Natural, Treated or Lab-Grown? How to Tell
What disclosure terms mean and why a lab report protects your purchase.
A natural gemstone formed in the earth. A treated stone is natural but enhanced—by heat, oil, or filling—to improve color or clarity. A lab-grown stone has the same chemistry as a natural one but was created in a laboratory.
All three can be beautiful. What matters is honest disclosure, because value differs a lot between them.
- Ask whether a stone is treated and how
- Request an independent lab report for valuable stones
- Be wary of prices that seem too good for the size and color