CREATED GEMS, SIMULANTS & IMITATIONS
One thing we need to get clear from the start is the difference between Created (or Synthetic) Gemstones, Simulants and Imitations.
CREATED GEMSTONES
Created Gemstones, including Synthetic Diamonds, are chemically identical to the mined stones they replicate. They are very difficult to tell from naturally occurring gems and highly sophisticated equipment is needed to identify them. There are different, patented, methods for creating gemstones and they have their own recognised classification.
It is costly to produce Synthetic Gems and they take time to make, typically 3 weeks to 3 months depending on the method. So, although they offer a significantly less expensive alternative, they are not necessarily cheap.
Some people can be a bit sniffy about created stones, but they do have a place and advantages.
As is so often the case, their greatest strength is also their greatest weakness. Laboratory created gemstones are very pure and of very high quality. So Synthetic Rubies can look like the highest grade naturally occurring stones, and the same can be said of Synthetic Diamonds.
But this purity comes at the expense of the character which natural inclusions and variations bring to gemstones, particularly, for example, Emeralds.
However, the colours are very clear and bright, and Synthetic Sapphires are a particularly lovely shade of blue.
Apart from the significant cost advantage of synthetic gems there is also the security of knowing that these gemstones are just about the most ethically sourced you can find. No 'Blood Diamonds', no questionable mining or other working conditions, no ecologically damaging extraction or production methods and no risk that child labour is involved.
They are worth considering if you are one of the increasing number of people to whom these matters are top priority.
In the end, it is down to personal preference. To some people, it is the look which matters, and the lower cost is an added advantage. To others it is the mystery of the natural stone which captivates and for which they are prepared to pay the premium.
Whatever your preference, we can source the right gemstone for you.
SIMULANTS & IMITATIONS
Simulants can be natural stones which look like the gemstone they 'simulate' (ie appear similar to). Two good examples are White Sapphire and White Zircon, both of which are natural simulants of diamond.
White Sapphire is hard and rates at 9 on the Mohs Scale, although it does not have the brilliance of diamond, White Zircon is fiery, but softer at 6.5 to 7, and less practical as a stone in an engagement ring.
Imitation gems are simply made from coloured glass, plastics or resins. Included in this category are Swarovski crystals, which are either Cubic Zirconium (CZ) or leaded glass crystal. Imitations are easily identifiable as such by any competent jeweller.