The importance of the dates on the cert.

[PreCiouSJeWeL920]

Hi all the colored stone lover, How important the date which the colored gem certified is? I know that, for example diamond, you try to look for the ones certified within 6 months. If it is too long there would be the questions like why it did not sell or where it had been for all this time. But what about colored gem? Are they treated the same as diamond? How do you all like this sapphire? any comments? Thanks in advance.

 

[PreCiouSJeWeL920]

Oops! The picture did not show up. Let me try one more time.

 

[PreCiouSJeWeL920]

Sorry, I tried the fancy way. But it did not work for me. Hope this time it will work. Thanks

 

[mogok]

Well to my opinion dates can be conidered as important as if the report is very recent then there is less chance that some kind of treatment like irradiation (which does not affect the size or weight but can change the color especially for yellow or orange stones) to be performed on the stone.

But whatever a date cannot really be used as a proof of anything. It can be considered as a good sign if the report is recent but there is no real secure way about that:
I remember one time about a stone that came in the lab I work in 2 times, the second time the customer was angry about the result as we gave the stone as a synhtetic and not anymore natural. he bring us the report and we had to admit that color, weight and measurements were the same, but the stone had obviously been switched as the fluorescence and the inclusions were different... Only 3 weeks were separating the 2 reports. The same result can in thery happen even if the report is only one day old...
The only way to be secure secure would be to have the stone sealed with the report attached and a way to detect if the seal was broken.
But even that can be counterfeit...

Ok... I'm may be too alarming. But seriously, common sense have to be applied:
If a color stone has a report: its already a good sign,
if the report is compatible with the stone and is recent its even better,
Then if the stone is not really expensive then the common sense say that fake makers will not loose their time to make a perfect fake (that is not that cheap) for such a low profit...

Now of course if you have a stone that worth $10.000 and up its different story. In this case if you are dealing with that you can understand that some gemological knowledge will make you sleep better!
Or you can go with the stone and its owner to a lab and get a new report. Then you can be sure if you take the stone at the exit of the lab that it was not switched.
The easier way is to my knowledge to be able to check by your self and understand the report: The best way is so go go to study color stones in a place in which you will really get something better than the basics:
I usually recommend AIGS course of Gemology in Bangkok which is the stronger course on color stones I know (as they are in the hub of color stone business and have probably the best collection of color stones available to study for their students) It is is english and can be taken in 6 months... It cost less than $3500 and you get an A.G. diploma.
AIGS "synthetic and treatment" course in which you will see and study all the different synthetics rubies and sapphire:
- flux from Kashan, Ramaura, Chatham, Douros, Russian hydrothermal, Knischka, Leichleitner
- and of course the flame fusion and Czochralski (heated or not)...

you will also study heated, diffused, irradiated sapphires and the famous "beryllium treated" stones.

This course can be done in one month and cost less than $1000... Many gemologists with european or GIA diploma are coming to this class in order to complete their formation.

Hoping to have helped,

 

[katbadness]

----------------
On 5/14/2004 9:07:35 PM PreCiouSJeWeL920 wrote:

Hi all the colored stone lover, How important the date which the colored gem certified is? I know that, for example diamond, you try to look for the ones certified within 6 months. If it is too long there would be the questions like why it did not sell or where it had been for all this time. But what about colored gem? Are they treated the same as diamond? How do you all like this sapphire? any comments? Thanks in advance.
----------------

Regarding the possible mishaps with the cert. I have to defer to what mogok says.

However, on a more positive note...

when you purchase your stone, you can take a few extra steps to ensure that the stone you're getting is exactly the one that was certified.

1. Assuming that the stone was certified by an independent lab (AGL, AGTA, etc. and not an in-house lab) you can have the cert re-verification to be the term of the purchase whereby you have the certifying lab to be an more or less independent intermediary between you and the seller.
   
   The seller sends the stone and the cert to the lab that certified the stone, the lab runs some tests to make sure that the cert and the stone concur, then when everything checks out, the lab can send the stone to you.
   
2. Another viable option for verification is to include an independent appraiser in your terms of purchase.

I have personally gone through process no. 1. It was a relatively smooth (albeit a little lengthy) process, but for me it was worth the extra cost and time I spent on it.

I hope my answer helps you. Good luck on your purchase!

BTW... did I tell you that stone looks absolutely gorgeous??