What stones are most often counterfeited?

Nowadays, when jewelry with synthetic stones is increasingly found on the market, the issue of identifying them and distinguishing them from natural stones is becoming acute. We do not urge you not to buy synthetics at all; on the contrary, you can safely purchase them and enjoy wearing them. The main thing is not to overpay, pay the real price and not become a victim of scammers. However, there is no guarantee that you will not be deceived either in the market or in a fashionable jewelry store. Deception can be either conscious (with forged documents, fake certificates or convincing oral assurances) or out of ignorance (the seller himself was misled). Fraud is the sale of synthetics at a deliberately inflated price, passing it off as a natural material. Even if you were allegedly sold chrysoberyl beads for $15, this is not a criminal offense or even a violation at all (rejoice at your successful purchase!!). But if you are charged $70 or more for counterfeiting and deception, this is already fraud and an administrative offense, and if there is an illegal markup and deception of more than $110, this is already a criminal offense (in Ukraine). Forgery of any certificate of conformity is a crime, regardless of the amount of the transaction. You should get help from the nearest police station and consumer protection society at the place where the overly expensive and falsified counterfeit was sold. Most imitations today are made from glass of various qualities with various additives (Savorowski stones, glass rhinestones, black and golden aventurine, colored cat’s eye, milky moonstone, green chrysoberyl, opal glass, etc.). A number of other synthetic stones are more valuable; they have their own chemical formula (cubic zirconia, corundum, sapifre, ulexite, citrine, amethyst, ametrine, Viennese turquoise and neolith). Why is it important to distinguish natural stones from synthetic ones? One of the attributes of a gemstone is its rarity. Pure, defect-free stones are rare in nature, so their cost sometimes reaches very high levels, especially for large specimens. Synthetic jewelry stones almost always have higher quality characteristics compared to natural stones, but cost significantly less than the best natural stones. A flawless, good-colored natural ruby ​​weighing 5-10 carats can cost several thousand dollars per carat. Synthetic ruby ​​(corundum) of the same size costs only a few dollars for a whole stone, and raw corundum is sold by the kilo. The world has significant reserves of substandard or low-value varieties of topaz, agate, jade, turquoise, rock crystal, chalcedony, etc. This has necessitated the development of technological processes for refining gemstones. Which of the characteristics of natural, refined and synthetic stones allow us to distinguish them from each other? In nature, the formation of a precious stone takes several tens, or even hundreds of thousands of years. In the laboratory, growth can take anywhere from a few hours to (at most) several months. Also, in the laboratory it is impossible to recreate a process that completely replicates the natural one, so it seems logical to assume that in any crystal of artificial origin one can detect signs determined by the conditions of its growth that will distinguish it from natural stone. What signs do gemologists pay attention to when diagnosing the origin of a stone? First of all, these are the internal features of the stone, such as inclusions, zoning (color distribution), growth microstructures, for observation of which a magnifying glass or microscope is used. Previously, to diagnose synthetic jewelry stones, experts only needed standard gemological equipment, including a magnifying glass, a polariscope, a dichroscope and an ultraviolet lamp. Nowadays, when synthesis technologies are constantly improving, it is becoming more and more difficult for experts to work; Often standard equipment is not enough for an unambiguous diagnosis, so you have to resort to more complex laboratory methods. The main requirement for stone identification methods is their non-destructive effect on the sample under study. SYNTHETIC DIAMONDS. In the last decade, great strides have been made in the synthesis of jewelry diamonds. Modern technologies make it possible to obtain gem-quality diamond crystals weighing up to 10-15 carats. For example, inclusions of minerals indicate natural origin, while inclusions of metals (iron, nickel, manganese) indicate synthetic origin. Synthetic diamonds are also characterized by an uneven zonal-sectoral distribution of fluorescence in ultraviolet light (cross-shaped figures of UV fluorescence can often be observed), on the contrary, natural diamonds are characterized by a uniform or irregular distribution of UV glow. Read more about synthetic gem-quality diamonds. SYNTHETIC RUBIES AND SAPPHIRES (CORUNDUMS). Today on the gemstone market there are many synthetic rubies and sapphires grown by various synthesis methods, each of which has its own distinctive characteristics. Almost all red stones in jewelry are synthetic corundum. Most natural rubies have internal defects. Thus, the majority of synthetic rubies and sapphires found on the market are obtained by the Verneuil method; the distinctive features of these stones are curvilinear zoning (which is not observed in natural stones), and sometimes they contain inclusions of gas bubbles. But visually synthetic corundums look flawless. Moreover, it is synthetic corundums that are quite cheap and almost eternal red and dark pink inserts in jewelry. This is a very beautiful synthetic gem. Unfortunately, today red corundums have become very rare in jewelry stores, and synthetic sapphires are almost impossible to find.
Rubies and sapphires grown by flux and hydrothermal synthesis methods are the most difficult objects to diagnose. Fluxed rubies and sapphires are characterized by inclusions of flux and growth chamber (crucible) materials – platinum, gold and copper, and a distinctive feature of hydrothermal corundums is irregular growth microstructures. SYNTHETIC EMERALD. In the last decade, in addition to a large number of hydrothermal rubies and sapphires, most synthetic emeralds are also obtained by this method. Such emeralds are characterized by tubular inclusions, brownish inclusions of iron oxides. In ordinary jewelry stores, natural emeralds can be distinguished from synthetic ones based on the fact that most natural emeralds in our jewelry are imperfect, have cracks and internal defects visible to the eye, uneven coloring, and are opaque in places. A stone that is too pale in color may appear not as an emerald, but as an ordinary beryl. It is better to transfer perfect dark green and perfectly transparent emeralds to independent specialists for analysis, since the likelihood of acquiring very high-quality synthetics passed off as natural stones is too high (especially in imported gold jewelry). Synthetic emeralds have a very distinctive, rich bluish-green color that somewhat reveals their origin, although some Colombian emeralds have almost the same hue. Synthetic emeralds of hydrothermal origin usually contain small liquid or gaseous inclusions. Natural emeralds often have inclusions of mica platelets and microplates and pyrite crystals (even a natural emerald clogged with mica is much more expensive than its ideal synthetic counterpart). When choosing what to buy: green synthetic zircon or synthetic emerald, if possible, preference should be given to emerald, since it is much more beautiful and durable. There is another variety of emerald, which is in an intermediate stage between synthetic and refined. They are non-jewelry beryls, which do not have jewelry value in the original raw material, but are covered with a layer of extended synthetic emerald with a thickness of 0,3 mm or more. The color of such stones is pale green. When using the hydrothermal method, which is popular today, a layer of emerald 0,8 mm thick grows within a day. The structure of the stones is imperfect, the cracks and structure of the stone seem to be emphasized. The stones are opaque or translucent and are characterized by crack-like lines in the surface layer, which appear as a thin, intense green rim when immersed in liquid. Silver items studded with such ennobled beryls appear in jewelry stores. In stores, the most expensive giant domed silver ring studded with these beryls costs about $200, small rings cost up to $50. SYNTHETIC QUARTZ. Synthetic rock crystal is transparent. The most important variety of synthetic quartz found on the market is hydrothermal amethyst. This jewelry material is widely used in trade mainly due to its strong similarity to its natural counterpart and the difficulty of distinguishing them. Synthetic amethyst is usually very transparent, clean, bright, without internal defects or irregularities, and can reach large sizes while maintaining purity. Some of its varieties may slightly change color in sunlight and artificial light (pictured with a coin). Another important variety of synthetic quartz is amitrine (there are zones of purple and yellow color), which is produced using the hydrothermal method. Rose quartz after ionizing radiation becomes smoky (up to morion). When annealed at 450-500 o C, amethysts lose their color, which is restored under ionizing radiation. At a temperature of 700 o C the changes are irreversible. Synthetic citrine can be obtained by firing (baking) for many hours at a temperature of about 500 oC amethyst (lilac and purple quartz, orange-yellow and yellow-brown citrine is obtained) or rauchtopaz (smoky quartz, soft yellow citrine is obtained). Natural citrine is often cloudy (opaque) with areas of white, opaque quartz. Large transparent citrine crystals or too dark high-quality crystals usually indicate the artificial origin of the stone. SYNTHETIC ALEXANDRITE. The stones sold in jewelry before 1973 under the guise of alexandrite were varieties of synthetic spinel and synthetic corundum with vanadium additives. Many synthetic alexandrites are actually either synthetic corundums, colored with vanadium and having a purple color that turns redder under artificial light, or synthetic spinels, which have a denser green color. In 1973, products with synthetic alexandrites appeared on the market, which also have a spectacular color change, but from purple-blue to pink, rather than from green to red. The photo to the left shows synthetic corundum imitating alexandrite, the photo to the right shows synthetic spinel that changes color (a rare and expensive stone). Technologies for growing alexandrites (close to natural ones) are complex and expensive, so the price of synthetic alexandrites is such that they can be used as central stones in expensive products. SYNTHETIC cubic zirconias and zircons. Even synthetic diamonds are still expensive. The beauty of a diamond is determined by its specific properties: high refractive index, high dispersion (the white color is divided into seven colors of the rainbow, which give the diamond play), hardness protects it from scratches and damage. The simulating material must have all these properties, but most importantly, it must be cheap. This problem was solved by different people in different ways, and today the most popular diamond simulator is cubic zirconia. The name comes from the abbreviation FIAN (Physical Institute of the Academy of Sciences), where this mineral was created in the early seventies of the 20th century. “Zircon” or “zirconium” are imported from abroad, which are actually cubic zirconia, grown under Soviet license or simply Soviet technology, but disguised under these commercial names. It is not a diamond at all, not a natural mineral, and not the chemical element (metal) zirconium. Cubic zirconia, painted in any color, with its diamond play, creates a unique image completely different from any natural stone (the refractive index of zircon is much higher than that of any precious colored gemstone, except for colored diamonds). In the periodic table there is an element, the metal zirconium (Zr), the mineral zircon is found in nature – zirconium silicate (actually a salt), which has independent jewelry applications, cubic zircon is grown in the laboratory – zirconium oxide with additions of rare earth elements and crystallizing in diamond-like cubic system, in contrast to natural zircon, which crystallizes in the tetragonal system. That is, zirconium, zircon and cubic zirconia are different materials. For a jewelry designer, cubic zirconia (zircons) is a palette, a material with which you can safely experiment (especially with small stones). But it cannot be said that zircons cost little – they are quite comparable in price to natural gems of low price groups or some stones purchased directly from the manufacturer. Moreover, large and well-cut cubic zirconias are quite expensive and rare in jewelry (the creator of this electronic encyclopedia managed to buy such a ring after 5 years of searching). Usually small and small cheap zircons are used in “sprinkling”, and there are a lot of such products on our shelves. There are features of the jewelry use of zircon. It requires care when setting (roughly speaking, it cannot be hammered in like corundum). It may burst when fastened. It crumbles easily, and the yield of finished stones during machine cutting often does not exceed 15-20%. When cutting, differences in the refractive indices of diamond and cubic zirconia are masked by changing the ratio of angles between the faces (zircon with an incomplete brilliant cut, on the contrary, is low and squat). Zircon is very sensitive to surface contamination and immediately ceases to shine; it must be constantly wiped and cleaned. Zircon is almost twice as heavy as a diamond and heavier than other gemstones. In addition, the edges of faceted cubic zirconia are slightly rounded, which also qualitatively distinguishes it from a diamond cut. Visually, new cut small zircons (cubic zirconia) and small diamonds with incomplete brilliant cut, already inserted into jewelry, are extremely difficult to distinguish from each other, but instrumental methods make it possible to accurately diagnose them. The easiest way for non-specialists to read the tag in a reputable jewelry store (not a single normal store or factory will deceive you on new products under pain of criminal liability and the primitiveness of diagnosing deception), and it is best to show a dubious used stone not in a new product to a craftsman in the nearest jewelry workshop. You can scratch glass with a stone, but you need to know that glass can be scratched by diamonds, corundums, colorless topazes, beryls, rock crystals, etc.
It is almost impossible to find natural zircon in jewelry stores. The color of synthetic zircons due to impurities is very diverse: colorless, brown of various shades, red, green, yellow, black, blue, etc. It imitates diamond and almost all other evenly colored, non-chameleon-shaped transparent stones. Colorless zircons, although characterized by a diamond-like luster and strong play, are easily distinguished from diamond by their low hardness and low light refraction (which allows much of the light falling on the diamond-cut stone’s surface to escape from the lower portion). Only large-sized synthetic zircons with a pavilion (the lower part of the stone) that is lower than that of a diamond give good shine. A good zircon should be open in the piece to light from all sides. Small zircons can quickly lose their original appearance and shine in products if they are not constantly looked after. It is better not to purchase red synthetic zircons that imitate ruby ​​and spinel, but to look for synthetic corundum (rubies); they have a more marketable appearance, are harder than zircons (almost eternal) and are easier to care for. The turbulent year of the black water tiger 2022 has brought us a lot of black misfortune and forced us to persevere through difficulties. What awaits Ukrainians in 2023 for the black rabbit (cat) according to the Chinese horoscope? Right away bro.. Today in Ukraine, a lot of shops and private entrepreneurs offer to buy jewelry with natural stones. Are all of these stones really natural? Many people have such doubts. February 1, 2022 will mark the year of the water tiger according to the Chinese zodiac. What to expect in the new year? How to attract good luck in the year of the tiger? What stones are mascots for the year of the tiger that will be useful to us in 2022? Tiger in whale.. All ancient cultures, both eastern and western, endowed precious and semi-precious stones with the properties of attracting good luck in business, as well as attracting money and wealth. What kind of crystals exactly? Today in Ukraine, a lot of shops and private entrepreneurs offer to buy jewelry with natural stones. Are all of these stones really natural? Such doubts arise among many buyers who are not experts in mineralogy or jewelry. Beads and bracelets made of natural stones in a photo or on a counter sometimes seem unnaturally bright, suspiciously colorful. Your suspicions are not at all unfounded. Modern technologies for “refining” third-rate mineral raw materials are capable of making a completely aesthetically pleasing product from mining waste, and the possibilities of creating an imitation of natural stone from plastic, glass and ceramics are almost unlimited. The cost of fakes is much lower than jewelry made from natural stones. That’s why fake stones have flooded counters everywhere. Of course, artificial, painted stones also have a right to exist, but the buyer has the right to know what he is buying and consciously choose: does he want to buy a bright trinket, no matter what it is made of, or does he still want to buy jewelry with natural stones. In addition, if a person decides to purchase jewelry with a natural stone according to his zodiac sign, then artificial stones definitely have nothing to do with astrology and horoscope.

By what signs can you distinguish natural stones from fakes?

Let’s share information using real examples.

Stones are painted, refined, irradiated and heat treated

At stone exhibitions, citrine “brushes” and jewelry made from natural citrine of a deep orange, rich color are often sold. This is truly a natural stone, only it was originally an amethyst or amethyst quartz. After baking for several hours at a very high temperature, the amethyst “brush” turns into a “citrine” brush. By the way, natural citrines have a completely different color: much paler, lighter, barely yellowish. Polychrome is a sign of the naturalness of the stone. So, if you see a polychrome topaz, you can be sure that this stone was not irradiated with gamma radiation to obtain its bright blue color. It should be said that today all topazes in jewelry, even in gold, in jewelry stores, have been irradiated from a nuclear “gun”. In less than a second, a pale, colorless, cheap stone becomes bright blue, and it can already be sold for much more. Another way of “ennobling”, as it is commonly called, is coloring. They take cheap natural stones, impregnate them with dyes, and make jewelry. Simple milky quartz is excellent: from nondescript white, grayish it is turned into bright green, blue, crimson. Beads, bracelets, and beads made from such natural colored stones are sold at every exhibition, on jewelry displays, and in stores. If you split such a colored bead, it turns out that only the top layer is colored (the paint does not penetrate deeply), the inside of the bead will be white or light gray. Agates in thin sections are also beautifully stained; in fact, they are the same cryptocrystalline quartz, only with a striped structure. Agates are painted in all colors. It turns out bright, but this is no longer its natural color. They also dye ordinary white corals red and sell beads supposedly made from natural red coral. You don’t even need to break the coral: just put the beads in a glass of water for a few days: the paint will start to wash off and the coral will brighten dramatically. Methods for “ennobling” stones have become so sophisticated that some fakes cannot be detected even in a laboratory. When purchasing products with natural precious stones, you need to be especially careful.

Artificial stones: costume jewelry where there is no declared natural stone at all

Jewelry made from “natural” stones such as “golden sand”, “Cairo night” – this is not aventurine, these are completely artificial stones, very hard plastic with metal shavings, which shine. Real aventurine does not look so flashy; the gold “grains” in it are much more modest, smaller, not bright and not evenly distributed in the stone. Inexpensive “turquoise” jewelry on the shelves has nothing in common with natural turquoise; it is not present in these jewelry at all. This is, most often, painted cheap alabaster, reinforced with special glue. In China, jade is very loved and revered. But souvenirs – figurines, costume jewelry – are brought to Ukraine and other countries from China not from natural jade stone, but from ground jade waste mixed with plasticizers. From this mass the figures are cast. Jewelry made from natural stone sometimes turns out to be colored glass. The softness of the glass gives it away; glass has an amorphous rather than crystalline structure. Glass can easily be scratched by a harder stone, even a crystal of the same quartz. And by the shine and hardness of the edges of the “stones” you can determine that it is glass. Careful inspection, especially with a magnifying glass, will help identify a fake. The next category of popular counterfeits is counterfeiting of stones with iridescence. Jewelry with “natural opals”, “moonstone” made of blue enamel with sparkles or glass with iridescent tints is always on the same shelves as “gold sand” with “turquoise”, only it costs suspiciously cheap. And even if the seller convinces you that all his beads and bracelets are made with natural semi-precious stones, learn to distinguish the stones yourself. It’s not that difficult, actually. But you will always understand exactly what they want to sell you.

Buy natural stones from trusted sellers!

Jewelry made from natural stones presented in our online store is exclusively natural: the stones have not been heated, painted, irradiated, or refined in any way. There are a number of natural semi-precious stones that are not counterfeited due to their low popularity and low cost. However, many of them are really underestimated: jewelry made from such natural stones as unakite (Ukraine), smoky quartz, chalcedony, various jasper, are beautiful and original, always unique, have a living, natural energy that positively influences their owners. Worth a closer look!