How are Simulated Gemstones Made?

Because of the rarity of naturally occurring gemstones and the high costs of mining them, the market demand has been met by laboratory-created simulated gemstones. These are the stones which are often used as birthstones in jewelry.

Composed of the same chemicals, minerals, and gasses, simulated gemstones are created by heat and pressure, just like their naturally occurring sister stones which took eons to be created beneath the earth’s surface. There are basically four methods used in the creation of simulated stones.

The Flame Fusion or Verneuil Process

As far back as the late 1800s, rubies were being created in laboratories using the flame fusion method. The method is low cost, and the rate of crystal growth is rapid, which is why it is still used today to create large numbers of inexpensive gemstones. The powdered minerals and chemicals of the natural stone are fused together with a high oxyhydrogen flame. The powder melts and begins to crystallize in curved layers. While the stone could be considered flawless as compared to a natural stone because there are no foreign materials or inclusions in it, sometimes tiny gas bubbles may be trapped in the crystal layers, reducing the value of the stone.

The Flux-Melt Technique

Like all the other methods, the flux-melt technique uses only the naturally occurring components of a gemstone. The ingredients are liquefied into a flux and crystals are grown under controlled conditions. These conditions closely mimic the way the stones are naturally formed, and are the closest imitation of the real stone. It is most often used to create rubies.

The Hydrothermal Technique

The hydrothermal technique is most often used to make emeralds. Using the natural components of an emerald, the materials are subjected to high heat in a sealed container of water. As the water cools, the crystals form under high pressure.

The Doublet or Triplet Method

Sometimes gemstones are created using a doublet or triplet method. A thin layer of gemstone is fused over another layer or layers of another material. Also called composite stones, the edge of this thin layer can be seen quite clearly. Sometimes a large stone like a ruby is created by fusing a thin layer of natural sapphire over a large synthetic ruby base. Other stones commonly fused with another are opals, amber, and ammonite, which because of their fragility need to be fused with a stronger stone.

Simulated diamonds are called cubic zirconia (CZ) and come in a range of clear shades from colorless to shades of pink, yellow, and blue. CZ’s are nearly as hard as rubies and sapphires, with high brilliance and fire like diamonds.

Moissanite is found naturally in meteorites. The minerals and chemicals are re-created in the lab to produce a brilliant clear stone that is nearly as hard as a diamond, and is the closest mimic to the true diamond.

As long as the consumer is made aware of what he or she is buying, synthetic lab-created stones are a quality alternative to natural stones.

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