Before purchasing any fine colored gemstone there are things you should know besides just the weight, the beauty, and the price that you are going to pay. So that you do not make a costly mistake, it will be worth your while to work with an AGS Certified Gemologist to help you make your decision.

If a colored gemstone is desirable and has significant value, you can be sure that there is a synthetic counterpart to that gemstone available in the marketplace. Synthetic does not mean just a look-alike gemstone, although there are those as well.

Synthetic means that the laboratory-grown gem is a chemical and crystalline duplicate of the natural gemstone, and usually it takes a gemologist, with the aide of special gemological equipment to determine the difference. Synthetics have natural looking inclusions, which resemble those found in their natural counterpart.

Over many centuries man has experimented with, and perfected, countless methods to improve upon the natural properties of gemstones. These techniques are known as “enhancements”. These methods reflect upon man’s desire to draw upon the truest and purest color and brilliance that a gemstone has to offer.

The art of cutting a gemstone is man’s most basic enhancement method necessary to fully display the beauty of a fine gem. However, there are many fascinating methods by which man has demonstrated his ability to draw maximum color, luster, clarity, and brilliance from nature’s most precious gifts.

There are many recognized and accepted enhancement techniques and there are many that are not. A basic understanding of these enhancement techniques will add to your appreciation of the beauty, durability and value of the colored gemstone you already own, or are planning to purchase now or in the future.