Synthetic vs Natural Gemstone Unboxing: Ruby, Emerald & More!

Ever wondered how to tell the difference between a Natural vs Synthetic Gemstone? Lucky for you we got Rebecca and Preston on the case! We got some Ruby, Opal, Emerald, and more! We want to teach you all the telltale signs of synthetics but also teach you the science behind these beautiful gems! So tune in and get your gem knowledge growing now!

00:43 - Synthetic & Natural Ruby
05:05 - How to Spot Synthetic Spinel
07:41 - Cultured & Imitation Pearl
11:19 - Gilson Opal
14:03 - Natural vs Synthetic Emerald

#Gemstones #unboxing #synthetic #naturalgemstones #ruby #emerald

[MT_]

I'm probably one of the few people who loves synthetic spinel more than most other gemstones. Verneuil flame fusion spinel is technically not a true synthetic: (please excuse the lack of proper scientific notation in this next part) natural spinel is MgAl2O4, which can be made by combining MgO and Al2O3 (chemical formula of colourless sapphire) in a 1:1 ratio via a flux growth method, but this ratio doesn't work for flame fusion spinel, so more Al2O3 is added to the mix to help stabilise the resulting boule. This also results in different properties compared to natural/flux spinel: slightly higher hardness of around 8.25 compared to the 7.5-8 of natural spinel, higher refractive index of 1.727 compared to around 1.718 (can be a bit higher in natural spinel due to iron or zinc content) and strong anomalous double refraction, or strain, when viewing flame fusion spinel under a polariscope. Structural similarities between sapphire and synthetic spinel can be seen using advanced lab equipment, but those details are for my research project, so I won't share my findings just yet. :P

[andrewchim]

I found out earlier that I passed the GemA Foundation! You're videos definitely helped. Into the diploma!

[DB-zpun]

I was surprised how many bubbles in the real spinel.

[aaronramsden]

I feel like synthetic can be just as good, as long as they're chemically the same I'm happy 😊

[thebookwyrmling]

Would love to see y'all talk about completely man-made stones, like moissanite and Yttrium Aluminum Garnet, and your thoughts on them and their place in the jewelry market. If you think they're cool or if they're lesser somehow, that kind of thing

[oscarmedina]

Fantastic episode! It's wonderful to learn new things and I learned a LOT of new things with this episode. Thank you for posting it.

[Howtoeatrocks]

I personally would prefer a high quality lab grown than a naturally mined 9/10 because of how hard it is to find ethically sourced gemstones, and even then ethical really only means not as much disregard for loss of life

[amberOH]

I'm so thrilled to come across this channel! (TLDR?😊) My partner and I recently came across a home shopping channel that seems like it could be a SNL skit..it's rather outrageous...but we've found it fun to watch in the background sometimes just for a good laugh. I've often voiced that i truly think they're trying to pawn off faux gems as natural gems, but of course would have no way of knowing without more knowledge of the subject. NOW I have quite a bit more knowledge and am ready to call them to task! 😂 Thank you so much for this 😁💛✨️

[______IV]

I appreciate your videos and all the work you put into making them, so mad respect and thanks. My pedantic mini-me wants to nitpick about some of your statements about opal, but I’m giving him a vacation.

[cjmr]

The comparison of Gemstones are awesome, Could you do Natural yellow Citrine vs natural yellow Sapphire and if you had to choose which would you pick. plus pink Topaz vs pink Sapphire Thank you

[mimichy]

Love every video from your Chanel i always learn something new about gemstones and minerals ❤

[kakoozajoseph]

Thanks for improving my understanding ❤

[bethlovesthings]

please to more 'cause of colour' videos.

[lorawaring]

this was fun and helpful. looking forward to the next one!

[largent]

Yay first! I love learning about real vs synthetic gems. And let me just say that it is not nice to do to the poor oysters in cultured pearls. Planting an irritant so that it grows larger and more perfect with time. Not nice! And the information on the synthetic emeralds was very interesting. I never realized there were two types of synthetic emeralds. Great info and it was a great episode. Now I want some spinels in that gorgeous blue! Thank you both for sharing!

[michaeltrudell]

I didn't know emeralds could look so clear 🙂

[Victoria-dhvb]

I'm curious what natural vs synthetic alexandrite is like.


My mom has a couple pieces of Alex jewelry that her parents bought for her (it's one of her birth stones). It's highly unlikely that they are natural, but I've always been curious

[khaztheconfuser]

my birthday is in august and I decided to go with the purple spinel (in place of amethyst) for my class ring instead of a peridot because spinel is also an august birthstone
and also because I like purple better than that summer grass shade of green

[briancurtis]

Synthetic = better in every way... IF you can find them.

[GEMSofGOD_com]

Welcome to Gemstones! A place where experts show you how to chew and scratch stones!