Double E
Brilliant_Rock
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2018
- Messages
- 956
The first thing I would do is make sure the stone comes from an independent reputable lab, of which I've never heard of this particular AGL lab, not to be confused with the other AGL called American Gemological Lab in NY, USA.
So I tried to find this particular AGL (Antwerp Gemological Lab) and found this:
Looks like an ok website with a verification page but for some reason the contact page for me is blank.
Too late to edit now but I want to correct my text. I meant to say:
Make sure the stone is accompanied by a lab memo from an independent reputable lab.
I did not mean to say stones are sold by labs.
I think $590 for an untreated intensely hot pink 1.2 ct sapphire is suspicious, which is why I took a closer look at the lab memo.
You’ve got a lovely pink stone^^ on a good price too!I bought this untreated pink sapphire this year, similarly a 7x5 pear, which DID come with a reputable lab report, and directly from Ceylon, for about $625 with store discounts. This is not the best pic of it, but it's the only one I could find before I put it away. I cannot think of any vendor from whom I could have bought this sapphire for any less money than I paid for it, and the saturation is vivid, just not hot hot pink.
So the AGL that's not the reputable American lab, and the $590 price makes it suspect in my eyes. Either the photos had been doctored, or the stone has had undisclosed treatment.
I think in the same wayThe color is gorgeous! I hope the stone is legit because it really is beautiful.
I think it seems too good to be true
It’s usually a question of hand offs. Every pair of hands a stone passed through adds a margin. Closer to source usually means less intermediaries taking a cut. Basic economics. That doesn’t mean there aren’t exceptions - but logic dictates the majority of stones are going to be less expensive from source.
And clearly it depends if you have the contacts or relationships.
I’m suspect of the lab.
I don’t believe it’s based in Antwerp, and they’re obviously trying to use an acronym identical to the top tier gem lab, “American Gemological Laboratories.”
I personally would not purchase a pink sapphire without a more well known lab.
If it comes from an IG seller who is based in country of origin I can see how that price would be reasonable. It’s not far off what I’d pay for a similar stone. And the clarity doesn’t look great frankly so I wouldn’t expect to be charged more for it.
BUT I only buy from sellers I know and trust. If you’ve bought from this vendor before, or have a recommendation from someone who has, then it’s not priced too good to be true. Necessarily. But if it’s a new vendor with no track record that you’ve never heard of before I’d be concerned.
Also agree with the others about the lab report...
Apparently the lab is run out of Sri Lanka not Antwerp and this name Antwerp Gemological Laboratory gives them the acronym ”AGL” which is very similar to the very reputable and very well regarded American Gemological Laboratory.
No coincidence there!
The ”AGL” website is extremely sparse so I wouldn’t trust the accuracy of the report. It might be corundum but it could be flux filled, BE treated or with significant fissures that will affect suitability for setting / wearing.
So while $590 would be a great price for a fissure free unheated pink sapphire, $590 would be way too much for a highly treated and/or unstable pink sapphire.
This idea of stones be much less expensive in the country of origin is not exactly accurate. I have been to Africa several times, and the prices there are not much different than what I can buy rough stones sitting home. I have even seen dealers from Africa, at the Tucson shows buying African rough to take back home and resell at a profit.
I suppose it depends on the stones and the source. Most of what I buy is corundum, beryl, tourmaline and spinel originating from Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Thailand and Pakistan. I don’t generally buy anything from Africa. Even the online vendors I’ve looked at have prices which are unappealing for me so I can well believe what you’re saying about sourcing from that region.
The same however does not hold true about the regions I buy from, in my personal experience. It’s far cheaper to purchase from the geographies I mention above for the stones I collect than to buy from anywhere in Europe or the US in general.
But I am talking as a private individual not a member of the Trade. So the experiences of a professional buyer May clearly vary from a personal collector.
But you know Gene, they see you coming at Tuscon. I never bought from a gem show. Prices are to high.
Of course I bought only faceted stones. Not rough.
Maybe you have not been to the right shows in Tucson, nor met the right dealers. Many of the Tucson shows are quite different from those smaller traveling shows you see pop up all over the USA.
This idea of stones be much less expensive in the country of origin is not exactly accurate. I have been to Africa several times, and the prices there are not much different than what I can buy rough stones sitting home. I have even seen dealers from Africa, at the Tucson shows buying African rough to take back home and resell at a profit.
It’s usually a question of hand offs. Every pair of hands a stone passed through adds a margin. Closer to source usually means less intermediaries taking a cut. Basic economics. That doesn’t mean there aren’t exceptions - but logic dictates the majority of stones are going to be less expensive from source.
And clearly it depends if you have the contacts or relationships.
Most stones are not cut and sold from the source. Much material is purchased by large dealers from China and Bangkok who do the cutting in their own countries. Sapphires rough from Sri Lanka is not allowed to be taken out of the country, so all that material is cut in Sri Lanka, but not at the mines. Most of the sapphire from Madagascar is purchased by Sri Lankans, and then brought back to Sri Lanka and cut.
I have been out in the bush in Africa, and offered stones there for basically the same price I can buy them from US rough dealers. Very low quality stones can be purchased at low prices, but anyone with top material knows what they are worth. It's very very very very to see a nice stone offered anywhere for a bargain price. Even deep in the bush they have cell phones, and anyone in this business knows what the value of their stones are.
In many countries it is not legal for miners to sell material except through a dealer in that country. The stones are regulated, and recorded with the Ministry's of mining or natural resources. When I go to Africa, I have to work with a local dealer. If I were to buy directly from a miner I could end up in a lot trouble. So you work with a registered dealer, then the parcel is inspected by the government, and a tax is paid on what is being exported. The parcel is then sealed and can legally be taken out of the country.