what stone do you think this is?

[Brightshiny]

The seller describes it as a 5 ct, 9.4mm Malaya garnet from the 1950s. I don't think there were Malaya garnets in the 1950s. The listing describes the stone as "black raspberry" color and "pink-purple." In the hand pic, it looks a little more golden, even brown. I kind of like the color - it's interesting and a bit unusual.

What stone/garnet do you think this is, and what would you expect to see color-wise in person? too brownish/regular garnet shade, or the fun shade of red-pink-purple in some of the pics?

 

[Odyssey44]

I will let others with more experience opine on the type of garnet, but something is bothering me about the middle of this stone. It always looks brown and flat. Any color flashes appear around the outside. There is no picture looking straight down on the table. I'd want to see that.

Also, the light used in those white background pictures seems like it's from Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Waaaaayyyy bright. I have never been able to reproduce colors when this kind of vendor super-light is used. I'm about to mention my disappointment with a recent bicolor tourmaline in person that was likely super-lit in vendor photos.

 

[Autumn in New England]

It doesn't have the traditional malaya coloration, but I do see some peachy flashes, so that may be why the vendor believes it to be malaya. Honestly, it looks more like a warm rhodolite to me, but who knows. It would need to be tested to be sure. I agree with @Odyssey44 though... I think you're going to see a fairly obvious window looking straight at the ring (I'd ask for those photos). Also, unless you happen to really love this color, I would say it's nothing special... dark, desaturated, muddy, lackluster. Certainly if you're specifically looking for a true malaya, you can do much better, my friend.

P.S. As you said, Umba Valley malayas weren't discovered until the 60's, but it could also be that this ring is simply misdated.