I've been hearing for years that artificial gems (diamonds, rubies, moissanite, etc) cost a 'fraction' of the real thing. Is this true? If so, where can I as a consumer buy a handful of this stuff?
Note that I don't want jewellery-grade gems, I realise that would cost a lot simply due to rejects and labour to cut / polish. I just want stuff I can mess around with for hobbies and crafts.
Buy cubic zirconium then, it's the cheapest artificial gem which is still jewellery grade (though on the lowest tier, just above high quality glass).
I'd bet you can find them on ebay and if that fails, google a jeweller supply shop in your country. They are very common and affordable.
There are artificial rubies and other gems which aim to mimic the index of refraction of the real gems, they are much more expensive and they exist in different types, but, they are still cheaper than the real thing.
For crafts, get the cubics.
Just looked them up, I knew they existed before but did not realise they came in different colours! Also, they've been around forever so I never really associated them with artificial gems. Thanks!
Lab grown gems have almost zero chance of being haunted by the souls of the children that died mining them. Of course they are of a lesser value. Does anyone actually want some lonely soulless rock?
My fiancee and I both got artificial sapphires in our engagement rings.
Real ones were nearly double the price.
You wouldn't know they're lab grown. They look great.
I shopped at gems n gems (website) while ring hunting. We're literally talking a dollar a gem, buy 50 or 100 if you want to make sure you get something you'll like. I ended up not going with that option because I'd end up needing a local jeweler and wasn't enthusiastic with my options, but still went synthetic from an online jeweler.
You can look for industrial grade gems, but they are going to look like crap.
