Gemstone Meaning: The difference between natural, synthetic, and simulated gemstones

Natural: As their name suggests, natural gemstones are those that occur in nature. Since natural gemstones are often far from perfect when it comes to colour or clarity, these features are often enhanced by using heat, chemicals, irradiation, or laser treatment.

Synthetic: Contrary to what many people think, synthetic gemstone does not mean fake. Synthetic or reconstructed gemstones are created in a labratory under high pressure by using the same compounds that make up natural gemstones. They are identical to their natural counterparts in terms of chemical composition and physical properties.

Simulated: Simulated gemstones are made of glass or resin and resemble the appearance of a natural gemstone but do not have the same chemical and physical properties.