While natural stones are ‘found by man’, synthetic stones are ‘made by man’, replicating the magnetic reactions happening inside the earth.


Synthetic gemstones are different from simulants. Synthetic stones are laboratory-grown; they are same as natural stones, but available at a fraction of the price.


For lab-grown diamonds, the Federal Trade Commission has recently prohibited the use of the name as ‘synthetic’ and suggested names such as 'cultured / lab-grown / lab-created'. However, for lab-grown gemstones, these are still called ‘synthetic’ gemstones, despite the fact that they are physically, chemically & optically the same as natural gemstones.


Properties of LifeGem created gemstones, using Czochralski crystal pulling method & Flux method

 

LifeGem created gemstones

Chemical composition

Axial characteristics

Refraction indexes

Moh’s hardness

Density (g/cm3)

Melting point (°C)

1.

Alexandrite 

BeАl2О4:Cr3+

biaxial

Ng = 1.753
Nm = 1.747
Np = 1.744

8.5

3.79

1,870

2.

Ruby

Al2O3:Cr3+

uniaxial

Nm = 1.767
Np = 1.759

9

3.98

2,050

3.

Emerald

Be3Al2Si6O18:Cr

biaxial

1.558 -1.562

8

2.65

 At 1,300°C, phase - transition takes place.

4.

Violet-blue Forsterite (Tanzanion)

Mg2SiO4:СO2+

biaxial

Ng = 1.670
Nm = 1.651
Np = 1.635

7

3.22

1,895

5.

Light green Forsterite  (Peridot)

Mg2SiO4

biaxial

Ng = 1.670
Nm = 1.651
Np = 1.635

7

3.22

1,895

6.

Sky-blue Chrysoberyl

BeAl2O4

biaxial

Ng = 1.753
Nm = 1.747
Np = 1.744

8.5

3.79

1,870

7.

Aquamarine Chrysoberyl

BeAl2O4

biaxial

Ng = 1.753
Nm = 1.747
Np = 1.744

8.5

3.79

1,870

8.

Red Spinel

MgAl2O4:Cr

isotropic

1.718-1.75

8

3.6

2,135

9.

Blue Spinel

MgAl2O4

isotropic

1.718-1.75

8

3.6

2,135

10.

Sky-blue Spinel

MgAl2O4

isotropic

1.718-1.75

8

3.6

2,135

 

Synthetic stones are not simulants.  For example, YAG & Cubic Zirconia are diamond-simulants, but not synthetic diamonds.  They look like diamonds; but physically, chemically & optically, they are different.