| One of the most common questions asked about | | | | use real stones or artificial ones, but it is always a |
| gemstones is whether they are real or not. | | | | good idea to inspect the genuineness of a stone |
| Artificial stones are also known as synthetic or | | | | before buying it. Natural gems are not available in |
| imitation stones which are made to look like | | | | large quantities and therefore only limited pieces |
| original gems but are quite inexpensive. These | | | | of jewelry are made by the jewelers. If you |
| stones exhibit the same physical and chemical | | | | want to acquire a jewelry article made from |
| properties as the real ones including color and | | | | genuine stones, you will have to pay the high |
| shape but they are produced in a laboratory. | | | | price. |
| Naturally occurring minerals and crystals come | | | | Even genuine gemstones are graded according to |
| with flaws and imperfections, whereas their | | | | their hardness and quality. For example, there are |
| synthetic or artificial counterparts are made to be | | | | countless types of diamonds depending on their |
| flawless. This factor is used as one of the | | | | carat weight, quality of cut, degree of |
| parameters of identification of real stones by | | | | transparency or colorlessness, and level of clarity. |
| gemologists. | | | | The highest quality diamonds are quite expensive. |
| Everyone should learn the techniques of | | | | Mostly people compromise on one or more of the |
| distinguishing between real and artificial stones. | | | | above-mentioned parameters to locate a diamond |
| This skill comes in handy when one has to buy | | | | which suits their budget. Another point to |
| valuable and expensive jewelry made of colored | | | | remember is that almost all naturally occurring |
| stones. Diamond stimulants such as CZ and | | | | stones are enhanced, dyed or polished to improve |
| moissanite sometimes exhibit even more fire and | | | | their texture and to remove as many flaws as |
| brilliance than a genuine diamond. Normally | | | | possible. |
| synthetic stones are heavier than their real | | | | The quality of gemstones is therefore also |
| counterparts. Although some people think that | | | | dependent on how expertly they have been |
| heaviness is directly related to the value of a | | | | prepared to be used in jewelry making. Diamonds |
| stone, but it’s not true. Real gems are lighter | | | | come in many shapes and each one is differently |
| and more transparent. Artificial ones, on the other | | | | priced. Lab-grown synthetic stones are somewhat |
| hand, tend to be more opaque than transparent. | | | | more similar to natural gems. These stones take |
| Because of the density, artificial gems weigh | | | | time to acquire the shape and other physical |
| more and this can be felt by holding them in your | | | | properties of a gem. If you are confused about |
| hand. | | | | whether to invest in buying real stones or artificial |
| Real gemstones are rare and they are obtained | | | | ones it will be helpful to know that the value of |
| or mined after tiresome efforts. Because of this | | | | real stones increase over time. For example, if |
| reason, genuine stones are very expensive as | | | | you own genuine diamond jewelry, you can |
| compared to their synthetic equivalent. Some | | | | always resell it possibly by getting more price than |
| jewelry designers would tell you whether they | | | | you paid when you bought it. |