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 Post subject: Sapphire opinions
PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2018 1:49 pm 
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Greetings,
We recently discovered this stone in my mother's semi-precious stone collection, and I'm just about to have it clad in platinum for my partner. I was hoping that some learned members might comment/offer up an opinion of the stone, as the local gemmologists seem unwilling to say much more than it's a sapphire. It has been in my family for around 100 years. I've tried my best to photograph the stone in all its beauty, but I'm happy to try out suggestions for different lighting etc.

Thanks in advance,
Fodder.


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 Post subject: Re: Sapphire opinions
PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2018 3:24 pm 
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More information would be needed to have an opinion.

Polariscope reaction
Refractive Index

if sapphire,
20-30X magnification shots to seperate natural from synthetic.


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 Post subject: Re: Sapphire opinions
PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2018 6:50 pm 
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You need to find another neighborly gemologist.

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 Post subject: Re: Sapphire opinions
PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2018 7:22 pm 
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Yep, you need to find a real gemologist, not just someone who plays one at a jewelry store.


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 Post subject: Re: Sapphire opinions
PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2018 7:54 pm 
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Barbra Voltaire wrote:
Yep, you need to find a real gemologist, not just someone who plays one at a jewelry store.


Yes, that's all that is available in my town. I'm thinking that joining the local lapidary and gem club might be the go.


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 Post subject: Re: Sapphire opinions
PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2018 8:06 pm 
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It should be a straight forward separation. If that stone is natural, it has significant value, and is worth the effort. Take it to a qualified Gemologist to be looked at. If it is synthetic you are done. If the local gemologist says that they believe to is a natural stone then send it to either G.I.A. or A.G.L. for a complete report. It is important to do this before you have it mounted.

That is my best advise.


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 Post subject: Re: Sapphire opinions
PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2018 10:26 pm 
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1bwana1 wrote:
It should be a straight forward separation. If that stone is natural, it has significant value, and is worth the effort. Take it to a qualified Gemologist to be looked at. If it is synthetic you are done. If the local gemologist says that they believe to is a natural stone then send it to either G.I.A. or A.G.L. for a complete report. It is important to do this before you have it mounted.

That is my best advise.


Pretty much this. Or if you feel lucky, you can send it straight away to AGL and have a brief report done for something like 75 USD (if my memory is correct).
How big is the stone?


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 Post subject: Re: Sapphire opinions
PostPosted: Wed Sep 05, 2018 12:54 am 
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Dioptase wrote:
1bwana1 wrote:
It should be a straight forward separation. If that stone is natural, it has significant value, and is worth the effort. Take it to a qualified Gemologist to be looked at. If it is synthetic you are done. If the local gemologist says that they believe to is a natural stone then send it to either G.I.A. or A.G.L. for a complete report. It is important to do this before you have it mounted.

That is my best advise.


Pretty much this. Or if you feel lucky, you can send it straight away to AGL and have a brief report done for something like 75 USD (if my memory is correct).
How big is the stone?


The stone is 6.7 carats.

I'm in Australia, so I guess I need to find a decent lab to authenticate the stone here.

How do you insure a stone for post? Do you get insurance for the stone as if it's real and untreated?

Cheers,
Fodder.


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 Post subject: Re: Sapphire opinions
PostPosted: Wed Sep 05, 2018 12:50 pm 
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Have you tried:
http://www.gem.org.au/gemmologist


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 Post subject: Re: Sapphire opinions
PostPosted: Wed Sep 05, 2018 10:20 pm 
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Go here. The best there is in Australia, you can rely on their reports. It is associated with GAA.

https://www.gemstudieslaboratory.com.au ... tones.html


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 Post subject: Re: Sapphire opinions
PostPosted: Thu Sep 06, 2018 12:06 am 
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Thanks for your suggestions folks.

I found a gemmologist that works out of home so I'll take it to her.

In the meantime, I borrowed a microscope. I have attached some photos that my inexperienced eyes thought might be interesting bits.


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 Post subject: Re: Sapphire opinions
PostPosted: Thu Sep 06, 2018 11:46 am 
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Not really helpful, except maybe the first one.
Any idea why such a sapphire would have sat unmounted in your mother's semi precious stone collection ?


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 Post subject: Re: Sapphire opinions
PostPosted: Thu Sep 06, 2018 3:40 pm 
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Keep us posted.
Ask the gemmo lots of questions and report back. :smt112


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 Post subject: Re: Sapphire opinions
PostPosted: Thu Sep 06, 2018 4:36 pm 
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Isi wrote:
Any idea why such a sapphire would have sat unmounted in your mother's semi precious stone collection ?


It was likely from my great great grandmother's collection. The rest of her gems have been split up between succeeding generations. I suppose, back then, it was an insurance policy...a portable way of containing a portion of her wealth, something you can carry off the farm if things went bad. My mother always thought she got the crap sapphire, which is why she wanted me to make sure it wasn't glass or synthetic.


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 Post subject: Re: Sapphire opinions
PostPosted: Sat Sep 08, 2018 5:36 am 
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In my opinion, the way the stone is cut is not really consistent with you great great grandmother's time (whatever your age is). Looks much more recent.
100 years old would be correct... for a synthetic :?
I look forward to hearing more when you have shown it to the proper person ! It might be worth it.


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