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Fakes & Fraudsaquamarine, schorl, and garnet?
11th Jul 2018 17:59 UTCGreg Simmons
https://www.ebay.com/itm/160-CT-Collectors-Choice-Transparent-Aquamarine-With-Tourmaline-Dark-Red-Garnet/163135729637?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D52885%26meid%3D9cefe238f2f74a188038065f20f5f103%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D163133987523%26itm%3D163135729637&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851
Greg
11th Jul 2018 18:10 UTCRuss Rizzo Expert
The description says "repaired with glue". That's a red flag right there. Maybe the seller enhanced it by gluing some extra crystals to the specimen? Also, the fact that despite there being 10 photos, the seller only shows one side of the specimen. For me this is a major red flag.
This is why I don't buy rocks on ebay.
Russ Rizzo
11th Jul 2018 18:17 UTCBob Harman
The "garnets" are all the same size and protrude from the "schorl" to the same degree in a contrived isolated fashion. Everything looks attached. Whether that combination actually could naturally occur, the "beryl" also looks to be attached in a pseudo aesthetic contrived fashion.
Unless you collect fakes and frauds, stay away from these examples! My opinion. CHEERS.......BOB
11th Jul 2018 18:18 UTCGreg Simmons
There is about a dozen or so specimens that just showed up, mostly from the same seller. Very cool looking but you are right, there are some red flags, not the least of which is the combination of minerals. I've never seen them associated like that at all.
11th Jul 2018 18:25 UTCGreg Simmons
Best,
11th Jul 2018 18:25 UTCDavid Von Bargen Manager
11th Jul 2018 18:34 UTCRuss Rizzo Expert
-------------------------------------------------------
> I would not expect all the garnets to be on the
> surface of the specimen.
Right... I would expect them to be partially embedded.
11th Jul 2018 18:39 UTCRuss Rizzo Expert
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks Russ,
> There is about a dozen or so specimens that just
> showed up, mostly from the same seller. Very cool
> looking but you are right, there are some red
> flags, not the least of which is the combination
> of minerals. I've never seen them associated like
> that at all.
Come to think of it I don't think that I have either. But that doesn't mean that it's not possible.
11th Jul 2018 19:13 UTCNik Nikiforou
11th Jul 2018 19:23 UTCGreg Simmons
11th Jul 2018 19:32 UTCJohan Kjellman Expert
11th Jul 2018 22:48 UTCSteve Hardinger 🌟 Expert
https://www.ebay.com/itm/920-CT-Collectors-Choice-Transparent-Aquamarine-With-Tourmaline-Dark-Red-Garnet/163133992521?hash=item25fb8b2e49:g:MEcAAOSwKb1bPUAw
is clearly a fake. You can see the debris piled around the base of the aqua to 'hide' the glue.
Also on this one:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/525-CT-Collectors-Choice-Transparent-Aquamarine-With-Tourmaline-Dark-Red-Garnet/163135745988?hash=item25fba5efc4:g:6QcAAOSwh8NbPmY7
11th Jul 2018 22:57 UTCRuss Rizzo Expert
11th Jul 2018 23:41 UTCScott Rider
12th Jul 2018 18:00 UTCGreg Simmons
To me it seems like a ton of work, wasting pieces that on their own would be more valuable than the "specimens" they are creating, only to sell for much less money.
12th Jul 2018 21:33 UTCA. M.
12th Jul 2018 23:48 UTCScott Rider
And then you get the ones that do self bidding, I know this is a fact as well. I have seen one particular seller, who has buy it now tourmaline crystals up to $30,000, that "sell" something, and then that exact specimen gets re-posted a week or so later. I now it wasn't a cancelled sale because he does it with so many of his specimens... For example, I had my eye on this 120ct polychrome tourmaline, a beautiful Paprok stone sold for more than my bid. My $200 bid was not enough and it sold for more (don't remember how much). But I have seen that EXACT same crystal go for sale 3 times after that!!! 3!!!! You can go into the sales history of any seller, and this one in particular you will see the same stuff sell over and over again...
13th Jul 2018 17:44 UTCGreg Simmons
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Purple-zoned-Green-Octahedron-Fluorite-Mineral-Specimen-China-CM770881/282697819963?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649
I bought a nice scolecite piece from India a couple of years ago and it was a great experience. The other pieces Ipve purchased were from US dealers so I was a lot more comfortable.
Thanks!
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Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: May 9, 2024 15:13:00