I usually just lurk around the forum because there’s so much info
here for people like myself who are trying to learn on their own,
but I’ve run into a bit of a snag on a custom job I’m doing and
thought I’d ask for some specific advice.
I purchased a pair of round 5mm lab-grown emeralds from Rio for a
pair of earrings I did for a friend to send to her sister-in-law.
They loved them so much that they want me to do a Claddaugh ring
with a stone that matches the earrings. Problem is, I’m very new at
this and Rio is my main supplier – and they don’t carry heart
shaped emeralds (and couldn’t point me in any direction to purchase
them).
Does anyone know of a good place to acquire stones like this? I
don’t really have any resources for synthetic gems as I was planning
on only working with natural materials! I need a 6x6 heart shaped
lab-grown emerald. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I did look
at Chatham but from what I can tell that stone would run over $200
(unless I looked at it wrong, which is possible!)
Do you have a Stuller account? They have them for about $97. Also,
you may be able to have one custom cut at a very reasonable price
from one of the many gem cutters that subscribe here.
I am an English goldsmith, and I have purchased quite a few Lab grown
stones to include in jewellery for my daughter, they are usually
large impressive looking stones, that any parent wouldn’t stress
about being lost or damaged. I can reccommend this supplier, he sells
on Ebay or direct. I am not sure where you are situated but this
seller ships to most places around the world. Check out their
I have received excellent service from them. I have found many of
their stones useful for patternwork, and showing customers how a semi
finished articles might look before having to purchase the natural
gems, quite often customers will choose a larger stone when seeing
how the Lab grown looks, I have even used these stones when making
replica items for some customers, when they are worried about having
their treasures on public display.
Firemountaingems do a 6mm x 6mm emerald hart shaped synthetic (they
call it imitation) emerald (a pair for $2.42) You’ll find it with
the “birthstones” for the month may http://www.firemountaingems.com
(Item H151029YE)
Firemountaingems do a 6mm x 6mm emerald hart shaped synthetic (they
call it imitation) emerald
I was wondering if we were going to see a year go by without
bringing up the synthetic/imitation/simulant subject again, but it is
important for the person who is looking for an actual synthetic to
know why this particular item won’t work for them.
Imitations are not synthetics. What Fire Mountain Gems is selling
there is what some dealers call “soudee emerald,” and that is what
gemologists refer to as a synthetic spinel triplet. It is, in fact,
two pieces of colorless synthetic spinel that has been cemented
together at the girdle with green glue. Immersing these stones in
liquid with a refractive index close to that of spinel (such as
methylene iodide) causes the spinel to visually “disappear,” while
the green glue appears as a flat, green sheet. Pretty cool, actually.
Gemologically speaking (there goes that qualifier again), a
synthetic gemstone must meet four criteria: First, it must have a
natural counterpart. If a man-made, lab-created, etc., gem material
has no natural counterpart, it is not referred to as synthetic by the
gemological community (detroitite comes to mind, as does zincite).
Second, third and fourth, it must have the same chemical, optical
and physical characteristics as its’ natural counterpart. So, since
Fire Mountain Gems’ product is an assembled spinel designed to
resemble emerald, it is an imitation, not synthetic.
If a man-made, lab-created, etc., gem material has no natural
counterpart, it is not referred to as synthetic by the gemological
community (detroitite comes to mind, as does zincite).
I thought zincite did have a natural counterpart. It definitely
doesn’t??
I think this person has a little problem with CLEAR disclosure that
his "gems" are all lab created/synthetic.
Craig, I find this comment offensive, I posted the on
Channel Island Gems for the benefit of any Orchid members who might
like to use this company’s services, in providing cheap lab grown,
facetted stones. I have no involvement with this company, other than
being one of their satisfied customers. Anyone interested in viewing
the website, when the “find out more” button is selected, you will
see at the top of the page in large print “Information on Lab Grown
Gems”
The company does also sell some natural products, mainly shell
based, but even if you select one of the facetted stones on Ebay,
when you read the stone’s description it will state that it is Lab
grown.
I purchased a pair of round 5mm lab-grown emeralds from Rio for a
pair of earrings I did for a friend to send to her sister-in-law.
They loved them so much that they want me to do a Claddaugh ring
with a stone that matches the earrings. Problem is, I'm very new
at this and Rio is my main supplier -- and they don't carry heart
shaped emeralds (and couldn't point me in any direction to
purchase them).
I received a call from Steven at Rio the day after my post. He was
very apologetic that the people I had originally spoken with could
not help me. He was very friendly and helpful. Unfortunately, by the
time I had a chance to call him back I found out they want to wait a
little while on the ring (hopefully Christmas).
But, now when they are ready to move forward I have a great contact
at Rio to help me, as well as Channel Island Gems. Thanks to all for
your help! Now, if I can just find the world’s greatest
stone-setting instructional video/DVD I’ll be ready for bigger and
better projects! Any favorites out there?
Why are you offended when I was talking about that page?
I went to the website and when you look at his cut stones for sale
there is NO mention of lab or man made anything. How do you know
when you are looking at a page that says ‘ruby’ at the top, that
it’s all man made Ruby? ALL the catagories are listed using this
terminology. If the Ruby/Alexandrite/Sapphire/etc are LAB then it
should be at the top of the page with the stone name.
Marketing of fake/synthetic/simulant/imitation material has clouded
the jewelry trade long enough and it’s because of this type of
unwillingness to prefix a stone for what it is…
This is my opinion, others are welcome to their own. Anyone selling
10k gold as if it was 14k?
First let me be clear that I deal exculsively with lab-created
stones. I wish you well in the quest for the heart shaped emeralds -
they are going to be difficult to find. I will send you a link off
list where you may be able to have some cut - he may not be willing
to do so though. It took me a year to get an 18.5X13 Lab Emerald pear
from him it was worth the wait (at least my wife thinks so - I had
the stone for about 3 minutes before she laidm claim to it).
The comment by Craig was not directed at you but was a comment about
the “clarity” of the web site and the lack of conformance with the
guidelines of the FTC for those of us that operate in the United
States. The use of the word “Gem” in conjunction with a lab created
stone is highly discouraged. The channel islands site has a link to
“browse our gems” the page that comes up says “Ruby” and does not
refer to lab-created or synthetic. The prices are a giveaway but
would not be sufficient in this country. The FTC guidelines state:
"(b) It is unfair or deceptive to use the word "gem" to
describe any laboratory-created industry product unless the
product meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section
and unless such word is immediately accompanied, with equal
conspicuousness, by the word "laboratory-grown,"
"laboratory-created," or "[manufacturer-name]-created,"
"synthetic," or by some other word or phrase of like meaning,
so as to clearly disclose that it is not a natural gem."
Next I followed the link “click here for my auctions”. The first
gemstone I found was for “A BEAUTIFUL ROUND-CUT PADPARADSCHA SAPPHIRE
15mm”. I followed that link and did find the word “lab” once in the
smaller text of the description.
Without following the link to on lab created gemstones,
the impression on the site is that the stones are real.
I made a posting recommending a supplier of what I considered cheap
lab grown facetted stones. I thought that the Orchid was a worldwide
exchange of But I seem to have had a lot of Emails from
Orchid members quoting me USA laws on advertising.
May I point out that advertising on the world wide web is not
controlled by USA laws. Over here in the UK we have an ancient law
that translates into “Buyer Beware” which means that if you don’t
read the “small print” its your own fault. So please stop sending me
quotes from USA laws on advertising, because they do not apply to
companies operating outside of the USA like “Channel Island Gems”.
And thank you Glenn for the FTC guidelines quote on the use of the
word “gems”, which is may be OK in the USA, but I am English, the
word gem is English and in my English dictionary the word is
discribed as being a precious stone or something or somone that is
valued by others, so the word Gem to an Englishman does not necessary
only apply to precious stones.
Peace and good health to all Orchideans
James Miller
James Miller makes an excellent point about the international nature
of not only Orchid, but of the Internet. In the fun of posting, I too
am guilty of forgetting this. We all must make an effort to remember
that what applies in one country or culture may have no meaning
across the border. Thanks for the reminder James. I value your
erudite contributions to this forum, and appreciate that you share
your vast experience with us all. YOU are a gem!
So please stop sending me quotes from USA laws on advertising,
because they do not apply to companies operating outside of the USA
like "Channel Island Gems".
Actually if they are going to sell their product to Americans (in
other words ship their goods to someone in this country) then yes,
the laws on advertising do apply to them. It may not be something
that can be easily enforced but it is the law if you are going to
sell something in this country. Beyond that however, it is the
ethical thing to do. And I thought all of you Englanders were into
that ethical thing.
Daniel R. Spirer, G.G.
Daniel R. Spirer Jewelers, LLC
1780 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02140
617-234-4392 @Daniel_R_Spirer
We all must make an effort to remember that what applies in one
country or culture may have no meaning across the border.
Disclosure in the form of stating clearly whether a gem is man made
or natural is about ethics and honesty. The concept of let the buyer
beware allows for taking advantage of the innocent and naive nature
of humans, for maximum profit, minimal conscience. The U.S. has great
consumer protection laws.
Having looked at the Channel Island gem site, having the disclosure
as to the rubies being lab created so far down the page seems to
purposely bury the pertinent info that is one of the most important
criteria for trading dollars, or pounds, for goods.
The question might be, which system serves the consumer better, and
does the fact that the English system is ancient or historical mean
that it is fair or of greater value to commerce?
James Miller makes an excellent point about the international nature
of not only Orchid, but of the Internet. In the fun of posting, I too
am guilty of forgetting this. We all must make an effort to remember
that what applies in one country or culture may have no meaning
across the border. Thanks for the reminder James. I value your
erudite contributions to this forum, and appreciate that you share
your vast experience with us all. YOU are a gem!
Nobody was talking about James, we were talking about the website.
If you think that the way the Channel Gems person is advertising his
goods then fine, that’s up to you (although I don’t agree). However
I think he is not disclosing CLEARLY what he is selling and I think
it’s on purpose which IMHO is bad.
FTC guidelines and laws were created in this country to protect
consumers. ALL countries should have something similar if not I feel
bad for consumers.