Natural, Simulated, Enhanced
or Lab Created gemstones?
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Lab-Created Vs Natural
One of the most popular types of gems is the laboratory-created gemstone. Lab-created gems have the identical chemical composition, crystal structure and appearance of their natural counterparts created by Mother Nature. Because they are made in a laboratory, lab-created gemstones are almost perfect. They are also more affordable than rare, natural gemstones. The most common lab-created gems are emeralds, rubies, sapphires and opals.
Lab created gemstones are made of the same mineral composition as natural gemstones, and are created in laboratories with equipment that simulates the high pressures and heat that nature used to created the real gemstones far beneath the surface of the earth. A lab created gemstone is identical to the natural gemstone it replicates in every way; color, hardness, composition, luster, looks etc.
The flaws or inclusions in natural gemstones are caused by minute traces of minerals that are trapped within the gemstone during the gemstone's crystallization process, and are the result of certain extraneous gases and other minerals being mixed in the molten mass prior to its cooling and crystallization. Natural gemstones with fewer inclusions are given a higher clarity rating, and thus a higher value when being appraised.
Sapphires and Rubies are in the Corundum family of gemstones, and are fairly easily created in the laboratory, therefore lab created Rubies and Sapphires are very common. Emeralds and Aquamarines in the Beryl family of gemstones, and Emeralds and Aquamarines are not easily made in the laboratory. Lab created Emeralds are very expensive to make, and not commonly found in jewelry, however lab created Aquamarines are not as expensive to make as Emeralds, and it is not uncommon to find them being made into jewelry.
Simulated
Simulated gemstones are created in a laboratory environment, but they differ from natural gemstones and lab created gemstone in many significant ways, and are only made to look like a natural gemstone. Simulated gemstones in most cases do not have the same mineral composition, color, hardness, luster, or looks of a natural gemstone or lab created gemstone. Cubic zirconia, which looks like a diamond, is an example of a simulated stone.
Most low cost jewelry is made with simulated gemstones due to the fact that simulated gemstones cost less than lab created gemstones. However, there are many affordable natural and enhanced gemstones to be found in The La Belle Harmonie Gallery.
Enhanced
Nearly all gemstones available today have been enhanced to bring out their best color or to strengthen them. For example, an accepted industry practice in the polishing process for sapphires involves heating the stones to bring out their color. This process simply extends what nature began, since it is heat and pressure that give gemstones their color in the first place.
