Opals are the birthstone of those born under the sun sign of Libra, and were once considered very good luck because they can show all the colors of all the other gemstones. It was during the 19th century after the publication of a novel by Sir Walter Scott that opals were believed to fall out of favor. Because a character in his novel dies after wearing an opal, many people started to associate them with bad luck. Russians often associated them with the evil eye, and many others believed them to be good luck if given as a gift but bad luck if purchased for themselves.

In the 21st century these types of superstitions have greatly disappeared. Of those who still hold to them, few likely believe that lab created opal jewelry would contain the same significance as genuine opals. Lab created opals have only been around since 1974 but are popular today because they make opal jewelry more affordable for more people. Lab created opal beads and rings are popular, as are pendants and opals set in other types of accessories.

Lab Created Opals versus Imitation Opals

Lab created opal rings and other jewelry could contain synthetic opals or they could contain something more accurately termed an imitation or fake opal. While both are not genuine opals and are created in a laboratory, there are some distinct differences. Lab created opals are created based upon the sphere structure of a genuine opal with a mimicking of the natural processes. Unlike the genuine stones, lab creation won’t have the irregularity and flaws found in nature.

Imitation or fake opals, on the other hand, will contain elements that would not be found in the natural opal like plastic and other stabilizers. These are often much less expensive and much less brilliant. Many are created using foiled glass and some are even mostly plastic. They won’t refract light properly or contain the true spectrum of colors that a genuine or a lab created opal will.

Because genuine and lab created opals can be milky white and can reflect an entire range of colors, they can be worn with a variety of different colors and styles, and are perfect for every occasion and season.

Sapphires of all the different colors are often referred to as fancy sapphires, while red sapphires are more commonly known as rubies. These gems are perfect for every day wear because they’re a very hard stone. Many precious stones to rate a 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness against the hardest of all gemstones, a diamond, which rates a 10. Sapphires rate at 9, so they’re much less likely to be scratched or damaged than many other stones.

Lab Created Sapphire vs Natural Sapphire

A star sapphire

There are two main differences between lab created sapphire and natural sapphire. One is the price. A lab created gem will always be less costly than a natural one simply because it can be created to meet any demand and is much less expensive to create than to find and mine.

The other difference is that lab created sapphires are made much more quickly than those found naturally through a process that makes them flawless, one after another, all exactly alike. Natural sapphires will contain irregularities and flaws that formed as the stone was formed. This makes each one unique and adds to the value.

A lab created sapphire is a real sapphire, even though many people consider them to be imitations or fakes. When any type of gemstone, with the exception of a few that can’t be replicated, are created in a lab, the same process that formed the natural stone is used to create a synthetic one. The same minerals, types of heat and pressure and other factors are combined in an efficient way to create a synthetic stone. Lab created sapphires have the exact makeup of those found in nature so the qualities and the beauty will be similar.

Lab Created Star Sapphire

A star sapphire is a special type of sapphire that shows a reflection of light in a star shape because of the internal crystal structure within the stone. The lab created versions are made up of the same things as the natural versions and can look just as beautiful. These come in a variety of colors and are typically round with that dazzling star-shaped light reflection on the surface that makes them easy to recognize.

Other synthetic sapphires include lab created pink sapphire and varieties in just about every color you can imagine. Lab created sapphire rings and other jewelry pieces will cost a bit less than those with natural stones but unless someone scrutinizes in the way a jeweler might, they’re unlikely to be able to tell the difference.

Chocolate diamonds are real diamonds, that get their brown color from traces of different minerals from the geographic area they are found. Most brown diamonds come from Australia, and there are also synthetic chocolate diamonds that are even less expensive that are available in a variety of different types of jewelry – lab created chocolate diamonds.

This chocolate diamond ring uses white accent diamonds to emphasise the rich brown color.

Chocolate Diamond Rings

Chocolate diamond rings often have standard diamonds or light gemstone settings to really set off the darker stone. They’re also often used as accent stones on settings that come with a clear gem like a diamond or a very bright colored stone. Chocolate diamonds sparkle and glimmer just as much as any other gemstone but their deep color gives them a special and unique look.

Synthetic Chocolate Diamonds

As with any other lab created diamond, lab created chocolate diamonds are not distinguishable from the real thing by eye. Chemically and structurally very similar, these diamonds would need to be tested by a jeweler to pick a synthetic version.

If you do purchase a chocolate diamond, whether natural or synthetic, then you also have the peace of mind of knowing that your diamond is an ethical purchase. Since most come from Australia, these aren’t like controversial war diamonds that are mined in places that are bloody with conflict. Although new to the jewelry market, chocolate diamonds are sure to remain popular for years because they offer something unique, unmatched by any other gemstone.

Lab created emeralds and all other lab created gems are formed in a laboratory, but they’re formed by a simulation of the same processes that form them naturally. Heat, light, pressure, minerals and substances are all replicated to create the gems, albeit in a much faster and more efficient way. Lab created gemstones are real. The process is simply accelerated and refined to create them more quickly. In the fight of lab created emeralds vs natural emeralds, the only true considerations are cost and the perception of the wearer.

Cost of Emeralds

Lab created or natural?

Emeralds, which are precious gems, can be costly. Lab created emeralds cost less because the cost of creating them is less than the cost and the time spent to mine the natural stones. Another factor in the cost is that lab created gems can be created to meet demand, while natural stones have a more limited supply that pushes the cost up.

All lab created gems including emeralds, diamonds, rubies and other beautiful stones cost less than their natural counterparts, but they’re no less beautiful and no less real. In some cases, stones are sold that contain elements not found in nature. Some imitation opals, for instance, contain plastic and other elements. These are the inexpensive “fakes” that most jewelry fans want to avoid. With gems like emeralds, these kinds of fakes are more rare and can usually be spotted by the extremely cheap price tag.

Lab Created Emeralds vs Natural Emeralds: Can You Tell the Difference?

Aside from the lower cost, is there any way to easily tell the difference between lab created and genuine emeralds? At a glance, you probably can’t tell. Even if you look closely, there’s a chance you won’t be able to tell them apart. On a very close inspection, however, you’ll probably find some type of irregularity or imperfection in a genuine emerald or gem of any kind.

Lab created emeralds are flawless because of the perfect method of creation. Natural emeralds will be unique precisely from the tiny flaws that formed along with the stone from things like trapped gases or minerals. If your budget won’t expand to fit genuine emeralds in, take heart–someone admiring your emerald ring or pendant, unless they use a jeweler’s loupe to scrutinize it, won’t be able to tell the difference.

Lab Created Ruby Jewelry

Synthetic or lab created ruby jewelry will always be less expensive than natural ruby pieces. Unlike some created gemstones, such as created diamonds, the process is relatively easy – in fact, the same process can be used as for lab created emeralds and similar gems. Like created emeralds, lab created rubies can be made to have none of the inclusions that you might find in a natural gemstone.

This lab created ruby has been produced using the flame fusion method. The material melts and recrystallises, and can then be cut and polished for jewelry use.

This means that something like lab created ruby earrings will look, to the naked eye, the same as natural ruby earrings. If you use a jeweler’s loupe you can look at them and see the difference because you’ll see flaws and irregularities in the natural stone that you won’t find in the flawless lab created rubies. That’s because in a laboratory the process that creates them can be duplicated exactly time and time again. But in nature as the rubies form, different minerals and gases can be trapped inside the stone to create interesting bits of pattern and texture that make each one unique.

A lab created ruby ring will be identical in mineral and chemical composition as a natural ruby ring, the only difference being that the process used to create it was sped up and done in a controlled environment.

Why Choose Lab Created Rubies

Because rubies typically come from parts of the world that are war-torn and impoverished, just as many diamonds and other gemstones do, they are often mined and then sold with the money from their sale used to help fund war and conflict in that area. It’s possible that, like war diamonds which have become a political issue of late, rubies change hand through the same methods and for the same reasons. Lab created rubies remove that possibility. Another great reason to choose lab created ruby jewelry is to get all the beauty of the natural ruby with a much lower price tag.

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When it comes to cheap alternatives to diamonds, Cubic Zirconia has dominated the jewelry market for many years. Cubic Zirconia rings are incredibly popular, whether they are worn as an engagement ring or just a beautiful costume or dress ring. I wrote this guide to choosing and buying Cubic Zirconia rings to tell you what you need to know about the stone, how it can be used in jewelry, and how to care for your new ring.

About Cubic Zirconia

Cubic Zirconia (sometimes called the Russian Diamond) is the most widely used simulated diamond in the market today due in large part to its low cost and ease of production. Optically Cubic Zirconia is quite similar to diamond at a glance, but a jeweler or someone very familiar with gemstones would be able to tell them apart with the naked eye, at least in the right light. This is because Cubic Zirconia has higher dispersion but a lower refractive index than a diamond, which means it has more rainbow colors but less intensity of white light in the stone. The other key difference is that unless it is specifically colored during manufacture, CZ is completely colorless. In comparison, mined diamonds have a range of subtle tints, with stones commonly used in medium priced rings and other jewelry often having a slight yellow tint. This color will often not be noticeable on its own but when a diamond is compared to a Cubic Zirconia side by side, it may stand out. However the material used to set a stone can lend some color – so a gold CZ ring can look more like a diamond, whereas a silver CZ ring tends to look a very clear white. Note that CZ gemstones can be produced with any color tint desired.

Cubic Zirconia is also flawless, with none of the inclusions often present in medium grade diamonds. So the main difference between a CZ and a diamond is that the CZ looks a little too good!

Interestingly, some manufacturers are now taking Cubic Zirconia and adding a coating of another material. This is usually a form of carbon called Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC), although some manufacturers use a layer of synthetic corundum. The end result of this coating is to change the optical properties of the stone so that it resembles a real diamond much more closely. These treatments can be effective but they also make the stone more expensive, with coated CZ jewelry costing over $150 per carat.

Buying A Cubic Zirconia Ring

Just because Cubic Zirconia is a cheaper gemstone, there is no reason to skimp on the setting! A CZ set into a well designed ring is as beautiful as any other piece of jewelry, and CZ wedding rings or engagement rings can be as elegant or complex as you like. Many couples opt for a cheaper (but still beautiful) gemstone
like a Cubic Zirconia and then spend some of the money they saved on a custom ring made just for them by a manufacturing jeweler. Sterling silver CZ rings are a very popular choice. Silver looks great and can be used to design a lovely ring just as with gold or platinum, but offers substantial savings over a gold ring.

Caring for Cubic Zirconia Rings

CZ rings have a few particular cleaning and care requirements if they are to be kept looking their best. CZ is slightly more porous than a diamond and can pick up oils or skin care products over time. CZ rings can be cleaned with mild soapy water and a small scrubbing brush, a special jewelry cleaner, or an ultrasonic cleaner.

Cubic Zirconia is also a little softer than a diamond so scratching is possible, though unlikely. Ring enhancers are sometimes used in CZ wedding ring sets where the engagement ring is a solitaire with a larger stone, to help guard against accidental damage.

Cubic Zirconia rings became popular because of the low cost, but costing less doesn’t make them any less beautiful! Many consumers don’t see it as an imitation diamond, but as a gemstone in its own right.

Browse CZ Rings from Amazon.com

Interest in the unique color of this stone has led to synthetic Alexandrite being developed, which fortunately is significantly cheaper than naturally occurring stones. This lab created Alexandrite is grown using one of several methods, usually zone melting, the Czochralski process (pulled crystals) or the flux method (the same process used to grow some lab created emeralds). Natural Alexandrite is a variety of Chrysoberyl, with its unique color resulting from the introduction of chromium while it formed. Created Alexandrite can be grown under the same conditions, resulting in crystals with similar color variations in different light, but be aware that a common alternative is to sell synthetic corundum laced with vanadium under the badge of synthetic Alexandrite. Since this stone is chemically distinct from true Alexandrite, it would more accurately be called simulated Alexandrite. A simulated gemstone is one where an alternative material is used, and the stone is only visually similar to the true version that it imitates. These gemstones can be identified as the color change only ranges between purple and pink, with no green-blue tones. True synthetic Alexandrite is harder to distinguish from the real thing as it is chemically and structurally very similar, and identification can only be done by an expert or gemologist.

Lab created Alexandrite jewelry is very affordable, with the value of small to medium created stones ranging from $20 to several hundred dollars depending on quality. Just be aware if shopping for A that true Alexandrite should always show a color change containing some kind of blue-greens through to red-purple and it may also be described as chrysoberyl rather than corundum. If not it is likely only a simulated version which while beautiful in its own right, is not true created alexandrite.

Diamonds

Diamonds are composed of carbon atoms, with various trace elements giving colors from yellow to blue or pink. Natural diamonds are mined, whereas lab created diamonds are produced in a lab by either Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) or a High Temperature High Pressure (HPHT) process. Whether mined or man made, the price of diamonds varies significantly depending on the size, color and clarity of the stone. Diamonds are one of the hardest substances known, making them well suited to frequent wear.

Moissanite

Moissanite does occur naturally, but this is extremely rare. In fact, all commercially sold Moissanite is produced in a lab. Moissanite is composed of Silicon Carbide, and as with a diamond it can be cut to any shape, with the quality of the end product depending on the skill of the gem cutter. Unlike other simulated diamonds, Moissanite is very hard, nearly as hard as a diamond in fact! This quality means that Moissanite is widely used as an industrial abrasive and tool material.

Diamonds VS Moissanite – Comparison Chart

At the end of the day, both Moissanite and diamonds are beautiful gemstones in their own right, and are well suited to jewelry applications. The much lower cost of Moissanite makes it attractive to anyone on a budget but not wanting to compromise on quality, while the range of colored diamonds available make them of interest to anyone who can overlook the price tag attached.

Identifying Moissanite

Because of the higher dispersion factor (ability to split light into rainbow colors) that gives Moissanite its signature fire, it can be easily identified when compared to a natural diamond. Anyone who has seen a few real diamonds would also be able to pick it in most lighting conditions as well. However to the untrained eye, it might not be so obvious. Interestingly too, Moissanite can actually fool some diamond testing machines (thermal testers) and produce a false positive. However it is safe to say that if a thermal diamond tester gives a positive result, the stone is either a diamond or Moissanite – no other stones will give the same result. It should then be a simple matter to distinguish between the two visually. In addition to the dispersion, birefraction will produce a visible difference. As mentioned previously in my article about Moissanite jewelry, birefraction is caused by the internal crystalline structure of the gem, and results in facets of the gem looking ‘fuzzy’ when viewed from certain angles. Finally, Moissanite can sometimes be identified by long thin ‘inclusions’ (imperfections) in the stone, visible under magnification. Still, there are several benefits of Moissanite vs diamonds with price being a significant factor!

Caring for Moissanite

Moissanite is extremely hard, close to a real diamond, so you don’t have to worry about it chipping or wearing more than any other jewelry. The metal that it is set in is more likely to become damaged than the stone itself, but sensible precautions will be enough – as with any jewelry, don’t store your rings or other pieces anywhere that they might move and scratch each other.

Moissanite jewelry can be cleaned using a any acid free cleaner. Often, soap and water and a small brush like a toothbrush will be enough to clean your jewelry. However an ultrasonic bath is another practical method.

Buying Moissanite Jewelry Online

Finding Moissanite for sale online is easy, with Amazon being a great example of a reputable supplier, carrying a range of Moissanite earrings, Moissanite engagement rings, wedding bands and sets, and other general jewelry. Here is a look at some lovely pieces that are reasonably priced, and show the versatility of this stone. It’s worth noting that Moissanite is considered a better quality stone than Cubic Zirconia due to its hardness and brilliance. It is also a more complicated process to produce the gem, and these factors are reflected in the price to some extent.

This classic Solitaire Engagement Ring is 14K white gold, with a half carat round stone held in an elegant 6 pointed claw setting. At the time of writing, this ring was on sale for under $300!	This elegant 14k white gold Moissanite solitaire engagement ring has a 3/4 carat brilliant cut stone, claw set. A good buy at under $500. This type of ring is designed to showcase the stone, and the briliance of Moissanite will work really well with the white gold in this setting.
These Moissanite stud earrings in 14k white gold are 1/5 carat per stone, and are a modern, clean design. These are a good entry level set of earrings, retailing for $139.	Finally, these Moissanite dress earrings are 1/3 carats per earring. They are a dressy filigree design in white gold that would suit formal occasions or anywhere that calls for a little class. These earrings use a lever-back fastener and the usual sale price is in the $300 range.

Moissanite vs Cubic Zirconia & Diamonds

Interestingly, Moissanite is harder than Cubic Zirconia, coming close to a real diamond in hardness measured on the Mohs scale, rating a 9.25 vs 8.5 for a CZ. One of the key differences is its much higher level of dispersion. Dispersion in jewelry refers to the ability of the gem to split light into it’s rainbow of separate colors. The effect of this is to give Moissanite an incredible rainbow color effect compared to other diamond simulants. This certainly makes it distinguishable from a real thing, at least to an experienced observer, but many buyers actually find this a desirable quality, with their jewelry having amazing brilliance and fire. A point to consider if choosing between Moissanite vs diamonds for your next piece of jewelry.

One of the only problems with Moissanite, and it certainly is something that can be worked around, is birefringence. This quality means that light travelling through the stone is split into separate paths, giving a slightly ‘fuzzy’ appearance to the internal lines created by the facets. This can be alleviated to some extent by careful cutting of the gem, which is one reason that a reputable dealer is worth the slight extra expense.

Production

Moissanite is Silicon Carbide (SiC, also called Carborundum), and it is easy to mass produce the mineral using a mixture of coke or coal which is electrically heated to high temperatures. This process is done on an industrial scale to produce hundreds of tons of the material for use as an abrasive. However this process does not result in a gem grade material, being instead a coarse black mass. To make a true gem grade material a more controlled growth process is required. In a similar fashion to lab created diamonds, SiC is vaporized into a gas, and then introduced to a high temperature chamber containing seed crystals of Moissanite. This process can produce large crystals in less than a day.

Buying

As with any gem, shoppers are advised that you usually get what you pay for. You may be able to find cheap or discounted Moissanite on auction sites like ebay, but be aware of the language used by some retailers and make sure to read the fine print. As mentioned, Amazon carry a range of Moissanite jewelry including this range of rings, earrings and more and usually offer quite generous return policies if what you buy isn’t satisfactory for any reason.