There has been a great deal discussion about lab-created diamonds.  Along with that talk, there is much misinformation and perplexity.  The jewelry lover, who is interested in realizing the huge savings and aesthetic beauty that simulated diamonds offer, is often bewildered by the manufactured diamond industry jargon and available options.  This article will categorically break it down in easy-to-understand terms so that anyone can make an intelligent decision when choosing a simulated diamond.
GEM MATERIALS:  99% of all lab-created diamonds sold worldwide are polycrystalline on a molecular level.  The differences are fundamentally in the technical aspects of manufacturing, cutting, and polishing.

Think of it this way—all coffeemakers are made of plastic, steel, and glass, the differences are how these materials are designed and implemented.  Higher quality coffeemakers make a better tasting cup of coffee.  Higher quality manufactured diamonds are in line with mined diamonds.
QUALITY VARIANCES:  It seems like grade variations are made out to be a more complex lab-created diamond issue then it really is.  Once boiled down, there are three primary grades of simulated diamonds—high, medium, and low.  For the jewelry shopper it should be noted that the quality of setting goes hand-in-hand with the quality of the gemstone.  Those that sell manufactured diamond jewelry off point-of-purchase displays in the costume jewelry sections of discount stores use low quality or scrap stones that are not gem quality, and have disco ball or murky look.

Those that sell manufactured diamond jewelry on the TV shopping channels—which is generally with a sterling silver or a micro-thin layer of gold plated over silver (Vermeil [pronounced ver-may]) settings—use medium quality stones not of gem quality.  Those that sell solid 14K gold or solid platinum settings, as a rule, use the highest gem-quality man made gemstones that replicate mined diamonds.
PRICING:  Low grade stones are sold in bulk to costume jewelry makers and are often glued on electroplated settings.  This jewelry is fine for children, where loss risk is high, and usually retails for less than $15 per item.  You will find medium grade stones primarily in sterling silver jewelry that sells for under $100 per item, settings and stones.  Medium grade simulated diamonds can be distinguished by the naked eye as not being mined diamonds.  High grade gemstone quality lab-created diamonds, undistinguishable by the naked eye from mined diamonds, are found mounted on settings of solid 14K gold and platinum.  This is considered to be fine jewelry, with the best quality gemstones selling for under $100 per carat for the gemstones alone.  Manufactured diamonds that sell for over $100 a carat are not higher quality than those that sell for between $80 and $100 per carat.

RECOMMENDATIONS:  If you are buying for someone that is likely to lose the jewelry, there is no reason to spend any more than you have to, and Wal-Mart will do just fine.  On the clearance rack you can even pick up some jewelry for less than $5 per item.  If you buy simulated diamonds set in sterling silver, expect decent stones, but they will fool few into thinking they are mined diamonds.  Also, your fingers are likely to turn green or black in response to a chemical reaction, not with the silver per se, but with the nickel/copper alloys in sterling silver.  With any plated settings, gemstones are low to medium grade, and the plating will eventually chip off, particularly around the edges.  When that happens, the nickel/copper alloys will be exposed, the setting will look like it came out of a gum ball machine, and your finger will generally turn green or black.  It is just a matter of common sense, if you want simulated diamonds with mined-diamond qualities, they must be set in 14K solid gold.  Jewelers who offer lab-created diamonds are not going spend on money on gold and not mount the highest quality stones, which would defeat the purpose of creating fine diamond-like jewelry and alienate customers.

Want to make or wear impressive costume jewelry, but running on a tight budget? Using semi-precious stones is one good way to achieve this. These stones come in a wide variety and are highly accessible to almost everyone. Semi-precious stones preserve the effect of sophistication. Many pieces of jewelry made of these stones are pleasant to look at without seeming opulent. Depending on one’s own taste and fashion sense, these gemstones have the greatest potential to enhance one’s personal sense of style.

Some semi-precious stones are also birthstones, which correspond to people’s birth months. Some people believe that wearing stones that correspond with one’s birth month increases one’s inner strength. This special trait makes jewelry made of certain semi-precious birthstones especially useful as gifts. Examples of such birthstones are garnet (January) and aquamarine (March).
Another popular belief is that certain stones have their own unique “powers.” For example, wearing garnet is said to help ease the pain of a bad breakup, or cause jealousy between lovers. Amethyst is said to protect its wearer against the ill effects of alcohol, slow down intoxication and prevent hangovers. Turquoise is said to give emotional strength. Jade has always had enormous importance in Asian civilization; it is said to have the mystical power to protect its wearer against nightmares and other psychic attacks.

Quartz is said to be among the most important of the semi-precious stones, because it calls upon the power of love — especially the rare rose quartz. Wearing rose quartz is said to increase one’s chances of finding or maintaining a good romantic relationship.
Some pieces of bead jewelry are also made of semi-precious stones. The stones are threaded together with cords, making fine webs and accentuating intricate designs. Jewelry made of semi-precious stones is always popular, partly because of the beliefs associated with the stones — but mostly because they’re so pretty and can go well with anything one wears.

Diamond earrings, emerald rings, ruby bracelets, sapphire pendants; no doubt about it everybody loves beautiful gem stone jewelry. Gemstones are quite literally hard as rock, buy they can be damaged from careless handling and negligence. Here are some tips for keeping your gems and jewelry looking fabulous for years to come. remember, even the hardest gemstone variety can be vulnerable to breakage if it has inclusions that weaken the crystal structure. Exercise common sense: if you have a ring set with a softer gem variety or an included stone, take it off before strenuous exercise. Even the hardest gem of them all, diamond, can shatter in two with a single well-placed blow. Never remove rings by pulling on the stone: that habit may result in a loose, then lost, gem.

Most importantly, store each piece of gemstone jewelry separately so that harder stones don’t scratch softer ones. Almost every gemstone is much harder than the metal it is set in. Gems can scratch the finish on your gold, silver or platinum if you throw your jewelry in a heap in a drawer or jewelry box.
Rings in particular tend to collect dust and soap behind the gem, particularly if you wear them all the time. You need to clean them regularly to let the light in so your gems can shine. To clean transparent crystalline gemstones, simply soak them in water with a touch of gentle dish soap. Use a bowl of water rather than the sink to eliminate the risk of anything going down the drain. If necessary, use a soft toothbrush to scrub behind the stone. Rinse the soap off and pat dry with a lint-free cloth (you want to make sure threads won’t catch on the prongs) For diamond, ruby or sapphire, a touch of ammonia in the rinse water won’t hurt a bit and can add extra sparkle (for platinum and gold only, not silver!). Think twice before putting gems in an ultrasonic cleaner. Diamonds and rubies and sapphires will be fine but many other gems many not be, in particular emerald, opal, pearls, peridot: when in doubt, leave it out.

Organic gems like pearls, coral, and amber should only be wiped clean with moist cloth. Due to their organic nature, these gems are both soft and porous. Be careful about chemicals in hairspray, cosmetics, or perfume: they can, over time, damage pearls in particular. Opals also require special care. Never use an ultrasonic, never use ammonia, and avoid heat and strong light. opaque gemstones like lapis lazuli, turquoise, malachite, require special care because they are rocks, not crystals of a single mineral like transparent gems. There gem materials should just be wiped clean gently with a moist cloth. These gemstones can be porous and may absorb chemicals, even soap, and they may build up inside the stone and discolor it. Never use and ultrasonic cleaner and never use ammonia or any chemical solution.
A little care and common sense can add life, luster and longevity to your precious jewelry and gems. Protect your investment by following the above guidelines.

Ruby doesn’t need any introduction – it is one of the most precious stones, which can shine brilliantly in a necklace and at the same time glow with a subtlety in a ring. Ruby and red go together and it can ignite a thousand desires that will light your candle of passion without your having to say a word. That’s the magic of a ruby. Being one of the rarest stones, it is precious and expensive but ruby has a beauty that can’t be expressed through words. It represents a power that comes with the red color, the color of blood, the color of an enchanting sunset and the color of love. The best ruby though is the fine ruby, which is born out of chromium. What chromium really does is that it breaks up the stone from inside to give it the perfection that comes with the name. You can recognize a good ruby from a bad one by looking at the color saturation. A good ruby will always have a high color saturation, which occurs due to the mixture of a red fluorescent emission and a bluish red body color.

We all relate to the ruby for the red glow but did you know that it is one of the rare and glorious accidents of nature. This red glow is the reason why ruby is so popular. In fact the Thai and the Cambodian rubies are purer versions of red, but they lack the fluorescence that some rubies are famous for. Most of the stones possess a certain degree of extinction but a fine ruby with its crimson fluorescence can mask it. Some of the best Burmese rubies glow with a red that is quite unfound and bathe in a red fluorescence that paints its entire glory right across the face of the stone.

The value of a ruby is determined by the intensity of the red color. So when you are buying a ring that has a ruby in it, the more intense the color, the more expensive it will be. The color will be intense without being too dark or too light. Another thing, you need to check while buying a ruby is the clarity. The general rule is that when you look into the stone, there should not be any inclusions. If there are any inclusions and it is visible to the naked eye then don’t buy it. The third most important and decision making factor is the cut. You will find rubies in different shapes and styles depending on how they have been cut. The most common type of cut is the oval one but you will also find round ones and the emerald cut.
Apart from the imperial jadeite and some rare diamonds, ruby is next most expensive gem in the world. The best quality ruby comes from the following countries:

1. Mogok, Burma
2. Sri Lanka
3. Madagascar
4. Nanyazeik, Burma

So when you are buying a ruby ring, necklace or any high quality jewelry containing ruby, be rest assured that it will sparkle with an intensity that can be next only to your passion or love.

The value of sterling silver is rising. Although it is currently hovering around $8-$9 per ounce and once was as low as $4 per ounce in 2001, silver has shown the ability to earn as it once topped $49 per ounce back in 1980. There is a resurgence in the interest in silver jewelry especially as more manufacturer’s such as Tiffany $ Co. focus more attention on their silver product lines. The quality of silver when coated with rhodium, a precious metal, can rival white gold in shine and sharpness.

Silver has been used for thousands of years in dining utensils, ornaments and as coinage in numerous monetary systems. In fact, the word “silver” can be translated in 14 different languages as “money”. Silver has the highest electrical conductivity of all metals including copper. Its use is not widespread in all things electrical, however, due to its costliness and tendency to tarnish, although because of its high conductivity it is commonly found in computer parts. Silver has always played second fiddle to gold generally but there are a few societies in history such as ancient Egypt and the middle ages in Europe, where silver was considered more valuable than gold. Today’s state of silver is, however, a matter of popularity and not necessarily value.

In modern times silver is used most in the area of photography in the form of silver nitrate which is a corrosive light sensitive ingredient used in film. Silver is also used to produce the highly reflective surfaces of mirrors through a process called silvering. The practical nature and application of silver is apparent not only to industrial types but to the average consumer. Silver jewelry, given its beauty, quality and inexpensiveness has become a highly sought after commodity. Silver jewelry is usually produced with 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper as 100% silver would simply be too soft to use in usable jewelry.

The only drawback to silver is its tendency to tarnish. Tarnish is basically a layer of corrosion that naturally develops over silver as it is exposed to oxygen. Scientists have tried to prevent tarnish by adding different alloys which have helped decrease tarnishability. There are some new developments in this regard as scientists at Sheffield Hallam University have been attempting to produce a new type of silver alloy which will be more resistant to tarnish, called Carrs Lustre Silver. There are ways to prevent tarnish from occurring in caring for silver jewelry, including the use of low abrasive phosphate free detergent cleaner or chemically treated jewelry cleaning cloths. Some even use toothpaste although they may be left with perceivably dull scratches. Silver jewelry is gaining popularity with a consumer public which is interested in affordability, style and quality. When polished, silver shines as gloriously as white gold. Retailers find that consumers are buying silver engagement rings for daily use as they store their diamond and gold rings for special occasions. Young people who want to express themselves with jewelry are turning to silver as a suitable alternative to expensive gold jewelry. Online retailers like jewelrypayless.com, bluenile.com and tiffany.com are expanding their silver product lines in anticipation of more demand as the rise of the silver jewelry industry continues.

Some of the most beautiful jewelry is made using semi-precious gem stones. A gem stone is a mineral, a rock or a petrified material that is cut or faceted and polished before it can be used in jewelry.Some gem stones are fairly rare, such as amazonite, which is a bright green variety of feldspar. Formerly it was obtained almost exclusively from Russia, but recently it was found in Colorado and Madagascar. Its limited occurrence makes it prized as a gem stone.

Citrin, also called citrin quartz, is an amber colored gem stone.

Aventurine is commonly a green gem stone, but can be orange, brown, yellow or grey. The rarest is red and highly prized as a gem stone.

Cordierite is a magnesium, iron and aluminum cyclosilicate, the transparent variety of which is iolite, which is used as a gem stone. The name, iolite, is derived from the Greek word for violet.

Lapis lazuli is a stone which has been classified as a gem stone. This deep blue gem stone dates back to the pharaohs of ancient Egypt.

Jade is an interesting gem stone. The name is applied to two different silicate materials. It is a very tough material and was first used for axe heads, knives and weapons. It was only when other materials were found that could be used for these purposes that jade become a prized gem stone. Nephrite is either green or creamy in color, while jadeite comes in a variety of colors. In New Zealand, where nephrite jade is known as greenstone and not gem stone, the Maoris consider it a treasure. In traditional Maori designs, this gem stone is still widely used to make jewelry. Jade is the official gem stone of British Columbia. Many minerals are sold as jade. These can certainly be used as gem stones, but are not the real thing.

Turquoise is another gem and ornamental stone. The name is a very old word , probably derived from the French meaning Turkish stone, although turquoise was not found in Turkey, but was traded there. Iran and the Sinai Peninsula were sources of very fine turquoise. In the United States, the deposits were mined by pre-Columbian Native Americans. Nowadays there is some imitation turquoise, which is so good, that only an expert could tell the difference between the real stone and the fake!

It’s possible that rings and bracelets and necklaces made with these semi-precious gemstones may not be as valuable as say, gold or diamonds, but they can be exquisite and highly prized. Of course, if the diamond is flawed, it may be impressive to the friends and acquaintances of a newly engaged damsel, but is not of great value.