FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[h.abbasi]

I heard that the biggest emerald in the world is the Gachala Emerald. It weighs 858 carats. It was discovered in the Vega de San Juan mine in Columbia in 1967. The emerald is currently in the Smithsonian Institution in the US.
But now see it ,as a biggest in the world, its disbelieve.
Do you know anythings about it ?Is it true?

[Pierre Joubert]

It is fraud!!!!!!

[h.abbasi]

See:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bfo2HOeml5A, too.
(link normalized by FMF)

[Riccardo Modanesi]

Hi to everybody!
I think you have to see the inclusions in this stone! Emerald has typical mineral inclusions as well as growth lines and channels!
Greetings from Italy by Riccardo.

[Harjo]

I think it's an Emerald, but of very low quality (and very badly cut...)
It's supposed to be auctioned somewhere in Canada, if I remember correctly. The estimated selling price was ridiculously high.
It'll probably be bought by someone ONLY because of it's size....

[Pierre Joubert]

Today, its owner Regan Reaney, has been arrested on fraud charges and the gem is left unsold at a B.C. auction.
Huffington Post

[Jesse Fisher]

Please explain - what about it is a fraud? Is it not beryl? Is it not worth the millions that the owner likely thinks it is? Is the supposed owner not really the owner?

[Tracy]

National Post, 29 January 2012:

The man claiming to have the world’s largest cut emerald has been arrested in Kelowna, B.C., in connection to allegations of multiple fraud offences that took place in Ontario.

Regan Reaney claims the massive green crystal, which he bought recently in India, is a 57,500 carat emerald worth at least $1.15 million. His massive gem was set to be auctioned off Saturday through Western Star Auctions in Kelowna. He hoped to earn seven-figures for it at the auction.

The auctioning off of Reaney’s gem went on as planned, but it didn’t sell, said Barb Johns of Western Star Auctions.

She declined to comment further on the matter.

Kelowna RCMP confirmed in a news release that they executed outstanding warrants for Reaney’s arrest. They said he’s accused of multiple fraud offences out of Hamilton, Ont.

Police in Kelowna became aware of his warrants through interaction with Reaney and made the arrest once Ontario agreed to return him to their jurisdiction, they said in the release.

Reaney had recently arrived in Kelowna. Police said more details about the arrest would be available on Monday.

Earlier this month Jeff Nechka, of Premier Gems in Calgary, appraised Reaney’s big emerald. He said its value is in the size of it.

The opaque gem is only commercial quality but weighs 11.5 kilograms, he said.

Nechka said Reaney’s crystal was dyed—which he noted in the appraisal—but he said it’s probably green beryl that has been enhanced.

Emeralds are a rare form of the mineral beryl. White beryl is common and largely worthless.

“This is 100% real,” Reaney said last week. “There are other gemologists who have looked at this. It is enhanced and it’s dyed, we know that, but it is an emerald, 100%.”

But Shane McClure, the director of west coast identification services at the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad, California, said white beryl could be dyed any colour or intensity you want. He recommended that any potential buyer get a private appraisal before making a purchase like this.


- Tracy

[Harjo]

Found something here Jesse:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2092514/Worlds-Largest-Emerald-worth-1-2-million-emerald-all.html
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Not quite your trustworthy gemmologist who appraised the thing, first he says it's an emerald, now he says the thing has been dyed, and that to some extent it's a dyed colourless Beryl....
Ah well, it's an ugly thing anyway ;-)

[Pierre Joubert]

[Jesse Fisher]

Yes, Harjo, I think we can agree on it's relative beauty (or lack there-of)!

[Tobi]

[Pierre Joubert]

What has happened to our 'rare, large emerald'??? While I wait for a reply, have a look at this:-)
http://www.floridabasic.com/gemsandjewels/archives/299
(link normalized by FMF)