List of False or Misleading Gemstone Names
A list of False or Misleading Gemstone Names and its Actual Gemological Name. Gathered by the source "Gemstones of the World, 3rd Edition, Walter Schumann.
1 Minute Read
| False Gemstone Name | Actual Gemological Name |
| Adelaide ruby | Almandite |
| African emerald | Green fluorite |
| Alaska diamond | Rock crystal (quartz) |
| American jade | Green idocrase |
| American ruby | Pyrope or almandite (garnet) or rose quartz |
| Arizona ruby | Pyrope (garnet) |
| Arizona spinel | Red or Green garnet |
| Arkansas diamond | Rock crystal (quartz) |
| Balas ruby | Red spinel |
| Blue alexandrite | Color-change sapphire |
| Blue moonstone | Artificially blue-tinted chalcedony |
| Bohemian chrysolite | Moldavite (natural glass) |
| Bohemian diamond | Rock crystal (quartz) |
| Bohemian ruby | Pyrope (garnet) or rose quartz |
| Brazilian aquamarine | Bluegreen topaz |
| Brazilian ruby | Red or Pink topaz |
| Brazilian sapphire | Blue tourmaline |
| Californian ruby | Hessonite (grossular garnet) |
| Candy spinel | Almandite (garnet) |
| Cape-chrysolite | Green prehnite |
| Cape-ruby | Pyrope (garnet) |
| Ceylon diamond | Colorless zircon |
| Ceylon opal | Opal-like glimmery moonstone |
| Copper lapis | Azurite |
| German diamond | Rock crystal (quartz) |
| German lapis | Artificially blue-tinted jasper (chalcedony) |
| Gold topaz | Citrine (quartz) |
| Indian jade | Aventurine (quartz) |
| King's topaz | Yellow sapphire |
| Korean jade | Serpentine |
| Lithia amethyst | Kunzite (spodumene) |
| Lithia emerald | Hiddenite (spodumene) |
| Madeira topaz | Citrine (quartz) |
| Marmarosch diamond | Rock crystal (quartz) |
| Matura diamond | Colorless fired zircon |
| Mexican diamond | Rock crystal (quartz) |
| Mexican jade | Artificially tinted green marble |
| Montana ruby | Red garnet |
| Oriental amethyst | Violet sapphire |
| Oriental hyacinth | Pink sapphire |
| Oreintal topaz | Yellow sapphire |
| Palmyra topaz | Brown synthetic sapphire |
| Salmanca topaz | Citrine (quartz) |
| Saxon chrysolite | Greenish-yellow topaz |
| Saxon diamond | Colorless topaz |
| Serra topaz | Citrine (quartz) |
| Siamese aquamarine | Blue zircon |
| Siberian chrysolite | Demantoid (garnet) |
| Siberian ruby | Red tourmaline (rubellite tourmaline) |
| Simili diamond | Glass imitation |
| Slave-diamond | Colorless topaz |
| Smoky topaz | Smoky quartz |
| Spanish topaz | Citrine (quartz) |
| Strass diamond | Glass imitation |
| Transvaal jade | Green hydrogrossular garnet |
| Ural sapphire | Blue tourmaline |
| Viennese turquoise | Artificially blue-tinted argillaceous earth |
Source: Gemstones of the World, 3rd Edition, Walter Schumann.
International Gem Society
Related Articles
Table of Gems Ordered by Crystal System
This table contains a selection of minerals gemologists may encounter as jewelry stones or gem specimens. The gems are sorted...
Read More
Bead and Necklace Size Charts
Whether you’re a novice bead jewelry maker or just shopping for necklaces, these bead and necklace size charts and links...
Read More
Standard Gem Sizes Chart
Will your gem fit in a standard setting? Use this chart of standard gem sizes for popular cuts and also...
Read More
METAL/WAX FORMULAS
Jewelers need to know how to determine how much gold is needed for a wax mold. Here are three methods...
Read More
Never Stop Learning
When you join the IGS community, you get trusted diamond & gemstone information when you need it.
Get Gemology Insights
Get started with the International Gem Society’s free guide to gemstone identification. Join our weekly newsletter & get a free copy of the Gem ID Checklist!