Jewelry makers direct most of their ads to ladies because they are known to adore diamonds and all kinds of sparkly rocks. Even though they can’t afford precious ones like rubies or sapphires, most ladies will be happy with semi-precious, even synthetic jewels. Why this obsession is so widespread, read on this page.

If you want to treat yourself with a piece of unique jewelry with a rock in it, go for it. However, since it is probably not a small amount of money, it is essential to be very careful when buying. A non-expert buyer can easily overlook some things and buy a gem of less value at a high price. Or worse, buy a completely worthless imitation.

Know What You Look for

To know what you are searching for, you need to learn what types of gems exist. The most well-known and valuable are ruby, emerald, sapphire in all colors, and timeless diamonds. In addition to them, there are also semi-precious stones, as well as artificial ones.

Each of them is a real stone that has its value. It is estimated based on various factors, but the rarity is the utmost one. Artificial jewels are also stones, but they are not of high value because they are easy to produce in laboratories. Nature itself created the most precious jewels.

The next thing you’ll need is to estimate jewels based on color. Clarity of these shiny rocks is the first thing to pay attention to – the more intense the color, the higher the purity of the gem. It should be neither too dark nor too transparent, but merely rich and not hazed. 

Every guide to buying gems says that scratches usually don’t lower their prices. The size is important, but you should pay more attention to its weight. Semi-precious and synthetic jewels have a higher relative density than real gems. The type of cut matters too. It affects how the jewel will shine and reflect light.

Look for Trusted Sellers

Reputable dealers of jewels are easy to find, although they don’t advertise. If you’re planning to visit a jewelry store or shop in person, you should check the website (if any) beforehand. Many signs can show you it’s a fraud or a sale of imitations. For example, if the site seems too commercial, it is most likely a copy sale.

Real dealers won’t use the usual marketing channels to reach clients. For them, the best advertising is a recommendation. So do a little research on who has excellent reviews, and whom to skip. The seller must be a member of the Gemological Institute and provide a certificate for every jewel they have on sale.

Online Purchase

You can try online shopping if you get enough evidence that the jewel dealer is verified and certified. It is the Internet that has the highest number of frauds, so be especially careful when leaving personal information. 

The market of precious stones has, at one point, experienced exponential growth. That was a sign for scammers to begin with these frauds. An amateur can easily fail in recognizing false stones. Some dealers sell pretty good copies.

Recognize Imitations Gems

The only way to ensure you buy real gemstone is to buy from a certified dealer. If that is not enough guarantee then you have to learn how to distinguish the original from the imitation all by yourself. Synthetic stones are not imitations, but fraudsters often offer them by the price of genuine precious stones. Replicas are mostly made of colored glass, which is treated in a similar way to real jewels.

More about lab-made stones read here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemstone#Synthetic_and_artificial_gemstones.

Non-experts can get confused, but imitations are easy to recognize. The color must not be transparent but vibrant. Amateurs often buy a copy of the gem because it looks more sophisticated and shinier. Wrong. Real gemstones should have flaws, cracks, and other irregularities, even after polishing.

You won’t go wrong if you buy synthetic jewels; they can look just as good as any other precious stone. Nevertheless, you should take care not to overpay it as an expensive gem. Knowing some of the basics will help you understand if a stone is overrated or not.