errr....that is a LOT of money - you dont even have to be an expert, Scunner. LOL seriously, as somewhat of a gem buff (won't post my business jewellery website cuz I don't want to advertise (but mention it to show I know what Im talking about, lol)....there are a lot of stones which are heat treated to change the colour of them. In a really hot country, just leaving them on the windowsill while you do dishes can change the colour. While jewellers should tell you which have been treated, many don't and many don't know unless their suppliers are honest - to check you have to heat treat them, thus making them the less deirable (and cheaper) colour. If someone really wants to do serious shopping for that sort of thing, you can get gem testers - all gems conduct electricity differently and there is a little meter which tells you immediately which gem it is. You can find them on ebay and they are small enough to fit in your handbag. Word of warning, though, some synthetic diamonds are hard to spot, so need a more expensive tester, and although there are gold testers, they are a lot more complicated because of the different types of plating, etc. Not saying that it wasnt coloured glass - there is a lot of that stuff around too - but if you want to know what you are getting and buy a lot of stone jewellery a gem tester is great. I know someone who carries hers when she goes to car boot sales!
Where is the Paspateur? I definately want to avoid that one!
