Okay, so I have attached a couple of shots of this green stone. It was my husband's first wife's grandmothers (we think? He never saw the ring until after she passed away, so he has NO idea, just assuming based off the other jewelery it was bunched with)

Honestly, at first, I thought it was just a lab-created emerald. But upon closer inspection, I became suspect that it might be something else. It's set in a fairly substantial setting. I took it to a local jeweler (bear in mind we live in a small town, and the jewelers up here, well, the same jeweler tried to tell me my Daussi ring was a fake, and get me to sell it to him for the scrap value of the platinum!).

The guy's face lit up when he put the stone under the scope, and then he turned to me with a scowl on his face, and said that while the stone was just pretty green glass, he'd be HAPPY to buy the setting/gold from me, and pay a fair price. He offered me $300 for the setting. Which seemed REALLY high. We'd just sold off quite a bit of the late wife's jewelery (keeping the important stuff, selling the scrap), so I was pretty familiar with prices, and what the setting would be worth in scrap prices.

This was back in July, before gold went so high. I just haven't had the time to pursue it further because I've been busy.

So, I thought I'd post some pictures on here, see if y'all have any imput? There's just alot a fire and life in this stone, I don't know. Maybe a tsavorite? It's VERY well-cut.

I'm not an expert by any means, I do have my diamond certification course from GIA, but I didn't get any further than that back in the day. (I worked for a jeweler that paid for the classes....I just didn't stick around in retail long enough to finish the whole course.)

Thanks for letting me share! =)

I`m no expert either but maybe it could be some kind of chrome tourmaline, I`ve seen one of a similar colour.

If it's a very old piece, your first guess might be correct- I can check with our friend Roger- who knows the dates certain gems were first mined.
I don't know that tsavorite or Chrome Tourmaline were around very long ago..... but I'n not an expert on these dates- so if anyone knows offhand- please correct me!

If it's prior to 1980, it's very very unlikely to be a Tsavorite. Campbell Bridges discovered it in 1967 but could not get mining permission. Restarted in 1974, and first commercial stones were in store by the mid-late '70s. Chrome tourmaline I would expect to be considerably darker, and it "came out" even later (mid/late '80s)

From the colour, though, I'd say it's a synthetic emerald. Which can be durned difficult to tell from natural. So, our canny friend is betting it is natural, but if it isn't he isn't losing out, since it's probably worth $300 in scrap.

Get a good gemmologist to see it.

Thats what throws me about this stone. I thought it was just lab too.....but then I pulled out my loope, and spent alot of time with it.

There is something down in the bottom of this stone, not sure what, but it LOOKS like a spec of something black, or a crystal.

While the mounting IS heavy duty, there is NO way, even with gold prices where they were this summer, it's worth $300. About $140-$150 with it's weight, etc.

There's a local gem and mineral club, I actually called them yesterday, so I'm going to take it to their monthly meeting at the end of this month. They have several GIA gemologists in their membership!! And I think they would be pretty non-biased, as they aren't jewelers, they just LOVE collecting gems. Think, like old school rockhounds!! (which, I cannot knock them, as I love a good day digging in the old opal mines about 2 hours from my house!!)

Thanks y'all. When I get it figured out, I will post an update. If it IS an emerald, wonder what it would be worth? Hrm.

Really, Squigs.  This is quite a conundrum, how cool for jules if it turns out to be something wonderful like a really fine emerald.   

We'll be waiting here with bated breath, jules.  Good luck, and I hope you can get some conclusive answers!

*sigh*

The gemologist was not there, they had called in sick.

Oh well. I had to go down to the OC anyways.

I have to run into LA next week, maybe I can find someone there.

The great mystery continues!!! At this point, it's sort of on hold, as I have three HUGE events this month, so it's cake/flowers around here.

I did get some new jewels though, funny story. I'll have to post pics when I have time!

Phooey... I am curious to know what the mystery green stone is. If it is natural, my guess is tourmaline. Green tourmaline has been around for centuries – just not known by the name tourmaline (usually referred to as Elbaite in earlier days). Jules, does it appear to be the same color when you look through it from different directions?

If it is synthetic emerald, I understand that it is not uncommon for the material to have a certain type of inclusions.

More jewel pics, please.  

Yes yes, I know.

I realized, it's like 9.5cttws of diamond pieces I've aquired in the past month and a half.

BUT, before anyone thinks I'm some "big spender", y'all will have to hold out for me to get the time to take some pictures and post the stories that go along with it.

I didn't spend that much. Let's just put a teaser....I spend UNDER $500.

 


Stories and pics coming soon. (I need to get one piece fixed at the jeweler today before I post)

*hangs head in shame*

No, I haven't had the time or the energy to seriously pursue it lately.

Lots of weddings lately, and some crazy cake orders.

I FINALLY got some shots of my new jewels though, I just need to sit down and re-size the photographs so I can post them! =)

It's just been a couple of crazy months around here. (good, but exhausting!)