I sent a stone to AGL, it came back with unexpected result

ChickenPotPie · **Joined:** Fri Oct 22, 2010 8:43 pm **Posts:** 17

So I sent a stone to AGL that I purchased some time ago as a tsavorite garnet. Well, it came back as a natural demantoid. :shock:

Considering what I know (ain't a lot but I'm still learning) thats kind of a huge difference right? The stone in question is 1.63cts and quite a very green which is why I'm asking.

I do have pictures of the stone but I don't know to attach.

Please excuse my 3rd grade line of questioning as I ask why on this and that :lol:

Barbra Voltaire, FGG · **Posted:** Sat Dec 17, 2011 11:37 am

Tutorial on Posting pictures:
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=3679

I'd also like to see a scan of the identification report.

You must be pleased.

ChickenPotPie · **Joined:** Fri Oct 22, 2010 8:43 pm **Posts:** 17

I really don't know what to think tbh. I'm kinda freaking because I have another I purchased at the same time a bit brighter in color and about 2.5cts. I don't have a report on that one as I already have it set.

Not the best pictures but the best I could get

The stone and the Brief

The stone itself. Thats the closest I could get

On the brief they said something about demantoids could be heated. Is this something that can be detected if I had gotten a more in depth report?

Jason · **Posted:** Sat Dec 17, 2011 2:06 pm

Wow, what a nice surprise!

Minx · **Joined:** Fri Nov 04, 2011 11:47 pm **Posts:** 96

I'm a newbie so forgive this question, but why is it fortuitous that it turns out to be a demantoid rather than a tsavorite? Is it an African demantoid? If so, are they more valuable than tsavorites? I thought African demantoids were more olive green in hue?

Faceting 101 by Arya · **Posted:** Sat Dec 17, 2011 5:06 pm

Wait, are demantoids considered "better" than tsavorite? I always kinda assumed it would be better to be surprised in the opposite direction as ChickenPotPie...then again, I don't know anything about that kind of stuff...

Jason · **Posted:** Sat Dec 17, 2011 5:36 pm

Demantoids are considered the most valuable of the garnets. Many demantoids on the market today are from non traditional localities such as namibia. These demantoids usually fail to approach the extremely fine color some of the Russian material. As a result many have not seen how beautiful a fine demantoid can be. The one ChickenPotPie has found herself with is a lovely example of a fine gem. It is worth much more than a similar sized tsavorite.

CPP, i do not know for certain if heat can be detected in Demantoid. But I suspect if your gem showed concrete evidence of heat treatment it WOULD have been noted on the report. That's not something you have to pay extra to find out.

Jason

Faceting 101 by Arya · **Posted:** Sat Dec 17, 2011 5:56 pm

Sweet, glad to see you figured out how to put up the pics! That is a damn nice stone...

(And yeah Jason, the only demantoids I've seen are a sickly grey-green color, with lots of stringy inclusions. I didn't realize they could be the color in the pics!)

ChickenPotPie · **Joined:** Fri Oct 22, 2010 8:43 pm **Posts:** 17

Thank you Jason. When I got the stone yesterday I wasn't really thinking much as I'm working like a crazy person at the moment. Today I got time to really look at what I got and it hit me as to what the report had said.

Ok so my question is now, should I go for a more in depth report or, should I just sit on this? I am really new to demantoids as you may have guessed...this is my first!! So my questions are all going to sound 3rd grade.

All the demantoids I've ever seen in person were kinda lightish green as well too-shiney, so this is why I find the report to be a shocker.

I swear I'm considering having that other stone removed and sending it to AGL as it came from the same vendor... close to this color but much bigger.

Theres a big side of me thats quite delighted for a number of really good reasons! But that other side of me is like 'well hell, now what?' I've always read that location matters with demantoids, so, with that, would color or depth of color, dictate location too?

Another thought occurred to me; considering what I got, how could the vendor had gotten it wrong? Human error sure but they've been dealing stones a long time, to let a demantoid of this color slip though the cracks is hyooge! :shock:

but I admit I didn't exactly check it right away either :oops:

mehoose · **Posted:** Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:49 pm

Glorious Demantoid, I'm impressed!

Stonebender · **Posted:** Sat Dec 17, 2011 9:06 pm

That is FABULOUS Demantoid color! Have you louped it and been able to see any of the "horsetails" that are sometimes present in the Russian stones? Kind of an aside, I wonder if heat was applied, and horsetails were present, if they'd disappear after heating.

It's been a while since I've personally seen a demantoid that color, the only other I have seen was this gorgeous piece of Russian rock candy that Brad Payne had up on TheGemTrader a while back.

Minx · **Joined:** Fri Nov 04, 2011 11:47 pm **Posts:** 96

If you look in the Colored Stones section, there is a current (sort of) discussion about heating of demantoids.

Your stone is a beautiful color, like spring grass.

I never understood the buzz about demantoids until I saw demantoids with that color...

ChickenPotPie · **Joined:** Fri Oct 22, 2010 8:43 pm **Posts:** 17

@stonebender, Ive louped it and seen stuff that looks like strings but not a horsetail like I've seen in other demantoid images. Dismissed it when I first purchased as being some weird inclusions and left it at that.

The gemtrader always has amazing gems, that one you've shown is drool worthy.

Jason · **Posted:** Sat Dec 17, 2011 9:59 pm

Hi CPP,

Demantoids are not my specialty. But what I know is as follows.

The only Demantoids I am CERTAIN can be heat treated are Russian as those are the only ones I have ever seen that were. There are, as said before, demantoids from other locations. But my contacts tell me that though they have tried heat treatment on some of them, they have never ended up with anything but broken and cracked gems. No improvement. This does NOT mean your gem is Russian! That would have to be determined by greater analysis of the gem. If you need to know, return thet stone to AGL and let Chris do an origin report on it. IMO it would be worth doing so.

Also, you probably would be wise to send the other gem you have to AGL as well. They DO take gems in the mounting. There is an extra fee but that would save you from having to unset and reset it again.

If in doubt, just call AGL and discuss it with them. They are very personable people and will be glad to help you decide what is best in your circumstances.

SIDEBAR: I get nothing for this plug for AGL. I'm just a very satisfied customer.

Jason

Barbra Voltaire, FGG · **Posted:** Sun Dec 18, 2011 12:06 am

CPP, that stone is the bomb! Your must be on the moon!

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