What types of lab-grown gemstones are available?
Lab-grown gemstones, also known as synthetic gemstones, fall into several categories:
Synthetic Gemstones
These gemstones are engineered to replicate the chemical composition, microstructure, and natural conditions of mined gemstones. Examples include lab-grown diamonds, synthetic rubies, synthetic sapphires, and synthetic quartz. They exhibit identical visual and physical properties to natural gemstones.
Man-Made Gemstones
Man-made gemstones resemble natural stones in appearance and durability but do not occur in nature. Popular examples include cubic zirconia and strontium titanate.
Composite Gemstones
These stones are created by combining smaller pieces of gemstones into a larger one using adhesives. Common examples include composite diamonds, composite opals, and composite jade.
Reconstructed Gemstones
Reconstructed gemstones are made by bonding or melting fragments, powders, or scraps of gemstones under high heat. Examples include reconstructed turquoise, amber, and lapis lazuli.
Are artificial gemstones always fake?
Artificial gemstones are not inherently fake. They share essential traits with natural gemstones, such as colour, hardness, and lustre. The misconception often stems from unethical practices where artificial gemstones are misrepresented as natural.
Key Point: Reputable sellers clearly label artificial gemstones, like “lab-grown diamonds” or “synthetic cubic zirconia,” ensuring transparency for informed purchasing decisions.
Are fake gemstones always artificial?
Fake gemstones aren’t always artificial; some are natural stones misrepresented as higher-value counterparts. For example, quartz sold as diamonds or tanzanite sold as sapphires. While these stones are genuine, their misrepresentation makes them fake.
How to Identify Fake Gemstones?
Fake gemstones come in many forms, including artificial stones, treated stones, and mislabelled natural stones. Common methods of deception include:
1. Using Lower-Value Stones Impersonating High-Value Ones
Some gemstones are valued higher due to their origin. Fraudsters may use stones from less valuable origins to mimic those from prestigious locations.
2. Impersonating Natural with Cultured Pearls
In the pearl market, cultured pearls are sometimes passed off as natural pearls. Similarly, freshwater pearls may be sold as higher-value saltwater pearls.
3. Truly Fake Gemstones
These are made from inexpensive materials to mimic the appearance of genuine gemstones. Common examples include:
- Imitation Materials: Glass is often used to mimic crystal, plastic for amber or coral, and cow bone for ivory.
- Coated Products: A thin film of colour is applied to a clear gemstone, such as a colourless diamond, to mimic coloured diamonds.
- Plated Materials: Glass or other materials are coated with a thin diamond layer to simulate diamonds or layered with pearl powder to impersonate pearls.
- Composite Gemstones: Low-grade stones or materials are covered with thin slices of high-quality gemstones to create a deceptive facade. For example, a poor-quality Chicken Blood Stone may have a layer of high-quality material glued to its surface.
- Fake Ancient Jade: Modern jade is often treated to appear aged, such as by burying it for months or longer, baking it to create cracks, or soaking it in dyes. Some techniques even involve inserting jade into an animal's body or burying it with a dead animal to produce fake patina and markings.
By understanding these deceptive practices, buyers can better identify potential fakes and avoid falling victim to fraud.
Are all genuine gemstones hard, and are fake ones always soft?
It is a common misconception that genuine gemstones are always hard while fake ones are soft. In reality, the hardness of gemstones depends on their type. Here is a breakdown:
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Hard Gemstones
Some gemstones, like diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, are indeed very hard. Hardness is measured using the Mohs scale, which ranges from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest). Diamonds rank at 10, the hardest substance in nature, while rubies and sapphires rank at 9. Their imitations, such as glass or quartz, usually have much lower hardness levels. -
Soft Gemstones
Not all genuine gemstones are hard. For example, Shoushan stone, Chicken Blood stone, amber, and ivory have a Mohs hardness of only 2 to 2.5, similar to fingernails. Pearls and metals like gold and silver are slightly harder, with a hardness of 2.5 to 3, while platinum is higher at 4 to 4.5. Because of their softness, these materials are prone to scratches and require careful handling. Avoid contact with harder objects and use soft brushes for cleaning. -
Cultural Myth
In popular media, there is often a scene where gold or silver items are bitten to verify their authenticity. If they yield slightly under pressure, they are considered genuine due to the softness of these metals. If they do not, their purity is questioned or they might be fake.
This shows that hardness alone cannot be used to determine whether a gemstone is genuine or fake. It depends on the specific material and its properties.
