| When most people think about synthetic gems, | | | | The same elements as natural gemstones are |
| the first thing that comes to mind is a | | | | again used to create a synthetic one, BUT instead |
| misconception that these are "cheap imitations" | | | | of speed-fusing them, the elements are placed in |
| compared to the real, natural gems that they are | | | | a lab whose conditions approach that of the |
| patterned after. However, what most people do | | | | natural processes which create natural gemstones. |
| not know is that there are many types of | | | | While the process itself is sped up to make a |
| man-made or modified natural gems whose | | | | gem in much less time than nature would, it takes |
| quality and appearance can easily rival those of | | | | more time to "grow" a gem in a lab than it would |
| "natural" gemstones while costing much less than | | | | under a factory processor. However, lab grown |
| their original counterparts. | | | | gems are able to approach the qualities of a |
| Defining Natural and Synthetic Stones | | | | natural gem more than a factory-made synthetic |
| A lot of different terms are used in the | | | | one. |
| gemstone industry today, and you have to know | | | | The Qualities of Synthetic Stones versus Natural |
| what the terms mean to keep yourself from | | | | Physically, there are several differences between |
| getting ripped off. A natural gemstone is, by | | | | a synthetic stone and a natural one. Again, the |
| definition, exactly that - a natural stone mined | | | | most ironic difference is that synthetic stones are |
| from a quarry, and the only human intervention | | | | TOO perfect. Created expressly for jewelry |
| regarding it's appearance is to cut and polish it, | | | | purposes, their basic shapes are made to fit the |
| nothing more. Natural gemstones of high quality | | | | type of jewelry they are meant to be set in. |
| and beauty are the rarest and most expensive | | | | Even their crystal structure is mathematically |
| types of gemstones. Treated gemstones, on the | | | | precise with no deviations whereas a natural |
| other hand, are natural gems which, despite | | | | gemstone will often have a flaw or two in it's |
| cutting and polishing, would have normally fallen | | | | matrice (and if it does not, a perfectly unflawed |
| below the standards of high quality natural gems. | | | | natural gem's price will be HUGE). The chemical |
| These gems are treated with chemicals and | | | | composition of the gem is likewise pure for |
| several procedures to enhance their appearance | | | | synthetic gemstones, whereas natural gemstones |
| to match higher quality gemstones. Lastly, there | | | | may often have trace elements mixed into it. |
| are synthetic gemstones. These are man made | | | | These small imperfections are how most jewelers |
| gems created completely inside a factory or | | | | tell the difference between a natural and synthetic |
| laboratory. Synthetic stones are, in chemical | | | | stone. Price wise, synthetic gems can offer a |
| composition, exactly like their natural gemstone | | | | person much more beauty and value for their |
| counterparts. As a matter of act, they are TOO | | | | money; natural gemstones of high quality are |
| perfect in appearance, because their physical | | | | very rare and thus expensive, whereas the mass |
| parameters and composition are made expressly | | | | produced synthetics are physically the same but |
| for jewelry purposes. | | | | cheaper by anything from half to a quarter of the |
| Different Types of Synthetic Stones | | | | price. |
| There are two main types of synthetic stones | | | | For long term investment, however, natural |
| based on how they were created. The first is | | | | gemstones of high quality are a better deal |
| factory-produced synthetic stones. Basically, these | | | | because of their rarity; their value appreciates |
| are stones created using the same elements as a | | | | over time, whereas the price for a synthetic |
| natural stone, and fused together under artificial | | | | remains constant. The price may even drop over |
| conditions (like superheating and pressure) to | | | | time, especially for factory-made synthetic |
| make a gemstone in much less time than it would | | | | gemstones; natural stones and lab grown stones |
| take for one to develop naturally. These can be | | | | have no physical degradation over time, but |
| churned out at a rapid rate and in very large | | | | factory-made stones, being made in a hurry, are |
| volumes. The second type is lab-grown | | | | not quite as durable as the real thing. For this |
| gemstones. These are a half-way compromise | | | | reason, lab-grown synthetic gemstones are |
| between mass-produced synthetic stones and | | | | becoming more and more popular over quick |
| natural ones. | | | | factory machine-made synthetics. |