Glass? Or actually Amethyst?

[PreRaphaelite]

This pendant is listed as Amethyst (reminds me of the Rose de France color) but I’ve read that most jewellery sold as Amethyst is glass. I can’t see any color banding or bubbles, but I also don’t see any obvious facet abrasions. I suspect it might be vintage but don’t believe it to be antique. Could be 1970’s. I don’t know if the stone is normally heavy but the weight is shown as over 5g, with a measurement of 1” by 5/8” - anyone have thoughts, or does anyone see red flags? I know nothing about Amethyst and even less about glass!
Thanks in advance.

 

[T L]

It could be a pale amethyst. There’s not much banding on pale amethyst. That doesn’t rule out glass, but that type of amethyst is worth very little, so even if it were glass, the price would be comparable.

 

[arkieb1]

I've got a sure fire way to see, put it in a white bowl filled with water, you will see the bands in it 100% guaranteed if there are no bands or no differences of colour going across the stone it then it's synthetic.

 

[PreRaphaelite]

So I took a chance. I still can’t tell whether it’s glass, but I absolutely love it! The blue flash visible in the middle photo made me ‘hope’ at first, but it really doesn’t matter whether it’s Amethyst. I’ll keep it because the double-rose-cut is so amazing!

 

[JPie]

Very pretty! It looks great with that chain.

 

[PreRaphaelite]

Thanks!
It also feels cold to the touch. I don’t know if that means anything. Also the gold is peachy rather than yellow. So yay for that!

 

[junebug17]

Oh it's beautiful! Really lovely color and the cut is so pretty, I love it!

 

[partgypsy]

pretty piece of jewelry!

 

[pwsg07]

Polariscope can tell the difference but I forgot how to use it

 

[YadaYadaYada]

Wow gorgeous pendant and looks great paired with that chain too!

 

[PreRaphaelite]

Thanks all! I’m trying to figure it out using a little spectroscope.

 

[CHRISTY-DANIELLE]

This is really lovely! I am a fan of that color amethyst, and double rose cuts. I totally would have bought that too!

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

its really pretty and has been said looks great on that chain
good for you !
i think if you hadn't brought it, it would have been one of those pieces that would have always lingered on your mind

 

[arkieb1]

Seriously take it off the chain put it into a bowl or something that is white full of water you will see coloured bands, I grabbed a couple of pieces that I had sitting around, you can't see the bands or colour zoning in them not in water, but in a white bowl full of water they look like this;



If the stone has no differences across it in a white bowl full of water then it's highly likely to be synthetic... if you don't have a scope or equipment that's the fastest and easier way to tell with Amethyst. It looks like it has colour differences across it in your photo, if that is the case again these should show up even more in a white bowl or container of water.

 

[PreRaphaelite]

Underwater shots taken using a white bowl, out in the backyard, zoomed in. Either way, I’m clueless and I still love it enough to keep!

 

[arkieb1]

See how the edges are way lighter than the centre, and the colour is not uniform across the stone - congrats you have a real Amethyst....

 

[PreRaphaelite]

See how the edges are way lighter than the centre, and the colour is not uniform across the stone - congrats you have a real Amethyst....

Awesome! Thank you so much @arkieb1 !!!
Happy dance!

 

[T L]

Seriously take it off the chain put it into a bowl or something that is white full of water you will see coloured bands, I grabbed a couple of pieces that I had sitting around, you can't see the bands or colour zoning in them not in water, but in a white bowl full of water they look like this;



If the stone has no differences across it in a white bowl full of water then it's highly likely to be synthetic... if you don't have a scope or equipment that's the fastest and easier way to tell with Amethyst. It looks like it has colour differences across it in your photo, if that is the case again these should show up even more in a white bowl or container of water.

So is the stone all the way to the right a likely synthetic?

 

[arkieb1]

So is the stone all the way to the right a likely synthetic?

No it's just darker the camera isn't showing it very well but in real life it has a much darker line the camera isn't picking up, that in the photo you can sort of see at the 2:00 position that goes across it to about an 8:00 position. In real life providing the bowl is white even in darker Amethyst with a decent indoor light you can usually see differences in colour either at the outer edges or bands, zoning or patches of colour change across the stone. In synthetics or glass the stones stay one colour pretty well the same as they started, when you put real Amethysts in water against a white container they also lighten in colour a little. If you have any real Amethysts, try it, it's kind of cool..... and if you have a heap of stones a much faster way to sort them than a microscope one at a time (throw them in a white bowl of water, and pick out all the real or non real ones). Or if you have no equipment a good way as well.

 

[T L]

Thank you! I put one in water and this is the result. I suspect it’s synthetic based on your information. It’s one uniform color. I always suspected it was synthetic. The color is excellent and no zoning.

 

[arkieb1]

@ T L Hmmmm well it is difficult to tell from that picture because it looks like the bottom edge is lighter than the rest of the stone and your bowl or container doesn't look white Some times dark stones don't 100% work with the water test, but most do if you get the right lighting or even go outside in good light usually you can see some colour differences in the stones. But yes, if in real life if you can see that it doesn't change colour and it's the same colour all the way across then mostly it will be something that's man made....

 

[T L]

@ T L Hmmmm well it is difficult to tell from that picture because it looks like the bottom edge is lighter than the rest of the stone and your bowl or container doesn't look white Some times dark stones don't 100% work with the water test, but most do if you get the right lighting or even go outside in good light usually you can see some colour differences in the stones. But yes, if in real life if you can see that it doesn't change colour and it's the same colour all the way across then mostly it will be something that's man made....

That lighter spot is just the light reflecting off the stone. If I turn it, that same lighter spot remains. Thanks for your input.

It’s a pretty stone, but the color is just too perfect!! Fortunately, I have a natural old mine Zambian the same color.

Here’s that potentially fake stone sitting loose on top of a mounting with wax.

 

[stracci2000]

Thanks @arkieb1 , for the tip!
I tested my amethysts in water just now and the one I always suspected was synthetic didn't pass the zoning test. Thanks again

 

[PreRaphaelite]

So who wears it better, me or Danielle Miele?
Ha! Just kidding. Great to see another one out there in the wild, though.

https://gemgossip.com/2019-gold-jewelry-trends-with-may-is-gold-month/

https://gemgossip.com/my-jewel-box-my-finds-from-tucson-miami-2018/