We have prepared a jewelry buying guide below. This week I will talk about Gemstones. But jewelry in Las vegas is a huge subject so come back weekly for more advice.

Natural stones are only from nature, with no help from humans. Do not think that because it's natural - a stone should carry a higher price. Prices are driven by desirability, quality, and availability. A brilliantly colored ruby with "perfect" clarity will cost thousands of dollars more than a garnet of similar quality. Become knowledgeable with the gemstone market before you buy.

Gemstone Jewelry Treatments

Most natural gem stones are treated to improve appearance. Within a stone's outer layers Heat and radiation change or enhance colors. Diffusion deepens color. Oil and waxes are used to fill-in surface-breaking fractures. Treated gems can be a good choice when you know what you are buying and pay a price that reflects a stone's true quality. Do not buy an improved appeared stone for a natural beauty stone's price.

Synthetic Gem Stone Jewelry

Synthetics are created in a lab. They've been around for a long time, modern technology allows us to grow stones that are difficult to distinguish from their natural counterparts. A synthetic stone has a natural gem stone's physical and optical qualities. Ask for a lab certificate to verify authenticity before paying top dollar for a stone represented as natural.


Imitation, or simulated, stones may at first look like the real thing, but that's where the similarities end. They do not share physical characteristics with natural or synthetic stones. Visit Frank Melaerts - Jewelry Las Vegas for more information on stones. Many are made of glass or plastic and most can be detected easily by a jeweler. Moissanite is a newer diamond substitute that's even fooling the pros.

Doublets are stones that are assembled using a larger chunk of an inexpensive stone which is topped by a thin slice of the genuine stone. The division usually is not really obvious without magnification. A type of doublet sandwiches a colored bonding agent between two clear stones to mimic a colored gemstone. Triplets are composites assembled in three parts.

Imitation and synthetic stones make lovely jewelry--there's no reason to avoid them as long as you know what they are and what you are getting. Avoid paying too much for a misrepresented stone, educate yourself on this and other sites. Read as many resources as possible, google " jewelry las vegas " for sources of information on the jewelry business in Las vegas. Start looking closely at jewelry. Ask questions. It won't make you a jewelry pro, but in time it will help you become a more savvy consumer for jewelry in Las Vegas.

Las vegas Jeweler Updated 7/23/2009