All You Need to Know About Natural Vs Synthetic Emerald

Every civilization has treasured gemstones alike. And amongst all precious gems, there's one that's the most delightful - emerald stone. Emerald, also known as Panna Stone, is one of the most coveted stones ever. The stone's alluring vivid green color and brilliance cast a spell on the heart of every person. Besides the jewelry industry, this gem holds a significant place in the astrology realm. 

Panna's use in fashion jewels and astrology has made it a sought-after and valued gem. The rarity further adds to its value and high market demand. The surge in demand has led to companies creating synthetic emeralds. This rise in artificial emerald production has made it difficult for buyers. They struggle to distinguish between natural and synthetic Panna.

In this blog, we will explore all you need to know about lab-created emerald vs natural emerald. We hope this will help you choose the best emerald match for you. Let's get started! 

Natural Emerald - A True Wonder of Nature 

Emerald is one of those precious gemstones with one's heart set on it. This stone is a part of the big four gemstones alongside diamond, ruby and sapphire. Besides, it's also a part of the nine gems known as Navratan as per Vedic scriptures. Panna's beauty, rich history, ancient folklore and astrological significance make it desirable.

Panna Stone was mined as early as 330 BC in Egypt. Some experts roughly calculate that an old emerald can even be 2.97 billion years old. Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt during 51–30 BCE, is a popular historical figure who adored these green gems. The queen even claimed ownership of all Panna mines in Egypt during her sovereignty.

The use of emeralds in jewelry and elaborate burials in Egypt was common. Burying the monarchs with this stone was a symbol of protection. On the opposite side of the globe, Colombia had prized and well-hidden emerald Muzo mines. These sources were so concealed that it took almost 20 years for the Spanish conquerors to find them.

Today, the love and respect for Panna is more than we can imagine. This miraculous gem is a symbol of love, loyalty, peace, new beginnings, growth and security. As per Vedic astrology, emerald is lucky for Gemini and Virgo zodiac natives. The ascendants of Taurus, Libra, Capricorn and Aquarius can also wear it.

Wearing emerald gemstones can bless the wearer with countless benefits. It can enhance oration skills, prosperity, wisdom, creativity, marital bliss and health. Let's get conversant with some quick facts about Panna Stone below.

Quick Facts About Natural Emerald Stone   

• The name "emerald" comes from "Smaragdus", which is a Greek word.
• As per Wikipedia, most emeralds come from Colombia.
• Natural emeralds are rarer than diamonds, and sometimes even more expensive.
• Unlike other stones, panna stones are valued for their inclusions like "Jardins."
• Ancient folklore associates this stone with clairvoyance, the ability to foresee the future.
• One of the largest uncut emeralds is the "Duke of Devonshire Emerald." 

Types of Natural Emerald  

Emeralds can be of different types coming from distinct parts of the world. Here are some of the most famous Panna stone types below. 

• Colombian emerald
• Zambian emerald
• Pakistan emerald (Swat Valley emerald)
• Afghanistan emerald (Panjshir emerald
• Brazilian emerald
• Ethiopian Emerald 

Synthetic Emerald - A Manmade Creation

In simple terms, synthetic or artificial emeralds are man-made emeralds. The natural ones are rare to find and expensive to mine. These factors are one of the main reasons why many brands started making artificial ones. W. Zerfass and Jaeger were the scientists leading the synthetic emerald project. Both cooperated for over 2 decades (1952–1973) to make this project a success.

The process of growing Panna stones in a lab is identical to how they grow in nature. They are made using the same chemical composition, chemistry and trace elements. Man-made emeralds exhibit crystal structure, color, and appearance like a natural one. Even a seasoned gem expert will struggle to distinguish between the two from a distance.

Despite sharing some similarities, synthetic and natural Panna stones are poles apart. Their prices can vary day and night. Besides, artificial ones don't hold their value like the natural ones. They can also be made more transparent, unlike their natural counterparts. Synthetic emeralds can be created as per the preference of a client.

Let's look at some quick facts about synthetic Panna stones below.

 Quick Facts About Synthetic Emerald  

• The first artificial emerald was created in the year 1935.
• One can create them whenever they want.
• Artificial emeralds don't hold their value like natural ones.
• When it comes to synthetic gems, emeralds are one of the most difficult stones to produce.
• Extra-large emeralds can take up to one year or more to develop.
• Artificial emeralds are usually used for jewelry making.

Also Read: An Expert Guide on How to Tell If an Emerald Stone Is Real 

How are Emeralds Created?

Synthetic emerald stones are created in labs. These gems can imitate the outer appearance and inclusions of a natural one. This is because they are made using the materials and circumstances. So, how are emeralds created in a lab? Artificial Panna can be made using two methods - flux and hydrothermal procedure. Let's see how both methods work below. 

Flux Emerald  

In the flux process, the elements used to create emeralds are diffused in a heated solution with flux. The flux helps in melting everything, all in a platinum crucible. The solution is then further heated for as long as the grower prefers. The emerald can take months to grow, the larger the size of the stone, the more time it will take to develop.

Only flux emeralds may display traces of platinum platelets in them. Jacques Joseph Ebelman, a French chemist was the one to develop the flux process in 1848. Still, it was more expensive to make emerald stones than to mine them. 

Hydrothermal Emerald 

Next, we have the hydrothermal process. So, what is a hydrothermal emerald? In this method, emeralds are made under conditions that are like where natural one’s form. The procedure imitates the heat and pressure conditions of the deep earth. All the elements are dissolved in a solution and as the solution cools, synthetic crystals are formed. 

The crystal also forms specific features of Panna stones such as nail-head spicules. Besides, they also display other characteristics of emerald inclusions like tubes and fingerprints. The only major difference is that they don't form in irregular shapes and sizes. Instead, they form in an elongated hexagon. This is grown from a piece of colorless beryl. 

Let's look at the major properties of flux and hydrothermal emeralds below. 

A Comparison between Lab Created Emerald Vs Natural Emerald 

Now that we know the ins and outs of natural and synthetic emeralds, let's understand how to compare the two. Both stones might seem similar in composition, but they do differ in color and clarity. Natural emerald stones exhibit a deep, rich and saturated green color. Most of them have a blue-green or yellow-green tint.

Yet, the most valuable emeralds have little to no tint. Natural ones have a dark color tone and a brilliance that emits a green glow when light passes through. The presence of natural impurities is what makes this stone glow. Artificial emeralds on the other hand do not emit a green glow.

Man-made emeralds vary in color and have no inclusions. Some believe that the inclusions are the flaws of the stone. But they are characteristics of Panna that make them pure and authentic. Usually, Panna undergoes appearance-enhancing treatments, so one has to consider this also. Real and artificial emeralds are alike, yet we can see the color and saturation variation. 

Here's how you can distinguish between a lab-created emerald vs natural emerald. 

How to Identify a Lab Created Emerald Vs Natural Emerald? 

If you want to check if your emerald is real or man-made, there are certain factors you need to remember. Knowing and understanding these factors can be difficult, especially for buyers. That's why we have mentioned some key pointers that can help them identify a real emerald. Let's look at the key factors below. 

Treatment: Emerald is usually oil-treated to enhance its clarity, durability and stability. A Panna stone with no enhancements or treatment is rare.

Price: This green stone is one of the most sought-after gemstones which leads to its high price tag. It's essential to check the quality and price of emerald stone before buying.

Inclusions: Panna is a type III gemstone, meaning it includes characteristic inclusions. The inclusions result from gas, liquid and the presence of other minerals. Finding an inclusion-free emerald gemstone is exceptionally rare.

To ensure your Panna stone is natural, it's best to ask for an authenticity certificate from the seller. A certificate from a reputed gemological laboratory determines the stone's authenticity. Buyers should be able to tell the difference between real and fake emerald certificates. Also, they should always verify the physical features of Panna from the gem experts.

To check whether the certificate is genuine or not, verify your report number on the gem lab certificate company website.

Buy 100% Natural Emerald at GemsRoot  

Buying a real emerald stone from a trusted source should be your priority. GemsRoot is a reliable brand where buyers can choose from a wide gemstone range. Our gems are 100% natural, authentic, ethical, sustainable and lab certified. We offer our customers original lab certificates from GRS with each stone purchase.

You can check our exquisite natural emerald stone collection online on our website. You can also talk to our gem experts for gem advice based on your date of birth and birth chart. Our consultants offer 24x7 customer support striving to provide the best service possible. For accurate gem recommendations, contact our gem experts today!