Four tips to help you tell real precious gems from fakes
At Gems & Jewelry Inc., we often have customers come in wishing to sell or pawn jewelry that they may not know too much about. For example, customers often bring in vintage jewelry that may have been passed down to them by a relative or bought at an estate sale. Sometimes these items are quite valuable, and sometimes they turn out to be nothing more than costume jewelry with little value. If you have a piece of precious gemstone jewelry and you’re wondering if it’s for real, you can use the following tips to help you determine its authenticity.
Look for a Certificate
The easiest way to know if your gems are real or fake is to locate documentation stating the condition and value of the stones. For example, real diamonds are sold with diamond certificates stating the color, clarity, and estimated value of the stone. If you can’t find the original sales certificate, an appraisal document would be a good substitute. Of course, when you are dealing with older jewelry, you probably won’t have access to this kind of documentation and you’ll have to use other methods to authenticate the stone.
Consider the Stone’s Setting
Quality gemstones are normally set in a precious metal such as gold or platinum. The setting should be sturdy and well-made to prevent loss of the valuable stone. If you can’t locate a stamp on your jewelry indicating the type of metal used, or if the metal seems overly corroded, damaged, or flimsy, chances are that the jewelry is not made from a precious metal and therefore the gemstone is probably not authentic either.
Examine the Stone
Real, natural gems are seldom flawless. Instead, they often contain cracks and dark or cloudy inclusions. The cracks should occur in straight lines, along the grain of the stone, and are often found at the edges of the facets as these areas are the most vulnerable. Examine your gems under magnification to look for these flaws that are often the hallmarks of a natural stone. If the gems in your jewelry seem too good to be true, they probably are. They might be synthetic or lab-created stones, or, for vintage jewelry, they might be colored glass or paste. Also bear in mind that while glass or paste will scratch and wear down easily, an authentic diamond or sapphire is very hard to scratch and the facets should always be crisp.
Ask an Expert
Of course, the best way to know for certain whether or not your gemstone jewelry features real stones and has value is to ask an expert. If you are interested in selling or pawning your jewelry, bring it in to Gems & Jewelry Inc. and we will be happy to examine it for you.
