What Are Grown Gemstones?

A grown gemstone is created in a laboratory under conditions that closely replicate natural gem formation. The result is a ruby, sapphire or emerald that is physically and chemically identical to a mined stone, grown with greater consistency and available in rich, vivid color.

Grown gemstones, also called lab-created or created gemstones, are genuine stones produced in a laboratory rather than extracted from the earth. They are not simulants, imitations or glass. A grown ruby is a real ruby, a grown sapphire is a real sapphire and a grown emerald is a real emerald.

The gemological community recognizes them as identical to their mined counterparts in chemical formula, crystal structure, hardness and optical properties.

Growers dissolve the raw ingredients of a gemstone and let them crystallize slowly around a seed. Depending on the stone, they use methods such as flame fusion, flux growth or hydrothermal growth. The resulting crystal is then cut and polished in the same way as a natural stone.

A simulant only looks like a gemstone. Glass, cubic zirconia and synthetic spinel sold as a different stone are examples. A grown gemstone is made of the same material as the natural stone it matches.

If a piece is described as a gemstone, ask whether it is natural, grown or a simulant.

Explore sapphires in blue and a rainbow of other colors, vivid rubies, rich emeralds and more, set in a range of styles and metals.

Birthstones make meaningful gifts, and grown gemstones let you choose the exact color you love. Pair a birthstone with a diamond for a personal piece.