Natural v Imitation gemstones
Sometimes it is useful to see a natural gemstone next to an imitation of that stone.
This page will be added to and updated.
While this information is no substitute for gemmological training, I hope it will give you an insight into what you may encounter when shopping for gemstones.
Amber
Left is natural amber - Right is plastic with darker colouring swirled through it to imitate amber.
Ametrine
Left is a natural ametrine - Right is a synthetic quartz ametrine and a rough block of synthetic ametrine. Note - the difference is not as simple to identify as the colour difference between these examples.
Charoite
Left is natural charoite - Right is a simulation or imitation made of resin.
Coral
Left is natural (dyed) coral - Right is "synthetic" coral, a sintered (heated and compressed) powder.
Trapiche Emerald
Left is a natural trapiche emerald - Right was sold as a "certified" natural trapiche emerald but this is a dyed quartz, with the dark trapiche markings drawn on with pen!
Trapiche Emerald
Sold as a doublet... but this looks like an image or transfer between two clear layers of something (still waiting to be tested)!
Lapis Lazuli
Left is natural lapis lazuli cabochon - Right is "synthetic" lapis lazuli cabochon, a sintered (heated and compressed) powder.
Larimar
Left is a natural larimar stone (blue pectolite) - Right is an imitation larimar stone, probably resin.
Malachite
Left is a natural stone (although it has been coated) - Right is an imitation stone made of resin.
Opal
Clockwise from top left natural opal, Gilson "synthetic" opal, opalite glass, plastic imitation opal, glass imitation opal (Slocum stone).
Tourmalinated Quartz
Left is a natural stone - Right is an imitation (black "needles" glued between synthetic quartz top and bottom).
Rhodochrosite
Left is a natural rhodochrosite - Right is an imitation (resin) stone.
Ruby
Left is a natural ruby - Right is a synthetic ruby (manmade ruby which has the same chemical, physical and optical properties as a natural ruby). Note - the difference is not easy to identify.
Star Ruby
Left is a natural star ruby - Right is a synthetic star ruby (manmade ruby which has the same chemical, physical and optical properties as a natural ruby).
Sapphire
Left is a natural sapphire - Right is a synthetic sapphire (manmade sapphire which has the same chemical, physical and optical properties as a natural sapphire). Note - the difference is not easy to identify.
Trapiche Sapphire
Left is a natural trapiche sapphire - Right was sold as a "certified" natural trapiche sapphire!
Sunstone
Left is sunstone - Right is goldstone, a manmade glass stone which may imitate sunstone.
Watermelon Tourmaline
Top is natural watermelon tourmaline - Bottom is synthetic quartz imitating watermelon tourmaline.
Turquoise
Clockwise from top left natural turquoise, turquoise-dyed magnesite, "synthetic" turquoise (a sintered powder), turquoise-dyed howlite.
If I can help someone make a more informed purchase, that would be brilliant. Hope you find it useful!
