What are Lab-Grown Gemstones?
Lab-grown gemstones, explained
Rather than forming over millions of years under the earth's surface, lab-grown gemstones are created in controlled laboratory environments that precisely replicate the conditions responsible for 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, available in richer color, and free from the ethical and environmental concerns associated with traditional gemstone mining.
What Are Lab-Grown Gemstones?
Lab-grown gemstones — also called lab-created gemstones or created gemstones — are genuine precious stones produced in a laboratory rather than extracted from the earth. They are not simulants, imitations, or glass. A lab-grown ruby is a real ruby. A lab-grown sapphire is a real sapphire. A lab-grown emerald is a real emerald.
The gemological and scientific communities recognize lab-grown gemstones as identical to their mined counterparts in every measurable way: chemical formula, crystal structure, refractive index, hardness, and optical properties. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) grades lab-grown colored gemstones using the same standards applied to mined stones.
What makes them different is origin — and for many buyers today, that difference is a reason to choose lab-grown, not a reason to avoid it.
How Are Lab-Grown Gemstones Made?
Different gemstone types are created using different processes, each designed to replicate the specific conditions under which that stone forms in nature.
Rubies & Sapphires
Both rubies and sapphires are varieties of the mineral corundum — their colour is determined by trace elements present during formation. Rubies get their red from chromium; sapphires get their blue from iron and titanium. In the lab, both are typically grown using the Verneuil flame fusion process or the Czochralski pulling method, both of which produce crystals with the same chemical structure as natural corundum. The controlled environment allows for consistent color development and results in stones with fewer natural inclusions than most mined examples.
Emeralds
Emeralds are a variety of the mineral beryl, colored green by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium. Lab-grown emeralds are produced using hydrothermal synthesis – a process that uses high-pressure water solutions heated to extreme temperatures to grow beryl crystals, closely mimicking how natural emeralds form in hydrothermal veins within the earth. Lab-grown emeralds grown this way tend to be cleaner and more vividly coloured than most mined emeralds, which are notoriously heavily included and frequently treated with oils or resins to improve their appearance.
Alexandrite
Alexandrite is a rare variety of the mineral chrysoberyl, famous for its dramatic color-change effect – appearing green in daylight and shifting to red or purplish-red under incandescent light. Natural alexandrite is among the rarest and most expensive gemstones in the world. Lab-grown alexandrite is produced using either flux growth or the Czochralski method, and reliably displays the colour-change phenomenon with greater consistency than most mined examples, which often show only subtle or partial color change.
Padparadscha
Padparadscha is one of the most prized varieties of sapphire – a rare pinkish-orange stone whose name derives from the Sinhalese word for lotus blossom. Natural padparadscha is exceptionally rare and commands very high prices. Lab-grown padparadscha sapphire is produced using the same processes as other corundum stones, delivering the distinctive pinkish-orange hue with exceptional consistency that is difficult to achieve in mined examples.
Lab-Grown vs. Natural Gemstones: What's the Difference?
The question we hear most often is: are lab-grown gemstones as good as natural ones?
In terms of physical properties: yes, completely. A lab-grown ruby has the same hardness (9 on the Mohs scale), the same refractive index, and the same red fluorescence as a mined ruby. A lab-grown emerald has the same vivid green color and the same chemical composition as a Colombian emerald. The differences are not in quality – they are in origin and price.
In terms of inclusions: lab-grown gemstones typically have fewer inclusions than mined stones of equivalent price, and different inclusion types. This is generally a quality advantage. Heavily included mined emeralds are routinely treated with oils or resins to improve their clarity – lab-grown emeralds rarely require this treatment.
In terms of color: lab-grown gemstones can achieve rich, saturated color with greater consistency than mined stones. Fine natural rubies and sapphires of deep, even colour are exceptionally rare. Lab-grown versions offer the same vivid colour reliably and at a fraction of the cost.
In terms of price: lab-grown gemstones are significantly more accessible than their mined equivalents. Fine natural rubies and alexandrite in particular command some of the highest per-carat prices of any colored stone. Lab-grown versions offer the same beauty and physical properties at a price point that makes fine gemstone jewelry genuinely accessible.
In terms of ethics: lab-grown gemstones avoid the environmental damage and human rights concerns associated with artisanal gemstone mining in regions including Myanmar, Mozambique, Colombia, and parts of East Africa. For buyers who care about where their jewelry comes from, lab-grown is a straightforward choice.
Lab-Grown Gemstones vs. Simulants: An Important Distinction
Lab-grown gemstones are sometimes confused with simulants – and they are not the same thing.
A simulant is a stone that resembles another gemstone but has a different chemical composition entirely. Cubic zirconia (CZ) is a diamond simulant – it looks like a diamond but is chemically and physically different. Synthetic spinel was historically used to simulate sapphire. Moissanite is a silicon carbide stone sometimes used as a diamond alternative.
A lab-grown gemstone is the real stone, grown in a lab. A lab-grown sapphire is corundum – the same mineral as a natural sapphire. It is not "sapphire-colored glass" or a lookalike. This distinction matters both scientifically and from a value perspective.
At MiaDonna, every gemstone in our collection is a genuine lab-grown precious stone — not a simulant or imitation.
MiaDonna's Lab-Grown Gemstone Collection
MiaDonna has offered lab-grown gemstones since our founding in 2005, and every stone in our collection is selected to the same quality standards as our lab-grown diamonds. Our gemstone jewelry is available in a full range of styles – from engagement rings and pendants to everyday fine jewelry.
Our current lab-grown gemstone collection includes:
Blue Sapphire
The most popular coloured engagement stone after diamonds, blue sapphire is a variety of corundum available in tones ranging from deep royal blue through soft cornflower. One of the hardest gemstones at 9 on the Mohs scale, it is exceptionally durable for everyday wear and holds its brilliance over a lifetime.
Pink Sapphire
A vibrant and romantic alternative to traditional diamond, pink sapphire is the same mineral as blue sapphire – corundum – with its distinctive color caused by trace amounts of chromium. Available in tones from soft blush to vivid magenta, it brings warmth and character to engagement rings and fine jewelry alike.
Champagne Sapphire
A warm-toned variety of corundum with golden and honey-colored hues, champagne sapphire offers a distinctive alternative to traditional white or colored stones. Its earthy, luminous quality pairs beautifully with yellow and rose gold settings, and its 9 Mohs hardness makes it equally suited to everyday jewelry.
Pink Champagne Sapphire
A soft, peachy blush tone that sits between pink and champagne sapphire, this distinctive variety bridges warm and cool hues in a way that feels entirely its own. Its gentle warmth and feminine character make it a refined choice for those seeking something personal and understated – equally beautiful as a centre stone or accent in yellow, rose, or white gold.
Ruby
One of the most valued gemstones in the world, ruby is the red variety of corundum, with its iconic color caused by chromium. Fine natural rubies command some of the highest per-carat prices of any colored stone – making lab-grown ruby an exceptional choice for those who want the same rich color and 9 Mohs hardness at a genuinely accessible price.
Emerald
The vivid green variety of the mineral beryl, colored by trace amounts of chromium and vanadium. Emeralds are among the most historically prized gemstones in the world, associated with royalty and romance across cultures. Lab-grown emeralds are typically cleaner and more richly colored than most mined examples, which are routinely treated with oils or resins to improve their clarity. Because emerald sits at 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale – slightly softer than sapphire or ruby – a bezel or protective setting is recommended for engagement rings and daily-wear pieces.
Alexandrite
One of the rarest and most extraordinary gemstones in the world, alexandrite is a variety of chrysoberyl famous for its dramatic color-change effect – appearing green in daylight and shifting to red or purplish-red under incandescent light. Lab-grown alexandrite reliably displays this phenomenon with the consistency that mined examples rarely achieve
Padparadscha
One of the most coveted sapphire varieties in the world, padparadscha is a rare pinkish-orange corundum whose name derives from the Sinhalese word for lotus blossom. Fine natural padparadscha is exceptionally scarce and commands very high prices. Lab-grown padparadscha delivers the same distinctive warm hue with exceptional color consistency.
Lab-Grown Gemstones as Birthstone Gifts
A piece of fine jewelry becomes something more personal when it carries meaning beyond its beauty — and few things are more personal than a birthstone. Each gemstone in MiaDonna's collection corresponds to one or more birth months, making lab-grown gemstone jewelry a thoughtful and lasting gift for birthdays, anniversaries, and milestone moments.
- MAY: Emerald
- JUNE: Alexandrite
- JULY: Ruby
- SEPTEMBER: Sapphire & Padparadscha
Because lab-grown gemstones share the same physical and optical properties as their mined counterparts, they carry the same symbolic significance — at a price point that makes fine birthstone jewelry genuinely accessible. Every stone can be set into a custom design or selected from our ready-to-wear collection, making it easy to create something truly personal for the people who matter most.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes. Lab-grown gemstones are chemically, physically, and optically identical to mined gemstones. They are real rubies, sapphires, and emeralds – the only difference is that they were grown in a laboratory rather than extracted from the earth.
Not to the naked eye. Lab-grown gemstones are typically cleaner and more consistently colored than mined stones at equivalent price points. The differences that do exist – primarily in inclusion type – require specialist gemological equipment to detect.
The price difference reflects the supply chain, not the quality. Natural rubies, sapphires, and alexandrite are rare, geographically concentrated, and expensive to mine, cut, and bring to market. Lab-grown gemstones can be produced more consistently and at greater scale, which lowers the cost – without affecting the physical properties of the stone itself.
Technically, they are the same thing – "synthetic" is the traditional gemological term for a stone grown in a laboratory rather than mined. However, the word "synthetic" is sometimes misunderstood as meaning fake or artificial, which is why "lab-grown" and "lab-created" are now preferred terms in the industry. All three terms refer to the same thing: a real gemstone grown in a controlled environment.
Yes – most lab-grown gemstones used in fine jewelry are highly durable. Sapphires and rubies (both corundum) register 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, making them second only to diamonds in hardness and an excellent choice for engagement rings and daily-wear jewelry. Emeralds are slightly softer (7.5–8 on the Mohs scale) and benefit from protective settings such as bezels.
Certification practices for colored gemstones differ from those for diamonds. There is no single industry-standard grading report for colored stones equivalent to a diamond certificate. At MiaDonna, we provide documentation with our gemstone jewelry confirming the stone type and lab-grown origin. We are always transparent about what you are buying – and we encourage any jeweler you consider to be equally clear.
Absolutely. Sapphires are one of the most popular engagement ring choices after diamonds, and lab-grown sapphires offer exceptional hardness, brilliance, and color range. Rubies and alexandrite are also beautiful and meaningful choices. MiaDonna offers a full range of gemstone engagement ring styles, and our team can help you design a completely custom piece around your chosen stone.
