Created Gemstones: What They Are and What They Aren't

There seems to be a fair bit of confusion about what a "created"gemstone is, and more to the point, what it is not. Some people use the term very casually and think it meansglass, rhinestone, cubic zirconia, etc., colored to look like the truejewel, some people just don't know what the heck it is, some people areconfused about the whole issue, and who could blame them? With anyluck, this guide will help to clarify things, somewhat. (Note that thislittle guide does not cover diamonds; we have written another guide specifically on diamond simulants.)The term "created" means something specific in the jewellery industry.There are guidelines and even laws in place to protect the consumer andregulate the industry, and companies have actually been sued over theirimproper use of the term "created" when applied to gemstones that wouldbetter be described as simulants.So what's a created gemstone?Simply put, a real created gemstone (also known as a synthetic, from the Greek synthesis, meaning "put together, combine, or compose", i.e., to create) is one that is man-made, but which is chemically, physically, and visually identical to the natural version.A created ruby is a ruby, a created sapphire is a sapphire, a createdemerald is an emerald, and so forth. These created jewels are made in alaboratory, crystalized and formed by special processes, and then cutlike any other gemstone. They are absolutely real, they just aren't natural.Trained gemologists can often tell the difference between a createdgemstone and a natural one, but it isn't always easy, no matter howwell-trained or skilled the gemologist or jeweller. As gem-qualitynatural rubies, emeralds, sapphires, etc. are rare, they're naturallyquite expensive (the higher the quality, the higher the price, ofcourse), usually considerably higher than a created gemstone of thesame type. Natural gemstones also have flaws (that's one way to tellthey're natural!), while lab-created stones can be and usually areflawless or nearly so. Another factor is that created gemstones areoften available in colours that are extremely rare in the naturalvariety of the stone.If a gemstone is not physically, chemically, and visually identical to its natural counterpart, it is not a created gemstone!What about simulated gemstones?Simulated gemstones (simulants) are another classification.These can be just about anything, depending on the manufacturer andseller: plastic resin, cubic zirconia, moissanite, glass, rhinestone,crystal, "paste", you name it. There are very high quality simulatedgemstones and there very cheap and dodgy ones, and there's everythingin between. These gems are also referred to as "faux" (French for"false") or "mock". There's nothing inherently wrong with simulated gemstones, so long asyou know what they are and you know what you're buying. Most peopleconsider cubic zirconia (CZ) to be a diamond simulant, for example(although CZ can simulate other gemstones, as well, depending on thecolour and cut). There are other diamond simulants, as well, includingmoissanite. There are also a good many other simulated gemstones thatare very pretty and well worth having in a piece of jewellery. Asnoted, being "simulated" doesn't mean it's necessarily bad, only thatit's not "the real thing", and so long as you know that's what you'rebuying, all should be well.. How can I tell the difference?Ah, now here's where it gets tricky. Some sellers and online storeswill use the word "created" when they really should be saying "plastic"(yes, we've seen that for ourselves!), and they'll say "createddiamond" when they mean cubic zirconia (again, nothing wrong with CZ,but it's not a diamond, and while it looks very similar, it'svisually, chemically, and physically different!). This is usually because theydon't really know the difference, but it may be because they're deliberately trying to mislead. First, always check the seller's feedback! What have others said aboutthe goods they received from the seller? It's true that there arealways cases where people are just not satisfied no matter what kind ofservice they get or the goods they receive, but if a sellerconsistantly has regular negative feedback, especially if the comments are that the quality of the item received was poor or that the item was fake,this is a pretty good warning sign! Certainly take negative feedback inthe context in which it's given and balance it against the rest, but ifa seller has buyer after buyer saying that the item they received wascheap or low quality or fake, that should raise a red flag to potentialbuyers. After you're satisfied with the seller's feedback history, the best thing that a buyer can do is ask the seller questions.Ask them what, specifically, they mean by "created rubies" or"natural cubic zirconia" or "created diamonds" or whatever term they're using. Askbefore you bid, and then carefully consider the answer you get, and thedegree of knowledge the seller shows on the subject. Not all sellersare (nor should they have to be) certified gemmologists, but they shouldhave a good working knowledge of what they're selling and be able toanswer your questions clearly and professionally. There is absolutely nothing wrong with created (or even simulated)gemstones, and in fact, the created versions can be extraordinarilybeautiful, flawless, and with fantastic colour. Just exercise a bit ofcaution, check feedback, and ask the right questions prior to bidding.We hope that this guide has given you some insights that will behelpful in navigating the sometimes confusing jewellery market on eBay.