Is this stone worth buying?

[toomuchB]

This is over budget but I felt like it was worth sharing, especially since its a deeper color which you may or may not prefer. It says to contact for price, but if you sort their emeralds from low to high, this emerald appears in between the 3400-3500 emeralds, so that is the price range.

Minor oil and Colombian per C.Dunaigre, a respected lab. Has a traceability document to boot. I think they would go down on price to a degree.

Shop Natural Loose Muzo Emerald Gemstones | Leibish

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[Mrsz1ppy]

I followed your suggestion and looked at africagems. Here are what I found. I wonder if they are overpriced? Are they colombian? Zambian? Merchant didn’t specify.

Green Emerald - Emerald Cut - 1.06 Carat - 6x6mm

This beautiful genuine 1.06 Carat Green Emerald Emerald Cut Gemstone, 6x6mm in size by AfricaGems, displays a vivid medium rich green color, great clarity, excellent cut and life. A beautiful gem of high color in a highly requested shape and size, very bright and lively. A gorgeous, top notch...

www.africagems.com

Low Price Emerald - 0.73 carats - Emerald Cut - 5.4mm - AfricaGems Certificate

This Low Price Emerald Gemstone 0.73 carats, Emerald Cut, 5.4 mm, with AfricaGems Certificate Displays a vivid medium rich green, great clarity, excellent cut and life. A beautiful stone in a highly requested shape and size. A stunning loose genuine gemstone, a very hard to source gemstone...

www.africagems.com

They would be from Africa.

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

I would buy some stones without a lab report, such as a spinel. If you will never sell it, in some ways it doesn’t matter…but. My preference is to buy jewelry with some residual value, so that my kids etc can sell it if they choose, so I get lab reports. In this situation I would offer to send it in myself, as the cost is so much less, with an ability to return the stone if the report does not match the seller’s description. An in house report to me is not worth much.
If the seller is in the US, you can return if the description does not match the lab report. If the seller is international the best you can do is try to negotiate for a refund because none of the carriers will insure gemstones for individuals, so I find it difficult to take the risk of mailing it with no insurance.

 

[kobido]

Me: I like the stone but spending 480usd for certification is too much. I wonder if you would be willing to shoulder the 3rd party certification. If it is certified to be f1 or minor oil, I’ll get it.

Seller: I cannot promise that GIA in their opinion will grade this as a minor oil. Please consider that minor oil emeralds are extremely rare. Many sellers treat their stones with terrible plastics, resins, and coloring dyes. We are the few that treat our emeralds correctly with traditional harmless oiling and we also source our emeralds directly from the mines.

My question is if stone is an f2 or moderately oiled, is it to be avoided? There is no way I will be able to afford a no oil emeralds. Not sure with f1 emeralds.

Another question is who does the reoiling of emeralds?

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Ahh so this is where it gets tricky. Five years ago I would have told you to run and that we must all die at the alter of the reports.

But my opinions have changed somewhat these days and I feel that even amongst the reputable labs, opinions will vary (have you seen the colors that pass for padparadscha! It's pretty crazy). I think I would be more insistent on a certificate if I had plans to sell the stone one day. And even that I could technically shop around until I get a report where the opinion is more in line with what I'm looking for.

There was a listing that I stumbled upon where the lab had given the emerald a "No oil" designation but the vendor wrote in bold that they only promised the stone was minor and if it was no oil it was a bonus but they didn't agree it was no oil based on their observations. It was very interesting!

Sorry that's a pretty useless answer but I do wish you all the best and if you get it please post lots of pictures for us!!!

 

[kobido]

Ahh so this is where it gets tricky. Five years ago I would have told you to run and that we must all die at the alter of the reports.

But my opinions have changed somewhat these days and I feel that even amongst the reputable labs, opinions will vary (have you seen the colors that pass for padparadscha! It's pretty crazy). I think I would be more insistent on a certificate if I had plans to sell the stone one day. And even that I could technically shop around until I get a report where the opinion is more in line with what I'm looking for.

There was a listing that I stumbled upon where the lab had given the emerald a "No oil" designation but the vendor wrote in bold that they only promised the stone was minor and if it was no oil it was a bonus but they didn't agree it was no oil based on their observations. It was very interesting!

Sorry that's a pretty useless answer but I do wish you all the best and if you get it please post lots of pictures for us!!!

Hello! No, I thank you for your response. I get what you mean. I actually don’t have plans of selling. But I worry that the color or quality will change once the oil dries up .

 

[Avondale]

Check this video from JR's youtube channel:

I like it because it's a way to see with your own eyes how an emerald changes once the oil is removed.

Cedarwood oil is colourless. So the oil drying up should not alter colour. You'll see in the video above what the difference is between f1 and f2. It ultimately boils down to how included the stone is - a moderately oiled emerald will be more fractured compared to a minor oiled one.

And a little footnote. We're used to accepted treatments generally being stable, unchangeable. But with oiling, the truth is you can have a no oil emerald by simply cleaning any oiled one you bought, if you so wish, as long as you're okay with it looking more included. Most times a no oil emerald is just a very clean one, but if clarity is not your major concern, but the presence of oil itself... that's an option.

 

[toomuchB]

That is a fantastic video! thanks for posting it

 

[kobido]

Hmm… didn’t know buying emeralds will be this stressful haha. Isn’t shopping supposed to be fun?

Or maybe it is fun only if money is not a concern.

 

[toomuchB]

Hmm… didn’t know buying emeralds will be this stressful haha. Isn’t shopping supposed to be fun?

Or maybe it is fun only if money is not a concern.

I think buying gems (with limited funds) is fun when one is not too actively looking/looking very hard for something, and is patient... eventually something pops up, you obsess over it, and it tend to work out.
At least its usually like that with me.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Kobido this anecdotal tale might help you.

Years ago I bought a tiny Colombian emerald from somewhere completely random with no regard to whatever kind of oiling or treatment it had been through. When it arrived there was a fairly decent sized surface reaching inclusion (vendor eventually gave me a discount for it). I set the ring, wear it every so often and it's held up remarkably well. No changes in appearance. That said I don't wear it often as I have many rings but it's been sitting around in the air and still looks the same.

 

[kobido]

Kobido this anecdotal tale might help you.

Years ago I bought a tiny Colombian emerald from somewhere completely random with no regard to whatever kind of oiling or treatment it had been through. When it arrived there was a fairly decent sized surface reaching inclusion (vendor eventually gave me a discount for it). I set the ring, wear it every so often and it's held up remarkably well. No changes in appearance. That said I don't wear it often as I have many rings but it's been sitting around in the air and still looks the same.

Wow, beautiful rings! Thank you for sharing your experience.