wie_immer
Rough_Rock
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2004
- Messages
- 2
It's my avatar image, there... as you can see, it has black inclusions. I've had this thing my entire life (more than 30 years, easily)--it was given to me as a toy, perhaps at age 2--I know I had it long before elementary school, and I'd play with it, burying it and digging it up--needless to say, it has not been gently handled. I had always been told it is a diamond when I was a child, and I had no reason to believe otherwise.
Difficult times earlier this year sent me to a highly reputable local diamond retailer (of the sort where they prefer to have appointments and keep the doors locked) to confirm it was a diamond. I was unable to pay for an appraisal/authentication, but the individual who weighed it and looked at it verbally assured me it was a diamond. Many different framed certificates are visible in this shop, diplomas from GIA, etc., so I have every reason to feel that I was given this verbal confirmation by one well-educated and well trained in diamonds and other precious stones. At no time did anyone take my stone to a place where I could not see them or what they were doing with my stone. I spent about a half hour discussing the stone, and having it evaluated at this business. My plan was to take it to a pawn shop where I could get a loan, and then reclaim the stone when times got better. Fortunately, times got better and I didn't have to follow through.
But recently, things again took a bad turn, and this time I did end up at the only pawn shop in the area which would look at an uncut stone.
I know how the people at the place where I initially took the stone handled it. The scales, microscopes, etc. all appeared to be in excellent condition. My personal background is one of chemistry and biology, so I am not a stranger to these things.
The individual at the pawn shop claimed he was certified by GIA, more than once, and talked about his training alot while I was in this situation. I did not see any diplomas or certificates displayed in his office, however. The scale he had weighed my diamond at +.04 - +.08 carats than the place I originally took it for assessment. There was also considerable, rapid fluctuation in the scale. He never did use the stereoscopic microscope to look at the stone, despite the fact it was there, next to the scale. He brought out something he claimed was a diamond tester. It did not look like other "diamond testers" I have seen since (I've explored online to try to determine what it was he had). Apparently the batteries of this thing were dead, and then he could not find replacement batteries. He took my stone with him into another room, from which he claimed he had found an AC adapter (I never saw this); he then told me it was testing negative as a diamond. I never saw this, however, and he never demonstarted it to me.
Then he brings my stone back into the room with a "scribe" in hand. He tells me if it is a real diamond, this will not scratch it. Right in front of me, he takes the scribe and draws it across the stone in one of it's broadest planes. He then tells me it has been scratched and it is not a diamond. He makes a phone call to someone, and has a conversation, and then tells me that if we go to this place and this person authenticates it, he will give me the loan. I am in need of the loan, and agree. When we arrive, he informs me I am not allowed to go with him, he hands me the keys to his vehicle as a "guarantee" that he'll come back with my stone. He was gone for a solid 15 minutes. He comes back and tells me he doesn't know what it is, but it isn't a diamond. He suggests it is a "white sapphire." The inclusions appear to be black carbon to me; I know sapphires are aluminum. At any rate, he apparently made other etchings on other faces of the stone while he was in this secret business, which I only discovered after I was alone with the stone again. I was so shocked to hear it was not a diamond, I did not seek to "deal" with this individual any further. I desperately needed the money, but things were rather "weird," and it was just as well to me to leave the scene. Further, I know nothing about the value of "white sapphires," so I was not interested in discussing the matter further.
I have digital photos of this stone, which were taken prior to ever allowing this person access to it. I'll be happy to send these to anyone who contacts me directly.
My questions/concerns are as follows:
If something is a clear, white dodecahedron with black speckles, could it be a "white sapphire"? If not a diamond, whatelse on earth could it possibly be?
If I am ever able to send this stone to GIA for authentication, and it is indeed a diamond, and what he used to etch the surface is in fact a diamond scribe used to mark templates before cutting, how much damage may he have caused to the value of the uncut stone?
The strangest thing to me was when we arrived at the place where the diamond was to be authenticated, I was not allowed to go along, nor even see where he went. Every reputable diamond institution I have ever known does not operate in secrecy...
Any advice, insight, recommendations are welcome. Since I have had this stone my entire life, more than anything it has HUGE sentimental value. Even if it turns out *not* to be a diamond, the marks he made on the surface are almost like scratches made directly on my heart--so if there is someway I may be able to correct that one day, i'd be interested in hearing about this as well.
I am in central NC.
Thanks for providing this forum!
Richard
Difficult times earlier this year sent me to a highly reputable local diamond retailer (of the sort where they prefer to have appointments and keep the doors locked) to confirm it was a diamond. I was unable to pay for an appraisal/authentication, but the individual who weighed it and looked at it verbally assured me it was a diamond. Many different framed certificates are visible in this shop, diplomas from GIA, etc., so I have every reason to feel that I was given this verbal confirmation by one well-educated and well trained in diamonds and other precious stones. At no time did anyone take my stone to a place where I could not see them or what they were doing with my stone. I spent about a half hour discussing the stone, and having it evaluated at this business. My plan was to take it to a pawn shop where I could get a loan, and then reclaim the stone when times got better. Fortunately, times got better and I didn't have to follow through.
But recently, things again took a bad turn, and this time I did end up at the only pawn shop in the area which would look at an uncut stone.
I know how the people at the place where I initially took the stone handled it. The scales, microscopes, etc. all appeared to be in excellent condition. My personal background is one of chemistry and biology, so I am not a stranger to these things.
The individual at the pawn shop claimed he was certified by GIA, more than once, and talked about his training alot while I was in this situation. I did not see any diplomas or certificates displayed in his office, however. The scale he had weighed my diamond at +.04 - +.08 carats than the place I originally took it for assessment. There was also considerable, rapid fluctuation in the scale. He never did use the stereoscopic microscope to look at the stone, despite the fact it was there, next to the scale. He brought out something he claimed was a diamond tester. It did not look like other "diamond testers" I have seen since (I've explored online to try to determine what it was he had). Apparently the batteries of this thing were dead, and then he could not find replacement batteries. He took my stone with him into another room, from which he claimed he had found an AC adapter (I never saw this); he then told me it was testing negative as a diamond. I never saw this, however, and he never demonstarted it to me.
Then he brings my stone back into the room with a "scribe" in hand. He tells me if it is a real diamond, this will not scratch it. Right in front of me, he takes the scribe and draws it across the stone in one of it's broadest planes. He then tells me it has been scratched and it is not a diamond. He makes a phone call to someone, and has a conversation, and then tells me that if we go to this place and this person authenticates it, he will give me the loan. I am in need of the loan, and agree. When we arrive, he informs me I am not allowed to go with him, he hands me the keys to his vehicle as a "guarantee" that he'll come back with my stone. He was gone for a solid 15 minutes. He comes back and tells me he doesn't know what it is, but it isn't a diamond. He suggests it is a "white sapphire." The inclusions appear to be black carbon to me; I know sapphires are aluminum. At any rate, he apparently made other etchings on other faces of the stone while he was in this secret business, which I only discovered after I was alone with the stone again. I was so shocked to hear it was not a diamond, I did not seek to "deal" with this individual any further. I desperately needed the money, but things were rather "weird," and it was just as well to me to leave the scene. Further, I know nothing about the value of "white sapphires," so I was not interested in discussing the matter further.
I have digital photos of this stone, which were taken prior to ever allowing this person access to it. I'll be happy to send these to anyone who contacts me directly.
My questions/concerns are as follows:
If something is a clear, white dodecahedron with black speckles, could it be a "white sapphire"? If not a diamond, whatelse on earth could it possibly be?
If I am ever able to send this stone to GIA for authentication, and it is indeed a diamond, and what he used to etch the surface is in fact a diamond scribe used to mark templates before cutting, how much damage may he have caused to the value of the uncut stone?
The strangest thing to me was when we arrived at the place where the diamond was to be authenticated, I was not allowed to go along, nor even see where he went. Every reputable diamond institution I have ever known does not operate in secrecy...
Any advice, insight, recommendations are welcome. Since I have had this stone my entire life, more than anything it has HUGE sentimental value. Even if it turns out *not* to be a diamond, the marks he made on the surface are almost like scratches made directly on my heart--so if there is someway I may be able to correct that one day, i'd be interested in hearing about this as well.
I am in central NC.
Thanks for providing this forum!
Richard
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