Blue Agate Fading?

[Alena21]

Carnelian is good. I have pieces older than BA that are as good as new. I haven't seen anyone complain about it changing colour.
Even if it is dyed it has been done properly.
GIA is not the best one to test agate.

 

[Isabelle_ann]

I read that the test to see if BA is artificially dyed is to submerge part of it in acetone 😱 ( in a geology lab of course, don’t try this at home🙃). I won’t be willing to do so even if mine has faded. What if they damage it further!

 

[A bottle of Red]

Carnelian is good. I have pieces older than BA that are as good as new. I haven't seen anyone complain about it changing colour.
Even if it is dyed it has been done properly.
GIA is not the best one to test agate.

That's a pity

 

[stephbb9]

Carnelian is good. I have pieces older than BA that are as good as new. I haven't seen anyone complain about it changing colour.
Even if it is dyed it has been done properly.
GIA is not the best one to test agate.

GIA isn’t just for diamonds.
They specialize in all stones as well as colored stones.
I don’t think it’s very costly to analyze one agate. They have a price list.

 

[DS2006]

I read that the test to see if BA is artificially dyed is to submerge part of it in acetone 😱 ( in a geology lab of course, don’t try this at home🙃). I won’t be willing to do so even if mine has faded. What if they damage it further!

I read that, too!

If we can't trust VCA on what they say about agate or any other stones, then what's to stop them from using lab diamonds for pave pieces? We'd never know. So either we trust that they are using natural untreated (undyed) stones or all of their stones become questionable.

 

[Swellgal]

I read that, too!

If we can't trust VCA on what they say about agate or any other stones, then what's to stop them from using lab diamonds for pave pieces? We'd never know. So either we trust that they are using natural untreated (undyed) stones or all of their stones become questionable.

The page on their website does NOT say they only use natural diamonds, so now I’m about to have a heart attack. Of course the craftsmanship and gold work are self-evident, but this whole thread has me sick to my stomach. My SA has talked up “only natural diamonds and unheated sapphires” so I am very curious why there is discrepancy between what the website says (or fails to say) and what the SAs say. I’m not fussed about my agate being color treated. It’s a cheap stone to begin with; and I am well aware I am paying for the gold and the brand recognition. I mean MOP is used on cheap buttons for heavens sake, but we still are willing to pay $20k for a string of MOP Alhambra. I guess one might also question what the intrinsic value of the leather is in a $20k Birkin bag too, right? Lots of food for thought. I still adore all my pieces and they bring me joy.

 

[DS2006]

The page on their website does NOT say they only use natural diamonds, so now I’m about to have a heart attack. Of course the craftsmanship and gold work are self-evident, but this whole thread has me sick to my stomach. My SA has talked up “only natural diamonds and unheated sapphires” so I am very curious why there is discrepancy between what the website says (or fails to say) and what the SAs say. I’m not fussed about my agate being color treated. It’s a cheap stone to begin with; and I am well aware I am paying for the gold and the brand recognition. I mean MOP is used on cheap buttons for heavens sake, but we still are willing to pay $20k for a string of MOP Alhambra. I guess one might also question what the intrinsic value of the leather is in a $20k Birkin bag too, right? Lots of food for thought. I still adore all my pieces and they bring me joy.

I didn't mean to scare anyone!!! I think there is a 0% chance that they would use lab diamonds or gemstones! I was just making the point that while an SA may not know every single thing about a stone such as where it is sourced, etc., the one I work with would absolutely not intentionally lie about the blue agate not being dyed. Dyed blue agate shouldn't cost a penny more than onyx, so I also tend to believe that blue agate and carnelian are natural and not dyed due to the pricing structure. I think people who doubt it need to call VCA and ask rather than assume the worst (that VCA lies about it).

I wouldn't necessarily care about certain treatments as long as they are transparent about it. For example, there are many very fine heated sapphires, and that is considered acceptable and the stones can cost tens of thousands of dollars. We definitely are paying a lot for the branding aspect of these original VCA pieces, but while I'd pay $20k for a VA 20 motif, I would not pay that much for any purse, as there is no purse in the world that I would desire over a piece of jewelry at that price point. Although, I guess I might reconsider if I had unlimited money!

 

[stephbb9]

Just looked on the TRR as they have gemologists look at their stones.
They call it dyed chalcedony…
Seems like other stones are not dyed not treated and are natural.

 

[nicole0612]

Just looked on the TRR as they have gemologists look at their stones.
They call it dyed chalcedony…
Seems like other stones are not dyed not treated and are natural.

When I searched just now, VCA/Tiffany/Bvlgari/Cartier blue agate and green agate pieces are described on TRR as “dyed chalcedony”. Does anyone know if these other brands confirm dying? The other items are not currently on the various websites, so I can’t check by item. One item is still available on an international Tiffany website (Netherlands) - Tiffany agate T circle stone pendant-, but it does not mention one way or the other about dying.

 

[DS2006]

Just looked on the TRR as they have gemologists look at their stones.
They call it dyed chalcedony…
Seems like other stones are not dyed not treated and are natural.

Because most blue agate sold in less expensive jewelry is dyed, along with the fact that natural blue agate apparently is quite rare, says to me that they are assuming the pieces are dyed. They couldn't actually test it without ruining a motif. So I wouldn't count that as reliable.

 

[marbella8]

Because most blue agate sold in less expensive jewelry is dyed, along with the fact that natural blue agate apparently is quite rare, says to me that they are assuming the pieces are dyed. They couldn't actually test it without ruining a motif. So I wouldn't count that as reliable.

I think the best thing would be an email to Hermes customer service. I just replied to you, because you were the last one on this thread, but I mean any of us should send an email and ask, and then post the answer here.

 

[DS2006]

I think the best thing would be an email to Hermes customer service. I just replied to you, because you were the last one on this thread, but I mean any of us should send an email and ask, and then post the answer here.

I agree! We need the answer from VCA! (You might want to edit one word in your post! )

 

[Alena21]

The stone is natural no doubt about this, the only question is if the colour has been artificially enhanced by dye etc or not...
I'm told the acetone test would not ruin anything as they use miniscule amount. If the stone has been artificially dyed the test spot will be visible only under microscope.It still gives me anxiety though since I don't let even a spec of water on my bracelet.
We do need answers that's for sure.

 

[Alena21]

Ladies,
I think a lot of people here are missing the point and losing focus on the issue.
The problem is NOT if the BA is artificially coloured per se.
1. The problem is that BA fades and if it is artificially coloured the dye process has been poorly executed which is a HUGE quality issue.
2. If the stones have not been artificially enhanced and the colour still fades with utmost care , this is again a red flag with the quality of the natural stone this time.
It is as simple as this.

 

[DS2006]

Ladies,
I think a lot of people here are missing the point and losing focus on the issue.
The problem is NOT if the BA is artificially coloured per se.
1. The problem is that BA fades and if it is artificially coloured the dye process has been poorly executed which is a HUGE quality issue.
2. If the stones have not been artificially enhanced and the colour still fades with utmost care , this is again a red flag with the quality of the natural stone this time.
It is as simple as this.

I have a different viewpoint on this. It is a known fact that dyed blue agate will likely fade or change color especially if put in sunlight, humidity, or water, etc. It doesn't matter how well it is done. I saw that mentioned on multiple sites in regard to dyed blue agate beads, etc.

The issue is whether the VCA blue agate is dyed or not, because it is more likely to have problems if it is. However, even totally natural untreated carnelian and blue agate can change color due to exposure to perfumes, lotions, too much water in cleaning or showering, humidity or sweating, being in the sun too long, etc., because they are porous stones. I already posted that my SA sent me a picture of her carnelian bracelet that had a darkened motif, and it is a daily wear piece for her. On the other hand, thousands of people have bought blue agate and my SA at a major boutique said they have had no complaints about it thus far, and she checked with customer service to ask, too. We've only seen a handful of complaints here.

Trust me, I want to know the truth about it, too, and I need to know relatively soon. I have already asked. I hope others will ask VCA.