Emeralds???

[Irishgrrrl]

I recently inherited two rings with some HONKIN'' BIG green stones. I was told that they are emeralds, and I''m hoping that''s true. One of them is emerald cut, and the other is oval. Is there an easy way to tell whether or not they are real emeralds? If so, I might be interested in getting them reset because their current settings aren''t that great (especially the setting that the oval is currently in). Also, if they are real emeralds, I feel like I should maybe get them appraised and/or insured? Thanks for any help you can give me!

 

[Kismet]

Your best bet is to bring them to an appraiser. They''ll be able to tell you if the stones are emeralds (natural or lab grown) or something else.

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Thanks, Kismet!

I had actually considered just getting them appraised so I would know what they''re worth, but I was afraid the appraiser would tell me they''re complete fakes and then I''d feel like a dork! LOL!

I guess that''s what I should do, though. Thanks again!

 

[FrekeChild]

Pictures?

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Date: 6/16/2008 2:02:13 PM
Author: FrekeChild
Pictures?

LOL! I should''ve known y''all would want pictures! I''ll try to get some and post them tonight!

 

[FrekeChild]

Yay!!!!!!!

:::doing happy dance!!!:::

 

[Irishgrrrl]

OK, I''m gonna try to post some pics, as promised. Please excuse the fact that they''re awful . . . we have a craptastic camera! LOL!

This is both of the rings together:

 

[Irishgrrrl]

And here they are looking at each other . . .

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Here''s a hand shot of the oval one, which I inherited from my great-grandmother when she passed away. (Just to give you an idea of size, the center stone of my e-ring is a 0.75 carat radiant.)

 

[Irishgrrrl]

And a hand shot of the emerald-cut one, which I inherited from my great aunt (my great-grandmother''s sister) when she passed away. Again, sorry these are so blurry . . . it''s unbelievably hard to take pictures one-handed! LOL!

 

[Miranda]

Oh so pretty! Did you decide to get an appraisal? I like the shape of the emerald cut stone.

 

[FrekeChild]

Ooooo...pretty! Do you have any ideas on the age of them?

 

[monarch64]

Wow, I would definitely have those appraised/tested to see if they are indeed emeralds or to find out what they are no matter what. they look beautiful in your pics (which aren''t that horrible, btw!). Even if you don''t have them reset, it looks like the prongs on the EC emerald could use some rebuilding, as well as the oval... best of luck, I hope they do turn out to be emeralds because they are gorgeous!

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Thanks, ladies!

I really don''t know for sure how old they are, but if I had to guess I''d say they might be from the 40s or 50s maybe?

And Monarch, you''re right about the prongs. One of the prongs on the oval one looks to be broken off, but fortunately it has a whole bunch of prongs so the stone isn''t in any danger of falling out (yet). The prongs on the emerald-cut one are kinda weird (they''re like folded over the corners of the stone) and they seem a little loose . . . the stone actually moves around a tiny bit within the setting. Also, my great-grandmother and her sister both had TINY fingers, so at the very least I would have to get them resized if I ever wanted to wear them. As you can see in the hand-shot pics, I had them on my pinky, but they''re a little too big for that finger and a LOT too small for the rest of them! My e-ring and wedding band are both size 6.75, so I have enormous fingers!

As far as resetting is concerned, I''m not crazy about either of their current settings. I don''t hate the setting of the emerald-cut one, but I don''t love it either . . . I think I could do a lot more with that stone. And the setting that the oval one is currently in really just doesn''t do anything for me. I''m not sure if you could tell from the pics, but the oval stone has two little diamonds on either side of it (four diamonds total), so I might try to work those into its new setting somehow.

BTW, I''m very open to any ideas y''all might have about how to reset them and I''d love to see any pictures you can come up with!!!

 

[chrono]

It's a good idea to get an appraiser who is familiar with gemstones to check them out. As with all heirlooms, I'd also recommend a jeweller to check the stone and setting for damage and cracks (to repair or tighten prongs). You don't want the stone to fall out or have a weak shank suddenly crack on you. The one on the left looks more like a tourmaline but I cannot tell for sure. It shows too much blue undertone for an emerald but then again, it is hard to capture the true colour of gemstones through a picture. Yes, please get them appraised (and if the value is high, insured).

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Chrono~

Thanks for the advice!

I know what you mean about the oval looking bluish, but I think that''s just the picture. IRL, it''s a very dark green, while the emerald-cut one is more of a "grass green" I guess. I definitely do plan to get them appraised, just to make sure I know what I have and to see if they''re worth insuring. However, I do not plan to wear them unless I get them reset. I don''t think it would be worth fixing the settings they''re currently in, because I don''t think I''d wear them "as-is."

Assuming that the appraiser tells me they are emeralds, what kind of setting do you think I should use when I get them reset? I know I would want to put them in yellow gold, but that''s all I know. Thanks again!

 

[chrono]

Yellow gold brings out the warmth of the green and makes the emerald stand out. However, today, people wear as they please so if you like white metals, go right ahead.

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Actually, I prefer yellow gold over white gold/platinum. I''ve always thought white metals look weird on me!

So, I''d probably go with yellow gold and (of course) diamonds worked into the setting somehow.

Also, does anyone know of a good gemstone appraiser in the Hagerstown, MD/Harrisburg, PA area?

Thanks!!!

 

[chrono]

Wow, are you in PA? I''m close enough to Harrisburg, PA! Unfortunately, I cannot make any recommendation because I don''t know Harrisburg well, but I know of a very good jeweller in Hershey. I''ve done work with the Jeweler''s Bench. Very professional and carries good quality gemstones.
428 Hockersville Road, Hershey, PA 17033
phone: (717) 533-3147

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Small world!!! I actually live in Waynesboro, PA, which is very close to Hagerstown, MD (where I''m originally from).

I''m not very familiar with Harrisburg either . . . it''s a little over an hour away from here, so I don''t get up there all that often. Thanks for the tip on the Jeweler''s Bench. Do they do appraisals? If so, do you think they''d be pretty honest, or do you think they''d be trying to get my to buy some of their stones?

 

[chrono]

Low key, polite pleasant - no heavy(or light) sales pitch. I haven''t done any appraisals with them though. They are also honest folk.

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Thanks again, Chrono! I will definitely check them out!

 

[surfgirl]

Irish, I''d be careful about using an appraiser that is affiliated with a jewelry store, which is what Chrono''s suggestions sounds like (sorry Chrono!). I''d look up independent appraisers in your general area and go to one that only does appraisals, is not affiliated with a jewelry store in any way. That''s the only way to really get an unbiased appraisal IMO.

 

[chrono]

Surf,
It''s good to have an independent appraiser who specializes in gemstones; hence I''ve never used Jeweler''s bench. In reading through, it sounds like I am suggesting it, but I''m not. I''m only recommending them for bench work and settings. In looking through the PS appraisers, there''s none close by. The nearest in Philly.

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Surfgirl & Chrono~

Thanks for the clarification! I do agree that it''s probably best to go with an independent appraiser who has gemstone experience. However, I''m not sure who to use? Unfortunately, I live in Hickville, and I seriously doubt that there''s anyone in my area!

I would have no problem with shipping them to a qualified appraiser outside my area, if anyone could recommend such an appraiser. (I had considered possibly sending them to Dave Atlas in Philly, but I''m not sure if he has gemstone experience?) Thanks again!

 

[Pandora II]

Just out of interest, if you examine the edges of the stones with a loupe (especially the ec) are they completely sharp and clean or are there small chips?

Also what is the clarity like on the emerald cut? Are there a lot of lacey like inclusions?

I''d also be interested to know what the girdle looks like - is it flat and smooth or is there a line down the middle of it?

Finally if you look at the pavilion facets on both stones through the table can you see doubling of the back facets - when you look at the edge of the facets do you see two little lines for each one instead of just one line?

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Pandora~

Those are good questions! I haven''t even looked at them under a loupe yet, but I will as soon as I get home and I''ll let you know what I see.

 

[Harriet]

I was just about to suggest Dave Atlas. Give him a call. I think he appraises gems as well.

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Thanks, Harriet! I will definitely follow up with him. I''ve heard he does an amazing job, and I''d love to have him appraise them if he is willing to do so. Thanks again!

 

[Harriet]

Yes, he does. He did my e-ring diamond.