how do you tell yellow sapphire from citrine or topaz?

[chirp]

forgive me if this is a silly question but I really need the answer. you remember me from the ''yellow sapphire with feathers'' thread. the thing is I visited the jeweler to see the ring again and asked this question and he said they know because the dealer told them it is sapphire. otherwise, there is no way to prove it.
I''d really appreciate some help, please.

 

[Harriet]

Does the jeweller have a refractometer?

 

[chirp]

is this the name? thanks. I told him I heard there is sth that beeps (ignorant me) but he said it only beeps if it is a diamond. how does it work?

 

[Harriet]

No. He''s referring to a diamond tester. Different gems have different refractive indices and a refractometer will be able to confirm if yours is a citrine or sapphire. An experienced gemmologist should even be able to tell them apart by eye.

 

[chirp]

thank you Harriet, you''re great. it''s weird he didn''t know that though

 

[Harriet]

You''re welcome. I''m no expert - I''m just a little, er, obssessed with gems.

 

[Pandora II]

Unless the jeweller is also a gemmologist he probably wouldn''t know - nor know how to use one.

 

[chirp]

Pandora II thank you, I think you are right but I don't understand just how even I get to know things better and they -the jewelers- still don't. maybe they should visit pricescope??

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 5/28/2008 1:28:34 PM
Author: chirp
Pandora II thank you, I think you are right but I don''t understand just how even I get to know things better and they -the jewelers- still don''t. maybe they should visit pricescope??

yeah...I wouldn''t believe a word he says if he doesn''t know that there are ways to tell gems apart. Can you get it appraised independently?

 

[Richard M.]

Date: 5/28/2008 12:22:40 AM
Author:chirp
forgive me if this is a silly question but I really need the answer. you remember me from the ''yellow sapphire with feathers'' thread. the thing is I visited the jeweler to see the ring again and asked this question and he said they know because the dealer told them it is sapphire. otherwise, there is no way to prove it.

I''d really appreciate some help, please.

A simple refractometer reading can separate sapphire from citrine or topaz. If you buy it, insist on an invoice with a written description of the stone as sapphire if the store can''t positively identify it. By law the invoice should also describe any treatment the stone may have been given. Tell the store you''re going to take it to a gemologist who can verify its ID. Make a deal: if it''s sapphire as described, you pay the gemologist. If it''s not, they pay and it should go without saying they''ll take the stone back for a full refund.



Richard M.

 

[COT]

I second what Richard says and I would insist on the same arrangement if I were buying a stone from a jewelry store. Make sure they specify treatment on the invoice, and I would NOT accept 'unknown'. I find it a little troubling that a jeweler who has been been in business a while doesn't have a gemologist friend who looks over his shoulder to check his stones. To rely on ones supplier is asking for trouble at some point. Suppliers get bad stones in their food chain. And I was told a long time ago...there are only two who know for sure about a gem, the person who pulled it out of the ground, and God.

Depending on how much the stone/ring is, I would even consider sending it to a lab that can perform a laser ablation test for diffusion treatment, especially since its a yellow sapphire. For me, a yellow sapphire is guilty of diffusion treatment until proven innocent. And the price difference between a diffusion treated yellow sapphire and simply a heated or untreated sapphire is not insignificant.

Best of luck!

 

[chirp]

neatfreak, I may do that as he gives no info about the sapphire. no carat weight, clarity etc.
Richard M. that''s great advice, I''ll do that.
COT, yes, I think the problem is I rely on one jeweler and he relies on one supplier. maybe I should broaden my horizon.
thank you all