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How to Identify a Lab-Created Ruby

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

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.

Disclosure: Some of the links on our site may help us earn affiliate commissions from advertisers. As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more

Read Next

  • Tips on Wearing a Ruby Ring
  • How to Clean and Care for Ruby Jewelry
  • How to Sell Your Ruby
More: Gemstones Ruby


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Additional Resources
  • What You Need To Know About Lab-Created Stones
  • Synthetics in Your Inventory? Here’s How to Tell
  • The Difference Between a Synthetic, Genuine, and Imitation Gemstone
  • Red ruby alert: Major stores selling gems ‘filled with glass’
  • Flame fusion ruby identification
  • An Introduction to Synthetic Gem Materials

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