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As gem mines all over the world start to be depleted of their natural rough material, mine owners are constantly trying to find new sources for
extraction. However, the earth produced only so much, and supplies are dwindling. As a result, the price for these rough stones is steadily increasing,
and it directly affects the cost of finished jewelry containing gemstones.
It is not surprising, then, that there is increasing interest in man-made and synthetic gemstones. The first man-made ruby was created in the late
1800s using the flame infusion method. More recent technological advances, however, have led to new types of synthetic and simulated gemstones over the
past couple decades.
The Advantages of Man-Made or Synthetic Gemstones
Just because man-made gemstones are not "real" gems doesn't mean they aren't beautiful. On the contrary, man-made gems have the same brilliance as
natural gems, and the simulations are almost perfect when compared to their natural counterparts.
The quality is so high that it takes special equipment to determine if the stone is real or man-made. They appear flawless to the naked eye, and most
experts can't tell the difference without special equipment!
What makes man-made gems so appealing is that they are durable, available in dozens of unique colors-each with incredible sparkle and shine-and the
cost is only pennies per carat. The lower price is because production cost is far lower compared to the cost of mining, and quality can be tightly
controlled.
There are several processes used to create synthetic gems: melt growth, solution growth or high pressure, high temperature (HPHT) growth. Commonly used
synthetic gemstone materials today include Y.A.G (Yttrium Aluminum Garnet), C.Z. (Cubic Zirconia) Cristinite and Corundum.
Of all the gemstones in the world today, approximately 75 to 80% are man-made or synthetic.
At Ashton Gems, we enjoy cutting man-made stones, but our main business is cutting natural gems. If you prefer a man-made stone because of color, size
or cost savings, we will do our best to find it and cut it to your liking.
For Questions about Man-Made Gemstones Contact Us
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