coloured gem appraisal

[mcmaster]

This is my first post, though I have been lurking I want to buy a sapphire or spinel or something else (not sure what). To mount in a ring. How important is it to have the stone indepently appraised? The purpose of the appraisal is that I am a complete newbie, and I want to make sure that I am getting what I am asking for. That the stone is not artificial, not treated or heated or filled or irradiated. Although I have no idea how much such an appraisal would cost, and if I end up getting a spinel which is not that expensive, can the cost really be justified?

I read in a previous post that spinel can have various inclusions including radium. Is this also true of sapphires, and other coloured stones? And how do they test to see if a stone has been irradiated? If there is a natural inclusion with radium in the spinel/sapphire will this not just seem like the stone has been irradiated? Although I''d prefer not to have such an inclusion anyway And how do they test for irradiation/weird inclusions, with a geiger counter? Sorry, I know so little, this question may seem ludicrous to some of you. But it would be great to hear from you, even if that is the case, and to be told why, since it would explain how some of these things work to me.

Also is it true that blue spinel is heat sensitive? And what does this mean? Does the colour dissipate when heated, or change? And how hot are we talking? Like don''t wear it while having a hot shower, or what?

Any suggestions for other kinds of interesting stones for a ring. I like the idea of the stone being untreated.

And FINALLY, if it is worth getting an indepedent appraisal, then any recommendations for people in the Melbourne area (Australia) who are familiar with various coloured spinel/sapphire, and who would know definitavely if it is untreated, not irradiated, and if it has any weird inclusions, that would be incredibly helpful.

Also, hi! I''ve enjoyed reading your posts on this forum.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 9/12/2005 11:10:31 AM
Author:mcmaster

... as far as I can tell:


[...] if I end up getting a spinel which is not that expensive, can the cost really be justified?

If you want one, why not. I'd bet that one can have a gemological appraisal on any chunk of rock they happen to find worthy. Why not. Some prices have been cited around here anywhere between $50 and a few hundred depending where and what it is done. Some sellers provide reputable lab reports with their goods upon request, so that could save you a bunch of trouble.


I read in a previous post that spinel can have various inclusions including radium.

Well, dunno... I've got a boulder of gold ore around here from a mine known for relatively high content of uranium. This, in theory - that 'relatively' low means it is possible to detect the respective components in a lab. By no means enough to show up on hand held testers or to require declaring the material for special handling by post (some rockhoud goodies do, but these are very unusual and no gems are included among the culprits). I am not sure about inclusions in spinel - but thinking of a pinhead amount of something that in turn contains trace amounts of some rare radioactive element... just rises curiosity. Those inclusions you mention ought to be eceedingly rare to begin with. I would want one for fun!

Also is it true that blue spinel is heat sensitive?

Never heard of this. Spinel does not even respond to heat treatment like sapphire does and that involves high temperature to begin with. Exposure to heat or light or casual amounts of irradiation (such as those new security scans of the US post) may alter the appearance of some gems, but Spinel is immune.
For example, Topaz fades with exposure to light and Kunzite is notorious for doing so relatively quickly (which makes it cheap).



Any suggestions for other kinds of interesting stones for a ring. I like the idea of the stone being untreated.

Grossular garnets - orange, green, yellowish green and brownish... and everything inbetween. Commercial names include Malaya, Mali and Grossularite.
I happen to like feldspars (moostone, sunstone, labradorite...) and cats eyes of whatever sort: crysoberyl is the classic, but you've got nice, inexpensive examples in fibrolite, tourmaline, moonstone and some less usual ones like cats eye opal and scapolite and rutile packed quartz.
A 'trip' to sites like AJSgems, Gemwow, Multicolour or Lapilia should add up to a rather long nomenclature of what can go into a ring.


And FINALLY, if it is worth getting an indepedent appraisal, then any recommendations for people in the Melbourne

This is hard! No idea... but there are some Ausstralians in the business posting on this forum to begin with. Look up 'Platinumsmith', 'Loonewoodminer' and "Garry CutNut'.

Thinking of Australia... I am thinking fancy color sapphire all the way: golden, party color and green. The nicest green star sapphire I've ever came accross is Australian. And there is hardly anything remotely alike Australian parti color sapphire - no idea why they are so cheap.

Hope some of this helped. I am not an expert, and this particular forum enjoys the contribution of many. Since you seem to be open to unusual suggestions, it would be fun to see your project progress along with a thread here.

 

[mcmaster]

Wow, thanks for the quick reply. Would be delighted to post my progress, however I''m so indecisive the whole process will probably take a while. Oh, and thanks for the website suggestions. I haven''t been to all of them. I will definately follow up on the stones you have mentioned. I''m still in the curious stage, and I want to get something beautiful, not necessarily very expensive. I guess this is on the premise, that if I really like my ring, I won''t be tempted to start a collection. Though who knows, it seems like a lot of people have caught the bug, and can''t stop at just one Oh and I completely agree about the fancy coloured sapphires. They are stunning. But the amazing thing is that if you walk into most high street stores here in Melbourne, they don''t sell any Australian sapphires at all. Oh, and don''t even think of asking them about spinel!

 

[colorchange]

Most sellers you will find (except for australian sapphires) will sell you gems bought in Thailand and some gem labs like AIGS are trustworthy and quite cheap.
I guess a lot of dealers either have some certificates from good laboratories or are able to have it done for you in Thailand .

A $40 certificate is usefull because even someone who is NOT a newbie may be cheated on quality and so I personnaly have all my gems certified (except lots of cheap ones, I get a few certified, as sample).

In France the only lab is very good but quite expensive unfortunately, so I sometimes ship to Thailand just for testing.

Spinels are not always cheap, some very good spinels may be worth over $10000/Ct so guess if you need a certificate depending on price.

 

[MINE!!]

Welcome to Pscope,

Be sure to ceck out www.concavegems.com

I would suggest really looking through some of the Old Colored Stones Threads. It seems as if you are on the right track. I would also look through these other websites again and find a color that jumps out at you and says "hey.. this tone reflects me" Find a color and a shape that ''speaks'' to you.

I know there are a lot of people that can give you great advice on all the technical stuff, but I am sure most would agree that you have to love the stone first and foremost... after all, you are the one that has to wear it. I would find the stone and color that speaks to you... narrow down your choices and then get to the technical stuff.

Good luck, We love these adventures here... so keep us up to date!!