Why Your Heated Sapphire Isn’t Fake When you hear the word “treated,” you may think your sapphire is fake. But it isn’t. More than 95% of sapphires and rubies on the market are heat-treated. Heat treatment is a simple process. The stone is exposed to controlled high temperatures so the natural color and clarity improve. […]
Why Your Heated Sapphire Isn’t Fake (And Why You Shouldn’t Overpay) Read More »
Most people think pearls only come from oysters. The truth is different. Natural pearls can form in many mollusks. Some of the rarest gems in the world are non-nacreous pearls from conch, melo melo, clam, scallop, and abalone. Knowing about these pearls helps you see beyond the oyster and understand the full story of nature’s
Pearls Beyond Oysters: Conch, Melo Melo, and Rare Natural Pearls Read More »
Wishful thinking can mislead you in gem identification. Learn how confirmation bias makes you ignore evidence, and discover practical steps to avoid costly mistakes. Wishful thinking is the biggest danger in gem identification.You want a stone to be valuable. Your mind pushes you to ignore signs that say otherwise. That’s confirmation bias. It’s a trap
Wishful Thinking: The Most Dangerous Trap in Gem Identification Read More »
Many old diamond tests like scratching glass or fogging the stone don’t prove authenticity. Learn why these methods fail and safer ways to test your diamond. You’ve probably heard someone say, “If it scratches glass, it’s a diamond.” That’s one of the most repeated myths in the jewelry world. I’ve explained this countless times to
If It Scratches Glass, It’s a Diamond — Common Tests That Don’t Work Read More »
Buying a diamond? Don’t make the mistake of trusting the certificate alone. Learn why two GIA-graded diamonds with the same report can look completely different and how to choose beauty over paper. Most first-time diamond buyers trust the certificate more than their own eyes. That’s the biggest mistake. A grading report is only a guide.
Buying the Paper, Not the Diamond: The #1 Mistake I’ve Seen in 40 Years Read More »
