[Jewelry making - Article 00044] - Re: [Orchid] Synthetic & Simulant Gem Nomenclature

[Steve Green]

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Hi All,

    I wanted to post a few replies to the following statements: 

    Quote From: "Greg DeMark" 

>     A genuine stone is mined and a Natural gemstone is untreated. 

    I have been in the gem business for 25 years and have never heard
    the above definition. 

    Matter of fact I do not think the word "genuine" is used by any
    major gemological laboratories in their testing and certification
    process. The word "genuine" is just too ambiguous to be used in
    scientific analysis. You can have a genuine synthetic, a genuine
    simulant, a genuine treated stone, a genuine natural stone and even
    a genuine fake. 

    Would the true "genuine" stone please step forward. Correct me if I
    am wrong.

    Quote From: "Greg DeMark" 

>     As for my statement of a synthetic color change Sapphire not being
>     an imitation or simulant of an Alexandrite, I still stand by this
>     statement.

    This is very subjective. Personally I do think that a synthetic
    color change sapphire is a simulant for alexandrite. Matter of fact,
    synthetic color change sapphire is marketed under the name
    "alexandrina" in Spanish speaking countries. Obviously the intent is
    to simulate alexandrite. 

    I think Beth Rosengard's post was excellent and helped to clarify
    these confusing terms. I also believe that there are those in the
    gem business who have motivation to "muddy" the issue and make the
    terms intentionally confusing. ("Created" as opposed to "synthetic"
    is an example that comes to mind.) There is a financial incentive for
    those who sell simulants, synthetics and imitations to make them
    seem as close to the natural stone as possible. 

Steve Green
Rough and Ready Gems, Inc.
Fine Gemstone Briolettes, www.briolettes.com

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