Laura's ebay adventure thread

[Laurainthesky]

Ebay is definitely a jungle for colored stones. It has been fun to play and try and find some good deals. I have picked sellers with good reputations and good return policies.
I got my first gem back because it was surprisingly shipped from the US. The others will arrive in weeks. I will post each gem in comments.

 

[Laurainthesky]

Ok ebay seller mintragem, what type of nearly 6 ct sapphire can you get with $80.

 

[Laurainthesky]

This sapphire came with a certificate from a lab. It looks identical to the picture. There is a pretty big window, but it does not show in every angle. Its best angle is looking down on it like you would a ring. The big question is whether it is BE treated. I don't really care if it is due to what I paid for it. The seller does claim BE treatment for other stones it sells. I asked about an alexandrite color change, and the seller told me it did not change colors at all.

 

[Laurainthesky]

I am thinking of setting it in vermeil.

 

[T L]

It is most likely be treated if you didn’t pay much. Yellow is a common be-treated color. It’s very pretty! I am looking forward to you setting it. I used to buy tons off eBay. My absolute best gem values came off eBay. You just have to make sure you know what you’re getting.

 

[Laurainthesky]

It is most likely be treated if you didn’t pay much. Yellow is a common be-treated color. It’s very pretty! I am looking forward to you setting it. I used to buy tons off eBay. My absolute best gem values came off eBay. You just have to make sure you know what you’re getting.

I emailed the seller saying I don't care about BE due to what I paid, but I just want to know. I am going to scour Jtv, shoplc, and berricle searching for a setting. It is pretty shallow so it should fit CZ settings.
With my level of experience, I definitely expect to make some ebay missteps. I am avoiding loose rubies, emeralds, and top colored sapphires completely. I appreciate your guidance!

 

[shelovesinclusions]

The seller may not know if it is Be heated. What I've found is the most basic level of lab reports don't include Be analysis, but heated or not. Be will look like heat only until further analysis is performed. I think that's why many sapphires are just assumed Be heated at this point.

 

[bright&shiny]

What I fun thread! I’m following with interest. DH has made some eBay purchases that I’ll share, too if that is of interest. They are more a buyer beware story - but he paid little and we didn’t expect much.

 

[Laurainthesky]

What I fun thread! I’m following with interest. DH has made some eBay purchases that I’ll share, too if that is of interest. They are more a buyer beware story - but he paid little and we didn’t expect much.

Absolutely share!
I forgot to share my first misstep on this thread. Avoid oldtreasures333 estate jewelry. He color enhances his photos and will not take any additional photos. Also puts the wrong shape gems for the setting. Fortunately free returns.

 

[T L]

I emailed the seller saying I don't care about BE due to what I paid, but I just want to know. I am going to scour Jtv, shoplc, and berricle searching for a setting. It is pretty shallow so it should fit CZ settings.
With my level of experience, I definitely expect to make some ebay missteps. I am avoiding loose rubies, emeralds, and top colored sapphires completely. I appreciate your guidance!

I once bought a shoplc ring and it was junk. I prefer rhodium plated nickel free silver. This thing tarnished in a split second and the prongs were very soft.

Not all silver alloys are created equal. Just beware.

I like shophq too.

Hearts or fat pears are difficult to find settings for, unless you’re shopping around Valentine’s Day. I had to do a custom setting for my one heart gem.

 

[Laurainthesky]

I once bought a shoplc ring and it was junk. I prefer rhodium plated nickel free silver. This thing tarnished in a split second and the prongs were very soft.

Not all silver alloys are created equal. Just beware.

I like shophq too.

Hearts or fat pears are difficult to find settings for, unless you’re shopping around Valentine’s Day. I had to do a custom setting for my one heart gem.

I've had decent good luck with shoplc except I sometimes have to tighten stones. Good to know that their settings may not be high enough quality for resetting.
My love of interesting shapes is not helpful.

I did find this. Apparently I can mail in my stone to set it. And they will size it.

 

[Laurainthesky]

There is this also. White sapphire sides.

 

[T L]

Wow, you are good with finding the right size shape. My huge concern with pears, hearts, trillions, are that most of the settings out there are three pronged, so the stone is less secure. I’m having the worst time finding a decent quality Rose gold plated silver 9x7mm pear halo. They’re all three pronged or low quality. I can’t even find a secure full gold one.

 

[peacechick]

I've had decent good luck with shoplc except I sometimes have to tighten stones. Good to know that their settings may not be high enough quality for resetting.
My love of interesting shapes is not helpful.

I did find this. Apparently I can mail in my stone to set it. And they will size it.

The advantages of buying really inexpensive stones is that you don’t worry so much about sending your stone out. This sounds like a great option if they could set it for you.

Wow, you are good with finding the right size shape. My huge concern with pears, hearts, trillions, are that most of the settings out there are three pronged, so the stone is less secure. I’m having the worst time finding a decent quality Rose gold plated silver 9x7mm pear halo. They’re all three pronged or low quality. I can’t even find a secure full gold one.

If it is that difficult to find, why not send your pear to Daniel M. I’m doing an argentium silver ring with him, having a rose gold bezel for the center stone, and find his rates reasonable. I would have a hard time setting it locally since most jewelers in my country don’t do silver settings. This coming from someone who tries to self-set as much as possible.

 

[T L]

The advantages of buying really inexpensive stones is that you don’t worry so much about sending your stone out. This sounds like a great option if they could set it for you.


If it is that difficult to find, why not send your pear to Daniel M. I’m doing an argentium silver ring with him, having a rose gold bezel for the center stone, and find his rates reasonable. I would have a hard time setting it locally since most jewelers in my country don’t do silver settings. This coming from someone who tries to self-set as much as possible.

I did Daniel M before, but truth be told, I’m a nervous wreck sending my gems via the mail, or fed ex, ups, etc....

He did a beautiful bypass ring for me when gold prices were $400/oz. Those were the days!! Sigh!!

I’m lucky my jeweler will set anything. My old jeweler would scoff at a silver setting.

 

[Laurainthesky]

I didn't do quite as well with pgluckygems. I got these in auctions.


The tricolor sapphire was very unattractive. I didn't have too high hopes from the picture, but it looked worse in person. It was $37. I will be returning it.

 

[Laurainthesky]

I won this spessartite for $8, but it is windowed with extinction so it goes back also

 

[Laurainthesky]

I didn't mean to win so many welo opals, but I learned that if an item isn't popular no one else may bid after you despite days left on the auction. 2/5 opals were pretty nice and I plan to keep them. Although not quite as nice as these pictures. All opals were won between $6-15.

 

[ShinyPink]

Wow! You're becoming quite the shopper! The opals look promising. Which two are you keeping?

 

[Laurainthesky]

Wow! You're becoming quite the shopper! The opals look promising. Which two are you keeping?

Thank you! The two on the right.

 

[Laurainthesky]

I am torn on this color change garnet. It is a good color changer. I was able to recreate all the seller photos. It is very poorly cut. It is somehow deep and has a donut hole window. It easily blacks out, but often has a pleasant rhodolite look. It was fun trying to find the green. I found it in my car on a sunny day. It is 2.31 carats which is a good size for a cc garnet. My husband showed a surprising amount of interest in it. It was $375.
If my husband wants it, I will keep it but I think he is undecided also.

 

[Laurainthesky]

Ebay makes you return items one by one making a multi item return complicated. I will think twice before ordering a bunch of things and combining them.

 

[Laurainthesky]

I found the perfect setting at a great price for the yellow sapphire. Seller sized and shipped for free. I figured I would remove the citrine. It is too pretty to break apart. The citrine is bright and very well cut. I guess no setting for the sapphire. Lesson learned.

 

[Laurainthesky]

So far most of the stones are living up to what is promised. The tsavorite window was not seen in the seller picture. It is bright and cheery otherwise. The purple rhodolite and the spessartite look exactly as picture. There was a red spinel which was darker and grayer than in the photo. I think I will not do business with pgluckygems again as the photos are better than what you get. However to be fair, the tsav is nice and big for $22.

 

[T L]

Wow!! A minty tsavorite for $22!? Lucky find.

ebay is fun.

 

[pokerface]

I really like the pear shaped opal! Was that pgluckygems?

 

[Laurainthesky]

I really like the pear shaped opal! Was that pgluckygems?

Yes, it was. Their photography is a little problematic, but the prices are good and they are honoring my refund. I think I paid about $10 for it. I bought it after getting immersed in that opalescent thread lol.