Need opinions on this 10.97ct emerald - minor oil treatment

[flobits]

Hi !

I am new to this forum, i had been reading since a few weeks and I'd love to get your thoughts on this emerald ( look / price ? )
Here are the specs:

Weight: 10.97 carats
Cut: Step-cut octagonal/cushion
Treatment: Minor oil
Dimensions: 13.55 x 11.37 x 8.07 mm

I am not sure if this one is "good", sure it is 10.97 cts, but there are some big "garden" inclusions.
All i got is a slip from LFG, i didn't pay the full certificate which cost something like 1000$ since i don't know how much this emerald would be worth

 

[lovedogs]

Without a certificate i don't think it's reasonable to assess accuracy of "minor oil". But IMHO it looks very included. Do you have any other pics? It looks pretty "dead" to me

 

[flobits]

The "minor oil" is coming from LFG slip, its kinda like a certificate but without origin, all it gives are dimensions, weight and treatment, i'll post more picture next week.

Even with all the inclusions, i thought it'd be something like 600-700$ / cts ? what do you think

 

[lovedogs]

The "minor oil" is coming from LFG slip, its kinda like a certificate but without origin, all it gives are dimensions, weight and treatment, i'll post more picture next week.

Even with all the inclusions, i thought it'd be something like 600-700$ / cts ? what do you think

Depends on how it actually looks. Is it dark? Do you have a video?

 

[LilAlex]

All i got is a slip from LFG, i didn't pay the full certificate which cost something like 1000$ since i don't know how much this emerald would be worth

Welcome!

Help me understand this statement. You did not want to get something that would help tell you how much this gem is worth because you were not sure how much this gem is worth? If the price of that full report was off-putting (i.e., a significant fraction of the gem's purchase price), then it is unlikely to be very desirable.

I am not familiar with this lab but it looks like it is based in Paris. Nice-looking web-site. Maybe share what you do have from the lab so we can help.

I do not mean to offend but I hope this is not the first-post classic -- the thinly-veiled hey-make-me-an-offer...

Would love to know more about this -- good size and minor oil is nice.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

My guess is $200-$300 per carat if it’s minor oil

There are two many inclusions and not much glow in the picture posted.

Take away some inclusions, throw in some glow and maybe it’ll climb to $500 per carat based on what I’ve seen.

 

[flobits]

Welcome!

Help me understand this statement. You did not want to get something that would help tell you how much this gem is worth because you were not sure how much this gem is worth? If the price of that full report was off-putting (i.e., a significant fraction of the gem's purchase price), then it is unlikely to be very desirable.

I am not familiar with this lab but it looks like it is based in Paris. Nice-looking web-site. Maybe share what you do have from the lab so we can help.

I do not mean to offend but I hope this is not the first-post classic -- the thinly-veiled hey-make-me-an-offer...

Would love to know more about this -- good size and minor oil is nice.

I didn't want to pay 1500$ for a certificate because i am not sure if the emerald is even worth 1500$, if i were to pay 1500$ for the certificate and the emerald would be worth only 400$ i would lose money by just buying the report.
Yes it is a lab based in Paris and i heard its one of the big "known" one?

I'll go to bellerophon lab next week in Paris to get a "verbal" report which cost around 99$.
This isn't a "make me an offer", i have little to no knowledge regarding gemstones, i am new and i thought this emerald would be a good start.
Everytime i tried to go to a jewelry? they were asking me for a price when i was just asking for some help.

@mellowyellowgirl

true, there are really alot of inclusions and the glow is lacking in the picture, i'll buy a video & pictures from the lab too next week since i'm probably just bad with taking pictures, it doesn't really look like that, there is more glow than that

​

 

[lovedogs]

I didn't want to pay 1500$ for a certificate because i am not sure if the emerald is even worth 1500$, if i were to pay 1500$ for the certificate and the emerald would be worth only 400$ i would lose money by just buying the report.
Yes it is a lab based in Paris and i heard its one of the big "known" one?

I'll go to bellerophon lab next week in Paris to get a "verbal" report which cost around 99$.
This isn't a "make me an offer", i have little to no knowledge regarding gemstones, i am new and i thought this emerald would be a good start.
Everytime i tried to go to a jewelry? they were asking me for a price when i was just asking for some help.

@mellowyellowgirl

true, there are really alot of inclusions and the glow is lacking in the picture, i'll buy a video & pictures from the lab too next week since i'm probably just bad with taking pictures, it doesn't really look like that, there is more glow than that

​

A verbal report is honestly worth nothing. I don't think this stone would sell for much at all, unfortunately

 

[LilAlex]

I didn't want to pay 1500$ for a certificate because i am not sure if the emerald is even worth 1500$, if i were to pay 1500$ for the certificate and the emerald would be worth only 400$ i would lose money by just buying the report.

So you did not buy it? Maybe I misunderstood your original post.

Why the mystery around its provenance? Find it in a drawer? Relative bequeathed it?

Could be worth a lot; no one can say much from one unflattering photo. Or, OTOH, it could be an excessively flattering photo.

 

[seaurchin]

It doesn't look very high quality to my untrained eye. But I have no idea what that means, as far as its monetary value, especially since it definitely has size going for it and since it also might possibly look much better with more oil?

I think that to get an answer you're satisfied with, you might need a report from a reputable gem grading lab. However, I understand not wanting to spend $1,000- $1,500 when the gem itself might not even be worth that much. I also get what you're saying about not being able to trust what you're told about its worth from anyone who wants to buy it from you.

If so, then I guess the next questions would be:

1) What are the most reputable labs to send it to for evaluation and appraisal?

2) Do any of them do this for a lower fee than the OP has been quoted?

I don't know those answers but someone on here probably does.

ETA: It looks like GIA will check if it's real and note its characteristics and likely place of origin, but won't give an estimate on its monetary value. If that's correct, what about Gubelin gem lab?

Or, is there any other way you'd feel like the estimate you got was reasonably accurate, besides sending it to a reputable gem lab? That might be something else to consider or maybe someone on here will have some thoughts on that for you? Good luck with it.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

This is my educated guess:

Colour looks zambian

I’ve had a lot of Zambian emeralds tested and most come out minor. Given how included it is, minor is probably not a stretch since it would look better if it was oiled.

Based on colour and glow (or lack thereof) I’d price it at $200-$300 a carat. The stones are not rare. They are fun and can be super satisfying to use in a piece but you can shake them out of trees practically.

 

[seaurchin]

This is my educated guess:

Colour looks zambian

I’ve had a lot of Zambian emeralds tested and most come out minor. Given how included it is, minor is probably not a stretch since it would look better if it was oiled.

Based on colour and glow (or lack thereof) I’d price it at $200-$300 a carat. The stones are not rare. They are fun and can be super satisfying to use in a piece but you can shake them out of trees practically.

Hmm. Interesting. Do you know about what it would cost to get it oiled, who to send it to for that and/or how much oiling might improve its appearance?

It sure would be fun and super satisfying to have such a giant emerald to play with!

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Hmm. Interesting. Do you know about what it would cost to get it oiled, who to send it to for that and/or how much oiling might improve its appearance?

It sure would be fun and super satisfying to have such a giant emerald to play with!

I’m a weird one when it comes to oiling so I don’t know anything about getting an emerald oiled. I tend to like my emeralds with minimal oil (have an insignificant and a no oil) and put up with the inclusions at that level. I wash them in dish washing liquid after a greasy meal at a restaurant so I need the reassurance that they won’t look any worse than what I agreed to when I bought them.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Welcome to the forum, OP! It looks like you already have some great feedback on this emerald. I would echo my fellow collectors' sentiments. Too many unknowns at this point for me to consider it. If I were purchasing an 11ct. emerald, I would need a current certificate from a lab I trusted. I am not familiar with the one mentioned. It should not cost $1,500 for a statement on composition, treatment, and origin. But even if this emerald did certify as minor oil, it's still rather included for my tastes. The needling is of particular note.

With regard to color, the saturation looks promising, but I would need lots more photos and videos under sunlight. You also want to make sure the color is either a pure green or blue-leaning... it shouldn't veer yellow. The cut appears to be heavily windowed, but again, I'd need to see more photos/videos to confirm that.

I'll conclude with my standard advice... go for quality over quantity. I'd rather have a 5ct. stone (pleeeeease!) of finer color, clarity, and cut. Good luck!

 

[flobits]

So you did not buy it? Maybe I misunderstood your original post.

Why the mystery around its provenance? Find it in a drawer? Relative bequeathed it?

Could be worth a lot; no one can say much from one unflattering photo. Or, OTOH, it could be an excessively flattering photo.

I really don't know how to take pictures, as for provenance, it's just something we had since a while now?

It doesn't look very high quality to my untrained eye. But I have no idea what that means, as far as its monetary value, especially since it definitely has size going for it and since it also might possibly look much better with more oil?

I think that to get an answer you're satisfied with, you might need a report from a reputable gem grading lab. However, I understand not wanting to spend $1,000- $1,500 when the gem itself might not even be worth that much. I also get what you're saying about not being able to trust what you're told about its worth from anyone who wants to buy it from you.

If so, then I guess the next questions would be:

1) What are the most reputable labs to send it to for evaluation and appraisal?

2) Do any of them do this for a lower fee than the OP has been quoted?

I don't know those answers but someone on here probably does.

ETA: It looks like GIA will check if it's real and note its characteristics and likely place of origin, but won't give an estimate on its monetary value. If that's correct, what about Gubelin gem lab?

Or, is there any other way you'd feel like the estimate you got was reasonably accurate, besides sending it to a reputable gem lab? That might be something else to consider or maybe someone on here will have some thoughts on that for you? Good luck with it.

There are alot of inclusions, i'll try to find a less known lab around where i live ( Paris ), which is cheaper than 1000-1500$ for a report.
I believe the emerald is worth around 500$/ ct, but i am really not an expert in this field

Welcome to the forum, OP! It looks like you already have some great feedback on this emerald. I would echo my fellow collectors' sentiments. Too many unknowns at this point for me to consider it. If I were purchasing an 11ct. emerald, I would need a current certificate from a lab I trusted. I am not familiar with the one mentioned. It should not cost $1,500 for a statement on composition, treatment, and origin. But even if this emerald did certify as minor oil, it's still rather included for my tastes. The needling is of particular note.

With regard to color, the saturation looks promising, but I would need lots more photos and videos under sunlight. You also want to make sure the color is either a pure green or blue-leaning... it shouldn't veer yellow. The cut appears to be heavily windowed, but again, I'd need to see more photos/videos to confirm that.

I'll conclude with my standard advice... go for quality over quantity. I'd rather have a 5ct. stone (pleeeeease!) of finer color, clarity, and cut. Good luck!

Hi, thanks. I have a certificate but unfortunately, not giving me the origin of the emerald.
I added more photo, i'm not sure how to take them, let me know !

 

[Autumn in New England]

Before I say anything further, do you have the option to return this stone?

 

[flobits]

Not at all, i believe it has been purchased for something like 2k, a long time ago? there is a LFG paper which say low oil, 10,37 ct, 13.55 x 11.37 x 8.07mm from 2020