Synthetic & Fake Emeralds

Trumping Mother Nature: The Beauty And Value Of Synthetic Emeralds

Emeralds are a loved gemstone sought by many. But high quality emeralds are extremely rare occurrences in nature, especially those of any size. High quality emeralds with good color and clarity are so rare that they compete with diamonds in value.

The lack of good quality, sizable emeralds and the high price associated with those that are found makes owning a good quality, natural emerald prohibitive to many emerald admirers. Thanks to the creation of the synthetic emerald, emerald ownership – real emerald ownership – is still a possibility for all.

Synthetic & Fake Emeralds

A synthetic emerald is one that is produced by man-made processes. The process dates back to the 1930’s when Carroll Chatham revealed a process for making lab-created emeralds that are every bit as ‘real’ as those found in nature. Lab-created synthetic emeralds are not fake gems. They have the same chemical and physical composition of real emeralds that grow in nature. The only difference is that lab-created emeralds tend to be less flawed, without the natural inclusions that are often trapped inside emeralds. The difference between a natural emerald and a lab-created emerald can only be determined by very skilled gemologists and jewelers with sensitive equipment.

There are, however, ‘fake’ emeralds, imitation gems that are not made from the same materials as real emerald gemstones. Many times fake emeralds are stones of another type that are colored and/or enhanced to look like an emerald.

Buying Synthetic Emerald Jewelry

High quality natural emeralds are only available to the very well off because of their rarity and high associated cost. While it is possible for the middle class to buy natural emeralds, the comparable synthetic emerald value is much better. The stone quality of affordable synthetic emeralds far surpasses natural stones at the same price point. Most times buyers are happier with the synthetic stone appearance.

Like diamonds and many other kinds of gemstones, emerald buyers have the option of choosing a loose synthetic emerald to be set in a piece of jewelry. Even though these stones are lab created, there remains a difference in quality outcomes and value of the stone. Loose synthetic emeralds are popularly chosen to set inside a synthetic emerald ring or synthetic emerald earrings.

The styles of synthetic emerald jewelry vary, but often emerald settings keep with tradition, and stones are shaped in the round-cornered, square or rectangular emerald cut. Stones cut for synthetic emerald cut rings and jewelry in the emerald cut seem to add authenticity to buyers. Another traditional choice is to have an emerald set with diamonds or cubic zirconia, or synthetic emerald jewelry with sterling silver as a complementary precious metal. The silver tones of the metal, diamonds, and cubic zirconia richly set off the emerald in a way that yellow gold does not.

Synthetic emeralds, though not strictly ‘natural’ are a far better choice in emerald gemstones for most budgets. Chemically, physically, and most importantly, aesthetically, the synthetic emerald is every bit as real as a natural emerald gemstone. For anyone left in doubt, a final thought; it will be quite obvious when jewelry is set with a low-quality emerald gem, but with a good quality, affordable synthetic stone, only the best of jewelers can tell.