March 15, 2024
What are natural gemstones?
Natural gemstones are those that are naturally created without human intervention. They are minerals formed over thousands of years in three types of rocks (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic).
They have a specific chemical composition and physical characteristics. They are very rare and difficult to mine, which is why they are much more expensive than their synthetic counterparts.
Natural gemstones that have been treated to enhance their color or clarity are called enhanced or treated gemstones. Treated gemstones can also be called as genuine gemstones. This term is intended to show that the stone has undergone some treatment but is still natural.
What are synthetic gemstones?
Synthetic gemstones are those that are man-made in laboratories. They are identical to their natural counterparts in terms of crystal structure, chemical composition, appearance, and physical properties.
The difference between natural and synthetic gemstones is that the latter are grown with human help in controlled environments and command lower prices due to their wide availability. Due to their growth in a controlled environment, synthetic gemstones typically have fewer inclusions or more vibrant colors than natural gemstones.
However, depending on the growth process, lab-created gemstones can have the same inclusions and flaws that occur in natural stones, making them very difficult to distinguish from their natural counterparts. The difference between natural and synthetic stones can only be seen by a trained eye of a specialist armed with a magnifying glass or microscope. And even this way, we sometimes do not get a 100% reliable opinion.
What are imitation gemstones?
Imitation gemstones differ from synthetic stones in that they do not have their counterparts in nature. A good example is cubic zirconia or moissanite. They resemble precious stones and also qualify as jewelry stones. However, their chemical composition and physical properties are completely different.
What are artificial gemstones?
There is also a group of imitations that are not even gemstones. They are called ‘fakes’ and are usually made of plastic, glass, rhodium and dyes. Fake gemstones are mass-produced.
