Types, names and colors of precious stones for jewelry and jewelry: list, brief description with photographs. How to distinguish a natural real stone from a fake, from glass in jewelry? How to distinguish between natural semi-precious and precious stones

Jewelry with stones is very beautiful and, of course, expensive. But, unfortunately, many minerals used to decorate products have been manipulated. How to determine the original?

So how do you find out real stone or not? There are a great variety of minerals, and each of them has its own characteristic features, by which the original can be distinguished. Each stone is worth dwelling on in more detail.

Diamonds

Because best friends girls are these stones, then most often they are the ones that raise doubts. How to identify a diamond at home?

• Diamonds are very hard. And to identify such a sign, you can try to scratch the surface, for example, with sandpaper. There will not be a single trace left on natural stone.
• Place the stone in the water. It will continue to shine if it is natural. But the fake will become almost invisible.
• Examine the stone in the light by turning it front side to yourself. If it is natural, then the back edges, like mirrors, will reflect the light, so you will see only one luminous point. The fake will transmit light well.
• Try to breathe on the mineral. If it is original, then there will be no perspiration.
• A real diamond does not attract dust, unlike fakes.

Ruby

Real rubies are very beautiful and have a number of specific properties that can be used to determine authenticity.

Methods for determining the naturalness of a ruby:

• First of all, it is worth assessing the color. It should not be too bright and saturated.
• Due to its low thermal conductivity and heat capacity, the stone will appear cold even when held in the palm of your hand.
• Examine the mineral through a magnifying glass. You may notice microscopic bubbles and inclusions. But they should not differ in color from the stone itself. In fakes, they may be lighter or hollow.
• Place the stone in a glass container. If the mineral is real, it will turn reddish.
• If you put ruby ​​in milk, it will take on a pinkish tint.

Emerald

Such gems as emeralds are considered one of the rarest, therefore they are very expensive. And, of course, they are actively counterfeited. But you can protect yourself from deception. Take a good look at the mineral, preferably through a magnifying glass. If you see parallel lines, this indicates that the stone was created by nature itself and grew without human intervention. But the craft may have spirals or twisted veils.

Sapphire

Sapphire is incredibly beautiful, especially if it is natural. How to distinguish an original from a fake? It is very difficult. Hardness can be assessed. There should be no scratches on such a mineral. When immersed in water, it will drown, as it is quite heavy.

In addition, the original may contain intricate inclusions of irregular shapes. Still, fakes can have the same properties, so it is better to seek help from an experienced jeweler.

Pearl

Pearls are also one of the most beloved stones of all women, so they are counterfeited very often and quite skillfully. But how can you avoid being deceived?

• Try scratching the bead. If you see an obvious scratch, or even more so peeling paint, then this is definitely a fake. If the pearl is real, then the scratch will also remain. But run your finger over the surface and it miraculously disappears.
• You can try a stone on your tooth. If the pearl is real, it will creak a little, which is due to the fact that it consists of tiny mother-of-pearl scales.
• If you put the bead in your mouth, you can taste the sea sand.

Topaz

How to determine whether the topaz in front of you is real?

• If the stone is in the ring, then actively rub it woolen fabric. Place the pieces on the table paper napkin. Bring the product to them. If the stone is natural, it will attract particles.
• Feel the mineral. It is cool and also very smooth, one might say slippery.
• Natural topaz cannot be perfectly pure; inclusions may be found in it.

Amber

Although such a stone is not considered very expensive, it is still very popular. And you can determine its authenticity in the following ways:

• Try to set fire to the amber. If it is natural, then you will smell the resin, but not melting plastic. If the mineral is immature, then it will appear on its surface. dark spot. If the stone is compressed, then it can become sticky.
• Rub the mineral with wool. He must be electrified.
• Amber will not sink in salt solution. To test this, dissolve 10 teaspoons of salt in a glass of water and immerse the mineral in the composition. If it floats on the surface, it is most likely natural.

Pomegranate

A natural pomegranate cannot be too large; in size it does not exceed the grain of the pomegranate fruit of the same name.

This mineral is magnetic. And to reveal it, use a cork, scales and a magnet. Put the cork on the bowl first, then the pomegranate. Bring a magnet to the stone. If the scales needle starts to fluctuate, then the mineral is real.

Alexandrite

True alexandrite has pleochroism, which means it can change its color under different lighting conditions. A fake will have one permanent shade.

Turquoise

Real turquoise may have bumps, inclusions and pores. But there are no bubbles in it.

Aquamarine

If you look at real aquamarine in the light, you will find inclusions reminiscent of white chrysanthemums. In addition, this mineral can change color when viewed from different angles.

Moon rock

Although Moonstone considered semi-precious, it is also counterfeited. You can identify the original by the play of thousands of colors in the light, as well as by the sparkles flickering inside.

Be careful!

How to distinguish a natural stone from counterfeiting at home?

Natural stone is created by the forces of nature itself, and therefore it is unique in its variety of shades, patterns, and shapes. A person carefully processes and polishes natural stone, due to which its surface becomes smooth and shiny from rough.

Often, instead of a real natural material, you can find its artificial analogue. Imitations may differ slightly from the original, but fakes are produced on a large scale. Of course, synthetic “stones” have almost the same parameters - physical properties and color characteristics are the same as natural stones, but their cost is much lower. In conditions modern technologies Rubies, emeralds, alexandrites, sapphires and even diamonds can be artificially created.

It is worth noting that synthetic materials good quality They also have a fairly high price, which is why sometimes they are practically no different from the real thing.

How to distinguish natural stones from artificial ones?

To identify a fake at home, you will need the following tools and materials:

Household kitchen scales

The purchase is verified in the following way:

Tactile – natural material It takes a little longer to heat up (to do this, you can light a match and hold the stone over the fire); in addition, natural stones have a more low temperature. This is how you can distinguish amethyst from simple glass, rhinestone or quartz.

Visually, the stone is examined under a magnifying glass. So, in a real ruby ​​you can see cracks in the shape of zigzags (artificial rubies also have cracks, but even and straight); in a fake emerald, the patterns under a magnifying glass form tubular and spiral patterns.

Note: any natural stone, upon careful examination, will have small flaws, cracks, dimples with a white coating.

The aquamarine mineral will definitely change its color when viewed from different sides– not very much, but the difference in shades will still be noticeable. Peridot and lapis lazuli have uniform colors, but fake turquoise easily stains a damp cloth used to wipe the stone.

Using a lamp - this is how you can check a diamond. By directing the light flux strictly at right angles, you can track the glow of the edges - real diamond will shine through and its back edges will shine. What’s interesting is that if you illuminate a ruby ​​in the same way, then its zigzag-shaped cracks will not glow. But labradorite can create the effect of a real Northern Lights.

By smell - if you bring a lit match to the amber beads, then when burning, the smell of resin should be released. If the amber is “immature”, then spotty burns may appear on it. And any fake will emit a synthetic smell.

By hardness - for example, a diamond can be used to cut glass, but it will definitely leave scratches on the surface. And here sandpaper the diamond is not afraid - if you rub it on the diamond surface, there should be no changes.

In terms of thermophysical properties, the same amber becomes electrified after being rubbed with a piece of wool. This is also how a pomegranate is tested - if you put a cork on the scales, place an electrified stone on top and bring a magnet to it, the hands of the scales will move like a pendulum.

October 28th, 2013 , 03:34 pm

When creating our jewelry, we think not only about the convenience and beauty of bracelets, but also, above all, about the beneficial properties, which gems possess. That is why we always choose exclusively natural stones, after first making sure and checking their authenticity.

Progress does not stand still, and nowadays imitation stones have become so common that sometimes even specialists find it difficult to distinguish a fake without special equipment. We will tell you a little about how you can check the naturalness of some stones. Let's first look at the most common methods of counterfeiting:

• ordinary tinted glass or plastic is passed off as natural stone


• cheap minerals are passed off as more expensive and rare


• stone chips are pressed, painted and passed off as natural stone

Paradoxically, at first glance, fakes very often look more beautiful than real stones, and, in principle, if you just need a new and inexpensive beautiful piece of jewelry, then they may well fulfill this function. BUT... Just once, feel the cold heaviness of natural stone in your palm, which in a few minutes will be replaced by a warm weightlessness that warms you throughout the day; take a closer look at what bizarre patterns each pebble is covered with (but there is no second one exactly the same, there never was and never will be!); think about how many thousands or even millions of years it slowly grew in the depths of our planet, absorbing its natural strength, beauty and energy. And after all this, you most likely will not agree to a fake, albeit inexpensive, but stamped in thousands of copies, made in a few seconds at the factory. And needless to say that the above imitations do not have those wonderful properties, which people have endowed on gems all over the world since ancient times. And the durability of these imitations cannot be compared with natural stones. While pressed stones quite quickly begin to lose their original color from wear, crumble and peel, and glass imitations break, natural stones throughout for long years continue to please their owners and help them :)

Currently quite rare, but most often counterfeited semiprecious stones are moonstone, malachite, turquoise, amber, aventurine, rock crystal.

And now let’s talk about how you can try to distinguish natural stone from glass or plastic. What should you be wary of when choosing jewelry? Firstly, the lightness of the product. Plastic is much lighter than stone and becomes warm very quickly in the hand, while stone will heat up slowly enough that you will immediately feel its weight, even if it is just a few small stones (except for amber, more about that next time!). Secondly, the same color and pattern of each bead. Every natural stone unique and has its own characteristics, this may be an external pattern or heterogeneity inside. And if all the stones in the product look like twin brothers, then most likely you are looking at glass or plastic. With glass, however, it is a little more complicated. Over time, you can learn to distinguish glass from stone by external signs, knowing the characteristics of minerals. However, in temperature it is similar to stone. But if, after all, the geologist in you defeats the esthete, then you can try to take extreme measures and split the bead. The edges of the glass will be very sharp, they can easily hurt you, unlike stone, the chips of which can easily be touched.

In this article:

How to recognize and distinguish it from a fake? This question is very relevant for those who love and appreciate valuable jewellery. After all, few people will be happy with the prospect of buying glass in a store for the price of a diamond. In order not to overpay or make a mistake in your choice, it is worth knowing about some tricks that jewelers and jewelry manufacturers resort to.

Determining the authenticity of a stone

A little about stones and fakes

A real stone is always a profitable purchase: products inlaid with gems do not lose in price, and over the years the cost of such jewelry only increases. But the concept of “real stone” includes only those minerals that were found in the bowels of the earth.

Even if the crystal has been processed and gone through a refining procedure, its price will be lower. Treated stones are no different from their counterparts in terms of characteristics; they are processed for several reasons, the main one of which is considered insufficient bright color. The procedure helps to give nondescript gems a unique shade that is rarely found in nature.

The properties of crystals processed in this way will not change and, despite the refining, the gemstone will not become worse. But minerals processed in this way are cheaper, since their amazing shade was given not by nature, but by the hand of man. It is difficult to call such pebbles a fake, since they are still of natural origin.

It is actually not difficult to distinguish natural stone from artificial stone. To understand the authenticity of a gem, just ask the seller of the products jewelry industry certificate.

A certificate is a document that is issued for each mineral; it contains information about the stone itself, its characteristics: size, color, purity, presence of defects, cutting method and even place of extraction. If the seller of jewelry refuses to provide a certificate to the buyer, this means that the jewelry does not have any documents. And it is impossible to confirm the authenticity of the minerals with which the products are inlaid.

It is worth noting that all stones, precious and semi-precious, pass through the hands of an appraiser. Craftsmen determine the cost of gems by assessing their characteristics. After evaluating the stones, there is a direct path to the jewelers who manufacture the products. They select the frame and create this or that item.

It is for this reason that an appraiser can determine the authenticity of a mineral; if you put the gem in the hands of a master, he will determine its real value. Such an examination costs money; the appraiser’s work must be paid.

There are several more ways to help recognize a fake.

For identification you need:

1. Minimum information about the stone being purchased.
2. The ability to examine a mineral through a magnifying glass.
3. Simple examination at home.
4. Frame identification.

Minimal information about the gem you plan to purchase will help you recognize an imitation or fake. It is worth collecting information about what shades the mineral has, in what places it is mined and how it is cut. All this will be enough to avoid purchasing glass instead of a precious stone. To distinguish a crude fake from a gem of natural origin, this information is quite enough.

Rough natural diamonds

A microscope, magnifying glass, or any other instrument can be used in authentication. A mineral created in a laboratory is pure; there are no inclusions in its structure, which jewelers call defects. But the stone that was found in the bowels of the earth probably has defects, some of which can be seen using a magnifying glass. The presence of such defects is a sign that the crystal was created by nature and not by human hands.

A simple check will help determine the authenticity of the crystal. If we are talking about a diamond, it is enough to simply slide it across the mirror. The stone will scratch the glass, but such a check will not harm it at all. The density of precious stones is high, for this reason they are difficult to scare with alkalis and acids; even hitting a diamond with a hammer will not harm it. But the fake crumbles to pieces.

The frame is another element that can give away a fake. Do not insert into frames made of base metals. Gold and platinum are the main metals used as settings for gems. Silver products can also be found on the market, but rare and expensive crystals are not framed with silver, since the metal is not of high value.

Certain gems are produced in laboratories and synthesized on an industrial scale. Such stones are often used to make electrical appliances and even car windows. A certain amount of crystals synthesized in laboratories ends up in the hands of jewelers. Such pebbles differ from those found in the bowels of the earth, but the comparison is not always in favor of minerals that are of natural origin.

According to its characteristics and appearance, gems synthesized in the laboratory can be on par with their natural counterparts. But what man does is not always as beautiful as what nature creates.

Naturally, crystals made in a laboratory are not very expensive; they cannot be called rare or valuable. Humanity does not experience a shortage of such minerals, so jewelry inlaid with such stones does not increase significantly in price. There is no point in investing money in such products.

An experienced appraiser can easily distinguish a gem made in a laboratory from one that is of natural origin. But it will be difficult to deal with those minerals that have gone through the refining procedure. Sometimes it is impossible to determine that a stone has been processed, since it has all the necessary characteristics and can “fool” even an experienced specialist.

Self-authentication

There are several ways to help you doubt the authenticity of a gem and refuse to purchase jewelry. They are different for each stone.

Artificial stones are perfect and have no defects

Here are some ways to determine the authenticity of gemstones:

• If you need to check a diamond, then remember that this stone is not only hard, but also shiny. A diamond of natural origin shimmers in all shades of gray, but if the mineral plays with all the colors of the rainbow, this indicates either its low quality or that it is not a diamond at all, but a fake. And a diamond cannot be framed in silver or other base metal; it can only be framed in gold or platinum, with a quality mark. Jewelers always leave bottom part free diamond, believing that this way it will shine even brighter.
• But the diamond shines with colors from all sides. It is easy to determine the authenticity of this mineral. If you look at it from the side, in this projection the diamond will shine no less brightly than from any other side. But a fake will look impressive only in frontal projection. If you look at a fake from the side, it will not shine. You can also put the diamond on a sheet of paper on which letters are already printed: if you look at the inscriptions through the diamond, the letters will not be visible.
• To check the authenticity of an emerald, you will have to arm yourself with a magnifying glass or microscope. You need to examine the structure of the stone under a magnifying glass; real emerald does not have tubular or spiral patterns. In addition, true emerald does not conduct heat well and is always cold to the touch.
• If we talk about ruby, then assessing its color will help determine its origin. Blood-red rubies are rare in nature. If the crystal also gives purple and is inexpensive, then it is not real ruby, but its imitation. The fact is that rubies of the “pigeon’s blood” color, a rich red hue with an admixture of purple, are very expensive and are valued by collectors more than some diamonds.
• Sapphires are rare in nature large size Naturally, such gems exist, but they are not cheap at all. It is almost impossible to find large sapphires in stores; such stones are sold on special exchanges. A sapphire emanates cold air; when picking it up, a person will not be able to quickly warm the crystal with its warmth. You can also check the mineral for authenticity using a magnifying glass or microscope; there should be no gas bubbles or veins of gold in its structure.
• It is known for certain that the mining of alexandrites has been stopped, but despite this, products inlaid with this mineral regularly appear on the market. An objective assessment will help you recognize a fake when buying jewelry: alexandrite is expensive, and besides, these stones have small size. Alexandrite also changes color when the lighting changes.
• Pearls also require authentication. Natural pearls are expensive; to establish their authenticity, it is enough to test it “by tooth.” When trying to bite a pearl, a person will feel that it grits on the teeth like sand; it does not have such properties.

The list of precious stones ends here. But there are other gems that need checking.

How to distinguish natural from fake or imitation?

• Amethyst is . It is not difficult to understand the origin of this gem; just hold it in your palms. Natural amethyst reluctantly “absorbs” human warmth. A magnifying glass will also help you distinguish a stone from a colored cubic zirconia. Insertion in the form of dots and other defects are the main signs of amethyst.
• Aquamarine is a type of topaz; it, like a diamond, sparkles equally when changing position. If you look at aquamarine from different angles, it will change color scheme, fakes do not have this effect.
• Pomegranate and all its varieties can be purchased with peace of mind. If you believe the statistics, this gem is counterfeited less often than others. But to be on the safe side, it is worth remembering that pomegranates are rarely large and exceed the size of the grain of the fruit of the same name.
• Amber is not particularly expensive; it belongs to the category, unless, of course, we are talking about amber with inclusions. A beetle or lizard frozen in resin is equivalent to precious stones. To avoid buying a fake in a store, you should rub the surface of the amber with wool, it will definitely give you an electric shock. Amber also attracts small objects; it is also rubbed with wool and held on top of finely chopped paper. In addition, a stone with inclusions does not sink in salt water. You can prepare the solution yourself by pouring 10 tablespoons of salt into a glass.
• Topaz is the most mysterious stone, its color affects the cost of the mineral. It's not cheap at all. To check the authenticity of this gem, you need to examine it under a magnifying glass. The structure of natural topaz will contain defects: small dots, inclusions. A pure mineral without defects or inclusions will most likely turn out to be a fake. Topaz, like amber, is well electrified and attracts small objects, napkins, and pieces of paper. It is enough to simply rub the surface of the topaz with wool to verify its authenticity.

Today you can stumble upon a fake both in an online store and in an expensive boutique. There are scammers everywhere. For this reason, you should remain vigilant, take a responsible approach to choosing jewelry, and avoid “bargain” offers and maximum discounts. And also evaluate the color of the stone: too bright shade should scare away the buyer, since minerals of this color are rare in nature and are expensive.

Once in Yakutia, near the Chary River, they found amazing stone, which was called charoite. This mineral is unique in both its properties and rarity; no other deposit has yet been discovered in the world. Beautiful purple shades stones with intertwining patterns enchant everyone who sees them. Jewelers note that charoite is easy to polish and process, and lithotherapists love the stone for its impressive list of qualities that help heal.

When we talk about how to distinguish a diamond from a fake, glass, or other - cheaper - minerals, we do not always mean diamonds. In many cases, we are talking about a diamond - not processed, not polished, not cut. Some consumers prefer to buy diamonds in this form, so that they can then be processed, or simply as a talisman, because diamonds have magical and medicinal properties. Thus, the question of how to distinguish a diamond from a fake is separate topic, and now we will talk about how to distinguish a diamond.

Amber jewelry is very popular among the fair sex and among men who believe in their healing and magical properties. They are not expensive and will never go out of fashion.
But how not to be deceived when choosing a product? How to avoid stumbling upon a fake and distinguish it from the original? There are several methods that you can resort to both at home and in the store.
It must be remembered that amber is a fossil stone, a fossilized resin and has certain characteristics and properties.

How to distinguish amber from a fake:

Products made from jasper are very popular. They can be purchased both in specialized stores and on market and supermarket shelves. Would you say that with such a policy you can easily buy a low-quality product or a fake? You don't have to worry about this, since jasper has a huge advantage over other stones - it can't be counterfeited!
Jasper is a very durable and hard mineral, so its processing is a very painstaking and difficult process that requires the participation of expensive equipment. Only a professional can do this kind of work. It is simply impractical to counterfeit jasper on a production scale.

There are two main methods for simulating onyx. The first technique is a chemical combination of cheap agates with various elements to obtain the proper color and consistency of the fake stone. The second method is the production of an artificial chemical material that resembles onyx in consistency, color and internal pattern. This material is made from heat-resistant polymers whose structure resembles a cross between glass and plastic. This material is usually used for cladding buildings and interiors.
What ways are there to distinguish a real stone from a fake?

Nowadays, counterfeiting of certain minerals is not uncommon. Despite the fact that the cost of jade is small compared to the cost of many other stones, it is also counterfeited. Others may pass it off as natural jade ornamental stones, which cost much less, plastic, etc. In the case when a seller or manufacturer deceives his customers and sells counterfeit jade, it is a shame not only for the lost money, but also for the fact that the imitations do not have the same magical and healing properties as real jade.
How to distinguish jade from a fake:

When going to a salon to buy a gemstone, many are afraid that they will be deceived. Unfortunately, these fears are often not in vain, because each of us can become a victim of scammers. Therefore, intending to buy beautiful stone, about which we're talking about, you just need to know how to distinguish a moonstone from a fake. Of course, it’s difficult to say more accurately than an experienced jeweler whether what you’re looking at is a fake or natural mineral However, there are a number of ways to determine the authenticity of a stone.
How to distinguish a moonstone from a fake:

An expensive mineral, beautiful in appearance and associated with luxury, sophistication, and status - pearls - are grown artificially. Everyone knows this. Quite hard to find today natural pearls. However, there are ways to distinguish pearls from artificial ones and from outright cheap fakes.
In fact, there are many ways to identify pearls.