Tourmaline earrings!

[Stalecupcake]

Found this beautiful set of earrings made with tourmalines and diamonds on the bay. My aunt was looking for a pair for my cousin’s graduation (she loves blue) and I helped her find these on the second hand market; no idea if they’re a good deal or anything about colored gem stones like tourmalines as she was just convinced my cousin would love them when I showed her the listing (my cousin loves baby blue). I kinda secretly wished now that I found them for myself earlier because although I’m mainly a diamonds girl, these tourmaline earrings look gorgeous... sigh, oh well at least it’ll be in the family!!

Anyway they’re on their way to my aunt but here are some vendor pics from the listing. Reading on PS after the purchase it looks like these are blue-green tourmalines that appear pretty light based on seller’s photos. Seller didn’t mention where they’re from. How do these look to you gem experts? To me and my aunt, the design of the earrings are pretty elaborate and the colored gems very pretty - but again we aren’t experts, we are just regular folks but would love some expert opinions!

Do you guys think my aunt should get these appraised in case they’re not real/natural diamonds and/or tourmalines? The seller has a 30 day return so that’s a good safety net. My cousin’s graduation isn’t until the end of the month so there’s a good window for her to check things out - thoughts? Thank you everyone!

 

[T L]

Were they very expensive? You may want to take it to a jeweler/appraiser who is familiar with colored gems (not just diamonds) to check them out. It looks like pale blue gem, but no way to tell from a photo if it’s real gold, diamonds and tourmaline. I can tell they’re lovely though.

 

[Stalecupcake]

Were they very expensive? You may want to take it to a jeweler/appraiser who is familiar with colored gems (not just diamonds) to check them out. It looks like pale blue gem, but no way to tell from a photo if it’s real gold, diamonds and tourmaline. I can tell they’re lovely though.

Thanks @T L ! My aunt spent a pretty penny ($1500!!) which is shocking since she’s extremely frugal. I guess it’s because it’s a gift for my cousin’s graduation so she splurged. The seller had a GAL cert but I’m 100% certain that means nothing because GAL isn’t globally recognized or reputable. I’ll probably advise her to get it appraised but whether she does is up to her. It would kill her to know she overpaid though so that’s why I want her to get it appraised just in case things aren’t what they seem...

 

[voce]

GAL is the lab Yvonne Raley uses for a quick and cheap report. I'd trust them for identification but not necessarily for treatments, since identifying treatments requires better equipment.

 

[T L]

GAL is the lab Yvonne Raley uses for a quick and cheap report. I'd trust them for identification but not necessarily for treatments, since identifying treatments requires better equipment.

If they’re tourmaline, treatment won’t matter anyways since heat is accepted, and irradiation is not detectable. If these are treated, they might be heated. Sometimes tourmaline is clarity enhanced, but I think these are pretty clean for clarity enhancement.

$1500 is a reasonable price. You could contact GAL to check the validity of the appraisal report.

 

[kgizo]

Just to clarify, these are pre-owned and you found them on eBay? What is the metal? Are there any stamps? I think they are very pretty.

 

[Stalecupcake]

Just to clarify, these are pre-owned and you found them on eBay? What is the metal? Are there any stamps? I think they are very pretty.

Yes these are preowned. My aunt tasked me with finding her a pair of earrings or pendant my cousin would love so I searched on eBay for her since she’s not familiar, and we couldn’t find anything unique on retailer sites. The metal is 14k and the stamp is signed by a designer that neither of us are familiar with. I think they’re so pretty too but I’m just worried they’re not real diamonds or tourmalines but my aunt doesn’t seem worried at all because there is a GAL appraisal/mini certificate that she places trust in. Perhaps my fears are unwarranted here and I do feel better knowing she paid a reasonable price for clear gems. I may ask her to skip a second appraisal based on all the helpful info here. Since GAL is reputable there’s probably no reason to suspect the information on the mini certificate provided.

Do tourmaline gems come in such pale blue? I did a search and they always look blue green (there’s a strong hint of green usually on the ones I’ve searched to my untrained eye) but these earrings seem a lot more blue hued than usual, although whatever gem they are, my aunt is convinced my cousin will love them regardless. If for whatever reason these aren’t tourmalines but blue aquamarines did my aunt still pay a reasonable price? We reasoned that whatever the gems are, the design alone is worth half what she paid as it’s quite a pretty and elaborate design, something we’ve never seen in our search.

 

[Stalecupcake]

GAL is the lab Yvonne Raley uses for a quick and cheap report. I'd trust them for identification but not necessarily for treatments, since identifying treatments requires better equipment.

Good to know, thank you! This is so helpful and gives us peace of mind knowing the info on the GAL mini certificate is trust worthy

 

[kgizo]

Do tourmaline gems come in such pale blue?

Based on my experience, yes. I have one set in a necklace that always looks light blue. I have one set in a ring that mostly looks blue-green, but in some lighting looks more blue. When you see them in person try viewing them in lots of different lighting.

 

[kgizo]

When I went to get the pendant I found tourm earrings in a similar shade. I really need to rotate my jewelry more often.

 

[T L]

Do tourmaline gems come in such pale blue? I did a search and they always look blue green (there’s a strong hint of green usually on the ones I’ve searched to my untrained eye) but these earrings seem a lot more blue hued than usual, although whatever gem they are, my aunt is convinced my cousin will love them regardless. If for whatever reason these aren’t tourmalines but blue aquamarines did my aunt still pay a reasonable price? We reasoned that whatever the gems are, the design alone is worth half what she paid as it’s quite a pretty and elaborate design, something we’ve never seen in our search.

Yes, tourmaline comes in a wider variety of color than just about any gem in the planet. Some colors are rarer then others of course, but I have yet to see a color tourmaline doesn’t come in. I have seen lots of tourmaline that color, and I own some.

I think it’s a reasonable price for aqua too, I just wouldn’t want blue topaz.

 

[Stalecupcake]

When I went to get the pendant I found tourm earrings in a similar shade. I really need to rotate my jewelry more often.

Oh my goodness. Those gems are out of this world. Wow. I am breathless.

 

[Stalecupcake]

Yes, tourmaline comes in a wider variety of color than just about any gem in the planet. Some colors are rarer then others of course, but I have yet to see a color tourmaline doesn’t come in. I have seen lots of tourmaline that color, and I own some.

I think it’s a reasonable price for aqua too, I just wouldn’t want blue topaz.

Really great info, thank you! The GAL mini cert says tourmalines and diamonds (doesn’t state whether they’re natural but I assume if they were lab created the certificate would probably say so?) - would there be any reason to suspect this information to not be true? There’s also a photo of the earrings on the mini certificate too - would this give you peace of mind? Would you get a second opinion still? I’m more wary/skeptical but my aunt feels confident in the seller and certificate and is hesitant to spend any more money on this. I’ve asked her to check it out with an appraiser familiar in gems and she’s pushed back saying the certificate wouldn’t lie because they have a reputation to uphold....should I keep pushing for her to consider getting a second opinion or is trusting the GAL cert ok?

 

[Stalecupcake]

Okay I just read a post about GAL certificates on this forum and I think I’m going to continue to insist my aunt gets a second opinion. It can’t hurt and I think it’ll be worth the cost for peace of mind. Thank you to everyone on this forum!

 

[T L]

Okay I just read a post about GAL certificates on this forum and I think I’m going to continue to insist my aunt gets a second opinion. It can’t hurt and I think it’ll be worth the cost for peace of mind. Thank you to everyone on this forum!

They don’t make synthetic tourmaline. I think if you validate the GAL report, you should be okay. Rubies and sapphires are much more difficult to appraise and evaluate, but tourmaline is pretty straight forward.

 

[Stalecupcake]

They don’t make synthetic tourmaline. I think if you validate the GAL report, you should be okay. Rubies and sapphires are much more difficult to appraise and evaluate, but tourmaline is pretty straight forward.

Thank you! Your information has been extremely helpful. I’ve reached out to GAL like you suggested so we are hoping to hear back