A synthetic gemstone is made in a laboratory and has essentially the same chemistry and properties as the natural gem. A synthetic ruby is ruby, made by people.
In more detail
US FTC Guides require a word such as 'laboratory-grown' or 'laboratory-created' right before the gem name, equally visible. Moissanite in jewelry is synthetic moissanite. Sold as an imitation of diamond, it is a diamond simulant.
On a grading report
Labs state laboratory-grown material as such.
Related terms
- Simulant: A simulant is a material that looks like a gem but has a different chemistry, structure and properties. Cubic zirconia, moissanite and glass are diamond simulants.
- Flame fusion: Flame fusion grows synthetic crystals by dropping fine powder through a very hot flame. The melted drops build up a crystal on a pedestal below.
- Flux growth: Flux growth is a way to grow synthetic crystals from a chemical solvent (flux). Crystals form as the hot solution slowly cools.
- Hydrothermal growth: Hydrothermal growth makes synthetic crystals in a hot water solution under high pressure.
- Moissanite: Moissanite is silicon carbide, one silicon atom for every carbon atom, in a hexagonal crystal. It is a diamond simulant, and every moissanite in jewelry is laboratory-grown.
- Disclosure: Disclosure is telling the buyer, before the sale, that a gem is treated, laboratory-grown or an imitation.