Are these synthetics?

[nala]

So I went to a rock and gemstone dealer this weekend. I’ve been there before. He has a lot of customers but most are buying rocks. Anyhow, he carries a few trays of faceted gemstones and seems very knowledgeable. I picked out two stones for my empty settings and he assured me they were natural. But my bench insisted they are synthetic, although in the end, he agreed that he’d rather not make a final call. He is not a jeweler, just a bench and he doesn’t test for gemstones. Anyhow. The rock dealer said my big stone is a rubilite and the little one is an aquamarine. At the end of the day, I had them set bc they fit my budget and I loved them, but am curious to know if there are sure signs to look for.
Please excuse the lint on the stones.

 

[pwsg07]

Rubellite shows multicolour flashes and in general is included. The easy way to get their RI. By the way, I love your rings.

 

[chatoyancy]

Your rings are lovely! Those are beautiful, classic settings. I was going to guess aquamarine on your first and tourmaline on your second. As far as I know, they simply don’t make synthetics for stones with colors like the second. I’ve only seen synthetics for pastels or for bold, pure, spectral colors, not the colors where you need three to four modifiers to describe. I would say that my color change (shift) spinel that goes from a pinky purple to a mauve, my shifty sometimes magenta, sometimes mid pink umbalite garnets or my rust colored malaias set in a silver pendant fall into this second category.

Of course my geology professor in college said to test rocks, not go by looks when identifying minerals, but I still stand by my unprofessional opinion in this case.

 

[Tourmaline]

Test them with a black light. You can get a black light flashlight at a hardware store. If they fluoresce, they are synthetic. If they don't, it's possible that they are natural.

 

[shinyrocks]

Why did your jeweler say they were synthetic? unless he has the right tools, it is usually not possible to tell by sight alone. Was he trying to sell you stones for the settings by any chance? I don't want to come across as accusatory, but this is the kind of tactic that some jewelers have been known to use to persuade customers to buy their stones instead. If you'd like to know for sure, a gemologist should have the tools to properly check them.

Beautiful rings regardless - congrats on the new babies

 

[T L]

They make very convincing synthetic aqua these days.

The second stone looks like a natural color, but the only way to be sure is to take them both to a gemologist. It may not be worth the cost depending on what you paid for these rings. If gold and diamonds, most of the value are in the settings, which are lovely by the way.

 

[nala]

Test them with a black light. You can get a black light flashlight at a hardware store. If they fluoresce, they are synthetic. If they don't, it's possible that they are natural.

By black light do you mean led? Or a black light ?

 

[nala]

Rubellite shows multicolour flashes and in general is included. The easy way to get their RI. By the way, I love your rings.

Thank you!

 

[nala]

Why did your jeweler say they were synthetic? unless he has the right tools, it is usually not possible to tell by sight alone. Was he trying to sell you stones for the settings by any chance? I don't want to come across as accusatory, but this is the kind of tactic that some jewelers have been known to use to persuade customers to buy their stones instead. If you'd like to know for sure, a gemologist should have the tools to properly check them.

Beautiful rings regardless - congrats on the new babies

Thank you. My bench isn’t a jeweler. He works for a jewelry mart as the bench for other jewelers. I don’t want to invest a whole lot of money to test them bc I don’t think they have the potential to be valuable. I was just curious.

 

[Platinum-blonde]

I have no idea it they're synthetic or not, but that aqua is gorgeous, and looks great the the setting.

 

[nala]

I have no idea it they're synthetic or not, but that aqua is gorgeous, and looks great the the setting.

thank you! I bought a black light and it turns out that the " aquamarine " is the only one that showed fluorescence! So I guess it's not the real deal. I plan to enjoy it anyway. The good news is that the gigantic stone didn't show fluorescence--so glad that's not synthetic!

 

[sapphiredream]

I was able tell a very high quality lab-created sapphire from a natural one in the blink of a second.

These don't look like synthetics to me.

 

[Tourmaline]

thank you! I bought a black light and it turns out that the " aquamarine " is the only one that showed fluorescence! So I guess it's not the real deal. I plan to enjoy it anyway. The good news is that the gigantic stone didn't show fluorescence--so glad that's not synthetic!

The fact that the pinkish/purplish one doesn't fluoresce does not mean it is definitely natural, but the fact that the "aquamarine" one does fluoresce, means it is fake. Since the "aquamarine" is fake and you got the other one from the same dealer, I would guess it's also fake. It doesn't look like rubellite to me.

 

[nala]

The fact that the pinkish/purplish one doesn't fluoresce does not mean it is definitely natural, but the fact that the "aquamarine" one does fluoresce, means it is fake. Since the "aquamarine" is fake and you got the other one from the same dealer, I would guess it's also fake. It doesn't look like rubellite to me.

What does it look like to you?

 

[partgypsy]

My guess depending on what the "aqua" color it flouresced, either synthetic spinel, blue topaz or cz. The bottom looks like tourmaline or even another kind of garnet, just not rubellite (not pink/red enough) (see malia garnet) http://www.mineralminers.com/html/malgems.stm.
I am not an expert. I would consider, are you OK with the fact this jeweler sold you gems that were not as described? To me that would be a deal breaker.

 

[nala]

My guess depending on what the "aqua" color it flouresced, either synthetic spinel, blue topaz or cz. The bottom looks like tourmaline or even another kind of garnet, just not rubellite (not pink/red enough) (see malia garnet) http://www.mineralminers.com/html/malgems.stm.
I am not an expert. I would consider, are you OK with the fact this jeweler sold you gems that were not as described? To me that would be a deal breaker.

Thank you. The rock dealer sold me the gems. The bench set them. Idk yet how to feel bc the black light test seems inconclusive from what Tourmaline said. My jeweler should be open this week so I’ll have to drop by and get her opinion and refractometer test.

 

[digdeep]

What is the origin of the aqua setting? I've been looking for one like that and wonder if you bought it from a vendor in recent times? Hope you can get some substantial evidence behind the gem origins!

 

[nala]

What is the origin of the aqua setting? I've been looking for one like that and wonder if you bought it from a vendor in recent times? Hope you can get some substantial evidence behind the gem origins!

Hi. I’m an Art Deco fan and tend to find them in estate shops. I’m lucky that I have a couple in my area. I live in So Cal.

 

[digdeep]

It's a beautiful setting! The fact it is an original makes it all the better............

 

[nala]

It's a beautiful setting! The fact it is an original makes it all the better............

Thank you. I meant to put an oec in it, but i wanted to play with color. So far, synthetic or not, I really like the entire ring.

 

[Tourmaline]

What does it look like to you?

It doesn't seem like an obvious gemstone to me. Since you got it from the same place as the other synthetic stone, I would guess it is also not a natural stone.

 

[Stone Hunter]

LOVE the settings you've picked out. The stones look very nice. Please let us know what your jeweler says.

 

[nala]

LOVE the settings you've picked out. The stones look very nice. Please let us know what your jeweler says.

Thank you! I’m not in any rush to visit her bc I hope she’s busy with the holidays!

 

[Platinum-blonde]

thank you! I bought a black light and it turns out that the " aquamarine " is the only one that showed fluorescence! So I guess it's not the real deal. I plan to enjoy it anyway. The good news is that the gigantic stone didn't show fluorescence--so glad that's not synthetic!

I think that you have a great attitude about this situation. I agree synthetic or not, it looks perfect in that setting. Hopefully, you didn't pay too much for it. i hope you wear it in good health.​

 

[nala]

I think that you have a great attitude about this situation. I agree synthetic or not, it looks perfect in that setting. Hopefully, you didn't pay too much for it. i hope you wear it in good health.​

Thank you! No, I didn't pay much at all!

 

[nala]

Results are in. Pink tourmaline! Tested with refractometer. The little one is synthetic. So one of two is not bad!

 

[chatoyancy]

Results are in. Pink tourmaline! Tested with refractometer. The little one is synthetic. So one of two is not bad!

Yay!! I was correct about the tourmaline! I have no idea why they make synthetic aquamarine. It’s not an expensive stone in smaller sizes at all. Enjoy your lovely rings!

 

[nala]

Yay!! I was correct about the tourmaline! I have no idea why they make synthetic aquamarine. It’s not an expensive stone in smaller sizes at all. Enjoy your lovely rings!

Lol! Thank you!

 

[pwsg07]

Results are in. Pink tourmaline! Tested with refractometer. The little one is synthetic. So one of two is not bad!

What is the synthetic stone? What is the RI?

 

[Turbodoug]

Any ideas on a nice mount for this rubellite,
Should i get it fracture filled or not?
Size 13 mens.




Stone is 16.55 x 13.65 x 6.5 mm.
Thx
Doug