A lot of the rubies sold today were not mined from the earth but were actually created in a lab. But is there a way to tell whether a ruby is natural or lab-grown? Let’s take a look at how you can find that out.
What Is Synthetic Ruby?
Synthetic rubies (also known as created, cultured, or lab-grown rubies) are created through an artificial process that usually involves high temperature and pressure.
Lab-created ruby
From a chemical standpoint, lab-created rubies are no different from natural ones and are considered real rubies.
It should be noted that artificially produced rubies are not the same as fake rubies, which have a different chemical structure from that of natural ruby.
Testing If a Ruby Is Synthetic
Testing whether a ruby is created in a lab involves analyzing its physical structure and chemical composition.
More: Click here to see lab-created ruby jewelry.
Although synthetic and natural rubies are virtually identical, there are some very subtle differences that can be detected with the appropriate equipment.
Structural cues: Gemologists can tell whether a ruby is synthetic by looking at its structure under a microscope.
Rubies have the so-called “growth lines” – structural patterns that occur during the formation of the stone.
The growth lines in synthetics are characteristically curved, indicating the ruby’s artificial origin.
Lab-created rubies may also have microscopic gas bubbles inside, which were formed during the manufacturing process.
More: Click here to see natural ruby jewelry.
Chemical differences: The process for creating a synthetic ruby leaves certain chemical traces in the stone, which are not present in natural gems. For example, tiny amounts of lead can indicate that a ruby was artificially created.
Although testing a stone in a lab is the most precise way to find out a ruby’s origin, it is not always reliable. Gemstone creation processes are continuously improved, and lab-created stones are becoming almost perfectly identical to their natural analogues.
Signs That a Ruby May Be Lab-Grown
If you don’t have the option of sending your ruby to a lab for testing, there are more practical ways to detect whether a ruby might be synthetic.
Take a look at the following cues (but keep in mind that none of them is a definitive proof of a stone’s origin):
Perfect clarity: Lab-grown rubies are created in a controlled process that minimizes internal flaws. As a result, synthetic stones have higher clarity than most natural ones.
This is not to say that a flawless ruby is necessarily artificial, but if such a stone is natural, it will be very expensive.
If a high-clarity ruby is substantially cheaper than a comparable natural ruby, then it is likely that you are dealing with a synthetic stone.
See what natural rubies look like here and here.
Large size: Big natural rubies are a rarity, and they are very pricey. For example, it is easier to produce a synthetic ruby that is 1.5 carats than find one in nature.
However, there is also a limit to how large a lab-grown ruby can be made. (On the other hand, production methods keep improving.)
Nevertheless, if a ruby is reasonably large and still affordable, it might be synthetic.
Lower price: If a ruby is relatively cheap despite having few flaws, being big, and having an intense red color, then this is a clue that the stone might be lab-created.
However, if the price is too low, be aware that the ruby might be fake.
It is a good idea to use for comparison prices of natural rubies with similar color, clarity, and weight; synthetics can be 10-15% cheaper, whereas fakes can cost 90-95% less.
Remember: The surest way to ascertain whether a ruby is synthetic is to either ask for a certificate verifying its origin (if the gemstone has such a document) or send the stone to a lab to have it tested.
Where to Buy Rubies?
We recommend James Allen (read review) because you can take a 360-degree look at any ruby before having it set in a piece of jewelry.
We also recommend Blue Nile and Ross-Simons.
Also take a look at GemsNY at the vast selection of ruby jewelry at Amazon.
