Inclusions, The Birthmarks of Gemstones

Gemologists are able to determine if gems are natural, synthetic or imitation by looking at a gem's inclusions. All gems have them, almost like a road map leading you to the identity of a certain gemstone. I call it Gemstone Forensics.

Inclusions are a very important diagnostic feature in gemstones that help identify and classify that gem to its rightful gem species. Inclusions can be gas bubbles, trapped liquids, minerals and or fractures (feathers). These imperfections are clues that nature has left in the process of creating the mineral rough that the future gemstone will be. Certain inclusions are only found in certain species of gemstones. For example: Peridot has a unique inclusion that's shaped just like a lily pad; this is only found in Peridot.  

Inclusions are usually not considered as an imperfection unless they affect the gems beauty or durability. A very small fracture (feather) under the crown of a gemstone does not take away from the beauty or the durability of the gem, but a big feather leading from the girdle to the table(top) could cause this gem to crack if hit in the right spot.  

Some inclusions can even tell a gemologist the origin of which the gemstone came from. For example.: A Green Demantoid Garnet that has byssolite fibers inside of the gem indicates its origin to be the Ural Mountains in Russia.  

So when you see an inclusion in a gemstone, you have found the first clue on finding out the identity to that gem.