Natural vs. Synthetic Testing

Opening Nat/Syn Testing

Nat/syn testing starts from a specific candidate's gem detail card, not from the main identification screen directly.

1

Narrow candidates to the target species

On the identification screen, enter enough measurements to bring the target species to the top of the candidate list (e.g., ruby identified via RI 1.762, SG 3.99, strong red fluorescence LW).

2

Tap the candidate to open its detail card

Tap the candidate row in the results list. The gem detail card slides up, showing the full property profile and your measurement comparison.

3

Tap "Test for Natural vs. Synthetic"

This button appears at the bottom of the detail card only if the gem has a nat/syn protocol and you have Pro access or an active trial. If you see the button grayed out with a lock, tap it to view upgrade options.

4

Phase 1: Origin begins

The Nat/Syn Test screen opens. The phase breadcrumb bar at the top shows your current position in the protocol.

Phase 1 — Origin Testing

Phase 1 determines whether the stone is natural or synthetic. Each test step presents a specific technique to perform and a set of possible outcomes to record.

Overview step

Lists all tests in the origin protocol for this species
Shows what equipment you will need before starting
Gives an estimated number of steps

Test steps

Test name and purpose
Step-by-step instructions for performing the test
What the result means for natural vs. synthetic
Result chips to tap: Natural / Synthetic / Inconclusive / Skip
Notes field for observations

Summary step

All recorded test results displayed together
Origin conclusion: Natural / Synthetic / Inconclusive
Automatically advances to Phase 2

How origin is determined

GemID evaluates the recorded test results against the expected patterns for natural vs. synthetic specimens of the species. A single definitive result (e.g., curved growth striae observed under magnification) can be sufficient. Multiple inconclusive results produce an Inconclusive conclusion, not a false Natural or Synthetic call.

Phase 2 — Treatment Testing

Phase 2 tests for treatments that alter the stone's appearance, durability, or value. It runs immediately after Phase 1, using the same step format.

Treatments covered vary by species. Common examples:

Heat treatment — tested via flux-healed fractures, altered silk, changed fluorescence patterns
Fracture filling — tested via flash effect under oblique illumination, altered RI of filler
Beryllium diffusion — field detection impossible; GemID directs to lab (see warning below)
Irradiation — tested via fluorescence changes, color fading under heat
Coating — tested via surface examination, solvent test
Cobalt or nickel diffusion (spinel) — tested via Chelsea filter, absorption spectrum

Each treatment step specifies whether field detection is possible and what equipment is required. When lab testing is the only option, GemID marks the step with a Lab Required result chip and does not attempt a field conclusion.

Beryllium diffusion in ruby and sapphire cannot be detected by any field method — not UV fluorescence, not loupe examination, not refractive index, not specific gravity. The only reliable methods are SIMS, LA-ICP-MS, or LIBS analysis, all of which require an accredited gemological laboratory. GemID will display this warning explicitly during the Phase 2 protocol for corundum. All medium-to-high-value rubies and sapphires should be sent to an accredited lab before commercial transactions.

Test Result Chips

Each test step in both phases uses a standard set of result chips. Tap the chip that matches what you observed.

Chip	Meaning
Natural	The observation is consistent with natural origin or an untreated state for this species
Synthetic	The observation is inconsistent with natural origin — strongly indicative of synthesis or treatment
Inconclusive	The test was performed, but the result is ambiguous and cannot support a definitive conclusion
Skip	The test was not performed, typically because required equipment is unavailable
Lab Required	Field detection is impossible for this test — the sample must be sent to an accredited laboratory

The Reference Button

Reference — top-right AppBar button

Opens the full gem property card for the species being tested. Useful for cross-checking known property ranges while running tests without leaving the protocol. Closing the reference card returns you to exactly where you were in the test sequence.

The reference card shows all the same information as the detail card opened from the identification screen — property ranges, treatment notes, origin notes, and links to the reference database. It does not reset or interrupt the test session.

Saving Nat/Syn Results

After completing Phase 2 and viewing the summary, you can attach the nat/syn results to a session record.

On the Phase 2 summary screen, tap Save to Session
If you don't have an existing session open, you'll be prompted to name one
The nat/syn protocol results — all test outcomes and the final origin and treatment conclusions — are saved as part of the session record
When you later build a Report Builder export for this session, the nat/syn results are included in the examination record section automatically

Saving nat/syn results requires a Pro subscription or active trial. The Save to Session button will prompt for upgrade if your subscription has lapsed.

Run nat/syn testing on a confirmed species only. Don't run the ruby protocol on an unknown red stone. Confirm the species with RI and SG first — bring the candidate list down to 1 or 2 — then open the nat/syn protocol. Running it on an unconfirmed species produces results that cannot be interpreted reliably.