Featured Agate cameos?

Hi everyone,
I would like to ask your opinion on the below cameos, I would like to purchase them. The seller suggested that they are agate, they are black, but when they are held against light they turn orange.
I have not seen them, I think the pendants are intaglio cameos or something along these lines and they are set in gold.
I would appreciate any links or comments on the pendants, material and perhaps age.
Thank you.
Kind regards,
Simona
@Bronwen
@PepperAnna
@KSW
@Fid

 

Lovely!

 

I've seen black glass pieces turn purple (aka black amethyst glass) when I did that, but not orange. That last one is a watch fob, and those were often carnelian or glass made to look like it.

 

All look like glass to me, I'm afraid. These little fobs often are when they are not meant for engraving. Kind of a cool looking Athena nonetheless. They are a good match for the color of carnelian/cornelian when lit from behind & like sard when not.

 

Thank you so much for all the shared knowledge, I have asked him to keep the Athena for me. He asked me a question question, I wonder what is your take on it.
He asked how do we know is glass and not carnelian, why should it be set in gold if glass?
My answer was that carnelian has different shades and sort of banding, striations probably is the best word, whereas his pictures were clear like glass. What are your thoughts, wanted to double check, so I did not give him the wrong answer.
It’s funny because he is the seller, and I am trying to explain what he sells
Thank you.
Kind regards,
Simona

 

Carnelian is a stone that is not translucent or transparent. Light would not shine through it in that way.

 

That's not correct. Carnelian is the red/orange form of chalcedony and it specifically is translucent, when it goes opaque it gets called Jasper.

 

The only way to be sure is to have them tested

 

Okay, thank you. I like learning here.

 

Any old cheap diamond tester will tell you if they're glass. On mine, one bar or no bars is glass. A ZING to the top is a diamond. Anything else is ...anything else. I have a bad feeling all of the above would come back as no bar/one bar.

 

Perfect, I know he has a diamond tester, will suggest to test them.
I also think they are glass, as they are Cristal clear in the photos.
Just looked as some carnelian I have at home, looks different.
Thank you all
@Ce BCA Thank you for sharing the information about Jasper.

 

I am doubtful that they are set in solid gold. Most of these watch chain fobs were gold filled or a wash. Rarely were they gold. He might want to check the wear points.