From Tammy Powley,
Your Guide to Jewelry Making.
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Just about any type of natural stone today can be either simulated or laboratory created. However, if natural stones are still available, why not use the real thing? Also, what is the difference between natural stones, simulated stones, and laboratory created stones?

First, let’s examine the actual differences. Natural stones are mined from the earth. Text books like to banter around terms such as "plate tectonics." How all the different elements were combined in nature to make diamonds, citrine, and turquoise (just to name a few stones) is truly a miracle of nature.

Simulated stones are not so mysterious. They are made in order to attempt to capture the beauty of natural stones, and many manufacturers are successful at doing this. For example, Body Jewels creates simulated diamonds along with colored gems. Manufacturers use technology to create a stone that looks as good as, if not better than, those found in nature.

Lab grown gem stones seem to be a middle ground between natural and simulated. Scientists are able to create stones that are molecularly the same as natural stones. Chatham is one of the better known brands of lab created gemstones and are available from Rio Grande in their Gem & Findings catalog.

Now, why would jewelry makers use simulated or lab grown gems stones instead of the real thing? There are a few reasons: cost, quality, and size.

Cost

Diamonds for example are very expensive. The average person cannot afford to have a lot of diamond jewelry. Cost is one reason simulated diamonds are so popular now.

Quality

Color is one evidence of a quality stone. For colored gem stones, rich, deep colors often indicate a better quality. With lab or simulated stones, the colors can be predetermined. This is not possible with natural stones, though many natural stones are treated to enhance colors.

Size

Preston Reuther jokingly refers to large stones that wire wrappers like to use in their jewelry as "hood ornaments." For many jewelry lovers, bigger is better when it comes to stones. With the availability of simulated and lab grown stones, jewelry makers can afford to make big, bold jewelry.

Cost, quality, and size are just a few reasons to consider the alternatives to natural stones. I’ve had a few friends of mine use them in their jewelry with some success. Then there are those purists who will never use any other stones than those created by Mother Nature.