Q gemstones

Druzy Quartz - imitation

This stone is a plastic imitation of treated druzy quartz.

Druzy Quartz - treated

Natural quartz with a coating applied to create an iridescent effect.

Mystic Quartz

"Mystic" or "aurora" stones have a coating applied to create an iridescent effect - usually only on the bottom (pavilion) of the stone.

Rainbow Quartz

Sold as natural, this quartz has been dyed various colours, some of which ran when the stone was placed in water.

Rutilated quartz

Sold as "certified", hue enhanced (!) but it is 2 layers of glass with what I can only describe as a layer of tinsel glued between the 2 (air bubble arrowed).

Tourmalinated quartz

imitation (black "needles" glued between synthetic quartz top and bottom).

Rainbow calsilica

This "gemstone" has been found to be pulverised carbonate rock mixed with at least two artists' pigments and stabilised with a polymer.

Rhodochrosite

resin imitation.

Ruby

This is a ruby but an industrial grade one which has been heavily treated and may be 40% (or more) red glass! Look for lines on the facet surfaces. May be described as GF or Glass Filled.

Synthetic Ruby

A manmade, synthetic ruby which has the same chemical, physical and optical properties as a natural ruby.

Trapiche Ruby

Spotted on the internet - if it's like my trapiche emerald it may be dyed quartz, with the dark trapiche markings drawn on with pen!  I'm pretty confident it is not a natural trapiche ruby...

Synthetic Sapphire

A manmade, synthetic sapphire which has the same chemical, physical and optical properties as a natural sapphire.  Can be produced in most colours including colour change.

Sapphire doublet

Natural sapphire crown (top) with synthetic sapphire bottom (pavilion).  The join line can be seen along the girdle.

Trapiche Sapphire

Spotted on the internet - if it's like my trapiche emerald it may be dyed quartz, with the dark trapiche markings drawn on with pen!  I'm pretty confident it is not a natural trapiche sapphire...

Slocum stones

glass imitation opals.

Synthetic Spinel

A manmade, synthetic spinel which has the same chemical, physical and optical properties as a natural spinel.  Commonly seen as blue but can be produced in most colours.

Surfite

is cut from layers of hardened resin which have built up in the process of making surfboards

Blue Topaz/Mother of pearl doublet

has a layer of blue topaz glued to the top of a layer of mother of pearl.

Mystic Topaz

"Mystic" or "aurora" stones have a coating applied to create an iridescent effect - usually only on the bottom (pavilion) of the stone.

Tourmaline

These are synthetic quartz made to imitate watermelon tourmaline (not very well!).

Soude Paraiba Tourmaline

Colourless top and bottom (may be quartz, synthetic spinel, sapphire or beryl) glued together with blue glue. This can clearly be seen from the side.

Compressed Turquoise

Chips of turquoise, compressed and bonded together with resin.

Howlite Turquoise

is off-white howlite which has been dyed to imitate turquoise.

Magnesite Turquoise

is off-white magnesite which has been dyed to imitate turquoise.

Mojave Turquoise

are a mix of natural or dyed turquoise pieces, set in a metallic effect resin matrix.

Stabilised Turquoise

Natural turquoise which has been impregnated with resin or plastic to improve its durability.

"Synthetic" Turquoise

A manmade material created by sintering (heating and compressing) calcite powder and pigmentation.

Turquoise/Quartz doublet

is a layer of quartz glued to a layer of turquoise.

Welsh Blue

A by-product of the iron smelting process in Wales.

None yet but this resource is continually being added to.