By
Ashley Bailey 
, Tuesday, November 10, 2009 12:00 AM
Gemstones
Whiteflash is an affiliate member of the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) and abides by its stringent code of ethics. Our jewelry features only natural gem materials, some of which have been enhanced by commonly accepted means such as heat treatment. Where a gemstone is known to have been treated or is commonly treated in the industry, the product detail description and invoice will so indicate.
Imitations and synthetics
Imitations are man-made substances that simply look like gemstones. An example of an imitation is a rhinestone, which is faceted glass with a reflective foil applied to the bottom of the stone. Plastics are also widely used to imitate a wide variety of gemstones.
Synthetics, on the other hand, are laboratory grown materials with the same optical and physical properties of the natural gemstone. Synthetics have been widely used in the jewelry trade since the turn of the 20th century. Many of the modern synthetics are extremely sophisticated and are difficult to separate from natural stones, even by qualified experts. In some cases, only the major gemological laboratories can render a definitive statement. For this reason it is essential when purchasing expensive gemstones to deal with reputable companies and receive detailed documentation regarding your purchase.
Whiteflash.com does not sell jewelry containing imitation or synthetic gemstones.
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