| The technology surrounding the gemstone | | | | one that will not fade or wear off with time. |
| industry has been advancing at earth shattering | | | | Permanent treatments are more accepted than |
| speed. In the last 50 years, improved mining | | | | non-permanent treatments and these gemstones |
| technology, newly developed treatments, the | | | | will be more valuable than those with non |
| synthesis of gemstones and more wealth among | | | | permanent treatments. The most common |
| consumers has made the gemstones market | | | | permanent treatment is heat treatment, but |
| almost unrecognizable. For people shopping for | | | | treatments vary significantly depending on the |
| gemstones, it can be intimidating and confusing to | | | | stone. |
| understand what they are buying. It turns out, it | | | | Treated (non-permanent treatment): |
| is not so simple as "real" or "fake": there is a | | | | Non-permanent treatments are less accepted and |
| continuum of possibilities. Below is an outline of the | | | | less valuable than permanent ones. This is |
| different conditions that exist among the | | | | because the attractive qualities that the |
| gemstones we find in jewelry. | | | | treatment provides to the gemstone will not last |
| Untreated: Gemstones with this label are the | | | | forever. An example of a common |
| "purest" kind. These gemstones have not been | | | | non-permanent treatment is dying. Most dyed |
| manipulated by humans in any way (except for | | | | colors will eventually fade. In some gemstone |
| being cut and polished). In some gemstone | | | | categories, these treatments are even considered |
| categories, treatments are so common that it is | | | | deceptive. |
| close to impossible to find an "untreated" one and | | | | Synthetic or "created": Gemstones that are given |
| they can be very expensive. They are expensive | | | | these labels are "genuine" gems that have been |
| because being untreated implies that they were | | | | made by humans in laboratories. Not all |
| of good clarity and color naturally: such | | | | gemstones can be made synthetically. Many |
| gemstones are very rare. | | | | gemstones that can be made synthetically are |
| Natural: Natural is a term that usually means "not | | | | not because the costs of creating them are not |
| man made". This label is used for any gemstone | | | | much lower than the costs of finding them |
| that has come from the earth. Generally speaking, | | | | naturally. Commonly created gemstones include |
| it does not necessarily mean it is "untreated". | | | | sapphire, ruby and spinel. In the case of pearls, |
| Many gemstones can be called "natural" and still | | | | this process is so accepted that it the norm, |
| have gone through some kind of treatment to | | | | rather than the exception. |
| modify their appearance. | | | | Imitation or "fake": In the final category on this |
| Genuine or "real": These terms are used to assure | | | | continuum are substances that pretend to be |
| us that the gemstone we are about to buy has all | | | | something they are not. For example, a jewelry |
| the mineralogy (physical, optical and chemical | | | | maker can put a cut piece of blue glass in a ring |
| properties) of the gemstone it claims to be. It is | | | | and call it "imitation blue topaz". In the case of |
| important to know that being genuine does not | | | | "fake" stones, the value of the jewelry or the |
| necessarily mean it is natural, and it certainly does | | | | gemstone is not at all affected by what it is |
| not mean it's untreated. For example, a man | | | | pretending to be. Such gems should only be |
| made sapphire is still a "genuine" sapphire because | | | | bought for personal enjoyment or for fun, with |
| it is the same substance. Any piece of blue | | | | the understanding that it is not something of |
| corundum, no matter its origin, is a real blue | | | | great value. |
| sapphire. | | | | Before buying a gemstone, it is important to |
| Treated (Permanent treatment): The most | | | | research the possible treatments, synthetics and |
| common treatments among gemstones are | | | | imitations beforehand and to ask the seller the |
| usually permanent treatments. These are used to | | | | right questions so that you know what you're |
| improve the appearance of the gemstone, usually | | | | getting. |
| its clarity and/or color. A permanent treatment is | | | | |