Colored Stones and Pearls

Buying Birthstone or Colored Gemstone

Natural gemstones are found in nature. Laboratory-created stones, as the name implies, are made in a laboratory. These stones, which also are referred to as laboratory-grown, manufacturer-created, or synthetic, have essentially the same chemical, physical and visual properties as natural gemstones. Laboratory-created stones are not as rare as naturally mined stones and are therefore less expensive. By contrast, imitation stones look like natural stones in appearance only, and may be glass, plastic, or less costly stones. Laboratory-created and imitation stones should be clearly identified as such.



Natural and cultured pearls are made by oysters and other mollusks when an irritant is introduced into the shells and causes a pearl to grow. Cultured pearls are created when the irritant is introduced by human intervention. Imitation pearls are man-made with glass, plastic, or organic materials. Because natural pearls are very rare, most pearls used in jewelry are either cultured or imitation pearls. Cultured pearls, because they are made by oysters or mollusks, usually are more expensive than imitation pearls. A cultured pearl’s value is largely based on its size, usually stated in millimeters, and the quality of its nacre coating, which gives it luster.