Lab-grown rubies and natural rubies have the same chemical composition and are a variation of the mineral corundum. The difference between natural and lab-grown rubies lie in how they are made; natural rubies form in the earth whereas lab-grown rubies are created in a lab.

Yes - in the gemstone trade, lab-grown rubies are also known as synthetic rubies. The term synthetic ruby should not be confused with imitation rubies, which are made from other materials, such as glass, to imitate the appearance of a ruby. Lab-grown / synthetic rubies are made from the same material as natural rubies.

Lab-grown rubies cost much less than natural rubies because there are no associated mining costs and they are more readily available than natural rubies. High quality natural rubies are rare, which makes them expensive, whereas lab-grown rubies are grown on demand. Their abundance is what makes them more affordable, rather than a difference in appearance or quality.

Often, value in jewellery stems from rarity, so lab-grown rubies jewellery is unlikely to ever be perceived as valuable as natural ruby jewellery. However, lab-grown rubies offer all of the same qualities as natural rubies, such as colour and durability, without the hefty price tag of their natural counterparts.

Lab-grown rubies will look more perfect than natural rubies because they are grown in controlled conditions. This means that lab-grown rubies are often more saturated in colour and have no inclusions.

Lab-grown rubies are more affordable than natural rubies. For the same price, customers can purchase a larger gemstone with better colour saturation and no inclusions. High quality natural rubies with saturated colour are rare. Lab-grown rubies offer the chance to make more ruby jewellery for the world to enjoy.