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Fakes & FraudsNaturally occurring flower on an amethyst crystal cluster

2nd Aug 2018 00:29 UTCBrian L. Sullivan

03887180017063680194670.jpg
I just bought this amethyst Druze crystal cluster online and it has this obvious spot on it. When I contacted the seller and told them about it they said it is a naturally occurring flower and that it is actually quite desirable and worth more. Does anyone know if this is true or false. Thank you

2nd Aug 2018 00:45 UTCBob Harman

FALSE!!!!!! In my opinion, if your "flower" is the area by your thumb, it is simply a broken area, exposing a bit of the underlying rind beneath the amethyst crystals, near the specimen edge. In my opinion, this makes your example less desirable.


Your example and question actually has larger ramifications. All field collectors know that when a really nice specimen is found, it's successful collecting includes nice breaking of the example. This enhances the aesthetics and possible value. If the extracted specimen breaks badly, its aesthetics and value is diminished as yours, in my opinion, is. CHEERS.......BOB

2nd Aug 2018 01:04 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager

Was it hidden in the photo you saw before you bought it? If so, that would be a good sign that the seller didn't really think it raised the value of the piece. On the other hand, if it was visible on the photo before you bought it then you really don't have a right to complain.

2nd Aug 2018 01:12 UTCBrian L. Sullivan

No they sell randomly selected specimens. They have images of the amethyst they sell but they say the picture is only a representation of the quality you will receive. It to me looks like it is broke. Of course there are no pictures of the amethyst you will receive.

2nd Aug 2018 01:53 UTCBrian L. Sullivan

Btw thank you Bob for your input. Very informative and I appreciate that. I’m just now starting to collect and I don’t know much as of yet lol

2nd Aug 2018 02:08 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager

Brian, there are plenty of good internet dealers who sell all specimens individually photographed, in fact I'd go so far as to say that all good internet sellers do that. You can find many of them among the ones advertizing on Mindat's home page.


Best in future to avoid those that just show a "representative" photo, unless you are a wholesale buyer looking for large lots.

2nd Aug 2018 02:12 UTCBrian L. Sullivan

Thank you Alfredo, I appreciate your advice. I’m most likely going to return this specimen to the seller and part ways. It seems they knowingly sold me a broken specimen and then lied about it.

3rd Aug 2018 13:47 UTCEd Clopton 🌟 Expert

Calling the broken area a "flower" is a stretch, but I think it's entirely natural, and to me it doesn't detract much. In fact, it adds a little interest to what would otherwise be yet another monotonous amethyst plate like all the rest. The breakage gives a bit of a "peek behind the curtain" to show the structure underlying the crystals.


I second Alfredo's advice about purchasing only the exact specimen pictured unless you enjoy gambling on unseen "grab bags". They seldom are worth what you pay; otherwise they would be sold out in plain sight where potential buyers can compare and select.

3rd Aug 2018 17:01 UTCWayne Corwin

Often the broken area, they are calling a "flower", is where they picked out a large really nice crystal that they didn't want to sell with the rest of the piece and can get better money selling it seperealy.
 
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