What is the difference between lab created and natural gemstones

A number of imitation stones might look quite similar to natural stones, but they possess very different optical properties and composition. The difference between lab-created gemstones and imitation gemstones:. The lab-created synthetic emerald are usually priced higher than the imitation stones and stand second only to the natural ones in terms of look, quality, and composition.

The difference is obvious in terms of depth, color, and light passing capability of the stone. If you are not that familiar with these stones, then you can significantly obtain the difference by seeing the price tag of a stone. You can also take a look underneath the stone to see if it is a lab-created one. If you find a painted colored surface or a foiling underneath, then it is an imitation stone.

Most of these factors could be kept hidden from you by means of setting. In that case, examining the color unevenness could show you the poor dyeing or painting job. Otherwise you can take the help of an expert jeweler who can tell the exact difference between an imitation stone and a lab-created stone. Lab created emeralds are undoubtedly the genuine ones.

This keeps the cost of some lab-created gems low in comparison to natural stones. It's important to be prepared when you're looking to invest in an expensive good, so you definitely want to understand the differences in costs between the various types of gemstones out there.

Synthetic and natural gemstones, while similarly priced, aren't interchangeable and you don't want to pay too much for either one. If a gemstone, such as rubies or sapphires, is easy to create in a lab, then they can be produced fairly cheaply , which makes a synthetic or lab-grown ruby or sapphire much less expensive than the real thing.

Yet, here's a great cost comparison between synthetic and natural stones. When it comes to diamonds - which are difficult to grow, cut, and produce - there may be very little cost difference - or a significant difference - between a synthetic diamond and a natural diamond because diamonds are graded on many different factors color, cut, clarity and carat. There can be a 30 percent reduction in price for a synthetic versus a naturally grown diamond of the exact same specifications.

However, lab-created diamonds compared with natural diamonds that have less brilliant clarity or that contain flaws will actually sell for more. Not every seller is going to either know what type of gemstone they have or is going to be honest about their wares, especially if they're not affiliated with a jewelry retailer of some kind. That being said, there are a few things you can look for on your own when you're assessing a gemstone to determine if it has synthetic or natural origins:.

Understand that if you are purchasing a gemstone labeled as synthetic or lab-created, that you are purchasing a quality gemstone with the same mineral makeup as the type found in nature.

If you are looking for a less expensive alternative, then a simulated stone may be the way to go. Real Gemstones: Know Before You Buy According to the Gemological Institute of America, any gemstone whether created in nature or in a lab can be classified as "real" if it contains identical mineral makeup.

What Makes a Gemstone Real? Natural When gemstones are created in nature, they contain specific types of mineral makeup, which gives them their color, clarity, and appearance.

Simulated If a lab-created gemstone contains other materials, however, such as spinel being passed off as a ruby, the gemstone is not considered real and is usually called ' simulated ' rather than "synthetic" by the seller.

Comparing Synthetic and Natural Gemstones With nearly identical mineral makeup, most synthetic and natural gemstones are fairly indistinguishable to the naked eye. Clarity The biggest difference between the two is that the synthetic gemstone is usually of better clarity, with fewer inclusions and often better color. Because lab-created stones rely on a steady, controlled process of applying minerals, heat and pressure, they usually have fewer inclusions.

So you get high-quality lab-created stones, and their prices are significantly lower than their natural gemstone counterparts. In addition to getting a rare, top-quality fine gemstone look for less, many consumers are attracted to lab-created stones for other reasons. Environmentally speaking, lab-created stones do not tax natural resources the way the process for natural gems does — no mines are dug, the labs use a fraction of the utilities and resources necessary for a mining operation and leave behind less pollutants.

Lab-created stone jewelry is also great for traveling, when you want to leave your very expensive jewelry at home, or when you want to look like you have very expensive baubles — or both! Next to natural, nothing that can compare to a fine lab-created stone. Just as there are different quality levels in natural gems, the same goes for lab-created stones. Only you and your jeweler need to know!

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