This is great. I acquired someones cabs & beads in estate auction. It included 15-20 "Star" Sapphires and Rubies. I didn't for a minute think they were anything but simulents, but this gives me definitive clues to look for. Thanks again for a great video.
Been doing the beach jeweler- appraiser - pearl restringer…..over 40 years. I love what I do. I knew 3 days into my college art elective that I’d be doing this for the rest of my life. Thank you for sharing your expertise. Keeping it real for the world! ✌️
I’m finding that many of the gem terminology is so similar to my medical career. So that word “fake stone “ is as confusing and weird as in describing a patient during a medical assessment as “crazy”. Nevertheless, mental illness, in all its colorful ranges is serious. And determining a persons health takes years of experience. Everything in life that is tangible, is real. And things that we have never seen but feel could be crazy. It’s like our brains. How do we know we have a physica brain we had never seen it. It is total trust in others that has convince us that it’s there and valued. Although, I’ve had relationships with men and during our brake up’s, all I could think about is kicking them in the family jewels. Lol. As always, your the best of the best in the field of gemologist. Your amazing! Love you! Keep safe and talk soon.
Hey Peter...your videos inspired me a lot. As suggested by you, I want to enrol in AIGS bangkok. But just a quick question...will I be able to start my own practice after the 14 weeks course or do I have to work under somebody/ some company? And if yes, for how many years do I need to work under someone before I start my own Gem trading practice?
Hi ~ the short version is: there are many active traders that have no gemological diploma. You can start trading whenever you want. Studying gemology is a skillset that allows you to identify and observe gemstones scientifically, which is something many traders lack. They may however have a strong understanding of the qualities of the specific gemstone(s) that they trade in, and the price history of these goods, which is something a gemological diploma will not teach you. So, all of that said, I fully encourage the study of gemology because it lays a foundation for life-long understanding as the gemstone trade gets more complex, but I also insist that the study of gemology and the trade of gemstones are quite separate, and require different observations.
How does one get started in Gemology? I’m sure there is a course or schooling involved. Other than the school in Bangkok, are there any schools or courses offered in the states?
Great question Michael - A start is definitely to watch the other videos on this channel. They're made with aspiring gemologists in mind (aka its all the stuff I wish i could tell myself before I got into the gem trade XD ) Ask yourself if you're interested more in the trade and business of gems or the research and exploration side. If you're interested in trade, then you can take something like the Applied Jewelry Professional courses from GIA. They're 3 online courses that include the essentials (which are i believe available for free during the COVID-19 lockdown timeframe, so check that out) and it'll give you a good foundation and some direction to let you know if you want to invest in one of the full gemologist programs. Eventually i'll do some comparison videos, but the 3 major schools are AIGS (thailand) GIA (US and worldwide) and the FGA (US and worldwide). GIA as a brand is the most recognizable, and FGA is the oldest and most scientific/ research oriented. AIGS is best done on campus, and i'd recommend it for anyone who wants more trade-applicable education like distinguishing treatments and synthetics etc. Start by watching some of my other videos - it'll help you know if you want something academic or not.
Gemology for Schmucks, thanks so much for the informative response. I’m going to check out those courses you spoke about and watch your videos to see if this is for me. Thank you again!
@@michaelsanchez8519 most definitely. I'll say that stones are for everyone, the only question is in what capacity 😂. There are lots of people that sell only one type of stone, and so they only need the knowledge that relates to that one type of stone. Find what works for you ^_^ and see you around.
Thanks for participating in the conversation. The key difference is that the growing conditions in the earth lead to trace element differences and variations that we wouldn't typically find in earth mined stones. Once you have seen enough of these stones in person I expect that you'll agree with not only me, but the research labs such as the GIA that publish extensively on this topic. I would recommend that you dive deeper into their source material before you label the summary in this short video as "spreading misinfo".
@@GemologyforSchmucks hello sir. First of all let me tell you I really admire your work and all your contagious positive energy you put in your videos 😁 then, about the lab grown stones: Of course there is the science behind it, and of course nothing can be compared to natural stones which took like millions (if not billions) of years to grow and form, but in this particular case, I tend to believe that a lab grow Diamond, or à lab grown ruby or emerald, is a real stone. Like it is for me a real diamond, a real ruby, a real emerald. They are just not naturals. And for me the important thing to point out here is not if the stone is real or fake, just if it is natural or lab grown. I can totally understand and agree with someone who tells me he prefers natural stones, and that natural stones have something lab grown do not have. Totally ok with that. But I think synthetic stones can be a real good alternative for People who have limited budget to have access to Nice looking good quality stones. Personally I love emeralds, and what i love in them are their inclusions, their "jardin". I will almost always prefer a natural emerald with its impurities rather than à lab grown emerald. Because I think (only my opinion) the emerald's beauty lies within these imperfections. However. I am not really a diamond fan, and i always prefer having a good lab grown diamond than a natural because for me it is like the same, cheaper. My main point is, for me, lab grown can be a good alternative to natural, and can be considered as real stones, as soon as the buyer is informed about this. As a plant sciences phd student, i had to do plant micropropagation, which litterally is in vitro plant growth. And at the end, we have a plant, the exact same plant i can find in nature, in terms of the plant itself. Except for this unkown and surely desirable part of what nature has to offer, either in the plant or in the stone. My apologies for the long message. Again, thank you very much for all your wonderful work. Afrer my phd i would like to follow a gemmology cursus, and you kinda played a role in this decision ! 😁 so, thank you 😍
Fortunately, that's an easy one. As long as you're referring to cubic zirconia(CZ) (not to be confused with the mineral zircon, which is very different despite the similar name). The properties of Sapphire and CZ are very different and can be distinguished with a Polariscope. Sapphires are doubly refractive (DR) and CZ are singly refractive (SR). When you use the polariscope properly, (I have a tutorial on my channel) sapphires will blink and CZ will not. If you were actually talking about the mineral zircon, the polariscope will not help. A spectroscope will be very useful for distinguishing blue zircon and blue sapphire. Cheers Natalia~
I feel like saying lab-made stones are fake is inaccurate. Many jewelers also agree that it's inaccurate to say so as they are made of the same composition as natural stones. Imagine if you drank water that was made in a lab (which is as easy as making a lab-made stone if not easier). You wouldn't call the water "fake water" and it would do the exact same things as natural water would. Of course you have to say what you are selling, it's illegal to not say how the item you made was made, but it isn't fake (or at least in the U.S it's illegal and can lose you a lot of money). Plus it is more ethical to make lab-made stones than to mine for stones often due to how little miners are paid for their work.
Theres definitely a lot in this topic to unpack, and folks have wildly different perspectives on what is what. The goal of this video was to open up those conversations so that we can stop using the word "fake" as a blanket cover term for "everything that isn't what I expected/hoped for". It sounds like you're in support of the same idea: Call a thing what it is clearly, and then let people decide what they want.
To me its only "fake" if you try to sell it as something its not. If i sell it for what it is its real. It just may not be that sapphire you thought of in your head
In the United States it is an apparent violation (my lay opinion) of 16 CFR PART 23 not to fully disc,one treatments of gemstones special handling instructions or any other material fact which affects the value of a gemstone. Therefore it is not only a gem merchant's reparation which is on the line, you could take legal action for such failure to disclose. Unfortunately in my 30+ years in the jewelery trade I have seen way too much of this typically blamed on an inexperienced sales person or a mistake, when in reality it is deliberate not wanting to explain as it might kill a sale (in your cynical opinion)
Litigation is indeed a favourite pass-time in the United States. Fortunately, most major players in the gem trade agree that treatments need to be disclosed, and that honesty is the best policy. Thanks for the comment Um5.
Hi there. A good video, but I hate the term fake. I have been a faceter since the 1980's. I started with clear quartz crystals when I worked in Saudi Arabia. These quartz crystals were called Qaisumah diamonds even though they were just nice, clear quartz. The same is true for quartz crystals from Herkimer, NY. I have been recently cutting laser and synthetic ruby. The laser ruby is from rods made to be used in the manufacture of lasers, the synthetic, boules from China. Both make lovely gems suitable for setting. When I used to do the Saudi quartz, I could sell them to fellow expats for the value of the labor I put into cutting the stones and they would have them set in the gold souk as souvenirs. Please inform your viewers that the term fake implies deception, as long as something is lovely and is as billed it is real and has its own value. Cubic zirconia and Moissonite are used in gem settings and have value to the people who wear them as adornments. Please reference the comment below by Jason Forouhar.
Hi John, thanks for sharing your perspective, and you make some great points. You have asked that I inform my viewers that the term fake implies deception. At 00:23 I state that the most common use/ understanding of the word fake is for something that pretends to be something that it is not. Help me understand how this deviates from your desired message? Overall, I agree with you that the term "fake" is not an efficient one and doesn't really have a place in the gem market. That is also why I spend the better part of ten minutes in this video unpacking other more efficient words like simulant and synthetic. Hopefully this and my other videos will encourage folks to abandon "fake" and grow in their understanding of what they are buying and collecting etc. Cheers
@@GemologyforSchmucks I think it's because the majority of jewelers selling lab-made stones sell them as lab-made stones/lab created stones. If people think of them as fake then they don't have to buy them. You don't make any points that explain how lab-made stones are literally identical to natural stones. You actually talk down on them even though ethically they tend to be better.
@@betpokemon It seems that the moment where I define a synthetic stone @ 1:36 was something that did not catch your attention? As to talking down, it is my personal opinion that natural stones are preferable to synthetic, and it is my right to express that opinion, particularly on my own channel. While the fundamental properties and crystal structure of synthetics are the same as earth mined stones, it is the small variations in trace element chemistry and the formation of the crystal that gives it personality. I vote for personality. If you prefer synthetics, you are welcome to buy whatever you prefer from whomever you prefer.
Hi Drew~ thanks for engaging. To my understanding, when you create a sour-dough starter (or mother, or levain), you create an environment for wild yeast and bacteria (some of which is present in the flour already) to reproduce. If you successfully establish a sourdough starter, you've invited a colony of wild yeast, and that yeast does the job that commercially bought yeast would normally do. They have different characteristics, and naturally the flavors of the two types of bread are also. If I'm mistaken on this info, I'm happy to be corrected. I just really like food, trivia and gemstones.
I spent quite a few years among that people and I worked quite hard to learn that tongue. It’s super satisfying though, because the more you learn about a language and its people, the bigger the world gets for you. Mandarin and the Chinese family of languages has helped massively with learning several other languages. I am immensely grateful to have had those opportunities.
![Blushing Ruby [Phenomenal Gemstones]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4o-9t5C6FHY/mqdefault.jpg)
![The Tellers of Secrets [Gemologist Interview]](/img/n.gif)
This is great. I acquired someones cabs & beads in estate auction. It included 15-20 "Star" Sapphires and Rubies. I didn't for a minute think they were anything but simulents, but this gives me definitive clues to look for. Thanks again for a great video.
i've got one more that you might want to check out.
ua-cam.com/video/xQOBMH_uJEg/v-deo.html
Been doing the beach jeweler- appraiser - pearl restringer…..over 40 years. I love what I do. I knew 3 days into my college art elective that I’d be doing this for the rest of my life. Thank you for sharing your expertise. Keeping it real for the world! ✌️
Glad you found your calling and that you've been loving it ever since~ Cheers
Another short course completed ✔. Thank you.
Well done, cheers
I love this series and look forward to each drop. Thanks!
Thanks~! That's fuel in the motivational tank right there :D
I’m finding that many of the gem terminology is so similar to my medical career. So that word “fake stone “ is as confusing and weird as in describing a patient during a medical assessment as “crazy”. Nevertheless, mental illness, in all its colorful ranges is serious. And determining a persons health takes years of experience. Everything in life that is tangible, is real. And things that we have never seen but feel could be crazy. It’s like our brains. How do we know we have a physica brain we had never seen it. It is total trust in others that has convince us that it’s there and valued. Although, I’ve had relationships with men and during our brake up’s, all I could think about is kicking them in the family jewels. Lol. As always, your the best of the best in the field of gemologist. Your amazing! Love you! Keep safe and talk soon.
Hey Peter...your videos inspired me a lot. As suggested by you, I want to enrol in AIGS bangkok. But just a quick question...will I be able to start my own practice after the 14 weeks course or do I have to work under somebody/ some company? And if yes, for how many years do I need to work under someone before I start my own Gem trading practice?
Hi ~ the short version is: there are many active traders that have no gemological diploma.
You can start trading whenever you want.
Studying gemology is a skillset that allows you to identify and observe gemstones scientifically, which is something many traders lack. They may however have a strong understanding of the qualities of the specific gemstone(s) that they trade in, and the price history of these goods, which is something a gemological diploma will not teach you. So, all of that said, I fully encourage the study of gemology because it lays a foundation for life-long understanding as the gemstone trade gets more complex, but I also insist that the study of gemology and the trade of gemstones are quite separate, and require different observations.
Cool video my friend
Thanks very much ~ im glad you enjoyed it.
I got a fake garnet once, turned out to be ruby
What a delightful surprise~!
Always love your videos I especially lovedit today whey you mentioned the fairies!! 😁🧚♂️🧚♀️🧚
Thank you ~ and the little folk ought not be forgotten! ^_^
How does one get started in Gemology? I’m sure there is a course or schooling involved. Other than the school in Bangkok, are there any schools or courses offered in the states?
Great question Michael - A start is definitely to watch the other videos on this channel. They're made with aspiring gemologists in mind (aka its all the stuff I wish i could tell myself before I got into the gem trade XD )
Ask yourself if you're interested more in the trade and business of gems or the research and exploration side. If you're interested in trade, then you can take something like the Applied Jewelry Professional courses from GIA. They're 3 online courses that include the essentials (which are i believe available for free during the COVID-19 lockdown timeframe, so check that out) and it'll give you a good foundation and some direction to let you know if you want to invest in one of the full gemologist programs. Eventually i'll do some comparison videos, but the 3 major schools are AIGS (thailand) GIA (US and worldwide) and the FGA (US and worldwide). GIA as a brand is the most recognizable, and FGA is the oldest and most scientific/ research oriented. AIGS is best done on campus, and i'd recommend it for anyone who wants more trade-applicable education like distinguishing treatments and synthetics etc.
Start by watching some of my other videos - it'll help you know if you want something academic or not.
Gemology for Schmucks, thanks so much for the informative response. I’m going to check out those courses you spoke about and watch your videos to see if this is for me. Thank you again!
@@michaelsanchez8519 most definitely. I'll say that stones are for everyone, the only question is in what capacity 😂. There are lots of people that sell only one type of stone, and so they only need the knowledge that relates to that one type of stone.
Find what works for you ^_^ and see you around.
Look into the programs offered by The Gemological Institute of America.
2:23 This is crazy talk. If it's chemically identical (which it is) then obviously it is the same as that thing. This is just spreading misinfo
Thanks for participating in the conversation. The key difference is that the growing conditions in the earth lead to trace element differences and variations that we wouldn't typically find in earth mined stones. Once you have seen enough of these stones in person I expect that you'll agree with not only me, but the research labs such as the GIA that publish extensively on this topic. I would recommend that you dive deeper into their source material before you label the summary in this short video as "spreading misinfo".
@@GemologyforSchmucks hello sir. First of all let me tell you I really admire your work and all your contagious positive energy you put in your videos 😁 then, about the lab grown stones: Of course there is the science behind it, and of course nothing can be compared to natural stones which took like millions (if not billions) of years to grow and form, but in this particular case, I tend to believe that a lab grow Diamond, or à lab grown ruby or emerald, is a real stone. Like it is for me a real diamond, a real ruby, a real emerald. They are just not naturals. And for me the important thing to point out here is not if the stone is real or fake, just if it is natural or lab grown. I can totally understand and agree with someone who tells me he prefers natural stones, and that natural stones have something lab grown do not have. Totally ok with that. But I think synthetic stones can be a real good alternative for People who have limited budget to have access to Nice looking good quality stones. Personally I love emeralds, and what i love in them are their inclusions, their "jardin". I will almost always prefer a natural emerald with its impurities rather than à lab grown emerald. Because I think (only my opinion) the emerald's beauty lies within these imperfections. However. I am not really a diamond fan, and i always prefer having a good lab grown diamond than a natural because for me it is like the same, cheaper. My main point is, for me, lab grown can be a good alternative to natural, and can be considered as real stones, as soon as the buyer is informed about this. As a plant sciences phd student, i had to do plant micropropagation, which litterally is in vitro plant growth. And at the end, we have a plant, the exact same plant i can find in nature, in terms of the plant itself. Except for this unkown and surely desirable part of what nature has to offer, either in the plant or in the stone.
My apologies for the long message. Again, thank you very much for all your wonderful work. Afrer my phd i would like to follow a gemmology cursus, and you kinda played a role in this decision ! 😁 so, thank you 😍
How to distinguish a lab-grown sapphire from a dark blue zirconia?
Fortunately, that's an easy one. As long as you're referring to cubic zirconia(CZ) (not to be confused with the mineral zircon, which is very different despite the similar name). The properties of Sapphire and CZ are very different and can be distinguished with a Polariscope. Sapphires are doubly refractive (DR) and CZ are singly refractive (SR).
When you use the polariscope properly, (I have a tutorial on my channel) sapphires will blink and CZ will not.
If you were actually talking about the mineral zircon, the polariscope will not help. A spectroscope will be very useful for distinguishing blue zircon and blue sapphire.
Cheers Natalia~
@@GemologyforSchmucks I was talking about cubic zirconia. Thank You for Your answer. :-)
I feel like saying lab-made stones are fake is inaccurate. Many jewelers also agree that it's inaccurate to say so as they are made of the same composition as natural stones. Imagine if you drank water that was made in a lab (which is as easy as making a lab-made stone if not easier). You wouldn't call the water "fake water" and it would do the exact same things as natural water would. Of course you have to say what you are selling, it's illegal to not say how the item you made was made, but it isn't fake (or at least in the U.S it's illegal and can lose you a lot of money). Plus it is more ethical to make lab-made stones than to mine for stones often due to how little miners are paid for their work.
Theres definitely a lot in this topic to unpack, and folks have wildly different perspectives on what is what. The goal of this video was to open up those conversations so that we can stop using the word "fake" as a blanket cover term for "everything that isn't what I expected/hoped for". It sounds like you're in support of the same idea: Call a thing what it is clearly, and then let people decide what they want.
To me its only "fake" if you try to sell it as something its not. If i sell it for what it is its real. It just may not be that sapphire you thought of in your head
Open and honest communication is definitely the first place to begin.
What was the name or link for the class you took on making rings?
Check out lucywalkerjewellery.com/
This is the mastermind who can take you from zero to greatness if you've got gumption~
Imma start saying "cultured" now. Ah like it!
Fantastic word eh? Cheers and enjoy.
In the United States it is an apparent violation (my lay opinion) of 16 CFR PART 23 not to fully disc,one treatments of gemstones special handling instructions or any other material fact which affects the value of a gemstone. Therefore it is not only a gem merchant's reparation which is on the line, you could take legal action for such failure to disclose. Unfortunately in my 30+ years in the jewelery trade I have seen way too much of this typically blamed on an inexperienced sales person or a mistake, when in reality it is deliberate not wanting to explain as it might kill a sale (in your cynical opinion)
Litigation is indeed a favourite pass-time in the United States. Fortunately, most major players in the gem trade agree that treatments need to be disclosed, and that honesty is the best policy. Thanks for the comment Um5.
Hi there. A good video, but I hate the term fake. I have been a faceter since the 1980's. I started with clear quartz crystals when I worked in Saudi Arabia. These quartz crystals were called Qaisumah diamonds even though they were just nice, clear quartz. The same is true for quartz crystals from Herkimer, NY. I have been recently cutting laser and synthetic ruby. The laser ruby is from rods made to be used in the manufacture of lasers, the synthetic, boules from China. Both make lovely gems suitable for setting. When I used to do the Saudi quartz, I could sell them to fellow expats for the value of the labor I put into cutting the stones and they would have them set in the gold souk as souvenirs. Please inform your viewers that the term fake implies deception, as long as something is lovely and is as billed it is real and has its own value. Cubic zirconia and Moissonite are used in gem settings and have value to the people who wear them as adornments. Please reference the comment below by Jason Forouhar.
Hi John, thanks for sharing your perspective, and you make some great points. You have asked that I inform my viewers that the term fake implies deception. At 00:23 I state that the most common use/ understanding of the word fake is for something that pretends to be something that it is not. Help me understand how this deviates from your desired message? Overall, I agree with you that the term "fake" is not an efficient one and doesn't really have a place in the gem market. That is also why I spend the better part of ten minutes in this video unpacking other more efficient words like simulant and synthetic. Hopefully this and my other videos will encourage folks to abandon "fake" and grow in their understanding of what they are buying and collecting etc. Cheers
@@GemologyforSchmucks I think it's because the majority of jewelers selling lab-made stones sell them as lab-made stones/lab created stones. If people think of them as fake then they don't have to buy them. You don't make any points that explain how lab-made stones are literally identical to natural stones. You actually talk down on them even though ethically they tend to be better.
@@betpokemon It seems that the moment where I define a synthetic stone @ 1:36 was something that did not catch your attention? As to talking down, it is my personal opinion that natural stones are preferable to synthetic, and it is my right to express that opinion, particularly on my own channel. While the fundamental properties and crystal structure of synthetics are the same as earth mined stones, it is the small variations in trace element chemistry and the formation of the crystal that gives it personality. I vote for personality. If you prefer synthetics, you are welcome to buy whatever you prefer from whomever you prefer.
Thanks Peter!😁👍
My pleasure, Jamie.
Whaaaaat!
There's no YEASTin SOURDOUGH, Mr Nelson.
(see Baking For Schmucks...)
Otherwise, good information.
Hi Drew~ thanks for engaging. To my understanding, when you create a sour-dough starter (or mother, or levain), you create an environment for wild yeast and bacteria (some of which is present in the flour already) to reproduce. If you successfully establish a sourdough starter, you've invited a colony of wild yeast, and that yeast does the job that commercially bought yeast would normally do. They have different characteristics, and naturally the flavors of the two types of bread are also. If I'm mistaken on this info, I'm happy to be corrected. I just really like food, trivia and gemstones.
Lots of great information in these videos. I like your neatly groomed, smaller beard.
Glad the videos are of service to you, Nancy
I just whis you were around 5 years ago Peter.
Im here now~
And I Thank you 😊
Example could be lab grown emerald
If one was expecting natural emerald, absolutely.
"cultured" **toss** hahaha
:D This is how I live my life. If you find your own jokes funny, it's easier to get out of bed each day eh? hahah ~ Thanks for the comment.
Why you can speak Chinese?
I spent quite a few years among that people and I worked quite hard to learn that tongue. It’s super satisfying though, because the more you learn about a language and its people, the bigger the world gets for you. Mandarin and the Chinese family of languages has helped massively with learning several other languages. I am immensely grateful to have had those opportunities.
@@GemologyforSchmucks Yes, true, and Chinese love gold, diamond and gems.
My girlfriend once had yeast. Didn’t make good wine……..
Dudeeee 😅