Understanding Gemstone Terminology

Gemstone Terminology Basics, Key Terms to Understand

How terms differ, how they intertwine

Shopping for gemstones and gemstone jewelry can be confusing. Prices are sometimes very different for jewelry that appears to be very similar. Some of the statements in ads are confusing, too, because gemstones are called natural, genuine, synthetic, simulated, treated—or a combination of those terms.

It's important for any shopper to understand gemstone terms before buying any type of gemstone jewelry.

What Are Natural Gemstones?

Gems brought to us courtesy of nature, with no interference from humans. By the time they appear in our jewelry they've been cut or polished, but they've not been treated or altered in other ways.

What Are Genuine Gemstones?

Natural gemstones are genuine gems. So are other stones created by nature, even the gems that have been treated to enhance their appearance. They're "real," even if they've been altered in some way.

Not All Natural or Genuine Gemstones are Valuable

Don't be fooled into thinking that all natural or genuine gemstones are desirable or valuable. Small to large stones of poor quality are common and often considered mining castaways. Get the facts about a specific gem before you pay a premium price for it.

Gemstone and Jewelry Pricing

Like any other industry, supply and demand drives gemstone prices up and down. For example, Natural rubies of high quality are rare and demand for them is always high. Some of the areas where topnotch rubies are mined are in political turmoil, hindering distribution even more.

Similarly colored red garnets are gorgeous, but they aren't rare. A flawless natural garnet costs a great deal less than a ruby of similar quality.

Be Realistic & Shop Smart

A large percentage of gemstones are treated to enhance their appearance. The enhancements allow jewelry manufacturers to improve the appearance of stones that consumers wouldn't otherwise purchase. Remember, treated gemstones are genuine, but they are no longer considered natural.

Treatments allow more of us to own gemstones. If naturally "perfect" stones were the only ones available, most of us couldn't afford them.

Buy pricy gemstones labeled natural only from an experienced jeweler you trust. Ask for verification from a respected laboratory before paying top dollar for any stone.

Shopping for a natural gemstone is a lot easier if it's a color you're after and not a specific stone. Gemstones that aren't usually treated include garnets, peridot, hematite, alexandrite and moonstone.

Read as much as you can about gemstones and jewelry, then study ads carefully to compare prices. Ask for details on all components, not just the gemstones. Go shopping so that you can compare jewelry and gemstones side-by-side.

How Synthetic Gemstones Differ

A synthetic gemstone shares a natural stone's physical, chemical and optical qualities. The difference? Synthetics are created in a laboratory. It's kind of like making a high tech batch of cookies—we know the ingredients and we know how long to cook them.

There are synthetic versions of nearly all popular gemstones and many of them have been around for a long time. Older synthetics were fairly simple for gemologists to detect—they were often too perfect. Some modern synthetic gemstones are more difficult to identify, but an experienced jeweler or gemologist can usually help.

Smart Shopping

Jewelry that includes quality synthetic gems can be just as beautiful as jewelry made with natural stones—and there are some great buys out there.

Good synthetics aren't necessarily inexpensive, but should cost much less than natural stones of similar quality.

Since synthetics do have the same composition as natural stones, they could technically be called "genuine," but that would be a deceptive label if used alone. A stone's origins should always be disclosed.

Question the ethics of anyone who knowingly omits origin information, and the expertise of anyone who cannot provide it.