Whether you are looking to buy a sapphire, a pearl or an emerald, it is important for you to know the synthetically produce gemstone from the natural ones as that can play a major role in determining the price of these products.
If you are new to buying gemstones as most people tend to be, it can be very difficult for you to understand one type of gemstone from the other.
In such cases, the best thing for you to do would be to have all the gem information. It is very important that you do not let the complex terminology of gemstones confuse you when you are looking to buy a stone.
There are major differences between a natural stone, a synthetic stone and an imitation stone. Therefore, unless you know them well enough, you may end up paying an exorbitant price for a poor quality gemstone.
If you are not sure about the quality and type of the gemstone, you can always ask the jewelry store owner about the product, and he or she will be able to tell you.
You can also learn about the gemstone name to detect the stones that interest you the most. Here is a look at the differences between a natural stone, a synthetic stone and an imitation stone that you need to know about.
Natural gemstone
A gemstone is said to be natural when it is produce in nature without being affect in any way by any kind of human activity. Such gems are typically mine from the bowels of the earth.
There are also stones like pearls and corals which are naturally produce under water. Natural gemstones are rare when compare to synthetic gemstones . It is this quality that determines their price in a major way.
In fact, a naturally occurring pearl may cost hundreds. Or even a thousand times more than their synthetic counterparts. In some cases, a gemstone may be expose to certain treatments to enhance its appearance.
For instance, heat treating a sapphire may help to deep its shade and a natural diamond can be laser drill for producing an inclusion.
Just like some methods of treatments are typical, there are others that are not. It is important that you ask about such treatments before you buy a gemstone.
Synthetic stone
Synthetic gemstones are products that are physically same as their natural counterparts mine from the bowels of the earth.
They are known for having the same chemical composition and physical properties as the naturally occurring stones. The only difference lies in the fact that synthetic gemstones are manufacture and grow in laboratories within strictly control environments.
Therefore, in such control environments, the chemicals and minerals present within such a natural environment are present in the control environment under precise pressure and temperature levels, which in turn makes it possible for the synthetic gemstones to be produce.
As they are produced in a control environment, they have more vivid colors and fewer numbers of inclusions when compare to natural stones. They are also price at a lower rate when compare to the natural stones.
Imitation stone
An imitation stone is a stone that is primarily meant to emulate the appearance of a natural stone. They are usually made of glass, plastics, dyes and resin and can be effectively use to create the shape and feel of the natural gemstone.
Such gemstones can be identify easily through specific tests in a laboratory under specific conditions by an experience gemologist. Imitation stones are often use for making various jewelry items.