Is this really an emerald?

[calamityJJJ]

So my mother found this emerald ring online as part of an estate sale and she wants me to buy it for her for Christmas. Being the only person in the family who is interested in gemstones, she asked me if it looks like a real emerald to me. Honestly I don’t know, so I thought I’d ask the real experts here before I spend money on glass or something.
It's not pretty, I know, but she likes the color and I will buy it if she likes it but not if it's definitely not legit.

 

[VividRed]

As always, it is impossible to tell from pictures alone. What is the asking price and can you send it to a lab prior to purchasing it? It might not be ready for Christmas…

 

[calamityJJJ]

As always, it is impossible to tell from pictures alone. What is the asking price and can you send it to a lab prior to purchasing it? It might not be ready for Christmas…

It's $550, and unfortunately it's not possible to send it to a lab before purchasing. Should I tell my mom it's too risky and pass on it?

 

[Bron357]

The metal looks like high carat gold.
Is it hallmarked for gold?
If it is 22ct gold (that’s what it looks like) it’s likely the gem is an emerald (though from a photo no one can say what treatments have occurred).
$550 would be a fair price in my opinion but do check what other fees, like buyers premium, you might have to also pay as this is typical of auctions.

 

[nutellakitty]

It looks like a real one but not really good quality, heavily included and having a lot of crack inside. It could chip or crack internally and shatter in the future.
For the price you just pay for the gold if the gold is real.

 

[JackTrick]

+1 to checking the hallmark of the gold. If it’s at least 14k, that seems like not a bad deal even if the stone isn’t an emerald

 

[Mreader]

I was going to say if it’s a real Emerald then even if it’s included it’s a bargain at 550 if it’s high karat gold. When I first saw the photograph I thought may be green tourmaline but as others say it’s hard to tell just from pictures alone.

 

[Bibbi*Jazzy*T]

Also can't tell from the photo.
Looks to me more like a green tourmaline too.
Check with your local jeweller that has the expertise to assess the stone.

 

[Bibbi*Jazzy*T]

It's $550, and unfortunately it's not possible to send it to a lab before purchasing. Should I tell my mom it's too risky and pass on it?

I'd pass.
You can find some rings with a nicer setting and also from a jeweller where you live or a shop online that verifies the stones are genuine Emerald.

And less expensive.

14K Solid Gold Emerald Ring, Ruby, Green Stone Ring, Gemstone Ring, Solid Gold Ring, Womens Ring, Gift for Her, Handmade Ring, White Gold​

*the emerald in the ring is genuine*

CA$209.97+ = Canadian Dollars

Very nice at a nice price too! And you can also buy a pair of emerald stud earrings too with the money you save.

 

[Bibbi*Jazzy*T]

And there's this beauty too.

CA$383.95+

Solid 14K Gold Emerald Ring/7*9mm Emerald Engagement Ring/Emerald Cut Promise Ring/Unique Personalized Gift for Her May Birthstone Ring​

 

[Miss Confused]

And there's this beauty too.

CA$383.95+

Solid 14K Gold Emerald Ring/7*9mm Emerald Engagement Ring/Emerald Cut Promise Ring/Unique Personalized Gift for Her May Birthstone Ring​

BibbiJazzy Im afraid that's not a real emerald

 

[Miss Confused]

My two cents - does your mother want the ring because of the emerald? If so suggest finding a better, safer alternative. But if it's the design she wants and you can confirm it's gold content and weight then do the math - very unlikely you could recreate the design for less independantly of the center stone

 

[calamityJJJ]

My two cents - does your mother want the ring because of the emerald? If so suggest finding a better, safer alternative. But if it's the design she wants and you can confirm it's gold content and weight then do the math - very unlikely you could recreate the design for less independantly of the center stone

That’s a good point. It’s a bit of both, she likes the emerald because she likes the color, but she is also very into history and she said she likes the fact that this has an almost medieval look to it. I will contact the seller and try to confirm the gold content before moving forward.

 

[peacechick]

I like the ring. It has that ancient hand-forged look to it. Your mom is not wrong, there are medieval rings dug up that look like this! I think it is a real emerald as well. Sure, not the best specimen possible but large in a lovely colour!

 

[Bibbi*Jazzy*T]

BibbiJazzy Im afraid that's not a real emerald

Perhaps yes? Perhaps no?
Sometimes it is hard to tell just by a photo alone.
I still like the look of this ring.

 

[Bibbi*Jazzy*T]

I like the ring. It has that ancient hand-forged look to it. Your mom is not wrong, there are medieval rings dug up that look like this! I think it is a real emerald as well. Sure, not the best specimen possible but large in a lovely colour!

It does look like a medieval ring.
Saw one like that in a movie about King Arthur.
Nice colour to the stone.
Not quite sure that it's an emerald. Looks like one ,but, the quality of the emerald is not the best.
I have a ring that my Mother had custom made with a Zambian Emerald and baguette diamonds and diamonds in another cut.
It's set in 18k white gold.
Still I like the look of the ring.
It's unique in its design.
Has a an nice colour to the stone.

 

[VividRed]

BibbiJazzy Im afraid that's not a real emerald

It is 100% synthetic

 

[PrecisionGem]

I have never seen a lab created emerald that looked like that, but I have seen plenty of natural emeralds with inclusions like that. To me, the rather primitive cutting goes well with the hand worked look of the ring. I can see your mothers attraction to it. Emeralds depending on the quality can be $30 per ct to over $10,000 per ct in a size like that.

 

[VividRed]

I have never seen a lab created emerald that looked like that, but I have seen plenty of natural emeralds with inclusions like that. To me, the rather primitive cutting goes well with the hand worked look of the ring. I can see your mothers attraction to it. Emeralds depending on the quality can be $30 per ct to over $10,000 per ct in a size like that.

I referred to the suggested alternatives being synthetics, not the OP

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

That’s a good point. It’s a bit of both, she likes the emerald because she likes the color, but she is also very into history and she said she likes the fact that this has an almost medieval look to it. I will contact the seller and try to confirm the gold content before moving forward.

i can see why your mum wants it
ive got my fingers crossed its a real emerald or a touramlin (excuse spelling having pc trouble today)
i love the setting, i love the finger coverage and also the very gold colour

good luck

 

[T L]

It could be a doublet or a triplet, and the bezel (which is poorly done), is a red flag to me for that possibility. I would pass, even if only $550. It could be high karat plated base metal too. It’s a risk to me, sorry.

 

[T L]

I have never seen a lab created emerald that looked like that, but I have seen plenty of natural emeralds with inclusions like that. To me, the rather primitive cutting goes well with the hand worked look of the ring. I can see your mothers attraction to it. Emeralds depending on the quality can be $30 per ct to over $10,000 per ct in a size like that.

You’d be surprised. A doublet or triplet can have inclusions like that too.

 

[PrecisionGem]

It could be a doublet or a triplet, and the bezel (which is poorly done), is a red flag to me for that possibility. I would pass, even if only $550. It could be high karat plated base metal too. It’s a risk to me, sorry.

Don't you think the bezel was done like that on purpose? I thing the internet of the ring was to give it an ancient look. I could be totally wrong, as jewelry is not my area.

 

[T L]

Don't you think the bezel was done like that on purpose? I thing the internet of the ring was to give it an ancient look. I could be totally wrong, as jewelry is not my area.

I’m always suspect of bezels around emeralds or opals, any gem that could be a doublet or triplet.

 

[caolsen]

I’m with the gold angle gang on asking for any hallmarks on the gold. If it’s high carat, go for it and who cares what the stone is - the price is fair for just that much high carat gold. That said, high carat gold rings generally have some dings and dents given how soft the metal is. If that thing is perfectly round with no impressions on the underside of the band, I’d be suspicious. I had a 23k hammerEd gold ring that I had to have re rounded every year and I was rrally careful about when I wore it. But I made out like a champ when I sold it given gold prices.

 

[VividRed]

I have never seen a lab created emerald that looked like that, but I have seen plenty of natural emeralds with inclusions like that. To me, the rather primitive cutting goes well with the hand worked look of the ring. I can see your mothers attraction to it. Emeralds depending on the quality can be $30 per ct to over $10,000 per ct in a size like that.

There are plenty of synthetics with these types of inclusions. I just ordered a few for my education, will share pictures as soon as I receive them!

 

[theredspinel]

Take these opinions with a pinch of salt; from reading the replies it shows some of the posters don’t know to much about the value of high karat gold.

In the second picture, you can see the slight scratches higher content gold gets from wear and tear, so I’d be very surprised if this ring wasn’t very high gold content (22k +)

Coupled with the fact it looks hefty to me, weight wise; that price alone is fantastic just for the gold!