Once again we warn you about buying gemstones...

Once again we warn you about buying gemstones. Labeling laws compel sellers to differentiate between natural (formed in nature) and synthetic (made in a laboratory) stones. But they do not require labeling for enhancements, like treatments to make stones a better color or additions to fill in flaws. There are also many synthetic stones that look so much like diamonds or other gems that they are very hard to detect. Even if you are buying a piece of 19th-century jewelry, the stones should be seen by an expert because the original large gems may have been removed.