubies and sapphires. Testing was done on these stones to reveal this fraud. Per gemologyproject.com:
It would seem now that the vast MAJORITY of so-called "emeralds", "rubies" and "sapphires" from India are in fact dyed Sillimanite. The big giveaway is that these stones are highly fibrous, and opaque, as you can see in the "ruby" above."Fibrous sillimanite is very often dyed to imitate various "precious" gemstones like ruby, emerald and others. This type of sillimanite has a massive fibrous like appearance under magnification and show color concentrations...Such dyed sillimanite is now very often encountered in India."
A fibrous sillimanite dyed red simulating a ruby.
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| Dyed "Sapphire" Sillimanite |
Interestingly, per The Gemology Project, in Sillimanite, Chatoyancy (cat's eye effect) is common in Sri Lankan blue-green stones and can have six-pointed stars which can imitate star sapphires, as seen in the photo, below right.
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| Chatoyant sillimanite cabochons |
WHAT IS SILLIMANITE?
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| Blue Kyanite Crystal |
It is a mineral also known as "fibrolite" and is named after Benjamin Silliman (1779-1864). It is a member of the aluminosilicate series, which also includes Andalusite and Kyanite!
Mohs hardness of 6 to 7.5.
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| 60x Magnification showing Sillimanite Fibers |
If you encounter gems from India that look like the pictures here, and are described as precious emeralds, rubies or sapphires, and are very affordable, be very wary. NEVER buy any "gemstones" from ebay, particularly from seller Gems-India who fraudulently state these stones are precious gemstones AND provide phony documentation. The marketplace is FLOODED with misleading gemstones, and downright fraudulent misrepresentations, so as always, BUYER BEWARE!!
And now we all know!
Hi. Recently I bought an item Larimar with An ebay seller name beads4jaipur , can you see the item and possibly give a little insight of the stuff the seller is selling?
ReplyDeleteHi! OK, I'm looking at their items. I see a lot of very nice Ethiopian (Welo) opals that look genuine. (I would like to have some of those!) Their blue topaz---lots of "hydro quartz" in topaz colors, so I'd watch out for that but they are upfront about it, so that's good. I see sapphires that look genuine (multi color briolettes, rondelles). Their moonstones look genuine, and that's a good sign. Now, some of their emeralds look absolutely genuine, but some do not. Same with the rubies---some are obviously dyed etc.
ReplyDeleteI would say overall, they seem like they have some beautiful gemstones and their prices are pretty good, but I'd steer clear of the emeralds and rubies for the most part---the more transparent emeralds are nice and are probably genuine (but no idea what sort of treatments), but the bright green opaque inexpensive stones (or deep red 'rubies') are probably not a good buy. The Larimar looks beautiful too!
I'd say that overall, they have some beautiful gems and some very good prices but I'd be careful buying emeralds or rubies online from anywhere, and I definitely wouldn't buy any of the richly colored precious gems from their shop. The more transparent emeralds and sapphires look nice though.
I don't see any obvious glass stones, except for the "hydro quartz" which possibly is glass or possibly dyed quartz, and I'd avoid those anywhere.
They seem reputable and I wouldn't hesitate to buy many of their gems (I'm considering some Welo opals myself!). I'd be wary of the rubies and emeralds though.
I hope this helps. Thanks so much for asking!
Thank You for the reply, it give me a lot of peace of mind. I don't mind at times not buying the TOP quality items for the Little price I am willing to give, but don't want to buy Fake items.
DeleteThank you once again and More power to you!
My pleasure! Enjoy your beautiful gems!!
DeleteI want to add that I saw a strand of ruby briolettes that they've sold already----they don't look like dyed sillimanite, but are very dark maroon colored stones. They seem like genuine rubies, but not great quality rubies (they're pretty opaque) and are possibly dyed or coated. However, it's impossible to say without seeming them in person, but they MIGHT be worth buying and having examined by a gemologist. Also, some of their "sold" emeralds also look like genuine stones---they're smooth briolettes and are transparent with some inclusions that look natural. They seem like a good gemstone dealer overall, and they might answer questions about gem treatments if asked.
ReplyDeleteHey I just came across this ruby pendant, and was wondering if it was real. http://www.ebay.com/itm/No-258-100-Handmade-Natural-Ruby-Fashion-Pendants-3-00ct-10KT-White-Gold-/282015272929?hash=item41a96b8fe1:g:Mr0AAOSwZ8ZW7118 . Can you give me any tips to know when to back off (apart from what i have read above). Very nice info by the way!
ReplyDeleteI see the auction ended with 0 bids (at a starting bid of only $1.01). That means there were no takers--and for good reason: because truly, no one could possibly offer a NATURAL red ruby like that for a dollar, set in 10k gold with clear pave-set gemstones.
DeleteIs it real? (Well it's not a mirage! LOL)
Seriously, it's possibly a real man-made ruby. Synthetic, or lab-grown gemstones, are very affordable (but even that is really too low for a synthetic). That pendant looked very clear and very red, but it looked like some sort of stock photo, so it could be anything---a synthetic ruby, a glass stone, dyed quartz, red CZ, a very heavily treated low-grade ruby...but it's not really possible to say without seeing it in person, and having it checked out by a gemologist or jeweler.
There are a lot of red flags to watch out for when buying supposed precious gems online, so be especially cautious if any of these apply: Is it on ebay? Is the seller from a foreign country? Is it from a country that is known to sell a lot of fakes and knock-offs? Is the price about right for a genuine ruby, or is it much too low? Does the stone look extremely clean, clear and flawless? Or conversely, does it look fibrous and opaque? What is the return policy? Is it too good to be true? Does it seem like you found a genuine precious gemstone that should be worth far more than it is priced at, almost like the seller made a mistake in pricing? Do you love the style of the jewelry and don't care if it's not necessarily genuine anyway?
If you're looking for something that's fun to wear, then it's worth the risk. If you're looking to buy jewelry as an investment, I'd say don't buy it on ebay---only buy it in person from a reputable jeweler who guarantees its authenticity.
Thanks for asking! I hope this helps!
One more thing: a quick google image search of that "ruby" pendant on ebay shows the EXACT pendant (same stock photo) described as follows: "AAAA Top Quality. Top Clarity. Cubic Zirconia. Australian Crystal Glass. * Weight (grams): 4.20 * Rhodium Plating over Brass * Dimensions: Pendant:2.5X1.1CM,18 inches"
ReplyDelete...so, NOT a ruby, NOT solid gold, NOT white topaz.
They have many of the same pendants as the ebay seller, all described as CZ, plated brass, Austrian crystal. They're called "Rubique Jewelry" and I'm sure many other online shops have this same necklace. Here's a link to a wanelo page, and scroll about halfway down to see:
https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:rxdAK6fvGv8J:https://wanelo.com/shop/red-ruby-necklace+&cd=17&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
Hi, I recently bought this, can u check it out?
ReplyDeletethank you.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/222259246782
Hi, emptyspace! Well....its a nearly 500-carat...something, but I'm not quite sure. I am sure it's NOT a "natural emerald" for $12.99. By all the strange colors (lime green in parts), it's some sort of dyed something. It's possibly sillimanite which is commonly dyed and sold as other gems, or it could be marble or quartz or glass...but whatever it is, it's NOT a precious gemstone.
ReplyDeleteWhen you get it, ask a jeweler to take a look at it and tell you what they think it is, and let me know, okay?
Thanks for asking!
-Dawn
so all the emeralds,ruby and sapphire on ebay are fake?
ReplyDeleteI m looking for dyed emerald where can I buy?
how about this one?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Natural-10-15-Ct-Oval-Shape-EGL-Certified-Green-Emerald-Gemstone-Ring-Size-EM545/142155139806?_trksid=p2047675.c100012.m1985&_trkparms=aid%3D777003%26algo%3DDISCL.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D38530%26meid%3De768b8742fef4552a6e6e4f533053c77%26pid%3D100012%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D222259246782
There are no absolutes---not everything on ebay is fake, but be very careful when purchasing gems online since you can only rely on pictures, and the reputation of the seller. I am pointing out in my blog here that there are a lot of very convincing fake precious gems, and ONE way to tell is by the low, low price. A genuine emerald, or ruby, or diamond, would probably not sell for less than $2 a carat! It's just common sense, really.
DeleteI looked at your link. I see a very pretty green stone that appears to be dyed (yellow and blue color zoning on some of the zoom pics) and a very cloudy, opaque stone. I would have NO idea what this is by the pictures: it could be a really low-quality emerald that is heavily treated (at best), or another gem that has been dyed to look like emerald, or some sort of created stone.
If that ebay seller has a good return policy, you could take a chance and buy it and then have a jeweler look at it and test it to see if it's a real emerald or not. If not, return it. If so, and you like the way it looks in person, then you'd have a nice stone to have set into a ring or something. Online purchases are protected by your payment method (credit cards and Paypal) so you really don't have anything to lose by purchasing something online and then having it looked at by a jeweler. If a seller won't refund, then your credit card issuer or paypal will return your money for an "item not described".
If you do buy it and have it looked it, please let me know how it looks in person and if it's an emerald or not! I'd really like to know!
Thanks so much for asking!
-Dawn
I just want to add...that I looked through that ebay seller's other emerald listings, and one of their listings shows an "emerald" with a lot of rainbow colored dispersion/inclusions. Many gems (even glass--like a prism) exhibit rainbow "fire", but it's not really seen in emeralds. A gemologist or jeweler can look at a stone and tell by the inclusions whether the stone is genuine, what it is exactly, and if it's been fracture-filled or dyed or synthetic, etc. So this bright rainbow flash in the one gem could indicate that it's some sort of treatment, or another gem (quartz, for example) but I'd be very wary of these very low-priced gems.
Delete-Dawn
I understand
ReplyDeleteEmerald is expansive and we know it,but for cheap ring I can use dyed emerald but the problem is that the base stone used for treatment is not emerald but quartz as you said.
I want to try to understand how to avoid quartz and buy dyed emerald?
are u on facebook?
check out this group called scamologist https://www.facebook.com/groups/620061301464718/
I m sure u ll like it
btw your blog is well done
Hi, Nikos!
DeleteThanks---I will check out that facebook group!
I completely trust Rio Grande Jewelry (www.riogrande.com) and they offer genuine gemstones as well as lab-created gemstones like emeralds. All the treatments on gems are fully described there (such as dyes, irradiation, etc.) and are wholesale priced for jewelers, and it's easy to sign-up. I have bought genuine emeralds there before, and recently they added "Taurus" lab-grown emeralds which are BEAUTIFUL and affordable---I've seen them in person and love them. Rio Grande Jewelry is known all over the world as being a trusted, reputable place to buy metals like gold and silver, as well as gemstones, so I would buy an emerald from them. You know, a lab-grown emerald is a real emerald, but made in a lab so it's much more affordable, plus it's genuine and flawless, so that's what I'd suggest. I'd think it would be nicer (and maybe even cheaper) to buy a beautiful created emerald rather than a dyed low-quality one.
I'd also recommend looking at "Zambian emeralds" which are not dyed and are GORGEOUS, like Columbian emeralds, but are a lot more affordable. I'd suggest looking on www.etsy.com for Zambian emeralds.
One more place that I recommend for genuine gems is a place in Thailand: www.gemselect.com. I've bought a few gemstones from them and they were beautiful and genuine, although I've never bought emeralds--but they do offer them. They seem to have a range in price, and they're honest and disclose if it's dyed or otherwise treated.
I hope this helps! Thanks again and I'll be sure to check out that Facebook page!
-Dawn
Nikos, I did a quick check on etsy.com for "Zambian emerald" and there are a LOT of nice, inexpensive choices. These emeralds are NOT even dyed---and are so beautiful. I found one just on the first page and it's an oval cabochon (not faceted), but it's REAL and only $15 and is maybe about the size of the "sketchy" emerald you saw on ebay. Here's a link (they're in Thailand):
Deletehttps://www.etsy.com/listing/469865446/natural-zambian-emerald-top-vivid-green?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=zambian%20emerald&ref=sr_gallery_28
There are a LOT of other choices on etsy, some more expensive and some very inexpensive, so be sure to check those out!
-Dawn
Hi Dawn
ReplyDeleteJust came across your page when google on how to identify natural emerald.
I'm actually looking for some opaque emerald, do you think the one from following is genuine?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/232161947934
And from the same store, I'm also looking at their Lapis Lazuli. They've some really big one for retaliative low price, do those look real to you?
Thanks
Hi, Hayes, and thanks for your question! I have an answer regarding that emerald: NOT an emerald!! I'm not sure exactly what it is, but it is definitely not an emerald or any sort of green beryl! It looks almost like a slab of marble. Looking with the zoom, it does look like dyed sillimanite, which you find a lot online. But no, it's not some sort of dyed opaque emerald. So, my advice: avoid that.
DeleteLapis is one of the most "faked" gems. It's become really hard to find the real thing now. Swabbing lapis with a cotton ball with acetone would reveal blue paint/dye on fake stones, but since you can't test these online.... I looked at their listings of lapis. I see color zoning which would indicate that at the very least, it's dyed. It could be dyed sodalite. It doesn't have the right kind of sheen that Lapis would have (so these are more like paint maybe). The gold specks throughout seem almost like paint--it doesn't look natural.
But yes, the price for those is WAY too low for genuine gems.
A quick glance at their other items in the store--right away I see "blue topaz" that is NOT topaz, and most likely glass. The elephant is carved glass ("opal"). And a green carved elephant is "natural Zed". What on earth is Zed? (Or is it "who"? Haha) Their "rubies" are really terrible fakes. I gave up looking at their shop after that!
So I'd definitely give that shop a pass!
Thanks for asking! I hope this helps.
-Dawn
I just looked at their feedback. Three are 13 negatives in the last 12 months (more beyond that), and they are all consistent: fake stones, not worth ten cents, fraud, this is glass, etc. Sometimes disgruntled buyers leave unwarranted feedback, but these are legitimate complaints from more savvy buyers. I feel sorry for anyone being duped (and there are hundreds at their shop), but of course, "buyer beware". There is NO WAY that anyone could sell genuine gemstones at that low price.
DeleteThank you for answering so quickly, Dawn!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for the technique on Lapis too. Glad that I've asked before buying, really I've zero knowledge on gemstones.
I got a jeweler friend also recommended gemselect.com, and warn me on ebay before. Just I think gemselect is a bit pricey when I looked at them, so I look elsewhere. I think I'd just pass all the gemstone from ebay now.
Anyway thank you, wish all the best to you :)
Hayes
Thank you, Hayes! Yes, ebay can be great to find lots of things, but gemstones are a little "iffy" anywhere online, but especially there. Etsy.com is another place you might want to look----LOTS of gem sellers (some are also on ebay) and like anywhere, it's "buyer beware" but at least Etsy sellers are easy to work with, for the most part.
DeleteIt's been a pleasure, Hayes! Good luck on your gemstone quest!
-Dawn
Hi Dawn!
ReplyDeleteI want to buy a ruby on eBay, but most of these gems are fakes I believe. Is this a genuine ruby? What do you think? http://www.ebay.com/itm/361881399497?_trksid=p2060353.m1431.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Thank you very much!
Totally, definitely, positively, absolutely 100% fake.
DeleteSorry--but thanks for asking!
Hi again Dawn,
ReplyDeleteAlso I've found this mix of "gems". What do you think? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Natural-Mixed-Shape-134-30-Ct-15-Pcs-Red-Ruby-Emerald-Gemstone-Lot/272520474336?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D38530%26meid%3D543337ad3da349eca9470740fa987991%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D272518314672
Thank you again!
Those aren't genuine emeralds, rubies, or sapphires! They look like dyed sillimanite. Some of the stones look like dyed marble!
DeleteTheir feedback is pretty bad---lots of complaints about fake gems, and also not getting their money back! (The thing with that is, you can ALWAYS get your money back if you use a charge card or Paypal!)
But yes, I'd avoid that seller!!
Thanks again!
-Dawn
Hi Dawn,
ReplyDeleteI think I finally found a genuine "cheap ruby". What do you think, master? http://www.ebay.com/itm/146-5-Ct-Natural-Certified-Pigeon-Blood-Red-Ruby-Earth-Mined-Oval-Loose-Gemstone-/322389455253?hash=item4b0fe8b195:g:47wAAOSwFV9X1D3a
Thank you!
Hello!
ReplyDeleteWell, it's very unlikely to be a ruby, based on the gigantic 145-carat size and the black specks and opaque red color and so forth, and of course the low price...but the only way to know for sure is to have it tested by a gemologist who can tell you exactly what it is! This stone is $15 and getting it tested might cost you nothing or they might charge you something for testing (it varies depending on what they do), and if it is proven as something other than corundum, then you could send it back to the ebay seller, or get your money back from your credit card issuer. So really you have nothing to lose but time and the cost of having the gem tested so you'd know for sure what it is. Many sellers offer some sort of paperwork to confirm the authenticity of the gem, but those are completely unreliable and are often just totally fabricated. I see their feedback (a neg) shows a complaint that says just that regarding an appraisal!
You seem very determined to find a real ruby for very little money---but I am pretty sure you won't find that on ebay! Real wholesale rubies can be found on www.riogrande.com which is a reputable supplier to the jewelry industry worldwide. Their wholesale prices---WHOLESALE---for a 5mm round genuine ruby is $306. That's about .65-carat size stone--a little over a half a carat, wholesale at $306--although it's a nice quality ruby. This is a genuine ruby, with:
Mohs hardness: 9
Refractive index: 1.760–1.770
Specific gravity: 4
Treatment: Heat-treated (H)
Those are the specs of a genuine corundum (ruby). That's what testing would reveal if the gem on ebay was a genuine ruby.
Anyway, so just by looking, and by the huge size and cheap price, it SEEMS like the ebay stone is not a ruby. But if you want to take a chance and see it in person and test it, I say go for it!
Please let me know what you find out!
Thanks again!
PS - I bought a ruby one time from ebay. It was a tiny briolette, about 8mm or the size of a pencil eraser. It was $40 and I had it tested and it WAS a ruby, although a VERY low quality one (it was really pale, not even red, with a zillion inclusions and had been filled and dyed). So it's POSSIBLE to find a genuine ruby, but they're not that cheap, and not very good at all. That was my ebay experience! I'm sure others have had better ones!
-Dawn
Hello Dawn,
ReplyDeletePlease tell me whether you think the nuggets at
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/510561135/brand-newrare-amazing-natural-multi
are actually sapphire or perhaps something like dyed quartz?
Thank you
Well, although it's really hard to tell just from pictures, I'd tend to trust that seller. They say they're natural sapphires, and the do look like sapphires and not really like quartz. That seller is pretty reputable (I've bought things from that seller myself) so it wouldn't be too risky to buy them! You could have a jeweler take a quick look at them to see if they're sapphires (it would be easy to test) and if not, you could send them back. They MIGHT be treated sapphires (like heated) even though they say they're totally natural---I can't tell. Raregemstones stands behind their products, so I'd say go ahead and get them!
DeleteThanks for asking---I hope this helps!
-Dawn
PS - someone left feedback about these very nuggets on March 3rd--they left 5 stars, said they're beautiful, and received them very fast. So I'd definitely get them---they do look like genuine sapphires!
DeleteI've bought rubies and sapphires from india. What I've gotten are heavy, hard stones that have obviously been dyed, but are definitely stone of some kind.
ReplyDeleteHere's an example - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Certified-45-45-Ct-Natural-Blood-Red-Ruby-Emerald-Cut-Loose-Gemstone-B-2745-/172592789632?hash=item282f54f880:g:uaoAAOSwo4pYakvt
Are these genuine corundum but just treated and/or dyed?
Hi, Barry A!
DeleteGenuine rubies, even low-quality rubies, are the most expensive colored gemstone in the world. Often they are WAY more expensive than diamonds. The price of a ruby (corrundum) rises exponentially as the carat size increases. So for example a 5-carat ruby would cost over 25 times the price of a 1-carat ruby. So can you imagine what a 45-carat ruby would cost? Certainly a LOT more than 99 cents, the opening bid on that particular stone.
I don't know what it is you bought---possibly sillimanite, or quartz, marble...it could be anything. You can take it to a jeweler and they can look at it, and give it a quick test to see what it is for sure (or whether it's NOT corundum).
I tried to even find a 45-carat ruby for sale somewhere online, but couldn't. I did find a 31.76-carat genuine ruby that has been verified by the GIA and it is being sold for $44,000---marked down from $110,000. It's an okay-quality ruby, sort of a dark color red. So this gives you an idea of what a genuine ruby of this size would cost---astronomical, really! Here's a link:
https://www.gemsny.com/loose-ruby/31.76-Carat-Cabochon-Ruby-RU35013CAB/?gclid=COqe16Ky99ICFUGTaQodo_sH7Q
So genuine rubies, even very low-quality rubies, would be many thousands of dollars for a stone that large.
So your sapphires and rubies are most likely not genuine corundum, but are dyed...something. Someone bought one of those big "rubies" from ebay and it was a piece of dyed marble. She paid $14 and it makes a nice paperweight! So you never really know what it is, but it's pretty certain to be NOT corundum at those prices.
If you have yours tested, please let me know what you find out!
Thank you for your question!
-Dawn
Greetings,
ReplyDeleteFound a site selling quite big emeralds at throw away prices.
Have bought one to test (hardness and microscopic obs).
https://d3gyiijzpk1c44.cloudfront.net/upload/product_photos/base/0/27/81/original1.1790408.2.jpg
That's fantastic! Please let me know what you find out---I'm curious if there is any real emerald or dyed beryl within your stone. The one you bought looks pretty nice (better than the sillimanite ones I've seen).
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment and I look forward to your results!
-Dawn
Okies,
ReplyDeleteThe findings are as follows -
The site is www.barishh.com
The stone came with a certificate pronouncing it natural emerald , based on reflective index and specific gravity.
I immersed the stone in warm water, and the color came off , cheap water soluble color now that's first red light.
Microscopic observation is pending, afterwards a RI, and SG test will be carried out.
https://www.barishh.com/Emerald/77-10-Cts-Certified-Big-Size-Panna-Gemstone-id-1790408.html
Wow, that is really bad! Their website is interesting---a mix of pictures (at least) of some gems plus some very fake things like ruby quartz (and many others).
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to your results!! Thank you again!
-Dawn
Can you tell by the pictures if these are natural real sapphires, rubies, and emeralds? I took them into my local jeweler and he held them and did a visual assessment and said they were, but did not test them on equipment. Mine look exactly as pictured on this seller's site:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ebay.com/itm/200Ct-21Pcs-Natural-Mix-Shape-Blue-Sapphire-Ruby-Emerald-Gemstone-Lot-EBAY/231632034199?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2648
Gems were mailed from India: gemsbazaar10
There is no way to tell exactly what these are just by looking at pictures. But common sense would tell me that 200 carats of precious gemstones would be worth a LOT more than $19.99 though. Plus, the seller on ebay is making a profit on that $20 price, so these are worth probably 1/3 of that. So there could be NO possible way that these are precious gems, just based on price!
ReplyDeleteThe faceting on those stones in the pictures is very poor, which is another indicator that those aren't precious gems. If you place them in water, does dye come off the stones (and make the water green, for example)? If you take a little acetone on a cotton ball and swipe across the gems, does color come off? That just a start to see if they are dyed. They could be dyed sillimanite (like pictured at the top of this blog post), dyed quartz or glass, dyed marble, even dyed beryl--they could be anything.
There is a LOT of dyed sillimanite coming out of India lately so I would guess that's what these are. A jeweler/gemologist can check the Mohs hardness--that would be a good start to determine what these really are. Rubies/Sapphires would be a 9, and anything less than that is something other than corundum.
Thanks for asking! I hope this helps.
One more thing----the feedback on that particular ebay seller is pretty bad. If you read the negatives for the past 6 months, you'll see a common theme: "fake stones", "plastic stone", "fake certificate", "topaz is glass" and so forth. Most people who buy gems don't bother to have them checked by a jeweler---and that would explain the many positive comments. Sometimes people leave unwarranted negatives. But in this case, the negatives sound deserved. I'd say, BEWARE of purchasing precious gemstones online, particularly from ebay!
DeleteThank you for your input. I expect at these prices to either get really poor quality or something other than what they are identified as. However, every so often I like to try my luck. I have gotten a few good surprises here and there.
ReplyDeleteIn this case, I first tried rubbing them with 100% acetone. Only the red ones gave off some dye. The blue and green didn't.
I then soaked them for several hours in water. The red turned the water slightly pink, so definitely dyed. The blue and the green did not change the water at all. What do you make of that? If they aren't dyed, what would the green and blue stones be?
I don't mind if it's sillimanite, but it's my understanding they would be more gray in color and would not have any facets. Is that correct?
(The facets are very amateur, for sure.)
Hi, KRP, and thanks for your comment! It's true---trying your luck with great deals on gems can sometimes (although rarely) yield great finds! Someone else recently bought some very inexpensive "precious gems" and the green ones left water green, but not sure about the others.
DeleteSillimanite is an interesting mineral. It comes in a LOT of colors, not just grey. They can be blue, red, green, yellow, white, black, and brown. They can be opaque, or sometimes transparent. There are a number of smaller faceted rondelle-cut stones being marketed as "Silverite" right now, and they are mostly Sillimanite. I say "mostly" because the ones I had tested turned out to be glass...but anyway, if you look at pictures of "Silverite" you can see the variety of colors and the luster of Sillimanite. It's a hard stone that can be pretty difficult to facet, so that's probably why these "rubies/emeralds/sapphires" are so poorly faceted.
I'm not sure if what you bought is Sillimanite. It really could be anything. I recently read about an auction for the "world's largest emerald" that was supposed to fetch well over $1 million. Of course, it turned out to be a fake (and the seller arrested for fraud...). But to my surprise, the phony emerald was some sort of rock that contained Beryl that was dyed (and no dye came off in testing), so that was a pretty convincing fake. The facets on that "emerald" were horrible.
So maybe you got some sort of dyed Beryl. Personally I wouldn't mind having Beryl! But without lots of testing to determine what mineral you have, your guess is as good as mine.
Thanks so much, KRP! Please let me know if you find anything else out!
Thank you for you input. Interesting info on the possibility of Beryl. I wouldn't mind that either. Not sure I'll be able to find anyone where I live that can test properly. Maybe one day.... If I do, I will let you know what I find out.
ReplyDeleteCrazy big "natural ned rubies" color enhanced/heat treated... Fake or Not? I gotta know please Thanks. https://www.ebay.com/itm/405-Cts-GRS-CERTIFIED-Natural-Pigeon-Blood-Red-Ruby-Museum-Size-Gemstone/273139633007?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140107094819%26meid%3Dba7aaf2db1764107878123e40e25edd2%26pid%3D100039%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D273139633007%26itm%3D273139633007&_trksid=p2054436.c100039.m2059
ReplyDeleteReal rubies run between $100 to $15,000 per carat, and UP. If this were a 400+ carat ruby, it would be worth a fortune, auctioned at Sotheby's, not for sale for $19.95 on ebay.
DeleteThanks for asking!
Ok thanks...yeah I figured so, but he keeps insisting that it is real ruby. He said to purchase one and test it myself to see its real. I even told him about all the fakes and dyes and everything but he still sticks to his story.
ReplyDeleteHe's making a lot of money on ebay, defrauding people who think they're getting something worth a fortune for a few bucks. He's counting on people deciding it's not worth the hassle or the return postage to India to send it back. So he doesn't care about anything except making that $20 for whatever that is----and it's probably dyed sillimanite because a HUGE sillimanite mine opened recently in India, and since then, the market is flooded with these dyed stones.
DeleteI'd say don't waste your money---because many people who've read my blog DID buy one of those anyway, had them looked at, and they were all fake (and they let me know!).
BTW, even if it was a really low-grade ruby (which it's not) it would be $100 a carat---that's the going rate for small, opaque, lousy rubies and the price per carat goes UP for larger sizes!
Also a ruby is a particular color of sapphire (they're the same gemstone), and only certain "red sapphires" can be called rubies. The color is very specific, kind of a deep pinkish red, and that ebay stone is nowhere near the right color. (There are some okay-looking fakes, but that one is NOT the right color!)
Thanks so much for reading my blog, Kyle! I appreciate it.
- Dawn :)
Hello,do you know why stones like ruby in fuchsite or ruby in ziosite are so cheap if as you said, a low grade ruby costs about $100 per carat?
ReplyDeleteRuby in Zoisite consists of opaque ruby and zoisite are are not gem-grade, so it's inexpensive. (There are low-quality rubies, but those are at least gem-grade.) Also Ruby in Zoisite (and in Fuschite) are abundant stones, so it's not rare and therefore inexpensive.
DeleteEven so, there are a number of "ruby in zoisite" stones being sold now that are dyed quartzite, or other materials. Here's an article from the GIA about their tests on some of these beads:
https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/winter-2017-labnotes-dyed-quartzite-imitation-ruby-in-zoisite
As noted in that article, dyed quartzite is also being passed off as ruby, lapis, sugilite, and jadeite. So as always, it's a case of "buyer beware" and only testing by a gemologist can reveal exactly what is being sold.
Also, here is a discussion on a mineralogy website regarding ruby in zoisite/fuschite, and here's a link:
https://www.mindat.org/mesg-55-156644.html
Thanks for asking!
hi,
ReplyDeletewhat do you think of apatite? i found lots of beautiful neon-colored strands that look like paraiba tourmaline and i was wondering if its generally dyed to reach that color or what? or is it just fake? most do come form india and i know how u feel about that but i see that nobody has asked u about that stone....
also sapphires? im guessing the rondelle strands are dyed? and if it says unheated do u think it could be trustworthy?
Hello!
DeleteApatite and especially Neon Apatite are beautiful gems, and that Paraiba-like blue color is natural and mined in Madagascar. So yes, it's a natural gemstone! If you buy a strand from a reputable seller (I'd avoid ebay) you should be getting the real deal. Here's some info on enhancements:
"Apatite gemstones are typically untreated. Blue apatite is known to be heat-treated, but some are unenhanced. Most green specimens are typically untreated. Gemstone suppliers should always disclose treatments and enhancements made to their gemstones for sale."
Many treatments, such as heating or irradiating, are common and accepted in the jewelry industry (such as blue topaz). But any enhancements should be disclosed, and reputable dealers will always do that.
Here is a great website with a lot of info about Apatite, and other gemstones as well (and where I got the treatment info above):
https://www.gemselect.com/gem-info/apatite/apatite-info.php
India has lots of beautiful gemstones and I've bought many gems from sellers there---but you have to be careful. My post here was about the really cheap and huge phony precious gemstones---just a "buyer beware" post!
There are a lot of strands of rondelles that are sold as rubies, sapphires and emeralds. Some are very low quality stones that are dyed and otherwise enhanced. Some are other gems (such as silimanite) that have been dyed. Some are genuine! So there's no general info about strands of rondelles----some are real, some are not. Sapphires are generally heated to improve color and genuine unheated sapphires are pretty rare and very expensive. Strands of genuine sapphires sold in rondelle shapes would most likely be heated (if natural sapphires) or dyed (if it's another gem, or a very low quality sapphire). It's just "buyer beware" and have your gems looked at by a jeweler or gemologist to verify what you've got, and what treatments there may have been.
Here's a great website with lots of info about sapphires:
https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/education/commonly-asked-questions/heat-treatment-in-sapphires/
I hope this helps and thanks for asking!
also i forgot to add the pic lol! sry:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.etsy.com/listing/576202961/neon-apatite-chips-neon-apatite-beads?ref=user_profile
YES, those look like genuine, natural neon apatite beads! I've bought gems from that seller before, and was happy with the stones I received!
DeleteThere are a lot of sellers who call plated jewelry "gold filled" and I'm sorry you had that happen! Actual gold filled pieces will tarnish too, and especially rose gold filled----the copper (which gives it that pink color) can sometimes react and turn green or cause skin reactions. Maybe if you try using a tarnish removing cloth or liquid, it might restore it?
I am looking at Paraiba Tourmalines from Mozambique on ebay. They are selling for around $50.00 for 2-3 carat stones. But they have inclusions. Is it possible that they are real?
ReplyDeleteThe seller is from Canada. And sold many Paraiba tourmaline listed as natural.
Hello!
ReplyDeleteParaiba Tourmalines are the most expensive gemstones and fetch prices over $10,000 a carat for small stones. They are appraised by color, not by clarity. A very rare 2-3 carat Paraiba would be astronomical in price, and would be sold at an auction or through a jeweler and not on ebay. What you've seen on ebay is probably a manmade (glass) stone (often sold as "hydro quartz") or a coated quartz or something. Unscrupulous sellers on ebay count on buyers who are not savvy or who don't have their stones tested by a gemologist, which can be expensive, so you can't count on the number of items sold or feedback. There are "scam" sellers in Canada, the USA, India, all over the world, as well as honest sellers all over the world as well. It's just a matter of "buyer beware" especially online, and most especially on ebay!
Here's a link to the International Gemstone Society website regarding Paraibas. The prices are blocked to non-members,but the prices for small stones (under 1 carat) are very, very high and for stones in the 2-3 carat range---incredibly high.
https://www.gemsociety.org/article/paraiba-tourmaline/
I hope this helps and thanks for asking!
Dicatjames---I just looked at ebay and found a seller in Canada offering "Paraiba Tourmalines" from Mozambique. Strangely, they are red or orange. Paraiba Tourmaline is a name that describes a particular neon-blue color! Originally found in the Paraiba mines in Brazil, it's now the name of this particular color of tourmaline found elsewhere too. So this seller is WAY out of line by trying to sell other colored stones as "Paraiba". The seller is terrible. I noticed that these red stones have lots of cracks or inclusions in them. This would indicate that it was either "quench crackled" and then dyed (that's how you dye quartz) or sometimes that's the giveaway that a stone has been grown in a lab. Either way, these are NOT "Paraiba" tourmalines at all. AVOID if these were the stones you were looking at.
Delete