Natural diamonds are man-found, while lab-grown diamonds are man-made.
Useful link:
https://www.gia.edu/gia-news-research/difference-between-natural-laboratory-grown-diamonds
Showing posts with label natural gems. Show all posts
Showing posts with label natural gems. Show all posts
Friday, July 26, 2019
Sunday, August 13, 2017
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Natural vs. Synthetic Authenticity
The insightful article Synthetic Authenticity, by John Cloud was extremely useful + I think authentic words have natural meaning + in the gemstone industry there is a saying: 'Genuine people like genuine stones.'
Useful link:
www.strategichorizons.com
Useful link:
www.strategichorizons.com
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
European Jewelry: Eighteenth And Nineteenth Centuries
(via 5000 Years of Gems and Jewelry) Frances Rogers and Alice Beard writes:
4. Engraved Gems, Real And Imitation
Early in the eighteenth century some attempt had been made to excavate the long-buried city of Herculaneum, and later Pompeii. General interest was aroused in the classic forms of art unearthed in these ancient cities. Artists and archeologists flocked to Naples, and fashion took note. Not suddenly but by degrees did the classic influence touch one art after another.
In jewelry the effect was to increase the demand for engraved gemstones, cameos in particular. Immediately there followed a flood of imitation ‘antiques’.
Among those who experimented with making imitation gems was Henry Quinn, a physician, whose name might not have been remembered if it had not been for his young laboratory assistant, James Tassie (1735-99).
The two invented a new form of vitreous paste with which to reproduce ancient gems and medallions, not by copying the engraving by hand, but by casting wax models of the gems.
Tassie became so skillful that his imitations possessed to a high degree the color, transparency and beauty of the originals. His work attracted much attention and he was given access to the finest private collections of ancient gems in Europe in order that he might study and reproduce them. His own collection of reproduction became famous.
At the command of Catherine, Empress of Russia, Tassie made for her copies of all his pastes, a matter of several thousand specimens.
Many of Tassie’s copies eventually became treasured museum pieces. However, to a certain extent it seems to have bene unfortunate for the trade in genuine gems that the copies were so good. Numbers of them fell into the hands of unscrupulous dealers, who passed them off as real, and the too often duped public presently became suspicious of all engraved gems and fearing to find itself deceived, ceased to buy.
More familiar and well known, even down to our times, is the name of the English potter, Joshiah Wedgwood (1730-95). Besides his famous jasperware in classic style, he made cameos for jewelry. Mounted in rings, brooches, or bracelets, his little cameos in delicately tinted jasperware, partcularly in blue and white, became exceedingly popular.
European Jewelry: Eighteenth And Nineteenth Centuries (continued)
4. Engraved Gems, Real And Imitation
Early in the eighteenth century some attempt had been made to excavate the long-buried city of Herculaneum, and later Pompeii. General interest was aroused in the classic forms of art unearthed in these ancient cities. Artists and archeologists flocked to Naples, and fashion took note. Not suddenly but by degrees did the classic influence touch one art after another.
In jewelry the effect was to increase the demand for engraved gemstones, cameos in particular. Immediately there followed a flood of imitation ‘antiques’.
Among those who experimented with making imitation gems was Henry Quinn, a physician, whose name might not have been remembered if it had not been for his young laboratory assistant, James Tassie (1735-99).
The two invented a new form of vitreous paste with which to reproduce ancient gems and medallions, not by copying the engraving by hand, but by casting wax models of the gems.
Tassie became so skillful that his imitations possessed to a high degree the color, transparency and beauty of the originals. His work attracted much attention and he was given access to the finest private collections of ancient gems in Europe in order that he might study and reproduce them. His own collection of reproduction became famous.
At the command of Catherine, Empress of Russia, Tassie made for her copies of all his pastes, a matter of several thousand specimens.
Many of Tassie’s copies eventually became treasured museum pieces. However, to a certain extent it seems to have bene unfortunate for the trade in genuine gems that the copies were so good. Numbers of them fell into the hands of unscrupulous dealers, who passed them off as real, and the too often duped public presently became suspicious of all engraved gems and fearing to find itself deceived, ceased to buy.
More familiar and well known, even down to our times, is the name of the English potter, Joshiah Wedgwood (1730-95). Besides his famous jasperware in classic style, he made cameos for jewelry. Mounted in rings, brooches, or bracelets, his little cameos in delicately tinted jasperware, partcularly in blue and white, became exceedingly popular.
European Jewelry: Eighteenth And Nineteenth Centuries (continued)
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
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.
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.
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