THE JOURNAL / Gemstone Identifier
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Showing 91–108 of 150 guides
THE READING ROOM / 06Orange Gemstones: Types, Colors, and How to Identify Them
Explore popular orange gemstones, what causes their color, and which visible clues help distinguish them from tests that require a gemologist.
Read the guidePicture Jasper Identification: Patterns, Colors, and Key Clues
Learn how to recognize picture jasper by its landscape-like patterns, distinguish it from lookalikes, and understand what visual inspection cannot confirm.
Read the guidePink Crystals: Types, Colors, and How to Identify Them
Explore common pink crystals, the clues that help distinguish them, and the limits of visual identification.
Read the guidePrecious vs. Semi-Precious Stones: What the Labels Mean
Learn how precious and semi-precious stones are classified, why the distinction can mislead, and what actually affects a gemstone’s identity and value.
Read the guidePurple Crystals: Types, Color, and How to Identify Them
Explore common purple crystals, learn what visible color and crystal features can suggest, and understand when reliable identification requires expert testing.
Read the guidePyrite Identification: How to Recognize Fool’s Gold
Learn the visible clues that help identify pyrite, how it differs from lookalikes, and when professional testing is needed.
Read the guidePyrite vs. Gold: How to Tell Them Apart
Learn the visible differences between pyrite and gold, what common clues can—and can’t—tell you, and when professional testing is needed.
Read the guideQuartz vs Calcite: Key Differences and How to Identify Them
Learn how quartz and calcite differ in hardness, cleavage, crystal shape, and reliable identification, and what visible clues can—and cannot—tell you.
Read the guideQuartz vs Glass: How to Tell Them Apart
Learn which visible clues can distinguish quartz from glass, where those clues fall short, and which reliable tests can confirm the material.
Read the guideRainbow Crystals: How Their Colors Form and What to Check
Learn why crystals show rainbow colors, how to distinguish natural optical effects from coatings or treatments, and what photos cannot confirm.
Read the guideRainbow Fluorite Identification: Color Bands, Clues, and Limits
Learn how to recognize rainbow fluorite by its color zoning, appearance, and common forms—and understand what visual clues cannot prove.
Read the guideRaw vs. Polished Crystals: Key Differences and How to Choose
Compare raw and polished crystals by appearance, handling, care, and what visual clues can—and cannot—tell you about a stone.
Read the guideRed Gemstones: Types, Colors, and How to Identify Them
Explore ruby, garnet, spinel, and other red gemstones, including visible clues, common lookalikes, and what gemological testing can confirm.
Read the guideRock vs. Mineral: How to Tell the Difference
Learn how geologists distinguish rocks from minerals, which visible clues can help, and when identification requires testing beyond a photo.
Read the guideRose Quartz Identification: How to Recognize This Pink Quartz
Learn the visible clues that can help identify rose quartz, how it differs from lookalikes, and when gemological testing is needed.
Read the guideRose Quartz vs. Pink Calcite: How to Tell Them Apart
Compare rose quartz and pink calcite by appearance, hardness, cleavage, and safe identification methods, while learning what photos alone cannot confirm.
Read the guideRuby vs. Garnet: How to Tell These Red Gemstones Apart
Learn how ruby and garnet differ in composition, color, durability, and identification, and which observations can help distinguish them.
Read the guideRuby vs. Pink Sapphire: Key Differences and How to Tell Them Apart
Learn how ruby and pink sapphire compare in color, composition, value, and identification—and which clues require professional gem testing.
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