Gemstones

Do you know the difference between a natural gemstone and a genuine gemstone? And how about synthetic (also called lab created) gems? These tips help you understand the terms you'll see when you shop for a colored gemstone, and why some gemstones are more valuable than others.

Most of the colored gemstones you'll find in jewelry have been treated to enhance their appearance. And there's nothing wrong with that -- as long as the treatments are disclosed. Here's a rundown of the most common gemstone treatments, including details that give you an idea if the treatments are permanent or temporary.

Also see: Diamond Treatments

Fake gemstones can be wonderful, because they let us wear large and colorful “gems” for a teeny price, but faux gems aren’t so welcome when sellers misrepresent what’s in the box, and charge us an inflated price based on what we think we’re buying. Sometimes the facts about for-sale jewelry are purposely hidden. Sometimes sellers hope buyers don’t notice the fine print, or question a descriptive name that’s been added to a gem. Like blue moonstone — it sounds yummy until you find out the ring you bought isn’t set with a moonstone at all, and that the stone is really cut from the lesser-valued chalcedony.

The Mohs Scale was developed in the early 1800s and is still used today. It's not a scale that weighs something -- it's a comparison chart that tells us which minerals are harder than others, something that's important to know before buying and storing a gemstone.

A natural ruby can be expensive, but you don’t have to buy a ruby to wear drop-dead gorgeous red jewelry. So if red gemstones are your thing, but a ruby’s out of the question, it’s time to explore the affordable alternatives. Other gemstones can fill your need for crimson.

Jewelers use a magnifier that's called a loupe (pronounced loop) to inspect gemstones and other jewelry. The magnifiers have special lenses that allow our eyes to focus on an object at a much closer distance than is normally possible, and reveal tiny details we couldn't see with our normal vision. Even beginners can use a jewelry loupe, but don't rush out to buy one until you understand how the tool is used.

Birthstone jewelry is always popular, and it's one of the most-searched for items on the About.com Jewelry Web site. I thought it would be fun to give you some links to explore -- all links that will help you find jewelry made from specific birthstones. You'll find a little bit of everything here, from pendants to rings to birthstone necklaces, all grouped to make it easy for you to compare features and prices. Read jewelry descriptions carefully to find out if stones are genuine or faux.

Come with me on a virtual tour of a ruby and sapphire mine in Franklin, North Carolina. I'll bet you never knew that playing in the dirt could be this much fun.