When you’re shopping online, it can be hard to tell if the gemstones and jewelry you’re buying are real or fake, especially if you’re not an expert. Luckily, though, there are some key differences between plastic beads and gemstones that can help you make this distinction. If you want to know how to tell the difference between gemstones and plastic beads, keep reading!
Check the Bead’s Temperature
If you can’t tell, by sight, if a bead is made of natural wholesale gemstones or plastic, you can test it with your hands. A true gemstone will feel warm in your hand if exposed to sunlight, but a fake one made of plastic will feel cool or cold. If you don’t have a sunny window at home, take your bead outside on a sunny day to see if it warms up.
Weigh the Bead
You should always first use a simple scale to see if a bead is real or fake. Remember that plastic beads are usually lighter than their natural counterparts. So grab your scale, pop those beads on there, and weigh them. The weight will tip you off as to whether they’re real or fake.
Tap the Bead
How can you tell gemstones from cheap plastic beads? A diamond is forever, but a plastic bead might be a dollar store — or it could be an imitation gemstone. Here are some tips that will help you spot real gems from fake ones Stones come in all shapes and sizes: Stones are more irregularly shaped than glass or plastic beads, making them more difficult to manufacture. The fact that they’re irregular means they can’t be mass-produced, which makes it harder for fakes to make their way into stores. Real stones have many imperfections: As nature has its way with these jewels, flaws such as cracks or chips are common.
Examine the Drilling
Look at where wholesale gemstone beads are drilled. If a stone is not drilled all of the ways through, you know it’s a plastic bead. The holes in real gemstones go all the way through. Also, look for uniformity in size. Plastics will almost always be uniformly shaped and sized. If you see some beads that are bigger than others, or with different-sized holes, then you can bet it’s not a real gemstone!
Heat the Bead
Heat your gemstone or plastic bead over a flame. Real gemstones emit a characteristic smell. If you notice an unpleasant or chemical odor coming from your bead, it is likely fake. A real stone won’t change color when heated; if it does, it’s not natural, as all precious gems are naturally colored.
Conclusion
There are three things you need to take into account when trying to tell if something is a gemstone or plastic bead. First, look at whether or not it has inclusions, which are natural flaws within an object. These give wholesale cabochons and gemstones their unique character. Second, analyze how light reacts, to your stone: A genuine gemstone will act similarly to a diamond with light reflection; however, plastic beads will respond differently.
