Some of the gemstone names we commonly use can be very confusing, and often costly to those unaware. For example, ‘Indian Jade’ is actually Aventurine, a form of quartz. The reference to ‘Jade’ is confusing and simply incorrect.
There are many such names that are still in use and you need to be careful when purchasing stones that use common names without referring to the true gemological name.
If you have purchased stones that were advertised using one of these names, the seller may have not know that the name is misleading. They also may have purchased it in good faith. However, often these names are used to confuse buyers and misrepresent stones.
Have a look at this list and you may find a few surprises.
Table of False & Confusing Names
| False Name | Gemological Name |
|---|---|
| Adelaide Ruby | Almandine Garnet |
| African Emerald | Green Fluorite |
| Alaska Diamond | Quartz Rock Crystal |
| American Jade | Green Idocrase |
| American Ruby | Pyrope Garnet, Almandine Garnet or Rose Quartz |
| Arizona Ruby | Pyrope Garnet |
| Arizona Spinel | Red or Green Garnet |
| Arkansas Diamond | Quartz Rock Crystal |
| Balas Ruby | Red Spinel |
| Blue Alexandrite | Colour Change Sapphire |
| Blue Moonstone | Chalcedony – artificially blue tinted |
| Bohemian Chrysolite | Moldavite – natural glass |
| Bohemian Diamond | Quartz Rock Crystal |
| 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 | Almandine Garnet |
| Cape-chrysolite | Green Phrenite |
| Cape-ruby | Pyrope Garnet |
| Ceylon Diamond | Colourless Zircon |
| Ceylon Opal | Opal-like Moonstone |
| Copper Lapis | Azurite |
| German Diamond | Quartz Rock crystal |
| German Lapis | Chalcedony – artificially blue tinted |
| 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 | Quartz Rock crystal |
| Matura Diamond | Colourless Fired Zircon |
| Mexican Diamond | Quartz Rock Crystal |
| Mexican Jade | Marble – artificially tinted green |
| Montana Ruby | Red Garnet |
| Oriental Amethyst | Violet Sapphire |
| Oriental Hyacinth | Pink Sapphire |
| Oriental Topaz | Yellow Sapphire |
| Palmyra Topaz | Brown synthetic sapphire |
| Salmanca Topaz | Citrine Quartz |
| Saxon Chrysolite | Greenish-yellow Topaz |
| Saxon Diamond | Colourless Topaz |
| Serra Topaz | Citrine Quartz |
| Siamese Aquamarine | Blue Zircon |
| Siberian Chrysolite | Demantoid Garnet |
| Siberian Ruby | Red Tourmaline |
| Simili Diamond | Glass imitation |
| Slav-diamond | Colourless Topaz |
| Smoky Topaz | Smokey Quartz |
| Spanish Topaz | Citrine Quartz |
| Strass Diamond | Glass imitation |
| Transvaal Jade | Green Grossular Garnet |
| Ural Sapphire | Blue Tourmaline |
| Viennese Turquoise | Artificially blue-tinted argillaceous earth |
Source: Gemstones of the World (5th edition), Walter Schumann
