All interested members of the public are invited!
(Come early for light refreshments!)
When a consumer makes a purchase, the retailer has legal and ethical obligations to disclose information on the gemstone, but this requirement means the item must be correctly identified. A wide variety of natural, treated, synthetic and imitation gem materials can be found in the marketplace, and there are significant differences in their commerical value. In many cases, these gem materials can be recognized by a trained gemologist using standard gem testing methods; in other instances, however, the identification is more difficult and the use of advanced scientific equipment is needed. This presentation will review the types of treated and synthetic gem materials that present some identification challenges for the jewelry trade. The presentation will begin with a brief introduction to GIA.