[Jewelry making - Article 00939] - Re: [Orchid] Gemstone, Enhancment and Lab-grown Gems

[Zoe Hardisty]

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    I think "natural" truly means as found in nature and as formed in
    nature. The list of enhancements is just that, it can make gems look
    better or look how we have come to culturally know them. Like the
    Tanzanite, or Aquamarines, we think we know what they look like but
    in actuality we only know what the fashion trend of colour is for
    these stones. We culturally expect them to both be blue, and so if a
    gem of that type comes in blue then the market can demand a higher
    price. That's what it seems to come down to, culturally assets value. 

    The other thing about the enhancements is they are suppose to
    disclose if it has an enhancement, particularly if it's
    non-permanent, ie. a heat treated stone that will slowly go back to
    its original colour etc. Personally I don't see enhanced stones as
    truly natural but then can be nice, I just want to know what I'm
    getting and that it's for a fair price. Synthetic (lab made) I do see
    a distinction between those and natural one (anyone who's done some
    gemmology would), that and there are very different political
    situations to think about regarding those gems. The synthetic gems
    are not always of the same chemical composition as the natural ones,
    they either are mearly trying to represent say Alexandrite, or they
    are made in colors you would never see the reall gem in, like deep
    blue Spinels. Yet all things concidered it still comes down to what
    different cultures value as the best and rarest and thus placing a
    price tag on it. If tomorrow the powers that decide woke up and said
    sythetic rubies are of great worth, then they would be. 

    All said and done I like the fact synthetics are cheaper and less
    valued by the market, it just means to me I can own a 4k ruby and not
    have to sell my soul to get it. That and I wouldn't turn natural
    stone away, but I'd feel less paranoid having a big Verneul ruby
    kicking around rather then a real one. 

    My two cents anyway, 

Zoe Hardisty

please feel free to argue with me, I am not an expert on the subject.

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