![]() ![]() There is no equivalent testing facility for most gemstones sold as beads. We send out samples from metal suppliers for destructive assay to verify silver content and lack of lead or cadmium content. We break occasional beads to see what color and/or texture is inside. When we receive unusually bright beads, or lovely even-colored beads strung on cord the exact same color, we put them in a bin of water for a few hours (or even weeks) to test if they are colorfast. ![]() (This enhancement is usually revealed, but confusion exists between stabilized turquoise and dyed magnesite.)Īlthough we are not gemologists at Rings & Things, and we don’t have fancy lab facilities or an X Ray Def machine in-house, we do use tried-and-true simple tests when we’re unsure about a batch of beads. Most turquoise beads on the market are stabilized turquoise, hardened with resins. Some examples of treated or commonly misrepresented stones: Black onyx enhancement is reported in the notebooks of Pliny the Elder. Most buyers do not realize that gem enhancement is ancient, easily 2500 years old. Enhancing or misrepresenting gemstones is not limited to Chinese suppliers. No, it’s not just beads from China that are enhanced or misrepresented. The simple answer is yes, there is a lot of misrepresentation and misleading information about beads from China and elsewhere. We’ve struggled with this for years ever since I learned from a rockhound that most black onyx started out as chalcedony treated with sugar water and then heated. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to describe how we deal with misinformation and misleading names in the bead industry. As a large distributor, do you test the products or suppliers before you re sell the items? If so, what are your findings? In general, do you think there is much truth to the speculation about gemstones and semi precious stones exported from China being fake or contaminated? Thank you for your help. ![]() I have recently come across some articles that say gemstones exported from China are fakes or contaminated. We recently received this email asking whether gemstone beads (especially from China) are fake, and it’s a great opportunity to address not only her question, but related questions that we frequently get over the phone and in our Showroom. ![]()
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