The gem market is opaque and the eye cannot tell real from fake. Simple rules protect the buyer.
Three main risks Synthetics, imitations (glass, cubic zirconia, moissanite), and undisclosed treatments.
How to verify Ask for a gemological report and, for expensive stones, an independent lab certificate; verify with a gemologist unrelated to the seller. Home tests prove nothing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I tell natural from synthetic at home?+
Not reliably — synthetics share the composition and optics. You need a gemologist with instruments.
