Ask the Experts Gemstone Treatment Guide Q&A

What do all the initials in parenthesis after the gemstones mean--example coral (IMIT). Thank you, is it listed in the catalog?

- Susan

The initials are actually symbols, or codes, used to identify the type of enhancement the stone has undergone. An example would be if you saw a (D) next to the gemstone name. That would indicate the stone was dyed to enhance the color. The example you used—coral (IMIT)—stands for imitation coral.

While this information is not always included in paper catalogs, you can find it all online in the ''Gemstone Treatment Guide'' article.