Today some synthetic gems, such as emerald, ruby, sapphire, alexandrite, and spinel can be created through a flux-growth process. Flux is a solid material that, when melted, dissolves other materials in the same way that water dissolves sugar. As the dissolved chemical solution gradually cools, synthetic crystals form.
For instance, synthetic diamonds, rubies and blue sapphires are just a few common synthetic gems that exist. These synthetic stones you could call the 'fakes'.
A cubic zirconia is an imitation diamond, for example. A blue piece of glass could be an imitation sapphire. A variety of blue synthetic forsterite is an excellent imitation for tanzanite, while chemically, it's composition is much closer to the yellowish green peridot.
Look at the Stone's Sparkle
When interacting with light, glass typically refracts and disperses the same into several colors on the rainbow spectrum. As such, if you notice your gem sparkle in different colors besides its shade, then it probably is a glass fake.
Imitation Gemstone:
Doing their best to look like the real McCoy, imitation gemstones are also referred to as simulated. Not having the same chemical properties of natural gems, imitations are made of glass, plastic, ceramic or other materials, but they are created to resemble natural stones.
A number of white gems can have a diamond-like appearance. Common diamond simulants include cubic zirconia, white zircon, white topaz, white sapphire, moissanite, white spinel, quartz (rock crystal), and glass. However, these gems all have different physical, chemical, and optical properties.
Fake stones are often produced from synthetic materials such as glass, resin or plastic. They can also be produced by dyeing cheaper and more readily available minerals. A prime example is white howlite being dyed to replicate turquoise.
Price: One other important factor that should help you determine whether or not a gemstone is fake or not is the price. Synthetic stones are unlimited and are made from glass and plastics. Therefore, they are cheaper than real gemstones.
The crystal's color is super bright compared to other stones. Many real crystals are bright too, but they'll look translucent or a little muted compared to dyed fakes. If a gem looks exceedingly bright or saturated (think highlighter yellows or neon pinks), there's a good chance it was dyed to look more attractive.
Light affects the way a stone sparkles, whether manufactured or genuine. However, synthetic stones can only imitate the brilliance of a genuine diamond. Diamonds reflect light in a way that is unique.
Emerald simulants are something that looks like an emerald, but does not share any of its physical or chemical properties.
As of today, the two semi-precious gems that are faked most in the market worldwide are turquoise and black onyx. Here is how they are faked. Duplicate Turquoise: Most of the fake turquoises in the market today are actually magnesite dyed to look like turquoises.
A birthstone is a gemstone that represents a person's period of birth, which is usually the month or zodiac sign. Birthstones are often worn as jewelry or as a pendant necklace.
Place the gemstones in a glass of water and watch. If it floats, then it is probably a fake stone. Real diamonds will sink to the bottom of the glass, while cubic zirconia will float to the surface.
Nearly all gemstones can be scratched by dust. For this reason, it is very important to never rub dust off any gem when cleaning it. Following are the Mohs hardness of some popular gems. The organic gems, which are not minerals, are all quite soft.
Whether you're a gemology student or a gemstone buyer, you should always be cautious about whom you trust for gem identification. Most jewelers have limited experience with colored stones. If they have a Graduate Gemologist degree, that means they're well trained in methodology and the use of instruments.
A diamond will usually have more facets than a clear crystal. This is because diamonds are more elongated than crystals, and therefore it is easier to achieve multiple angles on them to make sure cuts are possible. A diamond has a hardness rating of 10, while a crystal is usually rated at around 7-8.
As a general rule, a bright, intense, pure, rich and vivid color is considered the industry best. The most valuable gemstones are those that exhibit a pure color with only slight hues of secondary colors. The primary color should be medium, neither too dark nor too light.
The price of a sapphire is related to its color, rarity, and size. Larger sapphires in rare colors are more expensive than sapphires with dull colors in smaller carat sizes. Lab-created sapphires tend to be more affordable than sapphires mined in nature.
Genuine citrine has a fairly uniform color from base to tip. Genuine citrine is pretty clear inside even when raw, whereas, with heat-treated citrine, you cannot see through the crystal. Genuine citrine generally has smooth, horizontal fault lines.
Real rose quartz has a soft pink color, cloudy appearance, flaws like inclusions, and a rough and irregular shape. Real rose quartz can scratch glass and feels cool and heavy. Buy rose quartz from certified sellers who source the gem from known mining locations and price it fairly.
Real clear quartz may have inclusions that make the inside of the crystal appear scratched or foggy, while fake glass quartz may appear completely perfect. Some inclusions can't be seen with the naked eye. Try putting your crystal under a microscope to see if you can spot any imperfections.