Jewelry stones—whether set in rings, pendants, earrings, brooches, or bracelets—are often misunderstood. Many people inherit or discover jewelry and assume that anything sparkly must be a real gemstone. In reality, glass, synthetic stones, and imitation gems have been used for centuries. Knowing how to distinguish real stones from glass requires careful observation of inclusions, weight, luster, cut quality, and the craftsmanship of the setting.
DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 595 provides a complete, beginner-friendly, non-destructive workflow for determining whether a stone is real, synthetic, or glass. This guide teaches you how to evaluate materials using the same observational approach trusted by professional jewelry appraisers—without using scratch tests, chemicals, or destructive methods.
Inside this guide, you’ll learn how experts:
Evaluate weight and density differences between gemstones and glass
Identify round air bubbles—one of the strongest indicators of glass
Examine luster, brilliance, and surface reflection
Assess facet sharpness, polish quality, and durability
Recognize wear patterns: scratches, abrasions, and cloudiness
Compare setting quality: gold, platinum, silver vs. brass or plated metals
Understand gemstone color variation vs. glass uniformity
Distinguish natural inclusions (veils, crystals, needles) from glass bubbles
Identify common imitation materials for diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, opals, and turquoise
Evaluate era and jewelry style clues (Victorian paste, Art Deco crystal, mid-century rhinestones)
Research stones using maker marks, hallmarks, and style context
Know when a jewelry piece warrants professional appraisal
Follow the complete DJR 11-step non-destructive workflow to separate real stones from glass
Whether you're assessing inherited jewelry, browsing estate sales, sorting flea-market finds, or reviewing your own collection, this guide gives you the expert system needed to identify real gemstones—quickly, safely, and confidently.
Digital Download — PDF • 10 Pages • Instant Access
Jewelry stones—whether set in rings, pendants, earrings, brooches, or bracelets—are often misunderstood. Many people inherit or discover jewelry and assume that anything sparkly must be a real gemstone. In reality, glass, synthetic stones, and imitation gems have been used for centuries. Knowing how to distinguish real stones from glass requires careful observation of inclusions, weight, luster, cut quality, and the craftsmanship of the setting.
DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 595 provides a complete, beginner-friendly, non-destructive workflow for determining whether a stone is real, synthetic, or glass. This guide teaches you how to evaluate materials using the same observational approach trusted by professional jewelry appraisers—without using scratch tests, chemicals, or destructive methods.
Inside this guide, you’ll learn how experts:
Evaluate weight and density differences between gemstones and glass
Identify round air bubbles—one of the strongest indicators of glass
Examine luster, brilliance, and surface reflection
Assess facet sharpness, polish quality, and durability
Recognize wear patterns: scratches, abrasions, and cloudiness
Compare setting quality: gold, platinum, silver vs. brass or plated metals
Understand gemstone color variation vs. glass uniformity
Distinguish natural inclusions (veils, crystals, needles) from glass bubbles
Identify common imitation materials for diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, opals, and turquoise
Evaluate era and jewelry style clues (Victorian paste, Art Deco crystal, mid-century rhinestones)
Research stones using maker marks, hallmarks, and style context
Know when a jewelry piece warrants professional appraisal
Follow the complete DJR 11-step non-destructive workflow to separate real stones from glass
Whether you're assessing inherited jewelry, browsing estate sales, sorting flea-market finds, or reviewing your own collection, this guide gives you the expert system needed to identify real gemstones—quickly, safely, and confidently.
Digital Download — PDF • 10 Pages • Instant Access
Image 1 of 1