THE STRAIGHT FACTS. SMALL CONCEPTS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE TO BUY LOOSE GEMSTONES

Small concepts you need to know before to buy loose gemstones; it is very important to know, at all times, what you are buying.

Is it wrong to buy a synthetic diamond?  NO, provided the seller says IT IS A SYNTHETIC DIAMOND. This means it will be cheaper and that both the buyer and seller are on equal terms,and the buyer won´t feel cheated. Because he/she is buying a diamond, with all its physical characteristics, albeit a man-made diamond, so its price will be noticeably cheaper.

Is it wrong to sell a treated rubythat has been filled with lead glass? NO, provided the seller specifies this information and explains that lead glass-filled rubies have a low economic value, as very often there is a higher quantity of lead glass than of ruby. Lead glass is easily damaged, so it requires special care and handling, because any damage is irreversible.If the buyer knows all of this and still decides to buy the ruby, then the transaction is completely ethical.

 Problems arise when information is biased, when there is no information, and then, IT IS CHEATING

 Small concepts about loose gemstones:

• Gem:  Natural or artificial material, mainly of mineral origin (although it can also be from animal, vegetal, meteoric, etc. origin), that is used as ornament and personal adornment. 

                  Main characteristics: BEAUTY, DURABILITY, and RARITY.

• Natural Gem:  Gem of geological or biological origin in which human technology has NOT intervened.
• Synthetic Gem: Those of same chemicalcomposition that natural gems, but man-made.
• Artificial Gem: Man-made gemstones that do not have a natural equivalent (ggg – garnet of gadolinium and gallium).
• Imitation Gems: Natural, synthetic or artificial gems, similar in appearance, but not in composition, to more valuable gems (Red glass - ruby, tourmalines – emerald, ...).
• Treated Gem: Gemological materials that have undergone treatments (heating processes, irradiation, impregnation, dyeing, etc.) to modify their appearance.

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