expert answers to common gemstone questions covering quality, authenticity, certification, pricing, treatments, value, and gemstone care tips.
Yes, natural rubies almost always come with inclusions, and they matter a lot for checking both the authenticity of the stone and where it actually formed. A natural ruby that looks fully flawless is extremely rare, and it feels pretty suspicious, because that often points to a synthetic, lab-grown version. For example, common inclusions in…
Yes, most commercial rubies go through heat treatment to boost the vividness of their colour and also dissolve those cloudy inclusions, leading to better clarity. This thermal enhancement is, in fact, an industry-standard permanent practice that is accepted worldwide, without much debate. By warming rubies to somewhere between 900°C and 1900°C, the process resembles the…
Yes, peridot is pretty susceptible to getting scratched because it sits around 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, falling squarely in that mid-range. So, it’s softer than common airborne dust, which often includes quartz, and it will also give way to many everyday objects, meaning you need careful handling pretty regularly. It can work…
Peridot is one of the few gemstones that can end up forming in outer space, and sometimes it is found inside pallasite meteorites. This weird little extraterrestrial form of peridot is incredibly rare, and it is highly prized by gem collectors. Pallasite meteorites are made of an iron-nickel matrix that has olivine crystals embedded in…
Yes, alcohol, essential oils, and synthetic compounds found in perfumes can permanently damage porous and organic gemstones. If there is direct contact, the surface can lose its vibrancy, look a bit less shiny, or even break down in a slow structural way over time; you might not notice it right away. Organic stones like pearls,…
Yes, moonstone feels quite delicate; it can crack or cleave easily when it gets hit hard or experiences extreme temperature shifts. It has a Mohs hardness level of around 6 to 6.5, and it also shows perfect cleavage, so it is vulnerable to physical stress, even from things that seem minor. Due to the way…
Selling loose gemstones can be kind of tricky, and it often takes longer than moving finished jewellery, because the secondary market is highly specialised. Liquidity depends entirely on the gem, its quality, its rarity, and whether it has a well-known laboratory certificate or not. If the stone is uncertified or just a lower-grade commercial piece,…
Yes, certain rare and visually appealing inclusions can boost a gemstone’s worth quite a bit, mainly because they prove its natural origin or they bring about special optical effects that are hard to copy. People often point to horsetail inclusions inside demantoid garnets and rutile silk within sapphires as the best-known examples, and honestly, they…
Yes, you can usually return a gemstone, as long as the jeweller or dealer has a stated return policy and the stone stays in its original, unaltered condition. Most reputable sellers give you a 14- to 30-day return window, in most cases. Return requirements really vary a lot depending on where you make your purchase….
Yes, household chemicals, like bleach, chlorine and ammonia, can severely damage a lot of gemstones, plus their precious metal frames. Those harsh substances strip off protective coatings, can shift tones, and start eroding the structural health of softer stones, in plain terms. Porous gems such as pearls, opals, and turquoise are especially likely to absorb…