Fake Emerald & Old Tricks

Emeralds are in the Big Three Gems, and mistakes when buying are huge losses. This is one of the oldest scams, and how to identify so YOU don't lose.

As long as they are directly disclosed, all treatments may be acceptable, but knowledge is the first step to knowing what you believe is good or not.

Explore more and contact me directly at:

[awesomysticehab]

I have been exclusively dealing in emeralds for almost fifteen years and I must say that I love your channel. Thank you for your effort.

[DApostate]

True, acetone nail polish remover works for the AA and below. I use various lights when getting better stones. I buy risky parcels. The scary thing is most of often even bad ones have a few genuine emeralds. This can make these parcels still worth it. I bought over 200 carats of emerald for $5 on Etsy once. I was sure it would be greed dyed opaque Beryl. I got lucky with 271 carats of Columbian emeralds. The issue would be that half the big stones were cut to deep. Sometimes private sellers are cashing out an old family collection. They may not understand the full value or over value stones. Emeralds aren't these clean pieces of glass seen on TV. I own tens of thousands of emeralds. Only 2 are clean to the eye. That is like seeing a unicorn with emeralds.

[shardana]

I still remember that painful moment I found out my only Emerald was fake.

[roberttyrrell]

Great vid for Less experienced ppl. Scammers were also melting old TV picture tube glass, adding a cpl 7-Up bottles. Toss in a bit of graphite. Then pull the glass as it cools. The elongated air bubbles & graphite, mimic straition/ inclusions of emeralds.
Not sure they still do it(??) as Glass components become harder to find.(??) Street mkts, Tourist traps, Ebay were loaded with them.

[Rev]

If you're ever stuck thinking of video ideas, a comparison and your personal thoughts on Natural diamond vs CVD vs Moissanite would be great, and seems to always get popular through the algorithm. Lots of close up B-Roll of your beautiful gemstones while youre talking are also very much appreciated =)

[ryanprice]

Took my colombian emerald ring to my jeweler to have him put bb's on it because it was a bit loose. They put the bb's on and then put it in the ultrasonic cleaner. Needless to say it fractured it. I am going pay them a visit tomorrow to try to come to a resolution. Ugh.

[peterchesko]

Thanks again for your fun, spot on shows. As an apprentice I built a custom ring and then the shop owner set the center stone. An emerald cut Colombian emerald. After he'd pushed the prongs and cleaned it up he left it on the his bench. Minutes later we all heard a "clitch" and were puzzled. Historically fraught with problems; durability first, I've avoided them for my entire career. I've offered garnet and tourmaline, chrome types ya know, or my friends down the street.
And fakes? one can never be too careful... or crafty.

[mastermechanicfelipe]

Do you restore gemstones? I have a pink tourmaline ring that the stone is scratched, can you restore the stone?

[debramoss]

I have a crisis of conscience over a 'sapphire' which is not a sapphire.
I am keenly aware of the poverty there and know that just bad, truthful review can collapse a whole family family threatening their vulnerable people. Children starve. Babies don't survive.
But I am also aware that others may receive one and currently money is hard come by, not as drastic outcomes, but the disappointment of a faux stone in an engagement ring would be heartbreaking if saved up for.
Stumped 😕

[katacsongradi]

Dear Peter,

I own a fake emerald which is one thin layer of emerald green epoxy resin that can be found on the table side and transparent epoxy resin on the culet side of the stone.
It is in a sterling silver ring of mine.
This is the new craze from China.
You have to inspect the jewelry before buying it.

Greetings and best wishes from Budapest Hungary.

[thai-duytran]

Is it true that natural emerald ls very prone to actually fade in colour over time if exposed to sunlight?

[lifeaddict]

A popular jeweler in pakistan ( costume jewelery and he doesn’t have that much knowledge) said to me why is the lab calling the emerald a “natural (dyed) emerald” he even said he contacted the lab and said why don’t they put the dyed in the comments only 😅, I told him straight that is deception, as treatments such as oiling and dying are 2 different things

[victorp]

It is best to use a jewelry loupe and definitely a Chelsea filter!
Although, for example, Brazilian emeralds do not respond to the Chelsea filter.

[bebetter]

I’m getting a refraction index of 1.55 for a supposed “Emerald”. It glows green with a UV light not really fluorescent per say but lights up. What stone is this or could it possibly be an actual emerald? It had a lot of inclusions and is a medium green.

[smashstuff]

I recently saw an emerald for a price that seemed too good to be true. I wish this video existed then.

[AnonaMoose]

If one does happen to have this fake emerald could the coating be removed from the treated stone

[rogerhargreaves]

Nice share Peter. Dropping the stones in lab acetone is a dead giveaway. 😀

[rainsticklandguitartalk]

I love that giant red 'gem' on your desk/table. I don't care about its value...lol. I'm a total sucker for even fake gems from a visual perspective.

[zillsburyy]

so many fakes out there, do u recommend any place to buy emeralds online? maybe i'll stick with jade

[lcn]

There are many reasons I don't collect emeralds anymore mainly because it is so hard to get a real deal and even if I got the real ones they are not a "good enough" quality for my taste. My alternative green gems are tourmaline and tsavorite. I can get "good enough" quality for better price. They are good gems but cheaper just because they are not emerald.