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Lab / Created / Man-Made / Simulant / Synthetic?????????

AN ATTEMPT TO CLARIFY

Synthetic and Simulant are terminology used by the USBM for laboratory grown gemstones. Others in the gemstone industry may use different terms to refer to laboratory grown gemstones. Laboratory grown "synthetic" gemstones have essentially the same appearance and optical, physical, and chemical properties as the natural material that they represent. Laboratory grown "Simulant" gemstones have an appearance similar to that of a natural gemstone but have different optical, physical, and chemical properties. Additionally, certain colors of "synthetic" sapphire and spinel, used to represent other gemstones, would be classed as "Simulants." Colored and colorless varieties of cubic zirconia are the major "Simulants" produced.

Lab Created and Lab Grown and Synthetic are synonymous terms. To use any of these terms, according to the FTC, the gemstone must be identical to the natural in every way. Composition, Hardness, and Optically. There are a lot of sellers on the internet, who try and denote a difference in these terms, but according to the FTC they are identical terms. The Federal Trade Commission is very clear on the use of the term Lab or Laboratory Created. The stone must be identical to the natural in every way. Here's the quote from the FTC guidelines for gemstone sales for your reference
"(c) It is unfair or deceptive to use the word "laboratory-grown," "laboratory-created," "[manufacturer name]-created," or "synthetic" with the name of any natural stone to describe any industry product unless such industry product has essentially the same optical, physical, and chemical properties as the stone named."

Below is a list of Lab Created Gemstones that are available in the Trade.
If the seller doesn't list the stones composition, choose a seller that does, and compare it to the list below, regarding lab created and simulated.
Also make sure, if the seller advertises a Lab gemstone, that you're really getting a Lab Gemstone and not a Simulated Gemstone (one made to look like the natural).
Some sellers advertise a Lab Gemstone in the title of their ad, then in their description, tell you it's a different stone. Basically, if the seller doesn't abide by the FTC Guidelines for Lab Created Gemstones, stay clear of them, as they put money before disclosure and honesty. Their excuse, that everyone does it, is clearly wrong and deceptive to the buyer.
Other selling tactics, we see used on the internet, is to mention a manufacturer of High End Lab Created Gemstones and mention the high price they would charge. Then, the seller will tell you his gemstone is priced much lower, but they make no mention as to the composition of the gemstone they are selling you. That's usually because the two items are not the same. i.e. your really buying a Simulated Gemstone, not Lab Created.

No Lab Gemstone is RARE . Stay clear of Sellers who use this term with a Lab Created Gemstone as the rough can be made anytime.

Lab Gemstones (Synthetic) and correct composition:

Common Simulated Gemstones - simulated gemstones don't have the same properties as the natural gemstones but resemble the natural stone:

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