How can you tell if a gem is lab-created?

The main distinction is natural gems typically have inclusions from the crystallization process — gases and other minerals mixing during the molten stage of stone creation. Because lab-created stones rely on a steady, controlled process of applying minerals, heat and pressure, they usually have fewer inclusions.

Can a jeweler tell if a stone is lab created?

Professional jewelers and gemologists cannot tell the difference between a lab created diamond and a natural one just by looking at it with the naked eye. They will have to use a microscope to look for the tiny differences in its inclusions that indicate how it was formed.

How can you tell the difference between lab created and natural gemstones?

Appearance: Lab-created gemstones are often made of cheaper materials and have a more uniform appearance. Natural gemstones, on the other hand, are formed over time by nature and have unique variations in color, clarity, and cut.

Are lab created gemstones worth anything?

Many traditional jewelers tell customers that Lab Created Diamonds have absolutely no value, but this could not be further from the truth. Most Earth-Mined Diamonds have resale value, and most Lab Created Diamonds will have a similar resale value, as well.

How do you tell if a gemstone is real or not?

The easiest way to do the same is to look out for flaws. Due to the immense pressure under which they are created, most gemstones tend to feature different inclusions like feathers, crystals and needles, for example. To find them, hold your stone under a bright light and view it through a 10x jeweler's loupe.

Identifying NATURAL vs LAB Created Stones

How can I test my gemstone at home?

Hold a cut stone to the sun, table toward your eye. if you can see straight through it, it is a form of glass, because glass reflects light, while gem material refracts light.

Does lab created mean fake?

Also referred to as “synthetic,” lab-created gemstones are in fact real and genuine; just man-made instead of mined from the earth. Believe it or not, lab gemstones are chemically, physically and optically identical to their natural counterparts!

Do lab grown diamonds pass a diamond tester?

Will Lab Diamonds Pass A Diamond Tester? Yes, lab diamonds have the same carbon composition as natural diamonds. Therefore, they have the same thermal conductivity. The test results are positive when exposed to the diamond tester, since the diamonds have the same physical and chemical properties as natural diamonds.

Why are lab grown emeralds so cheap?

The methods used to create them in labs require expensive equipment. The process is slow and energy intensive, and the yield of facetable material is low. Nevertheless, a lab-created emerald isn't nearly as valuable as a natural emerald.

Can you tell the difference between lab and mined?

Natural and Lab grown diamonds cannot be differentiated by the naked eye as both types of diamonds have the same shine and sparkle. Professional gemologists require specialised equipment and advanced gemological testing to differentiate between a natural mined diamond and a lab grown diamond.

Can you tell the difference between lab created emerald and real?

Not even dealers can distinguish between natural and synthetic ones without looking inside the emeralds. Synthetic ones have all the same chemical and visual properties of emeralds, and the only way to distinguish between them and natural emeralds without lab equipment is their inclusions.

Can experts tell the difference between lab and natural diamonds?

Because laboratory-grown diamonds are essentially chemically and optically the same as their natural counterparts, traditional gemological observations and old-style “diamond detectors” are not able to tell them apart.

Can a pawn shop tell if a diamond is lab created?

Pawn shops that deal in diamonds should be able to tell you right away if your ring has a cubic zirconia, white sapphire, crystal, glass, plastic, or other low-grade diamond simulant. Most even have electronic diamond testers, and will test it right in front of you.

Are most lab diamonds marked?

Many lab-made diamonds have an inscription that identifies them as lab-made. Diamonds can also have a lab report number inscribed on the girdle.

How much does it cost to verify a gemstone?

Depending on the carat weight of the stone, the process could cost from $80-$300. But if you're considering a ruby or sapphire or emerald that costs $5,000, it would be well worth it to show the quality of the gemstone is consistent with how it's been priced. Know what grading system the certifying agency uses.

Do lab diamonds hold value?

Lab grown diamonds certainly have value for their appearance and durability, and as we've mentioned they are exactly the same as natural diamonds in chemical make-up and hardness. From a monetary standpoint, however, your lab grown diamonds aren't going to hold very much value after they are taken out of the store.

Do lab diamonds sparkle more?

Do lab diamonds shine like natural diamonds? Yes, lab diamonds carry the same shine and sparkle, the same color and clarity as mined diamonds. There is no difference, other than the creation process.

Do lab created diamonds turn yellow?

No need to worry about your ring turning yellow. Your lab diamond will stay as white as it is forever. Because it's a real diamond, you can trust that it's as durable as its mined counterparts. It will never turn yellow or change color over time.

Do lab created diamonds look fake?

When you compare lab grown diamonds vs natural diamonds, the difference isn't in the way they look. Lab grown diamonds are composed of crystallized carbon just like natural diamonds so the two have the same appearance and the same physical, chemical and optical characteristics.

Why is lab created cheaper?

A lab-grown diamond is just as real and contains the exact same properties as one that is formed underground. The only thing that makes a lab-grown diamond different from a mined diamond is its origin. A lab-created diamond touches fewer hands than in the mining process so it's more cost-effective.

Why do lab-grown diamonds have no resale value?

Unfortunately the market for lab created diamonds just isn't powerful or large enough yet to command similar commodity pricing, and even the retailers who will buy back used diamonds often just flat out won't accept lab created stones.

Does a real diamond sparkle rainbow?

The way that diamonds reflect light is unique: the inside of a real diamond should sparkle gray and white while the outside should reflect a rainbow of colors onto other surfaces. A fake diamond, on the other hand, will have rainbow colors that you can see inside the diamond as well.

Can a jeweler tell if a diamond is real?

Visit A Trusted Jeweler

Many jewelers will appraise your stone free of charge and experts will often be able to tell immediately if your diamond is authentic or not. If your stone came with a certificate, your jeweler should be happy to take a look at it and tell you whether it is from a trustworthy source.