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It is the era of conscious consumerism, which is totally a good thing since consumers are now more concerned about how products they used are sourced. This has also stirred a conscious production process in manufacturing companies, triggering a deviation towards eco-friendly and ethically sourced products. The gemstone world has not been left out.

It is now common to find pieces of jewelry tagged “eco-friendly” and “ethical” being promoted across the internet. But what exactly are eco-friendly gemstones, and what makes them an environmentally-sustainable alternative?

What Are Eco-Friendly Gemstones?

Eco-friendly gemstones are gems that are produced and finished using methods that cause the least harm to the environment. Amongst many other things, it is our responsibility to promote a sustainable environment by eliminating practices that are detrimental to the earth.

Mining most gemstones requires methods that may not be so healthy for the environment. For example, mining disrupts the earth’s structure and causes deforestation, erosion, and the release of dangerous chemicals. Besides, mining consumes high amounts of energy and causes huge carbon emissions.

On the other hand, there are several ethical concerns about mining. The process most times relies on manual labor and creates an environment that is hazardous to the health of workers and community members. Meanwhile, mining comes with some associated transparency issues; some mining activities go on in unauthorized areas while many other gemstones are stolen, smuggled across countries, or sold through black markets.

All of these mining-associated problems are what eco-friendly gemstones seek to eliminate. Although certain mined gemstones are eco-friendly, laboratory production presents the most viable option for providing eco-friendly and ethical gemstones.

How Are Eco-Friendly Gemstones Made?

In contrast to mined gems, lab-created gemstones take the formation process of gemstones away from under the earth’s crust into the laboratory.

For example, natural diamonds form within the earth when carbon meets very high temperatures and pressure levels. Lab-grown diamonds are also manufactured by exposing carbon to high levels of temperature and pressure, but this is done in a laboratory. This results in diamonds that have by-cut all of the environmental and ethical concerns associated with mining.

Other than lab-grown diamonds, there are several other kinds of lab-grown gemstones, such as emerald, sapphire, opal, ruby, and alexandrite. If there is any natural gemstone you can think of, then you can have its lab-grown counterpart.

Because the processes that result in the natural formation of each gemstone are different, there are various mechanisms for manufacturing particular gemstones in the laboratory. Meanwhile, scientists have also discovered more than one method of successfully manufacturing some gemstones in the laboratory. Some main synthetic processes include:

• Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)
• High Pressure, High Temperature (HPHT)
• Crystal Pulling or Czochralski Process
• Hydrothermal Growth
• Flux Growth
• Flame Fusion or Verneuil Process

Are Eco-Friendly Gemstones Any Good?

It is not enough to know that lab-grown gemstones are ethical and environment-friendly; their quality also bothers consumers. After all, no one would want to wear a substandard gemstone just for the sake of it being sustainable.

Thankfully, most lab-created gemstones manufacturers like BIRON® Gems provide topmost quality in lab gems. In fact, lab-grown gems can stand side-by-side with their mined counterparts. Unlike look-alike or simulated gems, which are made from materials that mimic the characteristics of each kind of precious stone, lab-created gems are made from the exact raw materials that result in the formation of the gem deep in the earth’s crust.

Therefore, all lab-created gemstones are chemically, physically, and optically identical to their mined counterparts. They are real gems and will be as aesthetic and durable.

Besides, lab-grown gemstones afford you the option of variety that is not usually possible with mined gems. Lab-created stones can be designed to have the best polishing and cut and can be made into any color of your choice. For example, natural pink diamonds are rare, but you can have a lab-grown diamond made in pink, and you can even have a blue diamond if you want. Also, lab-grown gemstones allow for colored gemstones like emeralds and ruby to be produced in the richest color tones possible.

Wrapping Up

Eco-friendly gemstones provide us with healthy options for wearing our favorite gems. Meanwhile, they are also very real, of topmost quality, and allow for play on style. There has never been a time other than now to embrace eco-friendly gemstones.

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