another authentication problem

[junkmom2]

I recently had listed a gorgeous 1820s Georgian memorial ring. I had taken the ring to my jewelers to discuss the main stone. Because the stone is mounted in a closed back ring, he couldnt do the normal testing.  He felt strongly that is was an aquamarine. I listed the item and put in the description that I couldnt guarantee the stone.  It went to the authenticators who had it over a week. I got a message that it was being returned, not as described. When actually it did pass (and the authenticators said it did.) Apparently The GIA lab was able to test the stone and it came back as BERYL.  They needed to contact the buyer to let him know and the buyer never responded. After 4 days Ebay put a hold on my funds has sent me back the ring. All of the messages that I had gotten from ebay made me feel as if I had cheated someone. There was no explanation in my emails. I had to call ebay to find out what happened. I have relisted the ring, with the proper description. I was told by the ebay rep that I had over described the ring and I shouldnt do that when selling vintage jewelery. WTH....any other time ebay gets you for not giving out enough info. EBAY needs to do better at communicating with sellers as to issues at hand. If they would have told me I would have contacted the buyer directly instead of relying on there messaging service.  EBAY HAS TAKEN ALL OF THE FUN OUT OF SELLING. IVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 25 YEARS AND ITS GETTING WORSE BY THE DAY.L

[junkmom2]

Apparently.

[junkmom2]

If it were cracked I GUARANTEE the authenticators would have noticed...lol

[krazzykats]

Perhaps my color perception is not accurate, but I do not see any aquamarine hues. It more like a gray-colored glass stone, whatever that may be.

Shouldn't aquamarine exhibit a somewhat bluish or greenish tint?

Maybe better pictures of the stones coloring?  Or am I looking at the wrong ring?

[fashunu4eeuh]

@krazzykats Viewed the sold listing and my perception is like yours. The stone looked rather clear but with a grey sheen. Gorgeous ring though!

@junkmom2 Your listings are fantastic! Great photos, attention to detail, good use of Item Specifics, gorgeous items of beautiful quality. My only notes are 1) the color of the gemstones look dark to me, such as the sapphire ring—the main stone looks black (see screenshot below). (Viewing the listings in the app on my Apple smartphone 14.), and

2) you have No Returns selected. That can open a window for a determined unhappy buyer. If he wants a refund and sees no returns, he may go straight to a Money Back Guarantee claim, with its accompanying penalties.  i do understand the appeal of choosing No Returns. It’s a decision every seller faces.

Wish you much continued success!

 

[junkmom2]

I have added a pic with light shining thru the stones. This is not a high quality ring so the sapphires are darker. The reason for no returns.  I had issues with people just returning stuff. If I sell an item and its not as described I will always refund. Thank you for looking and giving me your thoughts.

[junkmom2]

Its a steely grey blue stone. it was determined that I was incorrect. Stones can be very hard to photograph.

Its crazy but aquamarines can be beryls.

[krazzykats]

Yes, but all the aquamarine beryls I looked at showed a little more blue or green....just saying...still a lovely ring.  

So, this looks ash gray, what does everyone else think?  Have you tried other colored backgrounds to see if it looks blue or green?  

[junkmom2]

Im going by what the GIA lab tested it as...They said Beryl so its Beryl. It still may not be an aquamarine so that has been removed from my listing. But it is a Beryl. Im not able to get the color any better.

[junkmom2]

 I tried the ring with a grey background. It shows the blue color better in the stone.

[wastingtime101]

Tagging in @idealgems1 as I think they'll be interested in this discussion.

[fashunu4eeuh]

---

@junkmom2 wrote:

 I tried the ring with a grey background. It shows the blue color better in the stone.

---

That is beautiful, @junkmom2 . Nicely done.

[idealgems1]

Thanks @wastingtime101 !  As a GIA-trained Graduate Gemologist, I would have been upset with their finding if I were in your shoes.  AQUAMARINE IS A VARIETY OF BERYL!!!  Beryl colors are blue ~ aquamarine, deep green ~ emerald, yellow ~ heliodor (or golden beryl), pink~ morganite, colorless ~ goshenite, etc.

So, they are quibbling that it does not have enough blue or blue-green to be the variety aquamarine. This is really being overly picky, IMHO.  To be fair, they may have some set color hue test that makes that determination; I don't know.  But to me...have you ever seen ocean water the color of your gem?  I have.  The root of the name aquamarine is obviously sea water.

Your stone is not a beautiful "gem" aquamarine color.  And of course, they are clearly authenticating to make sure the process is fair to the buyer.  But to deny it because it is not blue enough after you attempted to say you couldn't be absolutely sure about the stone, really seems unfair to the seller.

I'll say one more thing on the subject.  Very light-colored aquamarine is very often sold at the wholesale level in larger parcels of many gemstones all in one parcel paper.  When you look at the entire parcel, it will have a nice, pleasing blue color.  But pick out any individual gemstone and examine it on its own, and you will have to study it carefully on a white background to discern ANY blue color at all.  This is kind of a gem dealer "trick".

If you were to place your gem in a parcel with dozens of like colored stones, I'll bet the parcel would be a pleasing blue-green...a color they would be quick to call "aquamarine".  I think my alma mater dropped the ball on this one!!!

[junkmom2]

Thanks so much for the response. I totally agree with you. This is the response that I received from eBay. I call and talked to the dept who handle this and I was told it was 2 fold. 1st..the stone checked as a Berly, 2nd there was no response from the buyer so after 4 days it was returned to me. 

[jklfindings]

This is one of those instances where the authentication program is doing more harm than good.  Overall the program has made the jewelry category so much better, but then there's these issues that keep popping up, where the authenticator is being waaaay overly picky.  If that "beryl" was being sold by a big box store or brand name, it would be called an Aquamarine.

[junkmom2]

NOT HELPFUL AT ALL

PLEASE DONT BE A PART OF THE PROBLEM

I CAME HERE FOR ASSISTANCE  AND NOT TO BE BASHED