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Fiebre Verde
Joined: 11 Sep 2013
Posts: 944
Location: Paris Area
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 Posted: Oct 31, 2017 07:47 Post subject: Re: Fake Colombian Emeralds |
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| Matt_Zukowski wrote: | | Can you please describe how you came to know that the specimen is fake? Thanks. |
Because I was told so by the dealer who also sells fakes for clients interested in spectacular but affordable specimens.
I had never seen this type of brecciated matrix associated with emeralds which is strange enough to raise suspicion on the specimen.
The craftsman has done a good job here i.e. the contact area is dusted by the same material as the matrix, which covers entirely the glue work (Could be actually a cement which does not react to acetone).
Unless you are familiar with the locality, it's hard to detect with just a visual inspection.
Gérard
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Fiebre Verde
Joined: 11 Sep 2013
Posts: 944
Location: Paris Area
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| Posted: May 13, 2018 18:31 Post subject: Re: Fake Colombian Emeralds |
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More man-made specimens in downtown Bogota.
The good news is that natural specimens can still be found.
| Dimensions: | 5cm across, xl is about 1 cm tall |
| Description: |
| Stunning artwork as the matrix and the beryl crystal come from the same locality (Chivor). The large calcite crystal on the left is not glued! A very attractive specimen. |
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28024 Time(s) |
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| Dimensions: | 15cm across |
| Description: |
| Unlike the previous specimen, this is a very clumsy piece of work. Emeralds are never found in association with these large calcite rhombs. Obviously the craftsman thought that a large emerald crystal would fit nicely with the massive calcite. |
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28065 Time(s) |
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| Dimensions: | 5cm across |
| Description: |
| The craftsman wasn't very inspired - the contact area is not properly faked. |
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28063 Time(s) |
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| Dimensions: | 4cm across |
| Description: |
| Same remark as for the previous specimen - very poor work on the contact area |
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27989 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
| This one looks almost natural! |
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28007 Time(s) |
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28021 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
| The craftsman wanted to create a large contact area with the calcite to make the specimen look more natural. Very poor result. |
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28049 Time(s) |
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Pierre Joubert
Joined: 09 Mar 2012
Posts: 1605
Location: Western Cape
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| Posted: May 14, 2018 12:02 Post subject: Re: Fake Colombian Emeralds |
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| Fiebre Verde wrote: | More man-made specimens in downtown Bogota.
The good news is that natural specimens can still be found. |
Hi Gerard, the fake 'industry' will become more and more refined:-( Gone are the days of buying 'on the run'. Even the old hands are getting caught with these 'works of art'. Some are obvious (how could I ever have bought that?) while others are not that easy to discern. Before I purchased the fakes that we own, I had a strong suspicion. Next time I will listen to the voice inside me. Best regards.
_________________
Pierre Joubert
'The tree of silence bears the fruit of peace. ' |
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Fiebre Verde
Joined: 11 Sep 2013
Posts: 944
Location: Paris Area
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| Posted: May 14, 2018 19:33 Post subject: Re: Fake Colombian Emeralds |
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| Pierre Joubert wrote: | | Fiebre Verde wrote: | More man-made specimens in downtown Bogota.
The good news is that natural specimens can still be found. |
Hi Gerard, the fake 'industry' will become more and more refined:-( Gone are the days of buying 'on the run'. Even the old hands are getting caught with these 'works of art'. Some are obvious (how could I ever have bought that?) while others are not that easy to discern. Before I purchased the fakes that we own, I had a strong suspicion. Next time I will listen to the voice inside me. Best regards. |
Hi Pierre!
The scarcity of decent specimens is driving the emerald artwork industry forward.
The manufacturing techniques are becoming more and more sophisticated and this industry is now employing highly skilled craftspeople.
This shortage is not always related to the production cycles. It's just that most of the good quality crystals found in the legal mines are sacrificed for faceting.
Despite the government's aims to formalize the artisanal mining sector, illegal mining is still active across the country.
But this is slowly changing. And since most of the specimens found in the market are extracted by the 'guaqueros' (illegal/independent miners), the ongoing formalization process has a direct impact on the production of specimens.
All this to say that the emerald artwork business has a bright future ahead.
You are right, that little voice you hear inside your head is by far your best friend but it might not be enough in the light of the rapid changes of the artwork industry.
Gérard
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Fiebre Verde
Joined: 11 Sep 2013
Posts: 944
Location: Paris Area
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| Posted: Dec 12, 2019 21:57 Post subject: Re: Fake Colombian Emeralds |
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More (poorly) man-made emerald specimens.
Unfortunately I didn't have my UV lamp to detect glue.
| Locality: | | Colombia |  |
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| Description: |
| Texture of the material along the contact area looks suspiciously different |
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| Viewed: |
23447 Time(s) |
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| Locality: | | Colombia | |
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| Viewed: |
23391 Time(s) |
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| Locality: | | Colombia | |
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| Description: |
| Too good to be true. Emerald crystal is semi-transparent. |
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23441 Time(s) |
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| Locality: | | Colombia | |
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| Description: |
| Nice man-made combination of calcite, dolomite, and emerald |
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| Viewed: |
23446 Time(s) |
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John Betts
Joined: 07 Jun 2012
Posts: 209
Location: New York City
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| Posted: Dec 14, 2019 11:24 Post subject: Re: Fake Colombian Emeralds |
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One word of caution about using UV illumination to test for adhesives:
The new generation of UV-cured adhesives do NOT fluoresce.
These are water-clear colorless adhesives that remain liquid until exposed to UV illumination. By definition they absorb UV.
_________________
John Betts |
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