Alisa Thorp
Jewelry Design & Ethical Gemstone Expert
wikiHow's Editorial Process wikiHow partners with over 1000+ experts from a wide range of fields to ensure our content is accurate and based on well-established research and testimony. Content Managers conduct interviews and work closely with each expert to review information, answer reader questions, and add credible advice. Learn more about our editorial process and why millions of readers trust wikiHow.
Co-authored Articles (6)
Easy Ways to Identify Raw Gemstones
Learn which gemstone you have with this identification guide Identifying an unpolished, rough gemstone can seem difficult, but it really isn’t! You can use a streak test to determine the color of the gemstone’s powde...
How to Tell If a Stone Is Genuine Opal
Learn the differences between common and precious opalOpals are a well-known gemstone that can be divided into two categories: common and precious. Precious opals feature the beautiful iridescence that the gemstone is we...
The Best Way to Spot a Fake Opal: What You Should Know
Real vs. fake opals. What’s the difference?Opals are gorgeous stones. But how can you tell if the necklace you bought with your hard-earned cash contains a real opal? Fake opals are often very hard to detect, but here ...
How to
Tell if a Pink Sapphire Is Real
If you want to tell whether a pink sapphire is real, you first must decide what you mean by "real." If you want to determine whether the stone is a piece of glass masquerading as a sapphire, you may be able to tell this ...
How to
Tell Glass from Semi Precious Stone Beads
By learning how to avoid fakes when purchasing semi-precious stones (any gemstone that isn’t a diamond, sapphire, ruby, or emerald), how to test for fakes at home, and how to find a competent jeweler capable of identif...
Moonstone vs. Opal: Differences in Appearance & Meaning
Everything you need to know to choose your perfect gemstone There are thousands of beautiful gemstones worldwide, but few are as alluring as moonstones and opals. Both gems have an ethereal quality, and it’s common fo...
