Any chance of this being a real tsavorite garnet?

[viridian]

Hi all!
I was looking around Etsy recently and came across this vintage sterling silver ring. The description says that it's a tsavorite garnet, but based on the price and the material(sterling silver) I highly doubt it. Although I do think it's not real, there seemed to be inclusions in the stone, which to me looked like those of a natural garnet. I've asked the seller about it but he won't respond.
What do you guys think? Could it also be something else (ie. chrome diopside)? It'll be nice to share your thoughts

 

[stracci2000]

It could be peridot, or even glass.
It probably would look great with a thorough cleaning!

 

[viridian]

It could be peridot, or even glass.
It probably would look great with a thorough cleaning!

Thanks for the comment!
Oh peridot, never thought of that one!
I agree, I do like the unique design!

 

[fredflintstone]

Unless the picture makes it look greener, it is not Peridot. Peridot, especially in that size has a yellow modifier. Some larger Peridots come close to that color, but I have never seen a pure green Peridot. Always some yellow in it to a greater or lesser extent.

Very much doubt it is Tsavorite, but stranger things have happened.. There is Tourmaline and Chrome Diopside. Those two are possible, especially Chrome Diopside but would not bet on it.

If you don't mind, how much was it & what was the carat weight listed as? Was the ring new or used? It looks quite worn.

 

[viridian]

Unless the picture makes it look greener, it is not Peridot. Peridot, especially in that size has a yellow modifier. Some larger Peridots come close to that color, but I have never seen a pure green Peridot. Always some yellow in it to a greater or lesser extent.

Very much doubt it is Tsavorite. There is Tourmaline and Chrome Diopside. Those two are possible, especially Chrome Diopside but would not bet on it.

If you don't mind. how much was it & what was the carat weight listed as?

The price was below $100 and the seller really did not specify about the carat weight on the listing The only clue is that the ring size is 10, so I really don't think that's a real tsavorite based on all this, but I'm just curious what other material it might be!

 

[stracci2000]

Yes, chrome diopside is possible. The lighting during the photo, and our monitors could be changing the color somewhat.
Not very long ago, one of the home shopping channels was selling a big line of chrome diopside set in sterling with white topaz accents.

 

[viridian]

Yes, chrome diopside is possible. The lighting during the photo, and our monitors could be changing the color somewhat.
Not very long ago, one of the home shopping channels was selling a big line of chrome diopside set in sterling with white topaz accents.

Oh I guess it could be chrome diopside, since they have quite similar colors to tsavorite! Never knew they were sold on shopping channels though, interesting

 

[fredflintstone]

The price was below $100 and the seller really did not specify about the carat weight on the listing The only clue is that the ring size is 10, so I really don't think that's a real tsavorite based on all this, but I'm just curious what other material it might be!

If it is a real gemstone, then I would say Chrome Diopside. Chrome Diopside does not come in large sizes as it gets too dark in sizes over two or three carats. Judging by the size 10 of the ring, that would make since for Chrome Diopside. While Tourmaline can be that green, it is much more expensive than Chrome Diopside and ovals that green are rare, but if it is an estate ring (pre-owned) it is possible but not probably. Then again, if it is an estate ring, someone might have put a Tsavorite in it because they could not afford gold or platinum. But once again, doubtful.

 

[viridian]

If it is a real gemstone, then I would say Chrome Diopside. Chrome Diopside does not come in large sizes as it gets too dark in sizes over two or three carats. Judging by the size 10 of the ring, that would make since for Chrome Diopside. While Tourmaline can be that green, it is much more expensive than Chrome Diopside and ovals that green are rare, but if it is an estate ring (pre-owned) it is possible but not probably. Then again, if it is an estate ring, someone might have put a Tsavorite in it because they could not afford gold or platinum. But once again, doubtful.

Yeah I'm definitely thinking that it's chrome diopside or some type of fake imitation. Hehe It'd be fun if I just bought it and got it tested at a lab but wonder if it's worth it. Thanks for the detailed reply!

 

[T L]

I think it could pass for some peridot. It could be my iPhone, but I see yellow in it.

it could also be a chrome diopside. The fact that it’s in silver makes me doubt it’s a tsavorite, but it’s hard to tell from the photos.

 

[lambskin]

Once in a while, in our Sunday newspaper magazine supplement , there is an advertisement for a ring or pendant with a green stone that came from the Mt. Helena volcanic eruption. It has a low budget white topaz or CZ melee and set in silver. Years ago I asked this forum what this stone was and the response was green glass made from the hot temp and the earth. Made so much sense. IMHO That is what this looks like to me and that it is super dirty too.I think the inclusions are probably dirt.

 

[viridian]

I think it could pass for some peridot. It could be my iPhone, but I see yellow in it.

it could also be a chrome diopside. The fact that it’s in silver makes me doubt it’s a tsavorite, but it’s hard to tell from the photos.

Oh I guess it could be, depending on the lighting! From my mac it doesn't look yellowish but that could be me too
Yeah I highly doubt that it is tsavorite and from the answers here, it could be chrome diopside! Too bad the seller doesn't respond back

 

[viridian]

Once in a while, in our Sunday newspaper magazine supplement , there is an advertisement for a ring or pendant with a green stone that came from the Mt. Helena volcanic eruption. It has a low budget white topaz or CZ melee and set in silver. Years ago I asked this forum what this stone was and the response was green glass made from the hot temp and the earth. Made so much sense. IMHO That is what this looks like to me and that it is super dirty too.I think the inclusions are probably dirt.

Oh never knew there were products advertised like that! Stone from a volcanic eruption= green glass?? lol what were they thinking
Hmm I agree, the inclusions do seem to be dirt, since the ring looks really dirty.

 

[stracci2000]

Oh never knew there were products advertised like that! Stone from a volcanic eruption= green glass?? lol what were they thinking
Hmm I agree, the inclusions do seem to be dirt, since the ring looks really dirty.

Moldavite is a glass from a meteor strike. Helenite is glass from a volcanic eruption.
Both are faceted into gems.

 

[viridian]

Moldavite is a glass from a meteor strike. Helenite is glass from a volcanic eruption.
Both are faceted into gems.

Oh moldavite and helenite! I thought they sold just CZ glass as gemstones (my bad)!
To me, the color seems to resemble helenite.

 

[fredflintstone]

Once in a while, in our Sunday newspaper magazine supplement , there is an advertisement for a ring or pendant with a green stone that came from the Mt. Helena volcanic eruption. It has a low budget white topaz or CZ melee and set in silver. Years ago I asked this forum what this stone was and the response was green glass made from the hot temp and the earth. Made so much sense. IMHO That is what this looks like to me and that it is super dirty too.I think the inclusions are probably dirt.

Yes, Helenite. In my travels out west, it was in many gift shops. Not true Moldavite, manmade, but used with ash from Mt. St. Helen's after the eruption.

 

[fredflintstone]

Spirit Lake Helenite Ring

Famous volcano has strange effect on women Man and nature collaborate to create a glamorous green ring guaranteed to rock her world! On May 18, 1980, the once-s

www.stauer.com

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Moldavite is a glass from a meteor strike. Helenite is glass from a volcanic eruption.
Both are faceted into gems.

my sister in law has a big piece of Helenite in her garden from when she lived on lake Tarawera
its pretty because its interesting, not so much pretty because its pretty

 

[VividRed]

It could also be Heinekenite

 

[dk168]

Whatever it is, the fact that the seller refused to answer the question when asked is a massive red flag for me, so I would pass myself.

DK

 

[T L]

Definitely not moldavite, which is very brownish green. You never see bright green moldavite. Helenite is a good guess, artificially enhanced/colored volcanic glass.

 

[viridian]

Whatever it is, the fact that the seller refused to answer the question when asked is a massive red flag for me, so I would pass myself.

DK

I agree! I would never buy things from sellers who don't respond. But I was just curious what it might be

 

[viridian]

It could also be Heinekenite

Lol well the color seems like it!

 

[viridian]

Definitely not moldavite, which is very brownish green. You never see bright green moldavite. Helenite is a good guess, artificially enhanced/colored volcanic glass.

So I guess it's probably helenite! Thanks a lot everyone for actively engaging in this thread

 

[viridian]

my sister in law has a big piece of Helenite in her garden from when she lived on lake Tarawera
its pretty because its interesting, not so much pretty because its pretty

Wow, I wonder how big her Helenite is! Sounds like a good item for home decor

 

[lambskin]

Spirit Lake Helenite Ring

Famous volcano has strange effect on women Man and nature collaborate to create a glamorous green ring guaranteed to rock her world! On May 18, 1980, the once-s

www.stauer.com

Yep that is the stone And ring! PS’ers are AMAZING!

 

[fredflintstone]

For those who want to know how Helenite actually came to be created, here is the first paragraph and the link to the rest of the article,

"Helenite, also known as Mount St. Helens obsidian, emerald obsidianite, and ruby obsidianite, is an artificial glass made from the fused volcanic rock dust from Mount St. Helens and marketed as a gemstone.[1][2] Helenite was first created accidentally after the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980. Workers from the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company were attempting to salvage equipment damaged after the volcanic eruption. Using acetylene torches, they noticed that the intense heat was melting the nearby volcanic ash and rock and turning it a greenish color. The silica, aluminium, iron, and trace amounts of chromium and copper present in the rocks and ash in the area, combined with the heat of the torches, transformed the volcanic particles into a compound that would be later commercially replicated as helenite."

Helenite - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org