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]

Not helpful BTW.

[krazzykats]

Beautiful!  Yes, now it shows more correct colors.  And I see the green!  😁

[fashunu4eeuh]

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@junkmom2 wrote:

NOT HELPFUL AT ALL

PLEASE DONT BE A PART OF THE PROBLEM

ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU HAVE NEVER SOLD ANYTHING

I CAME HERE FOR ASSISTANCE  AND NOT TO BE BASHED

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Hi @junkmom2 , to clarify, most responders here are experienced sellers. But some use posting IDs to protect their selling accounts from being sabotaged.

@luckythewinner  is a long-time seller and valuable voice in the community.

(Sadly there are those who take offense to advice given and lash out. It happens on occasion.) I use a posting ID myself, tho It makes me less credible as a participant, which i regret. But just too many lost souls out there for me to take the chance.

[junkmom2]

I was not aware of that fact but I am now. I shouldnt have assumed. My bad. But I did come here for some assistance, but not to bash me for what I did. My description was as accurate as I could make it.

[fern*wood]

Most of us do come here for assistance, but that doesn't mean what we hear is always what we want to hear or delivered with finesse.  Sometimes others can see something in a different way, which may be helpful too.  I've never been disappointed in the help offered here and try my best to show gratitude.  (I am always free to ignore advice which doesn't help me or that I don't wish to do.)

[idealgems1]

At the risk of seeming like I am piling on GIA, another thing occurred to me.  Most aquamarine today is heated in order to drive away greenish hues, leaving a more desirable/salable truer blue hue.  Your beautiful antique ring has a gem that certainly predates this as a common treatment for aqua.  Ergo, a greener hue of aquamarine should be altogether expected on a piece like yours.

It should be noted that gemstone color preferences are very individual.  We had a great Brazilian gem dealer that would occasionally offer us unheated, slightly greenish aquamarine...he would say "de la boca de mina" (from the mouth of the mine).  We always thought we were getting something special when he would have that available!

As for GIA, as I said, they might have some objective color comparison that dictates what they call aquamarine.  In addition to test stones like they use for diamond comparison, GIA had a tool consisting of plastic comparison gems called the GIA GemSet.  Who knows what advanced technology they may have replaced that with.  But I still think their determination was wrong here.