Lab Grown Gems Ecologicly Good

Postscript,

As a Gemmologist, if I see a color change stone, I do not try to
figure out if it is a natural or synthetic color change corundum.
Because of my years of past experience, the separation I am going to
make, is between natural alexandrite, and the closest thing to it,
synthetic alexandrite-like corundum. My experience is that natural
color change corundum is not likely to look like alexandrite, whereas
synthetic alexandrite-like corundum tends to look most like
alexandrite. Synthetic alexandrite is realitively new, it is more
expensive, and I have not seen much of that material. Anyone out there
seeing much synthetic alexandrite in the repair business? I don’t.
While at G.I.A. I heard someone say: “Gemmology is not figuring out
what something is, it is figuring out all the things it could not
be, until you are left with what it is.”

Richard Hart

My mistake, I used simulant when I meant synthetic in the 2nd line of
my post. The biggest seller of ‘true’ man-made alexandrite (not
corundum) that I know is
MorionCompany.com is for sale | HugeDomains (since that is who I
buy all my man-made stuff from).

I agree that corundum is a poor ‘fake’ alexandrite, although the
color change is still pretty it does not imitate true alexandrite.

Craig
www.creativecutgems.com

Hello Orchidland,

Nanz Aalund said it better than I could. After reading about the
methods for “growing” ruby, it is apparent that the process requires
huge amounts of energy (don’t know about waste types or levels) to
not only create the chamber, but also to power the unit. As most
power/energy plants create pollution, that means cultured ruby
contributes to environmental pollution.

Quoting Nanz’s final statement: " Every possible option for material
or technique has a downside. Please don’t single out one and be
self-righteous because you don’t use it, because whatever you are
using is probably just as bad."

Judy in Kansas