Synthetic gemstones are identical to the natural gemstone in nearly every way. This includes the same basic crystal structure, refractive index, specific gravity, chemical composition, colors, and other characteristics. The same gemological tests are used to identify these stones as the tests to identify naturally occurring stones in nature. Only minor internal characterisitics allow separation of a synthetic gemstone from a natural gemstone.  The value of these synthetics are nearly as great as their natural counterparts. There is a push on to recognize them as “Cultured” Gemstones rather than the vague term Synthetic.  There are a variety of methods currently being used to creat synthetic stones. They are:
- Growth from Melt
- Growth from Solution
- High Temperature/Pressure Method
- Skull Melting Process
- Ceramic Process (resulting in aggregate crystals)
Imitation Gemstones are quite different. They merely imitate the color or look of a natural gemstone. They can be made of anything including glass. For instance, a cubic zirconia may imitate a diamond but it does not have the same chemical qualities a diamond has. They do have value but it is limited by the usefulness of the piece and how well it mimics a true stone.
