For generations, jewelers have used gemstones dug from the ground, but consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the ethical and environmental implications of their purchasing habits.
If you’ve been researching the ethics of your jewelry box, you may have come across the term “lab-grown gemstones.” These are laboratory-grown stones, not mined from the ground.
But how does this happen, what is the difference between gemstones developed in a lab and those created underground, and are they the answer you seek?
We have the answers to all of your questions about lab-grown gemstones so that you can make an informed decision when shopping for your next jewelry piece.
What are lab-grown gemstones?
As the name implies, lab-grown gemstones are precisely that—gemstones that were produced in a lab. You should note that as much as the gemstones are made in the lab, they have the same mineral composition as that of those mined from the ground.
This means that the two are optically identical and may be cut and set in exquisite jewelry pieces in precisely the same manner. Unless you told someone, no one would know that your new engagement ring, necklace, or earrings is made from lab-grown gemstones. If you would love to try out the pieces, follow this link: https://www.labgrown.com/diamond/gemstones.
How are lab-grown gemstones made?
It may appear like lab-grown gemstones are a recent trend, but this isn’t the case. Some of the first procedures for producing them were established in the early 1900s.
A.V.L. Verneuil, a French chemist, developed the Verneuil flame fusion method, which was the first commercially successful approach to creating precious stones in a laboratory. This method includes dropping powdered chemicals onto a revolving platform via a high-temperature flame.
Because it is inexpensive and takes only a few hours to generate each colored gemstone, it is still a common process for creating lab-grown rubies and sapphires today.
Around the same time, Carroll Chatham created the Flux fusion method, which mimics the internal structure of mined diamonds, giving them the same brilliance and glitter as their mined counterparts.
The Chatham firm manufactures lab-created rubies, emeralds, and blue and yellow sapphires, and their gemstones are still regarded as among the best and most desirable lab-grown stones.
Unsurprisingly, these stones tend to be more expensive because they take six months to a year to grow and cut.
The hydrothermal growth procedure is used to make laboratory-grown emeralds. This process mirrors how many minerals are formed in nature by crystallizing hydrous (or water) solutions under high temperatures and pressure.
In the laboratory, raw materials are contained in a metal container half-filled with water. The raw ingredients are subjected to high temperatures and pressures, resulting in a reaction that produces crystals. It can take between 6 and 12 months to produce emeralds this way.
Scientists have devised methods for producing lab-grown gemstones such as rubies, emeralds, yellow and blue sapphires, diamonds, alexandrite, moissanite, and opal.
Currently, there are no lab-created alternatives for jade, amber, or pearls.
Lab-grown vs mined gemstones. How do they compare?
The fundamental distinction between lab-generated and mined gemstones is how they are created.
Mined stones take decades to millions of years to grow beneath the earth’s surface, but lab-created stones can take as little as a few hours, depending on the stone and the process employed to produce it.
Chatham stones have the internal structure of mined gemstones; therefore, their brightness and light-reflecting characteristics are the same. These are the closest equivalent to mined stones. However, they are more expensive than other lab-grown gems.
Mined and lab-grown gemstones have the same mineral makeup; therefore, their hardness and durability are identical. While this is the case, you should note that because lab-generated gemstones can be created with greater control, they have fewer imperfections and color fluctuations than mined gems.
If you’re unsure whether to use lab-created gems in your jewelry, rest assured that only a highly experienced jeweler can detect the difference between mined and lab-created gemstones, and even then, they’ll need special equipment.
How ethical are the gemstones?
When it comes to selecting a stone for your next piece of jewelry, lab-grown gemstones are an ethical choice because their origin and methods of extraction are clear, as opposed to some mined gemstones.
This means that when you buy jewelry made from lab-grown gemstones, you can be sure that no child labor has been used to get the gemstones and no one has been killed during the extraction process.
The best way to choose a stone type is to do your homework and ask the store or vendor you are purchasing from where their valuable gemstones come from. This will ensure that you are buying high-quality, ethically sourced gems, whether they are lab-grown or mined.
How to choose gemstones
As lab-grown gemstones become more readily available, some argue that their value will not be retained in the same way that mined stones would. When deciding the type of stone to choose, consider how you want your jewelry to look in the future. A beloved, beautiful piece of jewelry passed down through generations will hold the same sentimental value whether it was grown in a lab or sourced sustainably from the mines.
Whatever you choose, ensure that you buy a high-quality gemstone from a reputable store. This way, you have a high chance of the stone retaining its good looks for a long time.
You also need to take good care of your jewelry. When undertaking hard duties, you should remove your jewelry. This will protect against physical damage such as scratches, chipping, and exposure to harmful chemicals. You also should take off your jewelry during leisure activities. If nothing else, to save it from being lost.
You should note that repeated contact with some chemicals, such as body lotions, perfume, soap, and cooking materials, can generate buildups that dull your gems, make them more difficult to clean, and cause them to crack or peel during cleaning and you don’t want this, do you?
If you will not be wearing your jewelry for an extended amount of time, it is not advisable to keep it on your dressing table. You could rub chemicals on them, causing them to itch, or you could sweep them away with other items. Always keep your jewelry in a safe and clean place until you need it again.
When storing gemstones, keep them away from other jewelry so they don’t scratch each other. Diamonds, for example, will scratch anything, including other diamonds that they come into contact with. You don’t want this.
