Synthetic Gemstones: A Quick Introduction

One of the first gifts that my boyfriend gave me was a sterling silver bracelet studded with faux diamonds and synthetic blue sapphires. I remember the exact moment I received it. We were at a Secret Santa party with a bunch of his co-workers and he presented me with a little white box. Inside was the bracelet, pretty and sparkling. I still have the bracelet to this day.

 

 

Getting a piece of gemstone jewelry that was labeled synthetic piqued my interest on how lab-grown gemstones and diamonds work. I had so many questions: In the 21st century, do we still need to mine gemstones if we can build them in a lab? How are synthetic gemstones and diamonds even made? How do lab-grown diamonds factor into the engagement ring trends of today?

So here’s a breakdown on lab-grown diamonds:

Many people have heard the old saying, “pressure either busts pipes or makes diamonds.” It is a well-known fact that natural diamonds are created from the perfect cocktail of heat and pressure while they are deep underground. Lab-grown diamonds, also called CVD diamonds are created by a process called chemical vapor distillation. Similarly, it employs heat and pressure to make the stone.  I won’t bore you with the details of how lab diamonds are made but David Chandler did a fascinating piece breaking down the scientific process for MIT News here. 

One thing that has always made diamonds valuable is the controlled scarcity of them. But now that lab-created diamonds have entered the scene, availability is sky-high. Diamonds are more commercially accessible than they have ever been. Creating diamonds using the CVD process affects their price point, which is good news as you hunt for a gift around the holiday season. 

You might be thinking, well if the diamonds are made in a laboratory then they’re fake. One myth to dispel is that lab-grown diamonds are cubic zirconia. That is 1000% false! These diamonds are so far from the costume jewelry you might find on sale in a department store. 

Lab diamonds are visually and even chemically the same as natural mined diamonds.  They are completely “real” and identical in their molecular composition. This also goes for man-made gemstones, the underground process that would normally yield a gem can be sped up in a laboratory with absolutely no additional costs for mining. Arguably, lab-grown gemstones can even be superior to mined gemstones because natural gemstones often have flaws and inclusions. Man-made gemstones can be grown inclusion-free and “perfect.” 

Synthetic diamonds and gemstones are ideal for engagement rings because frankly, they cost less and can be high quality. More and more millennial women are opting for synthetic stones for their engagement rings. If you’re wondering if synthetic jewels can be just as tasteful and well designed as natural ones, the answer is yes. 

One of my favorite designers who works with lab-grown stones is Soulbound Jewelry. Her recently debuted Dark World Ring features a 1.2 carat lab-grown emerald cut lab grown alexandrite. This ring was inspired by The Legend of Zelda and transitions from day-to-night from blue to purple depending on the lighting. 

See this ring and more in next week’s article: Synthetic Gemstone Jewelry To Die For.