Natural versus Created Gemstones

Have you ever looked closely at a colored gemstone? Most natural gemstones have defects in the crystal structure. In fact all diamonds are graded for the degree of occlusions and size of the occlusions. (See our buyer's guide for more details on Diamond clarity)

The price of diamonds is dependent on the number and visibility of occlusions the more perfect the stone, the more expensive it will be. Colored Gemstones are also graded for clarity, though the pricing of the stone is less dependent on the clarity because the color in the stone often obscures most occlusions. Many people view occlusions in colored gemstones as a feature, and as proof that the stone is natural.

In recent years, scientists have learned to create many of the naturally occurring gemstones. When placed in Jewelry, these stones must be clearly labeled, and will often carry the label CR with the gemstone. Typically created gemstones are more perfect, but they do not carry the same amount of market value, and are generally much less expensive than natural colored gemstones. Created gemstones can be made with nearly any coloring, and technology has produced some truly beautiful gemstones. A common example of created gemstone is sapphire, which can be synthesized into nearly any color.

Most naturally occurring colored gemstones have been enhanced. You should not confuse the process of enhancement with creating gemstones. In the process of enhancing, a natural gemstone may be treated or irradiated to enhance its color. For example, most naturally occurring Topaz is clear. It must be irradiated to bring out the beautiful blue coloring. The process has even led to common occurring labels on Topaz, such as "London Blue" or "Swiss Blue" Topaz. These labels refer to the place or factory where the gemstone was enhanced. For more information on possible color enhancements to natural gemstones, refer to our Enhancement Guide.

So which one is right for you? Natural gemstones are a true product of the earth, are one of a kind, and will hold their value compared to synthetic stones. At Glimmering Gems, we carry only a limited number of created colored gemstones, and these products will always be clearly labeled. Created gemstones should always be priced significantly less than genuine gemstones, and should always carry a label that states that they are created.