7 Tips to Help You Choose Gemstones

There is nothing as alluring and pleasing to the eye as well displayed jewelry with beautiful twinkling gemstones in a dazzling spectrum of colors.  There are many gemstones of different colors, shapes and sizes that are either natural or synthetic, or imitations of the real thing.  However, most people cannot tell one stone from another, so here are some tips to help you tell that difference so that you have at least some idea of what you are looking at or purchasing. It will also help you if you have any questions to ask before buying.

Natural Colored Gemstones

As the name suggests, these are unchanged by humans with no artificial ...  Show the rest

7 Tips to Help You Choose Gemstones

There is nothing as alluring and pleasing to the eye as well displayed jewelry with beautiful twinkling gemstones in a dazzling spectrum of colors.  There are many gemstones of different colors, shapes and sizes that are either natural or synthetic, or imitations of the real thing.  However, most people cannot tell one stone from another, so here are some tips to help you tell that difference so that you have at least some idea of what you are looking at or purchasing. It will also help you if you have any questions to ask before buying.

Natural Colored Gemstones

As the name suggests, these are unchanged by humans with no artificial coloring. Don't be fooled into thinking that 'natural' means 'expensive' because it doesn't. Te price tag comes from availability, demand and perceived quality.  While a flawed postage stamp can be worth a fortune, gemstones go the opposite way. The more perfect the stone, the more expensive it usually is. Rare stones such as emeralds are worth more than a piece of polished quartz you can pick up at a local quarry.

Treatments of Gemstone

Treating gems doesn’t mean changing the true quality of the stone but its appearance, either permanently or semi-permanently. There are different ways of treating gem stones: use of oil and waxes which are used to fill in fractured surfaces, use of heat and radiation which enhances the colors, and diffusion which deepens the color on the outer layers of the stone. Knowing what treated gems are, you can make an informed choice on the price you are going to pay for the stone’s original quality.

Colored Synthetic Gemstones

A synthetic gemstone is similar to a natural stone apart from the fact that it is created in the laboratory. Due to changes in technology which allow people to produce gems that will not be easy to distinguish from the natural ones, it is imperative to confirm the authenticity of the stone by asking for a laboratory certificate or else you will end up paying too much.  Some sellers will try to fool you if they can see that you know little about the business.

Imitation Stones

Unlike the synthetic stones that are similar to the originals, not only in appearance, but also chemically, the only thing that imitation stones share in common is the initial impression.  Replica stones are made of plastic or glass that any jeweller can spot, but that might fool you. At the higher end, there are replica diamonds that are very difficult even for professionals to detect.

Composite Stones

There are other stones that are assembled in two parts called doublets, or even three that are referred to as triplets. They are formed by applying a thin slice of a genuine gemstone to the surface of a fake, such as glass or crystal.  The reflections can look the same, and the surface has the same physical properties, such as hardness. You can even apply a thin green or red coating between the layers to simulate emeralds or rubies.

Conclusion

Distinguishing the stones doesn’t mean they are not good jewelry; in fact they can look really good. However, you don't want to pay more than you should, and while your article could look great, you want to pay the right price.  It won't make you an expert, but if you learn enough to ask the right questions, you will put people off trying to cheat you and might even get your jewellery at a lower price than you should.