Yeah..there is also GIA in Israel (they considered to be better). I see your point. Thank you and Merry Christmas
The identification of your ruby should be fairly easy for a trained professional.
Have you read through Dr. Smigel's Free Gemology Course ? Click below.
Happy Holiday's right back at ya.
When we told grandma that we could try and check her earrings I'm pretty sure that "Gemology Course" wasn't part of the plan lol (spending hundreds of dollars for Gia testing wasn't either) P.s: we're pretty sure it's ruby already but to check if it's natural or a lab made, means leaving the stones for checking and spending lots of money. that's why I tried "Ask The Experts" in here... We don't mind spending a few bucks on a basic microscope (always nice to have one anyway) and share the pic result in here for reviewing by Experts but if a microscope is not enough as you said, we'll just return them with a sad face to grandma (I'm Not taking a gemology course! lol) Hey, it's the thought that counts so - Thanks anyway
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2013 5:29 pm Posts: 1047 Location: Paris
From what the first pictures of the earring show, this would be a strange way to set a natural ruby. This fact only would make me doubt and search a professional advice. No time loss, no wandering through what you want the stone to be, go directly to check what it is. Garnet is an option for sure. Synthetic ruby is another one.
I found a jewelry store close by. he looked at them with no microscope or anything and determined that the blue sapphire is synthetic, and the "rubies" are garnet lol the garnet did show double refraction when we checked them so we are still wondering here but: what could be more reliable than an experts opinion right?... did anyone encounter a garnet with double Refractive properties? showed numbers\letters as double with some bend (that's why we thought it's not a garnet...) we also couldn't scratch it with the sapphire so... wired right?...
Joined: Mon May 14, 2007 11:00 am Posts: 1133 Location: Monterey, CA
Solomon wrote:
I found a jewelry store close by. he looked at them with no microscope or anything and determined that the blue sapphire is synthetic, and the "rubies" are garnet lol the garnet did show double refraction when we checked them so we are still wondering here but: what could be more reliable than an experts opinion right?...
Yes, but YOU did not consult an expert. Any child can be tought to be able to instantly tell a ruby from a garnet, and any expert should also be able to show you the difference by explaining the B:D ratio.
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm Posts: 21602 Location: San Francisco
Red garnets often exhibit anomalous double refraction which is irregular light and dark patches observed when rotating singly refracting stones and viewing through crossed polars. It mimics the blinking seen with doubly refractive stones.
Well, it's either a synthetic ruby or a garnet. one woman said: "that's a synthetic ruby. an old grandma jewel? that's very common to those vintage type earings\jewlery." "Don't you want to check with a microscope or something?" I said "No need," she said. then the man came, looked at it and said it's a natural garnet. both agreed that the green sapphire is synthetic. Honestly, the moment I heard those are not natural rubies, was the same moment where I lost all interest. lol (it was fun to dream that they are for a short while though) Thanks everyone for helping here
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm Posts: 21602 Location: San Francisco
Clearly, you are showing your stones to salespeople who are not qualified to make a determination. Google gemologist in your area. You are living in a country with tons of professional gem people.
Actually, you might have better luck just asking a stranger on the street.
Clearly, you are showing your stones to salespeople who are not qualified to make a determination. Google gemologist in your area. You are living in a country with tons of professional gem people.
Actually, you might have better luck just asking a stranger on the street.
Professional is an expensive word... lol Seriously, if these are not natural rubies what difference does it make?... They determined right away that these are not natural rubies. I only followed John's advice "You need to drop into a jeweler for a chat" Been there..done that...
They determined right away that these are not natural rubies.
No, they just made a guess based on very limited evidence. Unless they collected some real data about the stone they haven't seen anything we haven't--you can't identify a faceted stone like this just by looking at it. I think John had in mind a jeweler who might do some basic gemological tests. Jewelers can vary in knowledge from being full-blown gemologists with their own lab to someone who knows most of the birthstones.
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