This is for research for my novel. I know about zircons and diamonds. But what about the difference between costume jewelry and the real gemstones?
2006-11-09 09:06:12 · 3 answers · asked by Kristen H 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Diamonds can scratch glass...I don't believe zirconium has the same property. You can tell with pearls if you rub them against your teeth...real ones are gritty feeling, fake ones are smooth.
As for the others, I think it requires a gemologist or someone well versed in dealing with gems.
2006-11-09 09:20:19 · answer #1 · answered by Shaun 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am afraid it takes years and years of experience. By the way ZIRCONS are real gemstones - it is cubic zirconia that is a diamond substitute. Try your local library for some books on gem testing which will give you some idea of the complexity of the process. A good book is "Handbook of Gem Identification" by Richard T. Liddicoat Jr. published by the Gemological Institute of America.
2006-11-09 19:08:56 · answer #2 · answered by U.K.Export 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dont confuse jewelry with gemstones because gemstones makes up jewelry. Therefore all jewelries are real (ie, clamshells are jewelry in some cultures). Its the gemstones that are fake or real. Its the occurence that makes real or not (but these attributes are based on what value people put to it). Synthetics are considered fake even when chemical compositions are the same but these are man made. Valueable (real) are the ones that occurs naturally in nature.
2006-11-09 17:20:42 · answer #3 · answered by visualmaximus 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋