Gems Detectives - help needed identifying a stone please?

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Jantaculum

Jantaculum

black diamond witch
Joined
Jun 24, 2008
Messages
544
I do love my Black Diamonds and I think I might just have struck lucky with a pendant to complete the set........

I saw a pendant in the window of the local second-hand jewellers, typical Gems style, with a BIG black stone, so I just had to have a look.

The assistant wasn't sure exactly what the stone was but I had a hunch about it and bought the pendant anyway. The stone is black, beautiful and BIG (16 x 12 mm) and the DK hallmark confirms it to be Gems.

I'm now doing my wannabe gemologist bit and comparing the stone to my black diamonds and very very dark sapphires to try and identify it - and I think it might just be a black diamond.:mysmilie_500:

Anyone know how I can find out for certain - will a jeweller's diamond tester work with black diamonds? - do you think anyone at Gems could identify the stone? - if it is really a black diamond then it's the biggest one I've ever seen!

<a href="http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q107/jantaculum/Jewellery/?action=view&current=P1000916.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q107/jantaculum/Jewellery/th_P1000916.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>
 
More pictures.....

<a href="http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q107/jantaculum/Jewellery/?action=view&current=P1000917.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q107/jantaculum/Jewellery/th_P1000917.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>

<a href="http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q107/jantaculum/Jewellery/?action=view&current=P1000918.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q107/jantaculum/Jewellery/th_P1000918.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>
 
I suspect the only real way to know for sure would be to get a jeweller to have a look. A very quick test, to tell if a diamond is real or not could be confirmed by putting the stone in front of your mouth blow on it the way you would onto a mirror to fog a mirror. More than 4 seconds, if any fog: fake as a real diamond will not hold fog but a couple of seconds.

fingers crossed for you
 
neck shot......

<a href="http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q107/jantaculum/?action=view&current=P1000920.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q107/jantaculum/th_P1000920.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>

I didn't know that trick anjo, thank you! I can't get the stone to fog up at all at the moment, probably because it's so hot, but will try it later.
 
Jantaculum said:
I do love my Black Diamonds and I think I might just have struck lucky with a pendant to complete the set........

I saw a pendant in the window of the local second-hand jewellers, typical Gems style, with a BIG black stone, so I just had to have a look.

The assistant wasn't sure exactly what the stone was but I had a hunch about it and bought the pendant anyway. The stone is black, beautiful and BIG (16 x 12 mm) and the DK hallmark confirms it to be Gems.

I'm now doing my wannabe gemologist bit and comparing the stone to my black diamonds and very very dark sapphires to try and identify it - and I think it might just be a black diamond.:mysmilie_500:

Anyone know how I can find out for certain - will a jeweller's diamond tester work with black diamonds? - do you think anyone at Gems could identify the stone? - if it is really a black diamond then it's the biggest one I've ever seen!

<a href="http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q107/jantaculum/Jewellery/?action=view&current=P1000916.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q107/jantaculum/Jewellery/th_P1000916.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>
Click to expand...
Tried out a Diamond Tester on the tiny BDs in a GemsTV watch (as I seem to have mislaid my BD ring!) and they 'beep' okay. But the first thought came to my mind...for its size....like Beading I wondered if it was black Spinel.
The stone has a lovely sheen to it.... was it a sensible price the jeweller was asking?
 
Sacha said:
Tried out a Diamond Tester on the tiny BDs in a GemsTV watch (as I seem to have mislaid my BD ring!) and they 'beep' okay. But the first thought came to my mind...for its size....like Beading I wondered if it was black Spinel.
Click to expand...
Ah thanks Sacha! I think I need to get myself a diamond tester. It was £139 so that would be quite pricey for black spinel I think? The jewellers has a 30 day money back guarantee so I've got time to get it tested.
 
Have to admit Black Spinel was my first thought, Jantac

..... lovely pendant whatever it turns out to be. :nod:
 
Jantaculum said:
Ah thanks Sacha! I think I need to get myself a diamond tester. It was £139 so that would be quite pricey for black spinel I think? The jewellers has a 30 day money back guarantee so I've got time to get it tested.
Click to expand...


Ah that's helpful. Presumably 9k gold? It looks to have a good setting which perhaps weighs 2 -3 gms and we all now
know from this channel that the cost of gold is approx £41 p.g on the High Street! :happy:
 
.... I paid £84 for an ex-demo black diamond pendant three and a half years ago. Sadly the picture has gone from my order history but here's the stats

Metal Type: Yellow Gold 9K
Metal Weight: 1.39g
Metal Size: 18x8 mm
Total Gem Weight: 1.177 Ct
Diamond

Origin: Africa
Set: Bezel
Shape: Round
Size: 6.5 mm
Quantity: 1
1.155 Ct

White Diamond

Origin: Africa
Set: Pave
Shape: Round
Size: 1.8 mm
Quantity: 1
0.022 Ct
 
Jantaculum, unless I am much mistaken this pendant has a black spinel as its main stone.
I am pretty sure it is the same one I bought on behalf of a friend a while ago, to go with a ring she had. The receipt and card went to her, of course and she's now in Shanghai, so not of much help in checking it. :blush:

Hope this is some use to you.
M
 
Jantac the fog test unfortunately is a myth that doesn't work so don't bother trying to work yourself up into a sauna!!!

Like others, I don't recall Gems selling such big black diamonds. If it's not a black diamond, then contenders are:-

1. Spinel (most likely)
2. Onyx - quite possibly
3. It could be a very very very dark Sapphire but from your pictures that's unlikely as it's just TOO dark!
4. Tourmaline (unlikely again)
5. Obsidian - possibly - did Gems sell Obsidian?

Does the table show any pitting?

Oh sorry, I meant to say that Sacha is quite right that a diamond tester will register a black diamond as a diamond.
 
Mathilda said:
Jantaculum, unless I am much mistaken this pendant has a black spinel as its main stone.
I am pretty sure it is the same one I bought on behalf of a friend a while ago, to go with a ring she had. The receipt and card went to her, of course and she's now in Shanghai, so not of much help in checking it. :blush:

Hope this is some use to you.
M
Click to expand...

Mathilda - can you check your order history????
 
The fog test is one of many tests suggested by several organisations including Diamond cutters and should not be dismissed. The principle is that diamonds are very good at conducting heat. Breathe on the surface of the stone and immediately check to see if it has fogged up. Again, quartz, glass, and cubic zirconium will stay hazy for a moment before the condensation dissipates, but you shouldn't be able to see any moisture on a true diamond.
 
Anjo said:
The fog test is one of many tests suggested by several organisations including Diamond cutters and should not be dismissed. The principle is that diamonds are very good at conducting heat. Breathe on the surface of the stone and immediately check to see if it has fogged up. Again, quartz, glass, and cubic zirconium will stay hazy for a moment before the condensation dissipates, but you shouldn't be able to see any moisture on a true diamond.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry but this is absolute rubbish. There is no one simple test that will give a definitive answer or even one that would be helpful in giving a definitive answer as there are too many variables. If it were true, why would there be diamond testers? There are tons of these so called tests that are supposed to give you an idea BUT most will caveat it by saying that "it won't give you an absolute answer". For example, with the fog test, you have to have performed it tons of times to be able to definitively see the difference in how a diamond -v- another stone would react. Couple that with having dirt or grease on the stone (which WOULD affect the fog test) and you've already got variables that make this test inconsistent.
 
Last edited:
I've tried looking through my order history, Meeshoo..... it's a VERY long list!
I'm shocked to see just how many pages it covers.... suffice it to say several trees would have to die to print it out- I have used Gems a lots over the years for gifts galore and for myself.... didn't realise quite HOW MUCH!!
Still back to the matter in hand... found this number 88977 for a black spinel pendant but this may be one I returned rather than the one I got for my chum....
 
Jantaculum said:
I do love my Black Diamonds and I think I might just have struck lucky with a pendant to complete the set........

I saw a pendant in the window of the local second-hand jewellers, typical Gems style, with a BIG black stone, so I just had to have a look.

The assistant wasn't sure exactly what the stone was but I had a hunch about it and bought the pendant anyway. The stone is black, beautiful and BIG (16 x 12 mm) and the DK hallmark confirms it to be Gems.

I'm now doing my wannabe gemologist bit and comparing the stone to my black diamonds and very very dark sapphires to try and identify it - and I think it might just be a black diamond.:mysmilie_500:

Anyone know how I can find out for certain - will a jeweller's diamond tester work with black diamonds? - do you think anyone at Gems could identify the stone? - if it is really a black diamond then it's the biggest one I've ever seen!

<a href="http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q107/jantaculum/Jewellery/?action=view&current=P1000916.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q107/jantaculum/Jewellery/th_P1000916.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>
Click to expand...

:hi: Jantac ... did you ever solve the mystery?
 

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