DOES IT MATTER IF IT'S NOT NATURAL?

of the stone--synthetics are usually flawless, while natural stones contain imperfections. Alexandrite, amethyst, coral, diamonds, emeralds, jade, lapis lazuli and opals are a few of the synthetic gemstones available. Reconstituted gems fit into a separate category. Although they do contain genuine material, experts regard them as imitation. Reconstituting, or reconstructing, means that small fragments of gem material have been combined to form a large piece. Amber and turquoise are two common examples.

Reconstituted amber, typically called ambroid or pressed amber, is made from scraps and shavings generated by amber carvers. The tiny pieces are collected and heated, then pressed into large blocks. Manufacturers of ambroid can easily insert insects to make it look even more like natural amber.

Reconstituted turquoise is made from inferior grades of turquoise that have been powdered. The powder is mixed with an adhesive and dye mixture to form a solid mass, which is then cut into shapes.

Although there is a special pleasure in working with natural gemstones, they aren't always the best choice. Purchase your gems from a reputable dealer, then select what will best fit your needs.

Sites: http://www.gemhut.com/enhance.htm A explanation of how one gemstone supplier labels enhanced gemstones for their customers. All reputable vendors will use labels similar to this.

http://www.jewelrymall.com/stones/#gener... Scroll past the first section of this page until you come to "Tips on Buying Gemstones." There you'll find some questions to ask before you make your purchase. Near the bottom of the page is a listing of gemstones that can be damaged by sunlight.

http://www.hallmark-gemstones.com/gemsto... A discussion of gemstone treatments in general, followed by a listing of specific reatments for each gemstone

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