EBay emerald

[justginger]

I've found an emerald ring on eBay that I'm interested in taking a risk on.

It looks, and I stress *looks* untreated - not perfect color, a bit light, and obviously included. But of course that means nothing. I have contacted the seller and asked about treatment. She responded that there was none she knew of. I suggested a deposit arrangement with her sending the ring directly to the AGL, no treatment or oil only would result in the full purchase, fillers would get me a refund and the ring returned to her. She did not agree, based on the deposit aspect. She wants full purchase first and agrees to a full refund in the case AGL finds it is more than oil treated.

Is this an arrangement any if you have made before? What was the result? It's a lot of money to be out in the case something goes wrong and I don't get a refund. But it's a beautiful piece and fairly priced, IMO.

Also, which AGL report would you suggest? It's 3 carats, no origin of Colombia claimed. I'm not sure I need anything more than a gem brief, but a full report would be nice. A bit if a waste of money if it comes back highly treated and is then returned.

 

[TristanC]

Sounds silly. If your deposit covers the report cost plus a bit more, and you agree to purchase with a caveat that she is representing fairly, then I don't see where the seller's position is poor. Insisting you pay upfront before sending a stone to a lab is weird to me.

 

[VapidLapid]

escrow

 

[T L]

I've found an emerald ring on eBay that I'm interested in taking a risk on.

It looks, and I stress *looks* untreated - not perfect color, a bit light, and obviously included. But of course that means nothing. I have contacted the seller and asked about treatment. She responded that there was none she knew of. I suggested a deposit arrangement with her sending the ring directly to the AGL, no treatment or oil only would result in the full purchase, fillers would get me a refund and the ring returned to her. She did not agree, based on the deposit aspect. She wants full purchase first and agrees to a full refund in the case AGL finds it is more than oil treated.

Is this an arrangement any if you have made before? What was the result? It's a lot of money to be out in the case something goes wrong and I don't get a refund. But it's a beautiful piece and fairly priced, IMO.

Also, which AGL report would you suggest? It's 3 carats, no origin of Colombia claimed. I'm not sure I need anything more than a gem brief, but a full report would be nice. A bit if a waste of money if it comes back highly treated and is then returned.

I am unsure, but you should call AGL and ask, but I don't think the amount of treatment is on the gem brief (I could be wrong). The amount of treatment from none, faint, moderate, strong, is a big deal when it comes to value. The full report also contains the kind of treatment as some resins are unstable and turn white over time. Oil is fine, but it dries up over time. If it's a fine and expensive emerald, origin is important, as Colombian stones are a premium. For any expensive stone, or a potentially valuable emerald, I would want the full report that contains origin and all the details on treatment.

 

[chrono]

I do not recall paying a single cent to the vendor (eBay and non-eBay) until the lab memo result comes back.

I think the AGL brief will only tell you if it is treated or not, but not with what and the level of treatment. For that, the full AGL prestige report is required.

 

[LD]

I do not recall paying a single cent to the vendor (eBay and non-eBay) until the lab memo result comes back.

I think the AGL brief will only tell you if it is treated or not, but not with what and the level of treatment. For that, the full AGL prestige report is required.

I'm not sure a Vendor would agree to paying for a lab report at his/her own expense without a firm commitment to buy the stone?

 

[Starzin]

I'm not sure a Vendor would agree to paying for a lab report at his/her own expense without a firm commitment to buy the stone?

Sounds like it's more this than anything and you can understand why I guess.

 

[justginger]

I have actually offered to cover the cost of the lab report regardless of if I purchase. It's information for my use and I think that is fair. I am still mulling the situation over, but thanks for the info about the shortcomings of the brief report.

 

[T L]

I do not recall paying a single cent to the vendor (eBay and non-eBay) until the lab memo result comes back.

I think the AGL brief will only tell you if it is treated or not, but not with what and the level of treatment. For that, the full AGL prestige report is required.

I'm not sure a Vendor would agree to paying for a lab report at his/her own expense without a firm commitment to buy the stone?

Unfortunately, for emeralds, they are the type of gem I really cannot commit to without an AGL full origin/treatment report. JMO, and others may feel the risk is worth it. Sometimes, buying certain gems is like playing the lottery (especially without that report).

 

[justginger]

Who would I use for escrow?

Edited: double post.

 

[T L]

I have actually offered to cover the cost of the lab report regardless of if I purchase. It's information for my use and I think that is fair. I am still mulling the situation over, but thanks for the info about the shortcomings of the brief report.

Who would I use for escrow?

What if the lab report comes back with less than stellar information, like unstable filler and/or moderate to strong treatment. How much treatment are you willing to accept? Do you still have to commit to buying the stone? Will you be out just the cost of the lab report if you decide not to buy?

 

[VapidLapid]

escrow.com is a service Jeff White uses. I haven't used escrow myself to give you a first hand account.

 

[Pandora II]

To properly test the emerald will almost certainly require it to be removed from the mounting. Is the vendor happy for this to happen?

From what I understand, the exact same tests will be done for oil, filler, irradiation (yes, they irradiate emeralds) etc by AGL whichever report you buy, the Prestige merely gives you more details.

BTW, it is almost impossible to find an emerald that hasn't been exposed to oil - they dip the rough in it to help judge the clarity when they are sorting the rough.

 

[T L]

To properly test the emerald will almost certainly require it to be removed from the mounting. Is the vendor happy for this to happen?

From what I understand, the exact same tests will be done for oil, filler, irradiation (yes, they irradiate emeralds) etc by AGL whichever report you buy, the Prestige merely gives you more details.

BTW, it is almost impossible to find an emerald that hasn't been exposed to oil - they dip the rough in it to help judge the clarity when they are sorting the rough.

The details are important though when it comes to emeralds, because the amount of treatment is very important in regards to value. For example, we all know that 99.9% of emeralds are treated, but the type and amount of treatment is very important to estimate the true value. A stone with minor and faint treatment will be far more expensive than one with moderate treatment, if all else is equal.

 

[Pandora II]

To properly test the emerald will almost certainly require it to be removed from the mounting. Is the vendor happy for this to happen?

From what I understand, the exact same tests will be done for oil, filler, irradiation (yes, they irradiate emeralds) etc by AGL whichever report you buy, the Prestige merely gives you more details.

BTW, it is almost impossible to find an emerald that hasn't been exposed to oil - they dip the rough in it to help judge the clarity when they are sorting the rough.

The details are important though when it comes to emeralds, because the amount of treatment is very important in regards to value. For example, we all know that 99.9% of emeralds are treated, but the type and amount of treatment is very important to estimate the true value. A stone with minor and faint treatment will be far more expensive than one with moderate treatment, if all else is equal.

To properly assess quantity of treatment don't you need to have the oil/fillers removed?

I must admit that if I was the ebay seller I wouldn't be too happy about having a stone unmounted and/or potentially stripped of any treatments without a firm commitment to buy due to the possibility of damage.

 

[T L]

To properly test the emerald will almost certainly require it to be removed from the mounting. Is the vendor happy for this to happen?

From what I understand, the exact same tests will be done for oil, filler, irradiation (yes, they irradiate emeralds) etc by AGL whichever report you buy, the Prestige merely gives you more details.

BTW, it is almost impossible to find an emerald that hasn't been exposed to oil - they dip the rough in it to help judge the clarity when they are sorting the rough.

The details are important though when it comes to emeralds, because the amount of treatment is very important in regards to value. For example, we all know that 99.9% of emeralds are treated, but the type and amount of treatment is very important to estimate the true value. A stone with minor and faint treatment will be far more expensive than one with moderate treatment, if all else is equal.

To properly assess quantity of treatment don't you need to have the oil/fillers removed?

I must admit that if I was the ebay seller I wouldn't be too happy about having a stone unmounted and/or potentially stripped of any treatments without a firm commitment to buy due to the possibility of damage.

No, not to my knowledge. Most of the fillers are on the surface cracks of the gem, and can be diagnostically evaluated. I had two gemologists evaluate emeralds that way, and one was an emerald specialist.

 

[justginger]

I assumed the AGL would keep the stone set, as they have mounted and unmounted pricing, with the mounted being more expensive. The last time I attempted to contact them via email (difficult to call from Australia) I received no response to two contact attempts, so not sure how successful enquiring for myself would be.

For the price I would be paying, I am happy with light to moderate oiling. No fillers. My Gary Braun emerald is unoiled and very much resembles the eBay item in question. I understand that looks mean nothing, but it's just not a gem that looks to be "too good to be true," IYKWIM.

What the seller wants is for me to purchase the ring outright, have it shipped to AGL myself, and then if the treatment is unacceptable, I can return for a full refund. She has offered to amend the listing to explicitly state the level of acceptable treatment and required examination by AGL.

I think I will suggest escrow.

Edited: incorrect cutter amended

 

[VapidLapid]

Is the seller in the States? If so then I would think they would be happy to save on the time sending the ring all over the planet before finding out if the sale is final or not. Also the import duties bringing the ring into australia and out and then back in would be best avoided, which most sellers understand. IF it comes to this please have the entire itinerary for the ring's travels spelled out beforehand, including the understanding that if the stone turns out to be overly treated, and say for expediencies sake you have AGL send it directly back to the vendor, that it is known and agreed that they then are sending it in effect as your agent, and will properly pack, document and insure it.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

I assumed the AGL would keep the stone set, as they have mounted and unmounted pricing, with the mounted being more expensive. The last time I attempted to contact them via email (difficult to call from Australia) I received no response to two contact attempts, so not sure how successful enquiring for myself would be.

For the price I would be paying, I am happy with light to moderate oiling. No fillers. My Gary Braun emerald is unoiled and very much resembles the eBay item in question. I understand that looks mean nothing, but it's just not a gem that looks to be "too good to be true," IYKWIM.

What the seller wants is for me to purchase the ring outright, have it shipped to AGL myself, and then if the treatment is unacceptable, I can return for a full refund. She has offered to amend the listing to explicitly state the level of acceptable treatment and required examination by AGL.

I think I will suggest escrow.

Edited: incorrect cutter amended

I think your request is more than fair and even generous. I think escrow is a good idea. Remember the situation with a forum member who sent a stone to the lab and the seller did not want to refund her claiming the stone was damaged in transit after the lab report? I am not saying that would happen but it did happen once and the buyer had to jump through hoops to get her money back.

 

[chrono]

Yes, one has to commit to purchase the stone BUT based on the result of the lab memo. If all is as stated, the sale is guaranteed. If not, then the buyer isn't obligated to purchase the stone but has to pay for the lab memo.

As for checking the level of treatment, no, the filler does not have to be removed.

 

[LD]

I have actually offered to cover the cost of the lab report regardless of if I purchase. It's information for my use and I think that is fair. I am still mulling the situation over, but thanks for the info about the shortcomings of the brief report.

This is the important bit for me. If you've offered to cover the cost of the lab report and don't expect to be refunded if it is less than favourable, then I don't understand why the vendor might refuse. I hadn't understood that so thank you for clarifying. Is the vendor absolutely clear that you are happy to do this? If so, then I'm a bit at a loss to understand why they won't.