Gem Authentication

The seller says it's a Victorian mourning brooch from 1875. The jet is black, the goldwork looks old, the price is $2,500.

But one detail gives it away: a lobster clasp. Those weren't invented until...

A fine untreated Burmese ruby: $20,000 per carat. A synthetic ruby that looks identical: $50 per carat.

That's a 40,000% price difference—and without proper testing, you can't tell them apart by eye...

The GIA certificate looks perfect. The hologram catches the light. The grades promise a stunning F-color, VS1 diamond worth $9,000.

There's just one problem: the certificate belongs to a different d...

That ruby ring your grandmother treasured for 40 years could be worth $15,000—or $15. The difference? Whether it's natural, synthetic, or glass.

One in four colored gemstones sold online is either s...

Last month, a $20 diamond tester saved me from buying a $3,000 "diamond" ring that turned out to be cubic zirconia.

Professional gem authentication runs $50-$300 per stone. But with the right home t...

You paid $8,000 for that engagement ring. But is the diamond real—or a $50 cubic zirconia?

Every year, thousands of buyers discover their "certified diamond" is actually moissanite, CZ, or worse. Th...

Run the pearl gently across your front teeth. Does it feel gritty like fine sandpaper—or smooth like glass?

That simple test, taking three seconds, correctly identifies 95% of fake pearls. It's one ...

A "synthetic ruby" and a "ruby simulant" sound similar. One is worth $200. The other is worth $2.

This single terminology confusion costs jewelry buyers thousands of dollars every year. Sellers—some...

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A diamond certificate isn't just paperwork—it's your guarantee th...