If you search the internet for information on selling your gemstone, you've certainly come across stories of people who have purchased a gemstone, only to realize while trying to sell it that it's not exactly what they thought. ! Most novice collectors and average jewelry fanatics are unable to tell the differences between an actual gemstone, a treated gemstone, and a lab-created gemstone.

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NATURAL STONES
The term "natural gemstone" refers  to a stone that has been created by nature and without any influence on its composition, color or purity by a human being._cc781905-5cde-3194- bb3b-136bad5cf58d_

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Naturally, gemstones, like diamonds, have varying degrees of purity and color. Natural gemstones that have rich color and greatpurity  are rare. This purity  is because the minerals and conditions that were present in the ground at a certain time had to be perfect to create high quality gemstones. This rarity is what buyers and sellersthey search  to determine the value of a stone.

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TREATED OR IMPROVED GEMSTONES
Although a gemstone may be natural, itcan  also have been processed or enhanced by the human. This means that the gemstone has been heated, which is a treatment that aims to increase the intensity of its color.This treatment is common with sapphires or rubies.

 

Another common treatment among gemstones is the practice of oil treating emeralds to allow the stone's natural beauty to shine through. , a stone could be enhanced where a laser drill removes an inclusion (this practice is more commonly used with diamonds than with gemstones).

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Heat treating a natural gemstone is a very common and widely accepted practice in the industry. Heat-treated stones are still considered natural but their value is lower than an untreated stone!

 

Any gemstone originating from the Earth is considered natural, the difference is that it can be natural and untreated or natural and treated. Today, over 90% of all natural sapphires are treated to improve their clarity and color.

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SYNTHETIC STONES
Synthetic gemstones, sometimes called cultured or synthetic gemstones, are produced by humans in laboratories.

 

These labs use advanced techniques to recreate time, pressure and temperature on carbon and different elements in a controlled setting to produce different types of gemstones. What is most interesting about synthetic stones is that they are chemically identical to gemstones found in the Earth.

Because these gemstones are created in a lab in a controlled environment, they are often crystal clear and free of inclusions that are found in natural gemstones.

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Although synthetic gemstones are often more visually perfect than natural gemstones, high quality natural gemstones will always be more valuable than synthetic gemstones due to the nature of their rarity.

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HOW TO KNOW IF NATURAL OR SYNTHETIC
Because natural gemstones can vary widely in color and clarity, it is first important to determine if your gemstone is natural or synthetic.

 

While it's hard to tell the difference without a microscope between a lab-created gemstone, a natural gemstone, and a treated or enhanced gemstone, there is one thing you might want to look for. Synthetic gemstones are more likely to be rich and vivid in color, and are virtually inclusion free and  flawless when you look at them. Almost always, natural gemstones will have some type of color inclusion or differentiation.

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If you are looking to sell your gemstone, it is advisable to include a certification of authenticity from an accredited gemologist. If you purchased your gemstone jewelry from a jeweler, they are required to disclose whether or not a natural stone has been treated. Although required by the jeweler, we always recommend that you ask your jeweler if your gemstone is natural, or if it has had any treatments or enhancements. This way, if you choose to sell your gemstone, you will be well informed and prepared.

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If you think it's time to sell your jewelry or precious stones, trust us and ask for a free and non-binding expertise.

 

Our gemologist experts are at your disposal! 

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