hoolligan1938
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2022
Posts: 253
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Post by hoolligan1938 on Apr 9, 2022 10:47:38 GMT -5
I've recently purchased, via ebay, some rock from different dealers in India. I've particularly looked for any notification of treatment or modification of the stone on the ad. Seems that ALL of the ads say that they are unmodified, or untreated, or something like naturally mined. When I receive them, which takes months, they are washed by me and the dye all washes away. This is especially true on the green and on the red stones. So much for the "untreated" part of the ad. Some of them are so artificially square or hex-angenale that again, its obvious they are man made from something other than nature.
Is it just me or is anyone else getting the same results from stones purchased from India? As a new rock tumbler I need to know if I should stop purchasing from out of the country? Your information will not hurt my choices or knowledge, but will help me make the right choices. Thanks in advance.
Jim
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 9, 2022 11:13:12 GMT -5
I think you may have answered your own question. There are plenty of reputable vendors in the US that sell rocks. On fleabay and off. We have some folks on the board here who also sell rocks. roy, catmandewe, Toad and Dr DG are a few I can think of off the top of my head. I know there are more, but I haven't had enough coffee yet.  |
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Post by stardiamond on Apr 9, 2022 12:02:28 GMT -5
I never bought any rocks from India. I see listings when I do searches. Stuff sold by sellers in China were suspect and now that India has started selling they frequently misrepresent. As a few examples. Nipomo marcasite comes from Nipomo California not Indonesia. Butterfly Wing jasper comes from Mexico. Not some other place with similar looking material.
My wife likes a particular soap, Nag Champa from India. I would buy a case from a vitamin seller in NY at a good price. They quit carrying it and ebay and Amazon charged too much. I did an extensive search and found some sellers in India. I knew shipping would be high but a quantity order would reduce the cost per par. I contacted the sellers and there prices were really bad. The best prices were from an importer about 50 miles from where I live who may be the larges or exclusive importer.
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hoolligan1938
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2022
Posts: 253
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Post by hoolligan1938 on Apr 9, 2022 17:45:54 GMT -5
Thank you Folks. I did not know anyone on the forum sold specimens outside of the casual posting for a box of rock or a 25 lb. bag and so forth. For a particular piece I guess the best thing to do is to put a wanted posting on the forum and see what happens. From what is posted above I think I will avoid any more "India" purchases. I've never purchased any specimens from China and don't believe I will. I won't go into that!
This forum is a very good place for a new person to learn. Thanks to all!
Jim
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Post by stardiamond on Apr 9, 2022 18:31:51 GMT -5
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 9, 2022 18:41:31 GMT -5
You can also look at Full Moon Rock Shop on Facebook. Both roy and catmandewe (Tony) sell on there. Another one to check on Facebook is Zippy's Rocks. All good, reputable vendors. |
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller 
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,612 
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Post by RWA3006 on Apr 9, 2022 23:02:57 GMT -5
@hooligan1938 are there any rocks in particular you are looking for?
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Post by liveoak on Apr 10, 2022 6:21:33 GMT -5
Some years ago, I purchased a number of ready made cabochons off ebay from India, and no matter what stone they were, they always came in brown !
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hoolligan1938
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2022
Posts: 253
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Post by hoolligan1938 on Apr 10, 2022 17:30:36 GMT -5
Cave dweller - I've tried a few supposed ruby and emerald stones from India. Very disappointed. They are all some kind of resin (in my opinion) that have been dyed. When you run them under the faucet a lot of the dye runs off on your hands and the bowl. For domestic rock, I've become rather facinated (sp) with Montana Agate. Haven't gotten any fire agate yet, but will try that in the future. As a newbie, most everything I see on this site is of interest. I admit I have champaigne (sp) taste and a bottled water billfold. Good things come in time!
Jim
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LazerFlash
Cave Dweller
The more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the toilet.
Member since September 2021
Posts: 550
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Post by LazerFlash on Apr 11, 2022 13:02:34 GMT -5
As a newb, hoolligan1938 , I've only bought a small amount of rough from sites like eBay, Amazon, and Etsy. Having lots of experience with 2 of the 3, I ALWAYS look at the reviews and tend to stay away from any seller with more than a couple of negatives. I also NEVER knowingly buy from any seller in China. (Although eBay is making it much more difficult, as they made a change a couple of years back that actually makes it much easier for non-USA sellers to hide the fact that they aren't based in the USA.)
I have found that buying direct from places like The Rock Shed has yet to fail me.
Good luck.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,047
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Post by gemfeller on Apr 11, 2022 13:34:35 GMT -5
While I fully endorse buying from Forum dealers and other U.S. sources, there are some stones that are unique to or mainly available from India. I've purchased from Indian dealers many times with excellent results. The keys in my opinion are knowledge about the stone being purchased and the prospective seller, and realistic expectations about the value of the purchase.
You're not going to get "bargain" rubies, emeralds or other fine gems from India. Seller's families there have been in the gem trade thousands -- not just hundreds -- of years and know very well the value of their inventories. Western buyers benefit mainly through lower labor costs and lower costs through volume purchases or direct mining connections by large dealers.
Fraud and misrepresentation are always dangers, especially from sellers who seem to offer "unbelievable" deals. They almost always are not to be believed.
Take it from someone who's made a few costly mistakes: a knowledgeable buyer who does careful homework on prospective sellers and who really understands the stones being purchased stands the best chance of success.
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 992 
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Post by nursetumbler on Apr 12, 2022 9:24:29 GMT -5
Cave dweller - I've tried a few supposed ruby and emerald stones from India. Very disappointed. They are all some kind of resin (in my opinion) that have been dyed. When you run them under the faucet a lot of the dye runs off on your hands and the bowl. For domestic rock, I've become rather facinated (sp) with Montana Agate. Haven't gotten any fire agate yet, but will try that in the future. As a newbie, most everything I see on this site is of interest. I admit I have champaigne (sp) taste and a bottled water billfold. Good things come in time! Jim Cave dweller is RWA3006. The cave dweller is what "level" he/she is in by how many posts he/she has made. Just put an @ sign before their name and it tags them like me I am nursetumbler. Welcome to the forum Kelly |
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 12, 2022 13:49:48 GMT -5
While I fully endorse buying from Forum dealers and other U.S. sources, there are some stones that are unique to or mainly available from India. I've purchased from Indian dealers many times with excellent results. The keys in my opinion are knowledge about the stone being purchased and the prospective seller, and realistic expectations about the value of the purchase. You're not going to get "bargain" rubies, emeralds or other fine gems from India. Seller's families there have been in the gem trade thousands -- not just hundreds -- of years and know very well the value of their inventories. Western buyers benefit mainly through lower labor costs and lower costs through volume purchases or direct mining connections by large dealers. Fraud and misrepresentation are always dangers, especially from sellers who seem to offer "unbelievable" deals. They almost always are not to be believed. Take it from someone who's made a few costly mistakes: a knowledgeable buyer who does careful homework on prospective sellers and who really understands the stones being purchased stands the best chance of success. Well articulated, excellent advice. 
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Post by stardiamond on Apr 12, 2022 16:34:20 GMT -5
Buying overseas can be difficult. I bought a kunzite crystal for my wife from an Etsy seller. It was shipped from Pakistan. Tracking was provided but it took months for it to arrive. I got a refund and when it arrived paid the seller again. I bought some Blue Biggs from a seller in Thailand and delivery was quick.
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