Natural or Lab-Grown Gemstones?

I am a lover of gemstones. In fact, my family laughs at me because I often view the world through the lens of stones. "Wow - that ocean has so many colors. I see hues of turquoise, emerald and larimar!" 😂

A natural gemstone is a thing of beauty, but is also a geological marvel. It can take millions of years for some gemstones to form. So when scientists discovered a way to grow gemstones in a way that speeds up the process, it was pretty revolutionary!

The vast majority of stones that are in LJ Artisan Designs jewelry are naturally and beautifully formed in the earth, but every once in a while, I come across lab-grown gemstones that draw me in with their beauty, like the blue topaz that is in the Calista Statement Ring.

I decided to do my own research and find out all the facts about this interesting phenomenon.

There are many misunderstandings and myths about lab-grown gemstones. You may have questions like these:

Are they just synthetic/fake stones?
Are they dyed?
Are they less attractive?
Are they less durable?

Well, I have answers for you and I think you may be surprised by some of them. In this installment of my Frequently Asked Questions series, it's all about Natural or Lab-Grown gemstones...

Every natural gemstone is created because a combination of minerals developed over a long period of time when exposed to very high heat and pressure. Lab-grown gemstones have the exact same chemical, physical and optical properties as natural gemstones.

Chatham, a pioneer of lab-grown gemstones, likens the process of growing gemstones in a lab to making ice in your freezer rather than finding it in a lake. You place the water in a controlled environment (your freezer) and get the same result as if you had found it in a natural environment, but it will probably be cleaner and more clear.

A few facts about Lab-Grown gemstones:

Lab-grown gemstones are NOT fake or synthetic gemstones. They are not manufactured. They are grown. Each one starts with an earth-mined crystal slice and the perfect set of "ingredients" and environment to become a gemstone.
The chemical structure of a lab-grown gemstone is the same as it's earth-grown counterpart so the color will be the same - no dying needed. In fact, because the environment is so well controlled, sometimes the color is even more vivid!
Lab-grown gemstones have striking colors and fewer flaws than earth-mined stones making them attractive and eye-catching.
Because of the very controlled growing environment, there are often fewer inclusions in lab-grown stones making them even more durable than earth-mined gemstones.
Mining natural gemstones can pose hazards to miners and if done without regard for the environment, can cause environmental degradation issues. Since there is no mining involved, lab-grown gemstones reduce the negative environmental impact.
Lab-grown gemstones can be grown in a matter of months to a year compared to millions of years for their earth-grown counterparts. Natural stones are also more rare and sometimes, this means that they are quite expensive. Because of this, lab-grown gemstones are usually more affordable.

The natural beauty of earth-grown gemstones along with their rarity and uniqueness make them the gold standard. They will always be cherished for their symbolism, significance, and beauty.

With the relatively new process of growing gemstones in a controlled environment, lab-grown gemstones offer an affordable, eco-friendly, and beautiful alternative for jewelry lovers.

At the end of the day, the best gemstone is the one that makes your heart skip and beat and brings style and beauty to your day!

I created a Jewelry Care Guide to help you keep your LJ Artisan Designs jewelry looking great! Click below to get your Jewelry Care Guide...Check out these beautiful gemstone creations and more on the website...