How to Avoid Fake Gemstone Certificates
As the natural gemstone demand has been rising, so has the false gemstone certificate market. When a buyer gets a certificate with a stone, they think the stone is natural. But it is not necessary in all cases. Today, so many fake gemstone certificates are being circulated, and many vendors claim them to be natural, treatment-free, and sell them at a high cost. Hence, it is important to understand the genuineness of a gemstone certificate before buying it.
Why Gemstone Certification is Important
The Gemstone Certificate is an official report that a reputed gemological laboratory issues after inspecting a gemstone. This certification gives you crucial details about the gemstone, i.e., whether it is natural, the weight, color, clarity of the gemstone, treatment of the gemstone, and if it is original.
Certified gemstones assure more confidence and security for the buyer while purchasing. More relevant than this, it assures buyers of gemstones' reliability and authenticity. All of these factors are really important if you are buying gems like Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, or Red Coral for astrological purposes. According to astrologers, only the natural and untreated gems hold the real healing powers. Which gets diminished due to heavy treatments.
Always Choose Reputed Gemstone Laboratories
One of the best ways to avoid fake gemstone certificates is to get the gemstones tested by reputed laboratories such as IGI, GIA, GJEPC, ITLGJ, SSEF, or GRS.
The reason behind this is simple: trusted laboratories follow professional testing methods and provide accurate gemstone reports. On the other hand, fake or unknown labs may issue manipulated certificates with false information.
Before purchasing a gemstone, always check the reputation of the laboratory mentioned on the certificate.
Verify the Certificate Number Online
The official websites of all the reputed gemological laboratories offer certificate verification services over the internet. Always verify the certificate number of a gem you're purchasing online, matching its specifications with the stone. If the certificate number is nonexistent or doesn't match the gemstone, the certificate might be fake or tampered with. It is also one of the simplest yet best ways to detect fraudulent certificates.
Check the Certificate Details Carefully
An authentic certificate of a gemstone will have a clear layout, a laboratory stamp, a report number, details of the gemstone, and high-resolution photos of the gemstone. For a fake certificate, there may be spelling errors, an unclear laboratory stamp, the certificate may be poorly printed, or some information may be missing altogether.
You should also look to see if the certificate indicates if the stone is natural, treated, or synthetic, as often details of treatment are withheld to increase the sale value of a gemstone.
Beware of Extremely Cheap Certified Gemstones
High-quality natural gemstones are rare and valuable. If a seller offers a “certified natural gemstone” at an unrealistically low price, it is often a warning sign.
Cheap certified gemstones are commonly:
- Synthetic stones
- Glass-filled gems
- Dyed stones
- Heavily treated gemstones
Natural gemstones such as Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, and Yellow Sapphire cannot be sold at extremely low prices with genuine certification.
Match the Gemstone with the Certificate
Before purchasing, carefully compare the gemstone with the details mentioned in the certificate. Check the gemstones:
- Color
- Shape
- Weight
- Measurements
- Clarity
Natural gemstones usually contain slight inclusions and internal patterns. Completely flawless stones at very low prices should always be viewed carefully.
Buy Only from Trusted Gemstone Sellers
One of the safest ways to avoid fake gem certificates is to only purchase gemstones from credible and knowledgeable gemstone dealers. Legitimate vendors are more likely to give authentic certification, fair pricing, returns, and provide appropriate customer support.
If you are planning to buy a gemstone online, then you must examine the customer reviews, the reputation of the company and the genuineness of the website.
Conclusion
Nowadays, fake gemstone certificates have become a serious problem in the gemstone market. Many buyers unknowingly purchase synthetic or heavily treated gemstones because of fake lab reports and false claims.
To avoid such kind of fraud practises, you should always verify the certificate online, choose reputed gemological laboratories, compare gemstone details carefully, and buy only from trusted sellers. A genuine certified gemstone not only provides better quality and long-term value but also ensures stronger astrological effectiveness and peace of mind.
