Q&A for How to Identify Gemstones

Some stones stay wet, but diamonds do not. The water does not stick to the gem.

There are lots of books and shows about gemstones. Remember, some gemstones come in different colors and sizes. For instance, a greenish sapphire, or a purplish ruby. You could test Turquoise by coating it in some pure molten gold. You should always be careful not to hurt yourself, please use a machine or device for your own safety. If the gold does not stick, that means it is real Turquoise.

What are you trying to determine -- the hardness or what kind of stone it is? If you want to determine hardness, you can use the tests mentioned above. Does the rock show light through it, like amber would, or is it opaque? If it is opaque and dark orange look for carnelian agate, which is a Mohs scale of about 7.5. An online image search on any search engine could also be helpful.

Check what the overall weight is and make a rough guess, or go to a jeweler. You may not be able to get a 100% accurate weight without removing the diamond(s), though.

You place it in pure molten gold. If the gold does not stick to it when it comes out, it is turquoise.

You need to shoot a thin lazer through the gem, the refractive index is the ratio of the velocity of light in the gem to its velocity in a vacuum.

Have it tested. I'd start by calling up the Geology departments of some local colleges/universities and making inquiries.

Scheelite, some samples of flourite, scapolite, most willemite, some samples of calcite, autunite, hyalite, gypsum, and eucryptite.

In my experience, zircon has much more of a sparkle than topaz. However, this is because zircon has a double-refractive index. This means that its crystal structure allows for more light to pass through and reflect. Topaz can be found in a lot more colors than zircon. Topaz is easier to come by, as it is less expensive than zircon. Either way, both gemstones are stunning and make beautiful jewelry pieces, as well as perfect substitutes for other gemstones.

I would suggest taking gemstones to a trusted gemologist or local jeweler. Here, you will be able to have your stones verified as well as appraised. On the other hand, if you are looking to purchase gemstones, please purchase them from reputable suppliers that sell stones with certificates already.

It is not a good idea to lick gemstones. They could carry germs and if there are any sharp edges or poor joins if plastic, you could cut your tongue. Feel the gemstone instead––its weight, its smoothness, are there any rough joins as plastic ones might have, its "plastickiness". Also check color and shine. In particular, plastic tends to be lighter.

Real tiger's eye is typically golden brown and has a distinctive, banded, shimmery appearance. If you see tiger's eye in unnatural colors, such as bright green or blue, it has probably been dyed. Tiger's eye is also a fairly hard stone (6.5-7 on the Mohs hardness scale), meaning it can easily scratch glass.

It could be a moonstone, or a white common opal. If it shows some bluish flashes, it could be a rainbow moonstone.