Knowing The Difference

The availability of new synthetic gemstones in Thailand can make attractive jewelry choices if properly disclosed. Synthetic gemstones have been on the world market since 1890. The old synthetics were mainly ruby, sapphire and spinel. Synthetic emerald has been in the market since 1940. But new synthetic gemstones do not have the characteristic gem prints, which gem dealers and jewelers have long been familiar. The synthetic gemstones today display very similar inclusions like their natural counterparts. Very few gem dealers, jewelers and consumers have that rapid thinking. Bangkok being the gemstone capital of the world some of these stones are being sold as natural.

Occasionally jewelers with impeccable reputation do make mistakes. You may ask how they could make mistakes. It’s easy. Most jewelers are knowledgeable and may know how to identify a familiar natural gemstone from synthetic stone. But if they aren’t familiar with the new technological developments and new synthetic gemstones entering the Bangkok market, one way or the other, they are in for big surprise. Most jewelers are so traditional and overly confident they think they don’t need education and that 30 years of experience will do. They are the losers and the consumers who buy from them also lose. Many of the sophisticated synthetic gemstones are produced in the United States of America, Europe, Russia and now China, and eventually find their way to Bangkok, where they are sold as genuine stones. It is essential to verify authenticity especially for diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emerald—the big four. A lot of money is at stake and occasionally jewelers buy one of these genuine stones and pass their error on to the consumers.

As a matter of fact diamond, ruby, sapphires, spinel, emerald, alexandrite, opal, amethyst, citrine have been synthesized and most have become difficult to identify from their natural counterpart. So before you buy any gemstone, take your time to verify a stone’s identity. First, get some education. It’s a small investment and a rewarding experience. Learn about color. With patience and perseverance you will learn the variances of color and other characteristics in natural and synthetic stones.

In a way it is detective work. An expert performs a series of observations and tests upon a particular stone and with each test will eliminate some of the possible identities of that stone. Through step-by-step testing only one identity will fit the stone in question. This is the end point of the exercise.