Aquamarine or Blue Topaz?

[CheshireCat]

My family is having trouble figuring out of this ring is aquamarine or blue topaz. It is my Grandmother's ring and she has believed it to be Aquamarine. After reading some of the posts on here, I am starting to doubt that this is an Aquamarine. My aunt said she will take it to a trusted jeweler to find out but I am wondering if there are any tests to try in the mean time. I am also wondering what you guys think about this and I know that many members on here give great advice and suggestions. It is in a gold setting and has tiny diamonds on the sides.

 

[Tanzigrrl]

I'm inclined to think it's a blue topaz, but it is often very difficult (read: impossible) to do any real gemstone identification based on online photos. It if is an aquamarine, it's "Santa Maria" color and will be a very valuable stone due to its color and size. The color seems a lot more like blue topaz to me, though, from what I can see on my monitor. A lovely ring, regardless.

 

[LD]

It looks like a fairly modern ring. Do you know when it was bought?

 

[CheshireCat]

My Grandmother told me that she bought this around 30 years ago.

 

[distracts]

I think Cheshire Cqt said uin her other post about this ring that it had been insured as an aquamarine, in which case I'm sure there were original papers for the insurance and I'm not sure why there would be a question. CC, you need to take all these rings to an independent appraiser to get your questions answered - there's very little about type that we can tell from a photograph.

 

[CheshireCat]

I think Cheshire Cqt said uin her other post about this ring that it had been insured as an aquamarine, in which case I'm sure there were original papers for the insurance and I'm not sure why there would be a question. CC, you need to take all these rings to an independent appraiser to get your questions answered - there's very little about type that we can tell from a photograph.

I'm only questioning it since posters are telling me it doesn't look like an Aquamarine and that it looks like a Blue Topaz.

 

[distracts]

There are plenty of aquas that color though. A forum member here has two for sale right now, both of very similar colors. There's not anything we can tell you about the type of gem just from looking at it. It IS a color that is common in blue topaz, but that doesn't mean it isn't an aquamarine, and we can't make a conclusive determination over the Internet.

 

[cm366]

Cheshire,

Like Distracts says, the most frequently given advice to posters on this forum is "Take it to an appraiser, or send it to a lab." Coloured stones are very, very frequently imitated and it's not usually possible to tell from a picture whether this is an exceptional aquamarine ($$$) or an equally pretty but very inexpensive blue topaz. For that matter, it could be a piece of glass!

If you have insurance covering the stone, it's likely that there's an appraisal with the original documentation of that coverage. Most appraisers would have tested the stone before writing such an appraisal, so if it exists, Congratulations! If not, you can get it tested for $50-100 depending on which lab you'd like to send it to - there's a thread floating around with a list of reputable labs, but AGL, GIA, AIGS, Gubelin (if you're in Europe) all get recommended quite frequently around here.

Either way, it's a pretty colour, and a lovely family piece. Glad you're getting the chance to play with so many beautiful rings!

 

[distracts]

And just for fun, here are the two aquamarines for sale by a forumite here:
http://loupetroop.com/listings/loose-stones/12-dot-71ct-flawless-aquamarine
http://loupetroop.com/listings/rings/9-dot-1ct-ec-aquamarine-slash-diamond-ring-in-18k-wg-with-custom-6mm-euroshank

 

[chrono]

Ditto to check what your insurance and appraisal paperwork lists it as. If an aqua, it must be huge (covers all of your pointer finger to the knuckle) and well coloured, which means it is uncommon and worth quite a tidy sum. Pear shapes are not common for aquas but not impossible. It does also have the size and colouration common to blue topaz as well. If your paperwork is inconclusive, you can either send it to AGL (least expensive and great lab) or have a gemmologist verify the RI.

 

[jstarfireb]

Couldn't she just take it to a reputable jeweler with a refractometer? My local jeweler has one.

Then if it tests as aqua, have it certified by a lab. But not if it tests as topaz.

 

[Barrett]

It's most likely blue topaz , an imitation, or a synthetic. Doughnuts to dollars. If you had a aquamarine of that size and color you would most likely already know that. Here are some simple ways to tell if it's topaz or what have you...thanks Dr. H
1. Close you eyes and touch it to your tongue. If it's glass, it will feel warmer than if it is topaz or aqua.
2. Keep your eyes closed, hold it behind your back and squeeze the stone. If it is glass or aqua, your finger won't slip. If it is topaz, it will.
3. Clean it very very well and put a tiny drop of water on the table of the stone. If it is aqua, the water will spread much more than it will if it is topaz.
4. Learn the Hodgkinson Method. It is cheaper and you will learn a little gemology and not have to resort to a "black box".