Sold a Bracelet Authentication said had incorrect Gemstones can I get some ID help on them please?

Hello all. I made a post here explaining my situation https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/I-sold-an-expensive-Bracelet-the-other-day-and-it-failed/m-p/35550352#M2679477

but essentially this item https://www.ebay.com/itm/267179531638 just failed authentication due to "Secondary Gemstones" even though I have none listed and the Main Gemstones are listed as "Assorted".

In the Description, however, I do list a variety of gemstones. I got the information of the gem types from my mother who did research on the bracelet and found similar ones with those Gemstones, so she thought that was the correct ones.... However now it seems that was incorrect? I would appreciate it if I could have some help in identifying which ones are incorrect and what the actual gemstones are, please?

The Authenticator didn't tell me anything about what was actually wrong and how to correct it, which I find to be a bit annoying because it passed as an Authentic item, but just not the correct gemstones apparently, so I don't get why they couldn't help me out and now I have to go figuring this all out myself....

I also want to ask, if I end up having to relist this item, should I just remove any mention of what the Gemstones could be? My mother got an Appraisal years ago that just said "Rainbow" and "Assorted" Gemstones, so I want to know if that is enough, or if I would have to actually list out the correct gemstones? I just don't want to have to go through this again. Shipping was $90 to the Authenticator.

This is just an awful situation so any help with trying to figure this all is EXTREMELY APPRECIATED! Thank you!

EDIT:

So I just got off the phone with an eBay Agent and it just makes things that more confusing.

She was a bit confusing, but it seemed like the only Gemstone that was incorrect was "Peridot," and from what she said in the notes that all the others were correct (why was I not given this information, but it was included for eBay Agents?). I forgot to ask if I could get a copy of that to my email, so I will try and schedule another call, but she basically said to try to relist it as "Assorted Gemstones," and that "Should work," but from the replies to this thread it sounds like this isn't a good idea.

If I removed "Peridot" would the information be okay as is? It sounds like I need a lot more information from what previous replies said, but I'm not sure. From what my parents said they didn't have enhanced or lab gems back then, but I don't know.

Another listing, here https://www.ebay.com/itm/117089989734

, just lists the types as well, but nothing else besides that, so is this a legitimate listing as well?

This is an actual Jeweler so I would assume they were doing the listing correctly.

The agent was not the most helpful unfortunately. They basically said that they can't interpret what the Authenticator said and can just read from what they were given, and there's no way to contact an authenticator and try to figure this out more for what I need.

They really didn't know how I would list this and just said to try assorted gemstones and see if it works, as they weren't sure, and weren't sure if just removing "Peridot" if it would work. I wish there was more info I could be given and I wish I could get some actual help for how to move forward.

They just said to relist it as if it was no big deal, until I told them it cost $90 to ship this item and then they were shocked. I don't have $90 to waste every single time.

Thank you for any help.

ratoliprova

122 View listings

Posted 5 months ago · Edited 5 months ago·Last reply 5 months ago

5 comments

idealgems1

·5 months ago

423 View listings

Good for you! H. Stern is a quality name that sells lots of gems from Brazil...and tourmalines are found in abundance in Brazil. Just so you know, they overlap in price depending on quality, but generally tourmalines are more expensive than garnets or peridot.

Wishing you all the best!

idealgems1

·5 months ago

423 View listings

As a Graduate Gemologist, of course my first piece of advice is to take it to a Gemologist to have the gems properly identified before selling. But short of that, here is some additional advice.

Rainbow genuine gem jewelry like this usually didn't include tourmaline. Typically, they included amethyst, blue topaz, citrine, garnet, and peridot. Although some of the green gemstones in your photos appear darker than a typical peridot, there's a good chance that all the green gems are peridot, not tourmaline.

Also be advised that virtually all commercial blue topaz has been irradiated in order to give it the blue color. You will want to list that as a gem treatment. Most citrine and sometimes amethyst is also heat treated.

So, if you don't want to pay to have your bracelet properly identified, you may be ok by removing tourmaline and changing topaz to blue topaz, so as not to imply precious topaz yellow gems. I think you might be pretty safe if you said, "genuine gems that include, but may not be limited to, amethyst, blue topaz, citrine, garnet, and peridot", plus listing gem treatments of irradiation and heat.

Also, when you spoke to the eBay representative, did you speak to a representative that specifically worked with JEWELRY AUTHENTICATION? If not, you should speak with them. They are more helpful than the front-line reps. But you will have be insistent and persistent to get to them.

Good luck!

ratoliprova

OP5 months ago

122 View listings

@idealgems1 wrote:
As a Graduate Gemologist, of course my first piece of advice is to take it to a Gemologist to have the gems properly identified before selling. But short of that, here is some additional advice.

Rainbow genuine gem jewelry like this usually didn't include tourmaline. Typically, they included amethyst, blue topaz, citrine, garnet, and peridot. Although some of the green gemstones in your photos appear darker than a typical peridot, there's a good chance that all the green gems are peridot, not tourmaline.

Also be advised that virtually all commercial blue topaz has been irradiated in order to give it the blue color. You will want to list that as a gem treatment. Most citrine and sometimes amethyst is also heat treated.

So, if you don't want to pay to have your bracelet properly identified, you may be ok by removing tourmaline and changing topaz to blue topaz, so as not to imply precious topaz yellow gems. I think you might be pretty safe if you said, "genuine gems that include, but may not be limited to, amethyst, blue topaz, citrine, garnet, and peridot", plus listing gem treatments of irradiation and heat.

Also, when you spoke to the eBay representative, did you speak to a representative that specifically worked with JEWELRY AUTHENTICATION? If not, you should speak with them. They are more helpful than the front-line reps. But you will have be insistent and persistent to get to them.

Good luck!

@idealgems1

Thank you for your post, I appreciate it.

you asked at the end if I spoke to a regular rep or someone in the Authentication area, and today I was actually able to speak to someone from Customer Service specifically from "Authenticity Guarantee," and got more info.

They claimed that it was okay for me to just list Assorted Gemstones, while many others on here mentioned I had to list specific gemstones, so it seems that it is okay to not list everything. Hopefully the representative is correct in that assertion though.

So funny enough, here is what they mentioned in the Email they sent me.

"the authenticators found that the listing stated tourmaline and garnet, both pink and green tested tourmaline; the listing stated peridot, not peridot, the Stone ID: tested citrine, amethyst, topaz, tourmaline (green, pink)."

So apparently they actually include 2 different colors of Tourmaline lol. Garnet and Peridot are actually the 2 that they said were NOT on the bracelet.

My listing states "natural topaz, Tourmaline, garnet, Citrine, Peridot, Amethyst."

As for listing the heat treatment is that required? When speaking to the Rep they just made it seem that all we had to do was make sure the listing didn't say anything that wasn't correct, and that I could just list Assorted Gemstones and be okay. My mother, who I'm making the listing for, wanted to list the ones they verified, so we are going to list "the Stone ID: tested citrine, amethyst, topaz, tourmaline (green, pink)."

Yeah the Phrase "Gems that include ......" was mentioned by the rep I believe, so that is how we were going to phrase it. "Assorted Gemstones that include ...."

I appreciate your time and help, thank you! and I hope that what the rep said is correct and I don't have to list every detail, the heat treatments, etc, because their notes didn't say anything about that and the rep didn't indicate that would be needed. Granted, I'm not sure if he would have noticed that, or if Authenticators would care. I'm going to add a note to the Authenticator to just let them know the buyer wants it as is and just hopefully be able to make the process smoother, because the Buyer is buying this to replace one they lost a few weeks ago, that they had for 40 years, and since mine is also from 40 years ago it's a perfect replacement. The Gemstones are NOT a key/focal point of this sale.

Thank you.

fabrics24

·5 months ago

24 View listings

I can't say I'm super experienced with ebay jewelry sales (I make a lot of jewelry, but I don't sell it here), but I've known people to find success in changing the category to fashion jewelry when authentication doesn't work. Obviously it's not a perfect solution, and it's frustrating that authentication doesn't give you any insight as to why the process failed, but when the buyer is willing to pay what it's worth despite that, it's an option.

If possible, could we still get some more pictures of the gemstones? We could still try to ID them, if you're okay with that. I'm wondering if you either a.) have olivine in there, which is technically peridot but not "gem quality", or b.) if there's a mix of "fashion" gemstones or colored glass that the authenticator decided lowers the value.

ratoliprova

OP5 months ago

122 View listings

@fabrics24 wrote:
I can't say I'm super experienced with ebay jewelry sales (I make a lot of jewelry, but I don't sell it here), but I've known people to find success in changing the category to fashion jewelry when authentication doesn't work. Obviously it's not a perfect solution, and it's frustrating that authentication doesn't give you any insight as to why the process failed, but when the buyer is willing to pay what it's worth despite that, it's an option.

If possible, could we still get some more pictures of the gemstones? We could still try to ID them, if you're okay with that. I'm wondering if you either a.) have olivine in there, which is technically peridot but not "gem quality", or b.) if there's a mix of "fashion" gemstones or colored glass that the authenticator decided lowers the value.

@fabrics

Thank you, I will check into the Fashion Jewelry situation and see how that works. I already have a buyer so there's no issue with that, but I heard the Authenticity claim helps me as a seller with Seller Protection, but I'm not sure of the specifics.

I actually did get a little more information on what happened from another Agent today. I got transferred to the actual Authenticity Support Team and they were much more helpful.

The information states.

I can try to get some more photos once I get the bracelet back. I do appreciate your help. I doubt there are any fashion gemstones in this, as it was a high-end brand, so everything should be natural. My parents both said that 40 years ago in the 1980's they also didn't have treated or lab-made stuff, but I don't know if that's fully true. It seems that everything with this should be Natural Gemstones though.