Gemstones: real or fake? AKA: Know what you are buying….PART 2

Hi.  Thank you so much for coming back to visit!  It’s good to see you!  

Before we talk about fake stones, I wanted to briefly mention misnomers.  If a stone has a topological word before the name of the gemstone it is not what it is represented to be. Here are some examples:  An Oriental emerald is a green sapphire.  An American ruby is a garnet.  Australian jade is quartz that's been treated.  

Also important to note:  there are many beautiful “stones” out there that are composites of genuine stone and imitation stone.  An excellent example of this is jewelry made with opals.  It is often made with composites.  There are several types of composites.  One of several is to make the base of imitation or lesser quality stone and then place a layer of genuine stone over on top.  

There are many many more points on this topic.  If you would like more info I highly recommend doing more research.  If you want more info here, please leave a message and I will write about it.

Now…Fake Stones!  A pet peeve…

A while ago, I bought a stone that were utterly gorgeous.  I like to add anecdotes to my jewelry descriptions (silverpennyartisans.etsy.com).  In the course of looking for info on the particular stone, I found there was no such stone.  I am no stuck with very expense glass because I cannot sell it for what I paid for it because I, in good conscience, cannot sell it as anything but glass.  I want to make sure you, the consumer, is aware of this new trend.

Here is a list of some fakes/scams flooding out of Hong Kong (found online and in stores), posted on Facebook by Jamey Swisher, a gemologist. ( http://thatcrystalsite.ning.com)   I see these stones all over.  They are beautiful.  I just believe you should be price conscience when you by a piece of jewelry featuring one of these stones.

Dragon agate or dragon vein agate, some is quench cracked, bleached, and dyed agate some is quench cracked, and dyed glass.

Succor Creek Jasper, some is low grade jasper scraps, others are polymer materials, some is low grade stabilized cherry creek jasper

Druzy tiger's eye jasper or tiger's eye jasper, very low grade iron stained kyanite or low

grade serpentine in quartz

Picasso Jasper, most is low grade stabilized cherry creek jasper, some is composite or polymer materials

Kambama Jasper, some is the real deal a stromatolite, others are simply resin/polymer composites

Leopard skin jasper, not even close. Most is low grade agate or onyx or travertine that have been dyed, some are again, polymer composite type

Turquoise & pyrite matrix, dyed, composite material, created by taking low grade scraps of whatever material can be gotten, artificial and/or natural, then adding dye,  resin/polymers/epoxy and then compressing into blocks, then slabbed and cabbed.

All kinds of Jade carvings, everything from dyed serpentine, to composites, to polymer/resin, to dyed lepidolite

Flame Jasper, everything from dyed and stabilized low grade chert to resin/polymer

Cherry Quartz, everything from quench cracked and dyed quartz to entirely resin/polymer creations, to quench cracked and dyed glass creations

Fluorite with pyrite/Amethyst with Pyrite/Fluorite & amethyst with Pyrite, everything from amethyst & fluorite chips mixed with pyrite looking stuff in a composite to colored slag glass and metal shavings in a resin/polymer composite.

Sea Sediment Jasper, again, everything from complete resin/polymer dyed creations, to dyed composite materials, to low grade jaspers stabilized and dyed, majority is dyed polymer/resin creations

Agates. mainly low grade dyed agates, but some are, again, dyed resin/polymer creations

Druzy Geode agate cabs, some are simply geode pieces stabilized and dyed two or more colors, others are solid geode insides with resin/polymer pieces and are composite dyed materials

Fire Druzy Agates, more composite or just low grade geode type pieces quenched and dyed

Crazy Lace Agate, everything from dyed composites to dyed resin/polymer to dyed low grade agate or rhyolite or travertine

Dyed Variscite, almost all of it is dyed resin/polymer creations, some are dyed composites, others are low grade impregnated and dyed jaspers or rarely low grade impregnated and dyed variscite

Rhodocrosite, dyed and stabilized travertine

Opalite, just a type of man-made glass

Snowflake obsidian, actually a very low grade cheap Dalmatian jasper

Lapis Lazuli, mainly dyed man-made composite materials

Rainbow stone, man-made dyed composite or polymer/resin creations

Opal Cat's eye from Sri Lanka, just man-made fiber optic glass

All kinds of colored turquoise with and without metal and magnesite, almost all is simply dyed man-made composite materials with NO turquoise in it, some, very little, is actually low grade dyed reconstituted turquoise compressed with resin and metal to make the man-made composite materials

Ruby in Zoisite, nothing but serpentine mixture

Larimar, just dyed resin/polymer in most cases, dyed aventurine quartz in others

Have a great night. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

Gemstones: real or fake? AKA: Know what you are buying….PART 1

There are real gemstones that a fabulous and blingy and all good things that a girl wants.  There rhinestones and other man-made stones that can be just as beautiful and perfectly ok as long as they are sold as such.

But then there are the stones that are sold as one thing and are something completely different.  This is my topic for today.  The reason I chose this topic as my second post is because I was taken.  I trusted my supplier (who likely trusted her supplier) and wound up with beautifully colored, expensive ….. glass!

There are two (2) issues here.   The first is simulating a diamond or sapphire quality gemstone.  The second is the manufacture of stones to sell as a gemstone that doesn’t exist.

All uncultivated stones have organic materials found in them.  Gemologists call these materials inclusions; a natural flaw in the stone.  If a stone appears TOO perfect, it likely is synthetic.  It is perfectly fine to own a synthetic stone as long as you know it is synthetic and you pay accordingly.

It is rare for consumers to find a naturally beautiful stone.  “About 90% gems are treated to enhance their beauty.  If the gem dealer discloses information about its treatment, it is far better than someone trying to sell you a fake gem claiming that it is original. Heat treatments are fine as long as they are disclosed at the time of purchase.” (http://onlinegemstones.blogspot.ca/)

“Natural gemstones are ones that are naturally beautiful, without any treatments or enhancements. Synthetic gems have more sparkle than real gemstones. They have more weight than original stones as chemicals are added to make the gem look real. A fake gemstone could either be a glass stone or a lab-created stone. A glass gemstone can have tiny bubbles inside or scratches on it. Normally lab-created gems do not have inclusions as they are hidden or filled. A fake gemstone will have uneven luster and color. If you notice any uneven color, it could mean that the stone has been dyed to hide flaws. Synthetic gems have scissor cuts and glass gems have rounded edges on cuts.  Cubic zirconia and synthetic moissanite are two (2) popular simulation diamonds.  They are both affordable and durable materials that are created in a lab.  

Testing if a diamond is real or fake is easy. If you breathe on it, it should not turn foggy. The real test of a real diamond is that it should be able to cut glass. A genuine gemstone will have GIA (Gemological Institute of America Appraisal) certification. If you have any doubts about the stone being real, take it to a gemologist and have it checked. He will easily be able to tell if it is fake or genuine. If a gemstone has been treated, it can easily be detected by a gemologist.” (http://onlinegemstones.blogspot.ca/)

Tomorrow I will talk about the other kind of fake stones so I will see you then.

Getting Started **Welcome to my Blog**

Well Hi!  

Welcome to my blog.  I really appreciate you coming by to say hi and share your thoughts and insights.  I have decided to start this journal because I have a long list of questions regarding jewelry and fashion.  What shape necklace goes with which neckline?  What style earring goes with my face shape?  What is trending? Is that a real gem stone or not?

Over the course of time, I will answer those questions.  I will, also, have guest bloggers discuss their craft, give us online selling tips, and anything else you would like to know about.  PLEASE tell me what you would like to know more about and I will do my very best to find answers.

Each day of the week will bring something new and different.

Today, a bit about myself.  My name is Rosee.  I own Silver Penny Artisans, you can find my work at silverpennyartisans.etsy.com.  I was born and raised in Buffalo, NY but now live with my family in Southern Ontario.

I am passionately, madly in love with crafting; making jewelry particularly!  I work with polymer,  leather,  pearls,  old toys,  paper….you name it!  Jewelry is made out of whatever wants to be made (or re-made) into jewelry.   As a result, my most favorite craft/jewelry technique is mixed media!   You ask, then, what is your jewelry style?  ECLECTIC!  One of a Kind (OOAK) ECLECTIC pieces.  Beautifully made ECLECTIC pieces.    Varied, all-embracing pieces that I would proudly LOVE to wear!  My philosophy is simple:  If I won’t wear it, you won't either.  

 

I started making jewelry, crafting, painting, sketching while in my teens.  I have always had a passion for the arts....it is soothing for my soul.  Throughout my life, many people suggested that I sold my jewelry pieces and I always shrugged them off.  Then, one day not too long ago, I found myself in need of making some extra money and in the soul search "jewelry" screamed out loud and clear.  So, jewelry it was.  The rest has fallen into place naturally.

Tomorrow, I will talk about some interesting tid bits I have learned while researching gemstones.

Have a fabulous night!!!