Fakes & Synthetics

Scientific Laboratory for the Identification and Appraisals
of Gemstones and Jewellery... Since 1981

Definitions

Fake stones: Are anything that simulates or imitates a genuine gemstone.
For example - rhinestones (foil backs), garnet & glass doublets, majorica pearls, etc.

Synthetic stones: Are man-made stones that have the same chemical, physical and
structural properties as its natural counterpart.
For example - Synthetic Sapphire, Synthetic Quartz, Synthetic Diamond, etc.

From the earliest known look-alikes to today’s high-tech fakes, diamonds have been
imitated and yes, even duplicated.

A diamond’s beauty, rarity, and durability are the deciding factors for it’s high value.

Man has always been impressed by nature’s wonder in creating such a perfect mineral
that consists of immense hardness, magnificent brilliance and fire, and beauty. Man has
also found ways to bring look-alikes, counterfeits, imitations and/or fakes to consumers
with the intention to provide a substitute or merely to deceive.

Increasing awareness of these imitation stones to the jewellery buying public is our
primary concern . Here is a list of imitation and synthetic stones to be aware of:

Imitation stones include:	Synthetic stones include:
Rhinestones or foil backs Garnet and Glass Doublets Majorica Pearls Glass Plastic Cubic Zirconia	Synthetic Corundum - Ruby and Sapphire Synthetic Chrysoberyl - Alexandrite Synthetic Diamond Synthetic Emerald Synthetic Moissanite Synthetic Quartz Synthetic Spinel Synthetic Tanzanite
	Fakes that imitate diamond
"Diamond is the most frequently imitated stone in jewellery."	Glass White Sapphire Rock Crystal Quartz Topaz Zircon Synthetic Rutile Strontium Titinate YAG GGG Synthetic Spinel Synthetic Cubic Zirconia Synthetic Moissanite

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