Lab Created Gemstones & Diamonds are real!
A lab gemstone (often referred to as “synthetic”) is a gemstone that is created in a laboratory, rather than mined from the earth. Lab-created gemstones are in fact real and genuine!
We often hear word “synthetic” which may confuse many people as its used incorrectly. Instead people think of gemstone’s Simulants often known as Imitations, which are typically not gemstones at all and just materials which look alike real gemstones. They have the same appearance but do NOT have the same chemical, physical, and optical properties of natural gemstones.
Lab-grown gemstones are chemically, physically, and optically identical to their natural counterparts, and they are often more affordable than mined gemstones.
When we first time learned about it - it shocked and surprised us as well.
We've visited Sri Lanka jewellery manufacturing and mining sites and that was terrible things to see - the poor & unsafe condition, using child labour, working in hot and crowded environment... It completely changed our outlook on gemstone industry and making jewellery process.
The amazing fact about Lab-grown gemstones has also played a big role in starting our Jewellery business a few years ago as we wanted to be as much Eco-friendly and not damaging our world eco-system as possible.
There are several different methods for creating lab-grown gemstones.
Flux Growth Method:
The most common method is called flux growth. In this method, a small seed crystal is placed in a molten flux, which is a mixture of chemicals that have a low melting point. The flux is heated to a high temperature, and the seed crystal begins to grow. The growth of the crystal is controlled by the temperature and the composition of the flux. Lab Spinel, Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald can all be made using the flux-growth method.
Hydrothermal Method:
Another method for creating lab-grown gemstones is called hydrothermal growth. In this method, a solution of chemicals that are the same as those found in the earth's crust is heated to a high temperature. The seed crystal is placed in the solution, and the crystal begins to grow. The growth of the crystal is controlled by the temperature and the composition of the solution. The hydrothermal process is used to create Lab Quartzes and Emeralds.
Czochralski Pull Method:
The Czochralski pull method starts from raw powder that is melted and cooled into a single large crystal. A seed crystal is slowly raised out of a pool of melted ingredients, which forms into a crystal as it cools while slowly rising. Using this method it became possible to create extremely clean gemstones. The most popular gemstones grown using the Czochralski pull method are Sapphire of all colours, Ruby and truly amazing magical Alexandrite.
Lab-grown gemstones are becoming increasingly popular, as they offer a number of advantages over mined gemstones. They are more ethical and sustainable, as they do not involve the mining of diamonds or other gemstones, which can have a negative impact on the environment. They are also more affordable, as the cost of producing lab-grown gemstones is much lower than the cost of mining gemstones.
What are laboratory-grown Diamonds?
Laboratory-grown diamonds have the same chemical, gemological and physical properties as natural diamonds. The same way like natural diamonds, they are made of bonded carbon atoms.
They reflect to light the same way and they have the same hardness of 10 on Mohs scale as natural diamonds.
“Think of it this way: laboratory-grown diamonds are like ice from your refrigerator, while natural diamonds are like ice from a glacier. They are both ice, although their formation stories and the age of each are very different.” GIA: Gemological Institute of America.
That's a great analogy! Laboratory-grown diamonds are indeed very similar to natural diamonds, with the main difference being their origin. Natural diamonds are formed over billions of years deep within the Earth, while laboratory-grown diamonds are created in a lab in a matter of weeks or months.
Here are some of the benefits of Lab-Grown Gemstones and Diamonds:
- Ethical: Lab-grown gemstones do not require mining, which can have a negative impact on the environment and local communities.
- Sustainable: Lab-grown gemstones can be produced in a controlled environment, which reduces waste and energy consumption.
- Affordable: Lab-grown gemstones are often more affordable than mined gemstones.
- Identical to mined gemstones: Lab-grown gemstones are chemically, physically, and optically identical to their mined counterparts.
If you are considering buying a gemstone, we encourage you to consider a lab-grown gemstone. They are a great option for people who are looking for an ethical, sustainable, and affordable way of living and trying to make our planet a better place to be for our future generations to come.
Info Sources: GIA: https://4cs.gia.edu/en-us/laboratory-grown-diamond/
https://www.gemstones.com/.
