aquamarine, schorl, and garnet?

Is this stuff for real? I've never seen this combination before. Striking aesthetics but i'm skeptical. Any advice or experience would be appreciated.

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

Hi Greg,

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



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/11/2018 06:12PM by Russ Rizzo.

While I am no expert in these examples, they look fake and contrived. First of all, the low auction prices are a dead give-a-way as they are nowhere near where natural and legitimate specimens would bring. Also, these would be in a dealer stock and not on eBay. My opinion.
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

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.

Thanks to you too, Bob. very much what I was feeling. I love mindat... :-) I hate that "ooooh I just found something really cool" feeling only to realize.. "nah... I really didn't."

Best,

I would not expect all the garnets to be on the surface of the specimen.

David Von Bargen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I would not expect all the garnets to be on the
> surface of the specimen.


Right... I would expect them to be partially embedded.

Greg Simmons Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 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.

To me it looks like a totally manufactured specimen. The beryl and all of the garnet crystals look like they've been glued on to the schorl.

Thanks for all your insight guys. Huge help and confirms my suspicions. Very much appreciated.

I was looking at the other "cherrypies". It is amazing how many bids they get.

This one:

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

That just supports my theory: for every honest ebay seller there are 99 other charlatans waiting to separate you from your money.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/12/2018 12:17AM by Russ Rizzo.

I know this seller, sort of.. Well more like aware... I bought one specimen from this person and I got a "aqua + garnet" for around $35... I bought it because I thought the aqua that was glued on was worth more than the $35 I paid for it, its a beautiful 4.5 cm gem aqua that I removed after dissolving the glue. So I can attest 100% this person sells fakes up the ying yang....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/11/2018 11:42PM by Scott Rider.

Thanks Scott,
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.

On ebay every "specimen" looks alike - every one from seller is the same. The tourmaline, garnet and beryl are real, but composition is man-made. It's nice ornamental piece, but not "real". At least the seller states "REPAIR WITH GLUED" (I agree with Russ R. comment).

I don't think this person's disclaimer is enough, its still misleading as it says "repaired" implying that it was originally formed the way it was glued. This is bogus and should not say repaired and is a flat out lie. Part of the reason I bought one of the fakes was only for the aqua that was glued on it, otherwise had it been a chipped or partial crystal I'd not pay even $5 for it... Anyway, not much you can do about it... Report it to ebay and they'll just put up a new store with a different name. I have actually seen, I believe, one seller change names numerous times as there was numerous sellers with the same hand in the images (had terrible seller rating too on a few of his iterations)..

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...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/12/2018 11:49PM by Scott Rider.

yeah.. I used to do quite a bit on ebay and have been watching, but not buying, a ton of things from China and the middle east, hoping to get some good stuff, like De'An flourite for example, at not crazy expensive prices. Some seem to be good sellers with high ratings and seem to move a lot or product. this one in particular, and some of the other aqua dealers I've watched mostly just seemed way to good to be true. Thanks for your insight. Are you familiar with any of the sellers offering the De'An specimens? I have about 10 in my watch list - like this one...
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!