Shopping for <a href="http://www.j-beads.com">gemstones</a> and gemstone jewelry can be confusing, because prices are sometimes very different for jewelry that appears to be similar. Many of the words used in jewelry ads can be confusing too, since gemstones are labeled as natural, genuine, synthetic, simulated, treated -- or a combination of those terms. Let's talk about the differences.What Are Natural Gemstones?
Natural gemstones are delivered to us courtesy of nature, with no interference from humans. By the time they appear in our jewelry they've been cut or polished, but they've not been altered in other ways.
What Are Genuine Gemstones?
A genuine gemstones is the real thing, but isn't natural anymore if it was treated in some way to enhance its appearance.Enhancements allow jewelry manufacturers to improve the look of lower quality gemstones that consumers wouldn't otherwise purchase. Treated gemstones are genuine, but they are no longer considered natural. If naturally "perfect" stones were the only gems available, most of us couldn't afford them.