Cat's Eye Question... Garnet natural or synthetic

[Sithathoriunet]

Hello Everyone!

I am totally on the fence with this one. I have been searching for a true cat's eye garnet and was offered this stone. Lovely, however... it seems just too amazing to me. The lab certificate isn't one i've ever heard of...
I am hoping to ask for your opinion on this one. Does it look synthetic to you?
Thank you for your thoughts.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Honestly, it really looks like natural cat's eye garnet to me. Of course, I can't be 100% certain it is not synthetic or treated, and you'd need a reputable lab or trusted G.G. for that. But the synthetic material is typically opaque, and I see some transparency here. Plus the color screams natural. What is giving you pause?

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Hello Everyone!

I am totally on the fence with this one. I have been searching for a true cat's eye garnet and was offered this stone. Lovely, however... it seems just too amazing to me. The lab certificate isn't one i've ever heard of...
I am hoping to ask for your opinion on this one. Does it look synthetic to you?
Thank you for your thoughts.

i cannot help you other than to say that is gorgeous

 

[Starstruck8]

I've never seen a cat's eye garnet, so I have no direct experience. Searching turns up very few, so they must be rare.

That said, the stone looks right for a garnet photographed in bright light. It also looks a lot like this 1.92ct cat's eye garnet archived by The Gem Trader, described as 'translucent' and from Sri Lanka:

Link: https://www.thegemtrader.com/192-ct-cats-eye-garnet-the-gem-trader-rare-gems

The Gem Trader is a highly reputable seller, so his stone was surely natural. This gives some reason to think that the stone you are looking at is not 'too good to be true'. I've never heard of synthetic cat's eye garnet, and I'm wondering why anyone would make one, since only collectors would appreciate it.

Genuineness aside, cat's eye garnet raises an interesting question. How can garnet have a cat's eye? You would expect garnet, with a cubic crystal structure, to have a net of stars (as typical star garnet does) rather than a single cat's eye. Something other than the crystal structure must be orienting the eye-forming needles, or at least selecting one of the crystallographic orientations. That said, I have a cat's eye spinel (also cubic), with the eye formed by rutile needles.

 

[Sithathoriunet]

Honestly, it really looks like natural cat's eye garnet to me. Of course, I can't be 100% certain it is not synthetic or treated, and you'd need a reputable lab or trusted G.G. for that. But the synthetic material is typically opaque, and I see some transparency here. Plus the color screams natural. What is giving you pause?

Thank you so much for your view on this. To be honest, I am having difficulty believing its real...I mean, in my past experience, most cat's eye garnets are cut from a star stone. So, I am a bit hesitant. Also, most of the examples of garnet stars Ive seen, the asterism is on their surface..very few are internal..but I have seen that...just rarely.. so, I feel like this one is such an anomoly, if its natural... I'll have to get it tested for sure. Thank you again! Much much appreciated!

 

[Sithathoriunet]

I've never seen a cat's eye garnet, so I have no direct experience. Searching turns up very few, so they must be rare.

That said, the stone looks right for a garnet photographed in bright light. It also looks a lot like this 1.92ct cat's eye garnet archived by The Gem Trader, described as 'translucent' and from Sri Lanka:

Link: https://www.thegemtrader.com/192-ct-cats-eye-garnet-the-gem-trader-rare-gems

The Gem Trader is a highly reputable seller, so his stone was surely natural. This gives some reason to think that the stone you are looking at is not 'too good to be true'. I've never heard of synthetic cat's eye garnet, and I'm wondering why anyone would make one, since only collectors would appreciate it.

Genuineness aside, cat's eye garnet raises an interesting question. How can garnet have a cat's eye? You would expect garnet, with a cubic crystal structure, to have a net of stars (as typical star garnet does) rather than a single cat's eye. Something other than the crystal structure must be orienting the eye-forming needles, or at least selecting one of the crystallographic orientations. That said, I have a cat's eye spinel (also cubic), with the eye formed by rutile needles.

Thank you so much for your insights! I had thought about the possibilty of it being cut from a star stone..but to me, it looks like the eye is internal.. and I' m thinking that would make it quite near impossible to orient for a cut if that were the case. I love Gem Trader! Also, you raise a really great point...the cubic structure...I had never considered that. I did see a cat's eye garnet way back with Gem Trader that they said was a true cat's eye, and not cut from a star stone. So definately rare... Thank you again for your insight and the points you made. I will post if I manage to secure this stone.

 

[LilAlex]

Not sure what to say about the gem but that is about the worst-looking report I have ever seen -- from the weirdly misplaced apostrophe in both of the lab names to the weird species name (garnet in parentheses?!) and the non-idiomatic treatment grade. I also am struggling to get the website to load on multiple browsers. Hopefully someone here has heard of it and can vouch for it? I get that it is not from a native English speaker, but is it that hard to show your English-language report template to someone who does?

 

[Dreamer_D]

No no, @LilAlex, it is the Lab of a man named Gem! It makes perfect sense.

 

[Sithathoriunet]

Not sure what to say about the gem but that is about the worst-looking report I have ever seen -- from the weirdly misplaced apostrophe in both of the lab names to the weird species name (garnet in parentheses?!) and the non-idiomatic treatment grade. I also am struggling to get the website to load on multiple browsers. Hopefully someone here has heard of it and can vouch for it? I get that it is not from a native English speaker, but is it that hard to show your English-language report template to someone who does?

Yes, my thought as well. After researching the heck out of the 'lab' on google, I can't be sure it is real. Not to say they don't have gemologists in Indonesia, but this is off. Plus the seller wants a bank transfer for payment. To which I said no. I said if this sale does go ahead, it would have to be paypal. They agreed and then disappeared. So, looks more and more shady. Thank you everyone for your thoughts and insights. It is so wonderful to have this community!

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Yes, my thought as well. After researching the heck out of the 'lab' on google, I can't be sure it is real. Not to say they don't have gemologists in Indonesia, but this is off. Plus the seller wants a bank transfer for payment. To which I said no. I said if this sale does go ahead, it would have to be paypal. They agreed and then disappeared. So, looks more and more shady. Thank you everyone for your thoughts and insights. It is so wonderful to have this community!

i am sad how this turned out
but i am happy you did not get ripped off or scammed

 

[Sithathoriunet]

i am sad how this turned out
but i am happy you did not get ripped off or scammed

Me as well. So very thankful for everyone's help and insights. I will update if anything pans out.