Noob Demantoid Garnet Question

WestySteve · Apr 1, 2014

Hello all,

I've stumbled across colored gems as a hobby, and I'm having fun with them. I am having some trouble with Demantoid Garnets.

I just purchased a small half-carat Demantoid to replace a stone on a ring. Perhaps I made a mistake, but I bought it off of ebay from a seller who had over a thousand perfect transactions (100%). This seller was out of Thailand...and the stone originated from Namibia.

Now that I bought it, I have some buyers remorse. the stone cost me just over $50. It looks pretty good. Yet I see prices "all over the map"...even for stones this small. So it makes me wonder if I bought some kind of imitation. I'd like to think that if someone was selling synthetic stuff, they wouldn't have such good feedback.

Here's the stone: http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr129/stevereecy/demantoid_zps9e4c1c5f.jpg

http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr129/stevereecy/demantoid_zps9e4c1c5f.jpg

So I guess my question is why are prices so radically different? I understand how much cut and clarity play into the value of a stone, but this stone looks pretty good for both. Was my "too good to be true" price a ruse?

FWIW, I've seen the same kind of thing with Tanzanite.

Steve

T L · Apr 1, 2014

WestySteve|1396359768|3644959 said:
Hello all,

I've stumbled across colored gems as a hobby, and I'm having fun with them. I am having some trouble with Demantoid Garnets.

I just purchased a small half-carat Demantoid to replace a stone on a ring. Perhaps I made a mistake, but I bought it off of ebay from a seller who had over a thousand perfect transactions (100%). This seller was out of Thailand...and the stone originated from Namibia.

Now that I bought it, I have some buyers remorse. the stone cost me just over $50. It looks pretty good. Yet I see prices "all over the map"...even for stones this small. So it makes me wonder if I bought some kind of imitation. I'd like to think that if someone was selling synthetic stuff, they wouldn't have such good feedback.

Here's the stone: http://i476.hosting site images not allowed/albums/rr129/stevereecy/demantoid_zps9e4c1c5f.jpg

http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr129/stevereecy/demantoid_zps9e4c1c5f.jpg

So I guess my question is why are prices so radically different? I understand how much cut and clarity play into the value of a stone, but this stone looks pretty good for both. Was my "too good to be true" price a ruse?

FWIW, I've seen the same kind of thing with Tanzanite.

Steve

It's only a half carat, and the color is a brownish yellow, which is not ideal, so perhaps that's why you got a good deal. Sometimes sphene is used as a simulant too, but it could be a very inexpensive demantoid. If you're unsure, send it to AGL for a gem brief, but for what you paid, it might not be worth it. If you know a gemologist who is competent in colored stones (not just diamonds), then you may also want to get it tested there too, but AGL will be accurate in their determination.

Tanzanite can be all over the place in pricing too, and color plays an important role in how its priced. Pale or flat purples don't command the prices that those darkish violet blues call for. Clarity also plays a role in tanzanite pricing as well.

WestySteve · Apr 1, 2014

Excellent! Just the news I was looking for. I'd rather hear it was off-color than fake. I am a noob at this, so it's interesting that color plays such a role. I guess I need to see some nicely colored ones so I can tell them from the poorly colored ones. Same with Tanzanite. Still, I'm hopeful this new stone will look pretty good on a ring.

Thanks so much,

Steve

chrono · Apr 1, 2014

As far as I know, there is no synthetic demantoid although a sphene can pass off as one. Colour is what sets the price so a pure green with colour that jumps out at you (rather than an olive coloured gem) is more expensive. I agree that for $50, it's not worth sending it off to a lab for verification. Demantoid is a soft stone and not recommended as a ring stone. If you decide to pursue this route, make sure the bench has a soft hand and is experienced with setting such gems or else expect to see major chips in your new stone.

WestySteve · Apr 1, 2014

Thanks for the suggestion. I've picked out a setting that has sort of a backing plate surrounding the stone that will help protect its edges. I usually set my own stones, but this is one I'll probably hand off to someone with more experience.

From what I've read, these are harder than Opals, and my wife has been wearing Opals for years. Though the matrix might be more conducive to cleaving...is that right?

minousbijoux · Apr 1, 2014

Just and fyi: buying on ebay is its own challenge. Regarding buying stones in general, we all pretty much live by the "trust but verify" motto - this goes doubly so for ebay. At the very least, use toolhaus.org to check their feedback before buying. Also, you can search the vendor's name here as well, since many have bought from ebay sellers and they are often discussed here. HTH.

WestySteve · Apr 3, 2014

Good info. Thanks. I collect other things, and I've seen firestorms start up when people discuss ebay sellers. So who are the reputable ebay sellers? Or is there already a thread listing them?

chrono · Apr 3, 2014

WestySteve|1396548662|3646721 said:
Good info. Thanks. I collect other things, and I've seen firestorms start up when people discuss ebay sellers. So who are the reputable ebay sellers? Or is there already a thread listing them?

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