The synthetic gemstone industry is experiencing its golden period, with lab diamonds running the show like never before. But when it comes to laboratory-grown color stones, ruby is turning out to be the jewel in the crown. A lab-grown ruby may not be your initial preference for jewelry but nowadays it’s as coveted as its natural counterpart.
Modern couples are redefining their expression of love with lab created ruby gemstones. A rich red color has always been the welcome touchstone when it comes to ruby. And now that it’s accessible quite easily in the form of lab-grown ruby stones, you need no financial planning to get one.
Several factors contribute to the growing popularity of lab-grown ruby. Let’s discover its radiant realm to learn about this gem.
What Is A Lab-Grown Ruby?
Natural rubies have been ruling the gemstone jewelry market for centuries. However, there’s a new kind of ruby that’s gained significant traction over the past years – lab-grown ruby. Rubies are grown in laboratories by mimicking the conditions that lead to their formation inside the earth. In short, a lab-made ruby is created by using aluminum oxide, which forms the naturally occurring mineral corundum and lacing it with chromium.
The molecular structure of a lab-made ruby is similar to that of a natural ruby. There are many methods to create lab rubies, from Flame Fusion and Flux Growth to Czochralski Process. However, out of all these methods, the Flame Fusion method is the most cost effective. In this method, the powdered form of aluminum oxide with traces of chromium is melted using a flame.
History Of Lab Created Ruby
Ruby is one of the most precious stones that the jewelry world can’t breathe without. The synthesis of lab-grown ruby gemstones has never been surprising because of the unavailability of natural stones in sufficient quantities. The earliest experiment of creating synthetic ruby was done by France’s Marc Gaudin. However, he couldn’t manage to turn his experiment into a success.
In the 1880s, the gemstone market witnessed its first ever synthetic rubies that were initially thought of as natural stones. In the succeeding years, Edmond Frémy devised a method of manufacturing rubies. However, stones produced through his method were too thin. In the 19th century, Fremy’s assistant, Auguste Verneuil developed a new technique of synthesizing ruby. It was called the Verneuil method, and later termed as the Flame Fusion method.
Are Lab-Created Rubies Real?
Yes, lab-created rubies are real rubies. These stones have the same chemical, optical and physical properties as natural rubies. In addition, lab-grown ruby gemstones have the same hardness and durability as the natural ones. A lab-made ruby scores 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness which means it’s well-suited for high-contact jewelry.
Ethically conscious couples have found a new way of celebrating love – lab-made ruby engagement rings. Additionally, there’s a growing demand for lab-created rubies among people who like dazzling in their ardour. Lab-rubies are a highly desirable option for not only engagement or wedding rings but also bracelets, pendant necklaces and earrings.
Natural vs Lab-Grown Ruby
Natural rubies are formed deep within the earth’s crust over a period of millions of years. These are among the rarest gifts of mother nature, prized for their vibrant color. Fine-quality rubies have a red to slightly purplish red color.
These are some of the most expensive gemstones. For perspective, top-quality rubies can fetch a price of over $1 M per carat. That’s why people invest in lab-grown ruby gemstones compared to the natural ones. Lab-grown rubies come at a fraction of the price of natural rubies.
One can get a big top-quality lab-made ruby at the price of a small natural ruby of similar quality. Another big reason to consider lab created ruby is its eye-clean clarity. While natural rubies contain some inclusions, lab rubies can be created with excellent clarity. The clarity of a lab-grown ruby can be tailored to meet the precise expectations of the wearer.
Natural Or Lab-grown Ruby: Which Is A Better Jewelry Pick?
Lab rubies are certainly better than the natural ones in many ways. For instance, these gemstones are ethically sourced which means they do no harm to nature. In addition, lab grown ruby gemstones offer flexibility when it comes to their quality. These stones can be created with no inclusions or specific inclusions that give them the appearance of their natural counterparts.
Apart from that, lab-made rubies are easily a better pick compared to the natural ones when it comes to price. The sky high prices of natural rubies can stand in your way in getting a big high-quality stone. However, that’s not the case with lab-made rubies that are available at affordable prices.
Celebrities Taking The Charge
Over the years, various celebrities have jumped on the bandwagon of lab-created stones. The list includes biggies such as Zendaya, Lady Gaga, Emma Watson, Rihanna and Meghan Markle, to name a few.
When Penélope Cruz walked on the red carpet of the 71st Cannes Film Festival in 2018, she stunned everyone with her earrings fashioned with lab-grown ruby gemstones. The famous TV personality Bindi Irwin chose a lab diamond engagement ring to celebrate her love in an environmentally-friendly manner.
The trend of lab-created stones hasn’t been limited to only Hollywood, even royalty plays a starring role in popularizing it. The Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle attended an event in London in 2019 sporting lab-created diamond earrings. The wave of lab created ruby jewelry is rapidly becoming a mainstream phenomenon in today’s times.
Ready To Join The Lab-Grown Ruby Jewelry Movement?
Jewelry featuring lab-grown ruby gemstones is both the present and the future of the glamor world. With everyone diving in their allure, these pieces will ever stop growing in popularity is out of the question. So, it’s about time you created a jewelry collection that stands with your belief of sustainable fashion.
Our lab created ruby jewelry items at GemsNY are waiting to put a smile on your face. Our collection is full of thoughtfully designed pieces, from lab-grown ruby engagement rings and pendant necklaces to earrings. Also, we have stunning lab-made rubies for sale that you can choose to design your own dream jewelry item. With so much glitz and glam to explore, don’t you think you should hurry? Shop today for extraordinary discounts!
