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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Bronwen, post: 357179, member: 5833&quot;]This is a follow on to the discussion that got going in the thread on <a href="https://www.antiquers.com/threads/where-to-find-valuable-antiques-where-owners-are-unaware-of-the-value.26353/page-2#post-353650" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.antiquers.com/threads/where-to-find-valuable-antiques-where-owners-are-unaware-of-the-value.26353/page-2#post-353650">where to find overlooked goodies</a> at bargain prices about when and whether to inform a seller that an item of theirs is not what they think, with possible consequences for the fair selling price and seller&#039;s good standing with eBay.</p><p><br /></p><p>Should I alert the seller of this cameo, a professional auction outfit with a feedback score of 5,000+, that there is a strong possibility it is glass, not agate/hardstone as represented?&nbsp; I am not completely sure because the setting prevents seeing the line where the lavender and red layers meet, but feel they need to reassess the piece bearing in mind that it could be glass.&nbsp; Doubt the seller is deliberately trying to deceive.&nbsp; If you are not aware that sophisticated glass pieces meant to mimic hardstone, quite lovely in their own right, are out there, it is easy to be fooled.&nbsp; I have no interest in the piece for myself, just a personal mania for getting correct info out, as well as concern for both buyers who may be unwittingly cheated and sellers who are opening themselves up for a complaint of &#039;not as described&#039;.</p><p><br /></p><p>The cameo in question:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]121731[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]121732[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>An example of a glass one:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]121733[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The auction has a couple of days to run.&nbsp; Among the bidders is someone with a feedback score of 1.&nbsp; At present the top bid is still well below where I would value this piece in its 14K setting, even if it is glass, which may mean that others knowledgeable about cameos are passing it by, also suspecting glass.&nbsp; If it ends up selling for a very high price to someone who realizes with it in hand that it is not what they thought, this could end in tears.&nbsp; Tell?&nbsp; Or not?</p><p><br /></p><p>[Addendum: Same seller has a conch shell cameo incorrectly described as angel skin coral.&nbsp; Similar situation: already bidders; 14K &amp; seed pearl setting; currently well below appropriate value.&nbsp; Tell or...?]</p><p><br /></p><p>On the other hand, the seller of this 14K cameo ring, a professional jeweller with a feedback number 13,000+, describes it as shell when it is actually hardstone.&nbsp; With a week to run, bidding has not yet reached seller&#039;s &#039;small reserve&#039;.&nbsp; The amount of gold involved is certain to bring the final price up to a goodly amount, and most/all of the bidders probably can see perfectly well what it is and will place bids accordingly.&nbsp; Is there any reason to inform this seller?&nbsp; They are not at risk of a &#039;not as described&#039; complaint unless from a really perverse buyer.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]121745[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>I yield the floor.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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