Question about gemwow

[pad3006]

Hi Everyone;
A few months ago I had been asking all about pink colored gem stones and so I finally decided to get a pink spinel. I found a nice one from gemwow.com. They were nice and proptly sent me the stone that I ordered, and it certainly looked like the stone that I got. But I was surprised that it didnt have any sort of information about the stone other then the carat wieght. Is that normal when buying gem stones?
Also the werid thing is that the cut was listed as oval but it was not, it looked like an emerald cut or a cushion (I think). Then when I took it to be mounted they wieghted the stone and it was 3.95 carats instead of 3.92 carats as listed on the stone, not of course that I am complaining at all. But I am just wondering if that is normal that the scales would wieght the stone differently.
Lastly, is there any place that will look at a stone and maybe could give me some more information on the cut and that sort of thing. thanks

Phil

 

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Can you post a picture? Would love to see it....and I be someone here could tell you about the cut...

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[Colored Gemstone Nut]

Hi Pad3006:

There is a fellow on the board who goes by the name Mogok. His name is Vincent and he is a Gemologist who works closely with folks from Gem Wow.

I think they are a reputable company and have not heard anything negative about them.

Remember when buying colored gems it is always important to know what you are getting. There are many nuances in colored stone grading which differ from diamonds. A good person to take a look at the stone and tell you specifics is a certified gemologist appraiser.

A couple fellows who frequent the board-

One is Richard Sherwood of www.sarasotagemlab.com

The other is Dave Atlas of www.gemappraisers.com
(aka Oldminer) on the board

Your purchase may not have been binding on anything including documentation from a certified lab of stone size, weight, origin or treatments. If the stone was inexpensive it might not have been cost effective to get it appraised, but if it was a fine piece it is worth the extra mile.

As a buyer it is good to have a mind set hat it''s your job to figure out exactly what your getting and what you expect. Any questions you might have can be asked before the sale.

I don''t want to seem like I am preaching. I am sure you are very happy with the stone. I just have heard stories before of misrepresentation of fine gems which inevitably cost the buyer money.

I hope this helps you get on the right track. I am sure Richard Sherwood or Dave Atlas won''t mind chiming in if they are directed towards this thread.
Regards-

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Date: 8/14/2005 11:32:44 PM
Author:pad3006

But I was surprised that it didnt have any sort of information about the stone other then the carat wieght. Is that normal when buying gem stones?

Also the werid thing is that the cut was listed as oval but it was not, it looked like an emerald cut or a cushion (I think). Then when I took it to be mounted they wieghted the stone and it was 3.95 carats instead of 3.92 carats as listed on the stone, not of course that I am complaining at all.

But I am just wondering if that is normal that the scales would wieght the stone differently.

Phil

Hi Phil. Often with high volume dealers, they are so busy and move stones so fast that they don''t have time to document them comprehensively. This often seems to be more so the case with overseas companies, particularly Far Eastern companies (gemwow is a Thai company if I remember correctly). They haven''t quite got on the documentation bandwagon like many Western colored stone dealers have. The language barrier might also contribute to this situation.

The 3.95 versus 3.92 weight is probably a just a difference in scale calibration, or a difference in the quality of the scale (more expensive scales weigh more accurately).

As far as the difference in cut (oval versus cushion or emerald cut?). Ovals with "blocky" shoulders can often look "cushion like" in shape. An emerald cut is a whole different matter, and probably isn''t what you have there. My guess is that you''ve got a "cushionish" oval or an "ovalish" cushion.

You probably would enjoy a session with an appraiser regarding your stone. He could tell you everything about it.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 8/15/2005 1:13:49 AM
Author: Richard Sherwood

You probably would enjoy a session with an appraiser regarding your stone. He could tell you everything about it.

Richars is an appraiser, of course

but you know what ? I second the claim - having a chat and seeing your prize through professional evaluation is pleasant and useful as well, if you either want appropriate insurance (including a detailed description to back up replacement) or plan on ever buying a gemstone again. If there is a return policy, the use of such advice is obvious.

The one detraction of acquiring expert advice is that you will probably be told what better things are out there (and there is always better, no matter what). With colored gems this is easy though, because each is one of a kind - especially the fancy cuts as yours sounds to be.

Just my 0.2, of course.

 

[pad3006]

Hi Thanks for the responses. I have put in a picture of the stone, I dont have a good picture of it mounted because my camera isnt great quality. The picture I sent is from the gemwow website.
I did ask some questions about the stone, and i know it is not heat treated or anything like that, and i know that it is a very good cut I just think it would be interesting to know more about it.
How do I find a gemologist to take a look at it, and also, how much does that cost. thank you very much

 

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WOW

Love that color!

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[MissAva]

That is soo yummy!

 

[Edward Bristol]

This often seems to be more so the case with overseas companies, particularly Far Eastern companies (gemwow is a Thai company if I remember correctly). They haven''t quite got on the documentation bandwagon like many Western colored stone dealers have. The language barrier might also contribute to this situation.


Yes, sad but true.
I can''t judge Thaidealers but speaking of Sri Lanka: even the best local dealers have hardly heard about grading a colored gemstone and are still light years away from doing it, if ever.
Anyhow, I think a pink spinel of this size and good color does deserve proper handeling and must have documentation. It doesn''t look so cheap. One should expect a proper docu.

Edward Bristol
www.wildfishgems.com

 

[Richard Sherwood]

What a pretty stone, Pad. I love the color.

That would be a cushion. It does indeed look like a very nice "native cut" stone, with lots of life.

My guess is that it would probably run you somewhere between $75 to $125 to have a comprehensive report done on that stone by most appraisers.

 

[pad3006]

thanks very much for your responses. I really love the color too, it really looks like a pink diamond I think. I love the brightness of the stone and that it is large too.
I will def look into getting some more info on it. Regardless I really like the stone and I look forward to presenting it to my gF. thanks everyone

Phil

 

[Colored Gemstone Nut]

I think its a great looking stone Pad. It is a little darker, almost bordering a pastel peach. Very pretty stone..

 

[mogok]

Date: 8/14/2005 11:45:05 PM
Author: Colored Gemstone Nut
Hi Pad3006:


There is a fellow on the board who goes by the name Mogok. His name is Vincent and he is a Gemologist who works closely with folks from Gem Wow.

I think they are a reputable company and have not heard anything negative about them.

Regards-

Hello,
Well I''m just back in Arusha after a long field trip in Tanzania studying rubies and sapphires. About gemwow I can tell you that of course i know them very well: Several of my former students at AIGS used to take care the website and especially the gems descriptions. What I can tell you is that they do their best to do the things good, but they are not many and sometime they prefer to put stones on line even if the description is not complete. Usually the interested people send email and then they answer to the question.

But regarding my relations with Gemwow, it is now more than one year that I''m not buying anymore burmese crystals and gems for them as I took the direction of AIGS laboratory. I help themsometimes as I usually know the stones from the burmese gem gallery very well but its most of the time only for crystal identification purposes.

Anyway it is true the spinel look very nice!

All the best,

 

[valeria101]

Congrats for the stone !

If you ever decide to send it for an appraisal, it would be great to have a note on the forum about hw it went.

Are you a fan of these precise modern cuts at all ? Just curious. The material is so nice - I am surprised the sellers left it cut as is. Fortunately they did, I bet many like these ''native cuts'' for their own sake although the current cut fashion (fad?) does not seem to favor them

 

[Cave Keeper]

Date: 8/23/2005 11:03:12 AM
Author: Vincent Pardieu
:
Hello,

Well I''m just back in Arusha after a long field trip in Tanzania studying rubies and sapphires. About gemwow I can tell you that of course i know them very well: Several of my former students at AIGS used to take care the website and especially the gems descriptions.
:
But regarding my relations with Gemwow, it is now more than one year that I''m not buying anymore burmese crystals and gems for them
:

Hi, Mogok

More than a year, I see. And that''s about how long before I came back to Colored Stones Forum. Welcome back!

P.S.: Found any Imperial Jadeite Cat''s Eyes during that Burmese trip?

 

[pad3006]

hi; thanks very much for your feedback about the stone.
I am very happy with the stone and I like the cut of it too. I am glad to hear that gemwow is totally legitimate. When I sent them questions they were very helpful which was good. It just seemed sort of werid that the stone didnt have any information but that makes sense as you said since they are a small operation and there is the language problem as well.
IF/when I take it to an apprasior I def will update you all on what I find out. I love it regardless and I really like how clear and bright a stone it is too.
thanks

Phil

 

[Kaleigh]

Phil,
That stone is just beautiful!!!!! I love the cut and the color. Looks like a beauty to me!!!!

 

[pad3006]

Hi everyone;
I finally got the stone appraised by an appraiser I found on this site. He said the color was really pretty and he said it had no inclusions in the stone which I was surprised at. He tested it and all and found that it was a real spinel and he appraised it at about what I paid for it so I was glad. He also said that the mounting I had it in had good diamonds in it and so I was glad to have some information on it finally.
thanks for your help everyone.

Phil