How Lab-Grown Gemstones Are Made and Their Pros and Cons

How Are Lab Grown Gemstones Made?
Pros Of Lab Gems
Cons of Lab Gems
Conclusion

Lab gemstones, also known as synthetic gemstones or artificial gemstones, are gemstones that are grown in a laboratory by humans through special methods. Artificial laboratory gemstones are very similar to natural gemstones in terms of physical, chemical and optical properties, and in some cases can even achieve exactly the same effect. Lab gems first appeared in the late 19th century and can be found in many places until today. This article will take you through the advantages and disadvantages of laboratory gems.

How Are Lab Grown Gemstones Made?

To understand the advantages and disadvantages of Lab gems, we should first understand the origin of laboratory stones, that is, how lab gems are created. Here we introduce several more manufacturing methods used.

Chemical Vapor Deposition(CVD)

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) forms diamonds by depositing carbon source gases on the substrate in a relatively low-pressure meteorological environment. The general process is to prepare the reaction chamber, introduce gases (carbon gas and hydrogen gas), activate the gas redeposition and gradually grow into diamonds. The diamonds produced by this method usually have extremely high purity and very low levels of impurities, and the growth process can be precisely controlled to produce diamonds of different sizes and qualities. The diamonds synthesized by this method are of high quality and are widely used in jewelry.

High-Pressure High Temperature(HPHT)

The high-pressure high temperature is also an important method for the manufacture of diamonds, which simulates the formation conditions of natural diamonds in the mantle, converting carbon into diamonds under extremely high temperature and high pressure. The general process of the method is: preparing the material (carbon and metal-solvent), heating and pressurizing, growing crystallization, cooling and removing. Diamonds synthesized by this method are also widely used in various jewelry, such as rings, necklaces, etc., as well as industrial fields, such as abrasive tools and semiconductor devices.

Flame Fusion(FF)

Flame melting is one of the first methods developed for the synthesis of gemstones, first invented by the French chemist Auguste Verneuil in 1902. This method uses a high temperature flame to melt the raw material powder and recrystallize it to form a gem. The general process is: preparing the raw material powder required for the gem, melting the powder at high temperature, growing crystallization, cooling treatment and processing. The method can be used to manufacture ruby and sapphire, and the equipment is simple, the production cost is low, and it is suitable for large-scale production.

Pros Of Lab Gemstones

● Low-Cost: Lab gems are relatively cheaper to create than natural gemstones and are significantly cost-effective, making them an ideal alternative to diamonds for many ordinary consumers. Because of the low cost, the price is much lower than natural gems, ordinary consumers can more easily buy high-quality jewelry at low prices, so that more people can enjoy the beauty and luxury brought by jewelry. And because the lab gem production process is controlled, it is easier to create large quantities of high-quality gems. The quantity of gems increases, naturally the price will not be high.

● Environmental Protection: Lab gems are produced directly in the laboratory by special processes. Natural gems require large-scale excavation and mining of the earth’s surface, which not only destroys the natural landscape of the Earth’s surface, but also may lead to soil erosion, water pollution and the destruction of many animal habitats. In contrast, laboratory gemstones are much more environmentally friendly because they do not require the mining process of natural gemstones and can minimize environmental pollution.

● High-Quality: Lab gems are made directly in the laboratory using precise scientific methods and precision instruments, this process is not polluted by other impurities, and the produced gemstones are also controlled and high-quality gemstones. The production conditions in the manufacturing process are selected after thousands of attempts to minimize imperfections and impurities, so that each produced stone can meet the expected standards.

● Diversification of Selection: Lab gems are not only of reliable quality and relatively low price, but there is also a wide variety of gemstones to choose from. Not only common diamonds, a variety of colored gems are also a large number of mass production, it can be said that as long as the market needs, what kind of gems can be produced. This makes it convenient for many consumers to buy high-quality gems at low prices and to choose one or several of their favorites according to their personal preferences. This is also the reason why lab gems are popular and popular in large numbers on the market.

Cons of Lab Gemstones

● No History and Tradition: Lab gems do not have the history and tradition of natural gemstones. Because natural gems are formed under natural low Bridges, even if they exist, they will not necessarily be found immediately, but they will be able to see the light until people come to mine them. So natural gems are likely to remain underground for hundreds or even thousands of years. Stones that have been around for a long time have a unique history and tradition. The manufacturing process for laboratory gemstones is relatively short, and it is possible to produce a high-quality lab gem in a few months. History and tradition may be important to some consumers or collectors, so this is one of the drawbacks of laboratory stones.

● Limited Resale Value: As mentioned earlier, laboratory stones have no history, tradition, or collectible value. So those who acquire lab gems and want to resell them may have a relatively difficult time reselling them. Because second-hand gems are not necessarily the types cuts and styles of gems that others like, and the low price of lab gems will make many people who want to buy gems choose first-hand suppliers. Therefore, when buying gems, you should think about it in advance to buy what you like and will not regret it, because it is basically difficult to sell.

Conclusion

Lab gems have pros and cons, depending on how you use them. But on the whole, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Lab gems are not only used in the jewelry industry, forming many people’s favorite gem rings, gem necklaces, etc. but also widely used in industry, such as raw materials for some optical components and electronic devices. Low cost and wide use are the biggest advantages of lab gems. If something can survive and slowly become popular, it means that the market needs this thing, and lab gems are such a thing. Future laboratory gemstones may also be developed for more uses in more industries, and will certainly be more widely used in the jewelry industry. So lab gems are an important kind of artificial gemstone.

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