How to Identify an Original Gemstone?

How to Identify an Original Gemstone?

Precious stones like diamonds and sapphires have always magnetized the world. From the Moguls to the Tsars, everyone had mighty natural gemstones in their treasure chests. However, with time, finding and identifying original gemstone have gotten tougher. The advancement of technology and intricate methods have made it easier to mimic rare and exotic gemstones. 

As a buyer or a collector, it is important to know what to look for while identifying a natural gemstone. Let’s dive deep and understand the traits that segregate an original gemstone from an imitation. 

4Cs of Natural Gemstones 

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has prominence in the world of rare and exotic gemstones. The organization lists various factors that help in determining the authenticity of a certified gemstone. These factors are famously termed as 4Cs, i.e., color, clarity, cut, and carat weight of an original gemstone. Let’s take a quick look: 

COLOR

Color is an important factor that helps with distinguishing a natural gemstone from a synthetic gemstone. Natural gemstones such as ruby, sapphire, diamonds, and emeralds are primarily sought after for their rich and striking hues. Moreover, most of the gems undergo treatment for enhancement. Original stones such as tanzanite birthstone and Burmese ruby are subjected to heat treatment for color enhancement. A treatment does not change either the chemical or the metaphysical properties of a certified gemstone.

CLARITY 

Nature always leaves its mark on its creations. Inclusions are an ode to the authenticity of a natural gemstone. Diamonds are known for their tiny inclusions that verify their natural origins. Similarly, Moroccan amethysts are known for their hematite inclusion that gives them a unique red undertone. Moreover, the authenticity of emeralds and rubies is also determined based on the idiosyncratic inclusion of their source of origin. Diamonds 4Cs are often demarcated in grades such as VVSI, VSI, SI, and more. Similarly, you can also find emeralds with grades ranging from A to AAAA. 

CUT

The majority of natural gemstones are found in trademark cuts such as round, oval, octagon, or emerald. Diamonds are majorly cut in round or oval shape as these amplify their sparkle and brilliance. On the other hand, emerald gemstone is often found in sturdy geometric cuts that enhance its hue. Semi-precious stones such as lapis lazuli and tiger’s eye are also available in fancy cuts such as star, pencil, etc. 

CARAT WEIGHT

Original gemstones such as diamonds and sapphires have been around for centuries. The major mines, such as Argyle, have stopped mining and producing new quantities of gems. The passage of time has rendered it tough to find gems of larger carat weight.  

The above points give a surmised overview of the various factors that you can consider to identify an original gemstone.

A Quick Peek Into Treatments  

A common misconception between treated and synthetic gems exists. It is significant to differentiate between the two to ensure you get an original gemstone. Let’s dive deep: 

Treated Gemstones 

The majority of gems are treated for enhancement. Treatments such as heat, fissure filling, beryllium, and zachery are common forms and strengthen the gemstones. For example, turquoise often undergoes Zachery treatment that diminishes its porosity and enhances its strength. Similarly, sapphires often undergo heat or beryllium treatment for color enhancement. On the other hand, rubies found in Niassa are often subjected to fissure filling treatment to fill the tiny glass-like fissures in them. 

Synthetic Gemstones   

Synthetic gemstones are basically imitation gemstones that are created entirely in the laboratory. Gems such as Boulder opal triplet are created to imitate the natural and rare Boulder opal. Similarly, with the drop in diamond mining, the rise in lab-grown diamonds is apparent. These are created in the lab and precisely imitate natural diamonds down to the chemical properties. 

As a gemstone buyer or collector, it is best to have a working knowledge to identify a natural gemstone from a synthetic one. GIA’s 4Cs is a precise tool that takes a 360-degree look at the characteristics of an original gemstone. The ability to distinguish between natural and synthetic can help you easily bypass the fake stones. Moreover, you should also ask for certification from the seller. You can buy natural gemstones from Shasgems.