What Are Lab Created Gems?

First, Some Definitions

• Synthetic – Synthetic gemstones are gemstones that are man made in a laboratory but have a natural counterpart. They possess the same physical, chemical and optical properties as a natural stone.  In many cases the quality of synthetic gemstones is so very good, that it is impossible outside of a laboratory environment to distinguish between synthetic gems and their natural counterpart.
• Imitation or Simulant – These are gemstones that try and look like real natural gemstones but are made of an entirely different material.  They do not possess the same physical, chemical, or optical properties as their natural counterpart.  For example, Red Glass is often used as Imitation Ruby.
• Natural - These are minerals that have been mined from the ground and cut into gemstones.

Natural Gemstones
Natural gemstones are minerals that have been mined from the ground and cut into gemstones. They can be treated with different techniques to improve the color and clarity such as heating, but the main mineral must come from nature. Natural gemstones can take millions of years to create and people have been mesmerized by their beauty since the beginning of time.

Synthetic Gemstones
Synthetic (opposed to Imitation or Simulant) gemstones are those which exactly mimic and are chemically identical to natural gemstones but are man made in a laboratory.   Gems grown in a lab are identical to naturally occurring stones in every sense: chemically, physically, and optically. Costly and rare natural jewels, such as sapphire, emerald, and ruby, are favorite lab-created stones. 

• About the Creation Process 

The mineral composition of lab-created stones is created with a process similar to what nature does beneath the earth over millions of years. However, it is done in a lab in a fraction of the time and for a fraction of the cost of mining. 

• What’s the Benefit? 

The average person would be hard-pressed to tell the difference between most natural and lab-created stones. It takes a trained eye, high magnification, and other instruments. The result is a high-quality, lab-created stone at a price that’s significantly lower than the natural gemstone counterpart.  

Whatever your consideration when buying jewelry, lab-created gems are always an excellent option. 

Imitation or Simulant Gemstones
Imitation or simulants are gemstones that attempt to look like the real thing. The most common simulant or imitation gemstone found on the market are those that try to replicate a Diamond. Simulants such as synthetic Rutile or Strontium Titanate have been used for decades to try and replicate the sparkle of Diamond. Even though these gemstones are man made they do not have a natural counterpart and this is why they are not classified as high quality synthetics. Glass and plastic are other common imitations that can be found. Blue glass is often offered as blue Sapphire to unsuspecting buyers while plastic beads can be sold as natural pearls.