| When considering the purchase of diamond | | | | advocates of social responsibility are openly |
| jewelry, it is wise to understand the differences | | | | declaring a preference for lab produced stones, |
| between a laboratory produced gem and a natural | | | | similar to how some segments of the population |
| stone. | | | | prefer faux fur to hides of animals. In many |
| In the past, man-made diamonds were considered | | | | cases, it is difficult to know the exact sourcing of |
| to be of inferior quality. Synthetic stones, often | | | | a natural stone. This is problematic because gems |
| known as cubic zirconia, were frequently maligned | | | | mined in war zones to raise money for civil wars |
| by the jewelry industry. However, the latest | | | | and terrorism, commonly referred to as "blood |
| technology allows scientists to produce | | | | diamonds," comprise up to ten percent of the |
| gem-quality synthetics in laboratories across the | | | | total supply. In addition, mining processes are |
| country. Instead of taking millions of years, a lab | | | | often damaging to the environment. Purchasing lab |
| produced gem may be created in a matter of | | | | created stones removes the environmental |
| days. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), | | | | concerns as well as the war and terrorism |
| the leading research and grading body in | | | | concerns, and saves on cost at the same time. |
| gemology, legitimizes some of these lab grown | | | | If the authenticity of a stone is in question, there |
| stones as real diamonds. | | | | are some basic methods that can help determine |
| There are two basic ways that man-made gems | | | | whether a stone is natural or created. One sure |
| are created. HPHT (high pressure high | | | | sign of a lab produced gem will be a lower price. |
| temperature) is a process that has been used for | | | | Another tip-off is color. Most natural colored |
| several decades. While this method does simulate | | | | diamonds are not as brightly or vividly colored as |
| the natural way that mother earth makes these | | | | those that are synthetically produced. Also, most |
| precious stones, and physically, visually, and | | | | natural stones contain small mineral deposits called |
| chemically they are almost exactly the same as | | | | inclusions. These show up as dark spots under a |
| those found in the earth, these synthetic stones | | | | jeweler's loupe. While flawless natural stones do |
| can be identified by a trained gemologist using | | | | exist, they are rare and quite expensive. A lack |
| standard gem-testing equipment. | | | | of inclusions may call the source of the gem into |
| The newer process, called CVD (chemical vapor | | | | question, but is not a way to conclusively prove |
| deposition), grows gems at low pressure and | | | | that the stone was man-made. |
| relatively low temperatures. It produces crystals | | | | If a jeweler is advertising "cultured" gems, they |
| that are not only suitable for faceting for jewelry | | | | are probably created. As with cultured pearls, this |
| purposes: they are also "purer" than those grown | | | | is a code word which means man has interfered |
| the HPHT way, and are more difficult to detect. | | | | with the natural process. Any reputable jeweler |
| The most obvious reason for purchasing created | | | | will be happy to inform customers as to which |
| gems is to save money. However, the amount | | | | pieces contain lab produced stones. |
| saved will vary based on the type of stone | | | | Whether due to the reduced cost, social and |
| selected. Color or "fancy" diamonds, which are | | | | environmental concerns, or simply the pleasure of |
| extremely rare in nature, are far more available | | | | having a vividly colored stone that would |
| via lab created gems. While this ready availability | | | | otherwise be nearly impossible to procure, there |
| lowers the price as compared to natural stones, | | | | are many excellent reasons why more and more |
| high quality man-made gems are certainly not | | | | people are purchasing and enjoying lab produced |
| priced as inexpensively as cubic zirconia. | | | | diamond jewelry. |
| A growing number of environmentalists and | | | | |