E.S. Design

Not all that glitters is gold. And not all that is bright in color is real. This is the case when it comes to gemstones. Jewelers sell both genuine gemstones as well as created ones and display both in their gemstone showcases.

Genuine gemstones comprise mainly of the top three colored stones namely, sapphire (September birthstone), ruby (July birthstone), and emerald (May birthstone). These three are very limited in availability and good quality ones are very rare. Most of the genuine rubies, sapphires, and emeralds available in these times are filled with cloudy inclusions, black carbon spots, or cracks. You will have to pay an arm and a leg to grab hold of really good quality.

Because of this great lack in good quality colored gemstones, created gemstones have come into play. Contrary to what most people believe, created gemstones are not synonymous to synthetic gemstones, which are actually fake stones made to look like the real thing. Synthetic stones are mostly made of either glass or plastic, which chip easily and dull up quickly. The only advantage of synthetic stones is its cheap price. However, if you would like to purchase jewelry as an investment, synthetic gemstones are not a wise choice.

Created gemstones are stones that are man-made and are made to resemble the visual appearance of genuine gemstones. They are not created using glass or plastic. Rather, they are formed using the same ingredients as their genuine counterparts – minerals and chemicals. Heat and pressure is added to the mixture in a giant laboratory pressure cooker. This process aims to replicate the Earth’s natural process of crystal formation.

When comparing genuine to created gemstones under a microscope, you will not be able to tell the difference since they are almost identical, including the molecular composition. Even light reflection and refraction is identical. The only difference is the fact that genuine gemstones often have flaws since foreign debris often finds its way into the minerals and chemicals. In the case of created gemstones, all factors and influences are controlled inside a laboratory. The result is a stone that bears no flaws.
In summary, created gemstones are a good alternative to genuine ones because they are cleaner, cheaper, and just as sturdy as the real thing.