THE JOURNAL / Gemstone Identifier
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Showing 55–72 of 150 guides
THE READING ROOM / 04How Accurate Are Crystal Identification Apps?
Crystal identification apps can suggest likely matches from photos, but lighting, lookalikes, and missing context limit what they can confirm.
Read the guideHow Lighting Affects Gemstone Color: A Practical Viewing Guide
Learn why gemstones look different under daylight, indoor bulbs, and phone cameras, and how to compare their color without mistaking appearance for proof.
Read the guideHow to Identify a Geode: Visible Clues and Common Lookalikes
Learn the field clues that suggest a rock may be a geode, how to compare common lookalikes, and what visual inspection cannot confirm.
Read the guideHow to Identify Aura Quartz: Visual Clues and Lookalikes
Learn the visible signs of aura quartz, how it differs from similar materials, and what appearance alone cannot confirm about a crystal.
Read the guideHow to Identify Gemstones in Jewelry: Visible Clues and Reliable Tests
Learn to narrow down gemstones using color, cut, setting, and inclusions—and understand when professional gem testing is needed.
Read the guideHow to Identify Rough Gemstones: Visible Clues and Their Limits
Learn how to assess rough gemstones by color, luster, shape, and context—and when reliable identification requires a qualified gemologist.
Read the guideHow to Identify Tumbled Stones: A Practical Guide to Visual Clues
Learn how to compare color, pattern, texture, and translucency to narrow down tumbled stones while understanding where visual identification has limits.
Read the guideHow to Photograph Crystals: Lighting, Focus, and Detail
Learn how to photograph crystals with clear lighting, reliable focus, and practical setups that show color, shape, and texture without overstating what a photo proves.
Read the guideHow to Spot Coated Crystals: Visible Clues and Testing Limits
Learn how to spot possible crystal coatings through careful observation, compare common clues, and understand what requires professional testing.
Read the guideHow to Spot Dyed Crystals: Visible Clues and Reliable Tests
Learn how to spot possible dye in crystals by checking color patterns, cracks, and surfaces—and understand what visual clues cannot prove.
Read the guideHow to Tell Crystal from Glass Without Scratching It
Use light, sound, weight, and craftsmanship to compare crystal and glass without scratching, while understanding what these clues can—and can’t—prove.
Read the guideHowlite Identification: Key Features and Common Lookalikes
Learn how to recognize howlite by its white color, gray veining, texture, and useful limits when distinguishing it from turquoise and other stones.
Read the guideJade vs. Jadeite: What’s the Difference?
Learn how jade relates to jadeite, how it differs from nephrite, and which visible clues can—and cannot—identify a stone.
Read the guideJade vs. Serpentine: How to Tell Them Apart
Learn the visible clues that distinguish jade from serpentine, why appearance can mislead, and which tests can identify a stone more reliably.
Read the guideJasper Identification: How to Recognize Jasper and Tell It from Similar Stones
Learn the visible clues that help identify jasper, how it differs from chert and agate, and when a gemological test is needed.
Read the guideKyanite Identification: Color, Crystal Shape, and Key Tests
Learn how kyanite’s color, bladed crystals, hardness variation, and mineral associations help distinguish it from lookalikes—and what requires laboratory testing.
Read the guideLab Created vs. Simulated Gemstones: What’s the Difference?
Learn how lab created and simulated gemstones differ, what visible clues can tell you, and when professional gem testing is needed.
Read the guideLabradorite Identification: How to Recognize Its Flash and Key Features
Learn how to identify labradorite by its color flash, surface, and structure, and understand what visual clues can—and cannot—confirm.
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