Help: Tips on evaluating new gem stones

[DotDot]

Hello all,

I was inspired by the gem collections shared on the forum and recently started purchasing color stones from PS vendors.

While most of vendors are kind enough to offer 7-10 days evaluation period, as a newbie, I am not sure what to look for to evaluate a stone.

Can you please offer some tips on how you evaluating your purchase? What do you look for when stones arrive? Are you all GGs or GIA educated or have a GG on standby?

Any tips are much appreciated. (I hope my questions are not too naive. I am trying to learn. ).

 

[FrekeChild]

Questions I ask myself:

Is it as described/pictured?

Do I like it?

That's about it, I'm afraid.

 

[marymm]

In addition to Freke's points above, also:

I make sure to look at it in different lighting environments - indoor indirect daylight (near window), incandescent, fluorescent, and outside in daylight. I like to look at it loose in-between my fingers, and also placed in an empty semi-mount.

I do try to buy eyeclean gemstones, but will closely examine the stone (just with my eyes, not a loupe) in the various lights to see if any inclusions/blemishes may become visible in certain lighting and/or held at certain angles.

And I look at it against my skin, against different metals, to see if I can envision it on my hand in the right setting.

Then I decide do I *love* it and does it meet my expectations for the stone - if I don't love it, I return it; or if I love it but still will keep looking for another similar stone because the current stone for whatever reason is not meeting my expections, then I make a cost/benefit analysis to see if I can afford to keep it and still buy another stone.

 

[T L]

I know it's a lot to read, but I highly recommend taking this thread in.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-to-coloured-gemstone-buying-read-this-first.174284/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-to-coloured-gemstone-buying-read-this-first.174284/[/URL]

 

[deskjockey]

I'm pretty new to this, and tend to like everything I see, but when I get something, really the only thing I do is carry it around with me for a day or two to see how it looks in different light, and decide if I like it.

I haven't returned anything yet, but my collection is a whopping four stones, and if I get around to looking at higher priced things I think I will become more picky ($45 on a topaz, I'm not too fussed if it has a little brown. $6000 on a sapphire, on the other hand, I think I'm going to want something with no grey).

But ultimately the cool thing about CS from my point of view is that it's so subjective, and really comes down to "do you love it" or not. (major cut things, or bad color, or "not as advertised" aside)

 

[chrono]

Is the hue, tone and saturation what I am looking for?
Is there any colour zoning (if it applies to the gem type)?
How much does the colour shift (indoors/outdoors, direct/indirect light, low light/strong light)?
How is the cut quality - windowing, tilt window, pancake/bloated belly, extinction, symmetry, polish?
Is the stone eye clean?

Depending on the cost of the stone, I am more particular with the above or less stringent. In cases where treatment is more common to the gem type, the price paid and my preference, I may or may not want the stone accompanied by a lab report verifying its treatment or lack of it.

Just be extremely careful not to accidentally drop the stone or it will be damaged and unreturnable.

 

[JewelFreak]

The only other thing I can add is not to feel sheepish about returning a stone that isn't what you want. That's part of doing business on the internet for vendors of anything -- because people can't see items IRL before buying. Monitors differ in color representation, photographing stones accurately is really really really tough, and I found at first that judging size, even with a chart, wasn't easy either, depending on cut. You also can't tell till you try it how a certain color will look against your skin tone.

When I was first buying online, I hesitated to send stones back & wish now that I hadn't been so timid. I have several that are nice but not what I wanted, will eventually sell them; if I'd returned them it wouldn't be necessary.

 

[minousbijoux]

The only other thing I can add is not to feel sheepish about returning a stone that isn't what you want. That's part of doing business on the internet for vendors of anything -- because people can't see items IRL before buying. Monitors differ in color representation, photographing stones accurately is really really really tough, and I found at first that judging size, even with a chart, wasn't easy either, depending on cut. You also can't tell till you try it how a certain color will look against your skin tone.

When I was first buying online, I hesitated to send stones back & wish now that I hadn't been so timid. I have several that are nice but not what I wanted, will eventually sell them; if I'd returned them it wouldn't be necessary.

This.

 

[DotDot]

Thank you all for the great tips. I have put some of the tips in use already. I have taken in stones without returning any of them, so the tip about not feeling shy about returning is an eye opener. Have your experience with returning to PS vendors all been positive?

Do you generally trust the vendors for their identification and treatment disclaimer? If someone buys off of eBay (I haven't dared to), does it required a GG to do a full evaluation? Do you have a GG on stand-by that you can share his/her info with me?

Thank you again!

 

[chrono]

The vetted vendors on PS made the list for their good customer service, honesty and good return/refund policies. Some people have had better experience than others though, but on the whole, I have not seen any major complaints. I have not purchased from all on the list but returns to the few I have purchased from has been quick and hassle free.

For certain types of gems, I trust their word because there are no known synthetics or treatments. For gem types that tend to be more commonly and highly treated, I would request that the stone be sent to either GIA or AGL for confirmation and have the sale contingent upon the outcome. I also take the price of the gem into consideration. It would not be cost effective to send a $100 gem for a $60 AGL gem brief. I would only purchase very inexpensive items off eBay. If buying pricier gems from trusted eBay vendors, I would make sure the vendor sends the gem to a good lab for verification. My price threshold for untested eBay vendors is $100.

 

[T L]

If someone buys off of eBay (I haven't dared to), does it required a GG to do a full evaluation? Do you have a GG on stand-by that you can share his/her info with me?

Thank you again!

Well, there are highly reputable vendors on ebay, and some that are unscrupulous. Ebay gets this reputation of being a "pit of crooks," but it's really only a marketplace where lots of vendors meet. There are some highly reputable vendors like Leibish, DBL, Dan Stair, Primagems, and others that have ebay stores.

I highly recommend toolhaus.org to sort out the feedback, and some vendors do provide a reputable lab report with their gems. I would beware of vendors that use labs that no one has ever heard of, or labs that do not have a website. I would also beware of vendors that have stones that are sold for "too good to be true" pricing. For example, "20 carat Burmese Sapphire starting at a 99 cents reserve."