There seems to be a fair bit of confusion about what a "created" gemstone is, and more to the point, what it is not. Some people use the term very casually and think it means glass, rhinestone, cubic zirconia, etc., colored to look like the true jewel, some people just don't know what the heck it is, some people are confused about the whole issue, and who could blame them? With any luck, this guide will help to clarify things, somewhat. (Note that this little guide does not cover diamonds; we have written another guide specifically on diamond simulants.)

The term "created" means something specific in the jewellery industry. There are guidelines and even laws in place to protect the consumer and regulate the industry, and companies have actually been sued over their improper use of the term "created" when applied to gemstones that would better be described as simulants.

So what's a created gemstone?

Simply put, a real created gemstone (also known as a synthetic, from the Greek synthesis, meaning "put together, combine, or compose", i.e., to create) is one that is man-made, but which is chemically, physically, and visually identical to the natural version. A created ruby is a ruby, a created sapphire is a sapphire, a created emerald is an emerald, and so forth. These created jewels are made in a laboratory, crystalized and formed by special processes, and then cut like any other gemstone. They are absolutely real, they just aren't natural.

Trained gemologists can often tell the difference between a created gemstone and a natural one, but it isn't always easy, no matter how well-trained or skilled the gemologist or jeweller. As gem-quality natural rubies, emeralds, sapphires, etc. are rare, they're naturally quite expensive (the higher the quality, the higher the price, of course), usually considerably higher than a created gemstone of the same type. Natural gemstones also have flaws (that's one way to tell they're natural!), while lab-created stones can be and usually are flawless or nearly so. Another factor is that created gemstones are often available in colours that are extremely rare in the natural variety of the stone.

If a gemstone is not physically, chemically, and visually identical to its natural counterpart, it is not a created gemstone!

What about simulated gemstones?

Simulated gemstones (simulants) are another classification. These can be just about anything, depending on the manufacturer and seller: plastic resin, cubic zirconia, moissanite, glass, rhinestone, crystal, "paste", you name it. There are very high quality simulated gemstones and there very cheap and dodgy ones, and there's everything in between. These gems are also referred to as "faux" (French for "false") or "mock".

There's nothing inherently wrong with simulated gemstones, so long as you know what they are and you know what you're buying. Most people consider cubic zirconia (CZ) to be a diamond simulant, for example (although CZ can simulate other gemstones, as well, depending on the colour and cut). There are other diamond simulants, as well, including moissanite. There are also a good many other simulated gemstones that are very pretty and well worth having in a piece of jewellery. As noted, being "simulated" doesn't mean it's necessarily bad, only that it's not "the real thing", and so long as you know that's what you're buying, all should be well..

How can I tell the difference?

Ah, now here's where it gets tricky. Some sellers and online stores will use the word "created" when they really should be saying "plastic" (yes, we've seen that for ourselves!), and they'll say "created diamond" when they mean cubic zirconia (again, nothing wrong with CZ, but it's not a diamond, and while it looks very similar, it's visually, chemically, and physically different!). This is usually because they don't really know the difference, but it may be because they're deliberately trying to mislead.

First, always check the seller's feedback! What have others said about the goods they received from the seller? It's true that there are always cases where people are just not satisfied no matter what kind of service they get or the goods they receive, but if a seller consistantly has regular negative feedback, especially if the comments are that the quality of the item received was poor or that the item was fake, this is a pretty good warning sign! Certainly take negative feedback in the context in which it's given and balance it against the rest, but if a seller has buyer after buyer saying that the item they received was cheap or low quality or fake, that should raise a red flag to potential buyers.

After you're satisfied with the seller's feedback history, the best thing that a buyer can do is ask the seller questions. Ask them what, specifically, they mean  by "created rubies" or "natural cubic zirconia" or "created diamonds" or whatever term they're using.  Ask before you bid, and then carefully consider the answer you get, and the degree of knowledge the seller shows on the subject. Not all sellers are (nor should they have to be) certified gemmologists, but they should have a good working knowledge of what they're selling and be able to answer your questions clearly and professionally.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with created (or even simulated) gemstones, and in fact, the created versions can be extraordinarily beautiful, flawless, and with fantastic colour. Just exercise a bit of caution, check feedback, and ask the right questions prior to bidding. We hope that this guide has given you some insights that will be helpful in navigating the sometimes confusing jewellery market on eBay.