Sourcing Lab Grown Gems

May 31, 2013 12:37 PM

Where is the best place to source lab-grown gems?

Specifically, I'd like to get a lab grown alexandrite and a lab-grown emerald in same cut and carat, preferably with the individual stones < $200. Really looking for personal recommendations on sourcing, as I've done the google game and the websites out there for lab-grown product are not really inspiring confidence or maintaining stock.

posted by bfranklin to Shopping (5 answers total)

I have a ruby from Better Than Diamond and it is beautiful - a true red and without the glassiness that lab gems often have.

They used to offer custom cuts, but I don't think they do that any more, at least not all the time (they used to take orders during a certain window but I think they've stopped doing even that).

Alexandrites

Emeralds

If not BTD, I would look into Chatham gems but they are more expensive.
posted by payoto at 12:42 PM on May 31, 2013 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: Not to threadsit, but I'm glad for the note, payoto. BTD was one I looked at, but lots of products have astroturf comments all posted on the same date.
posted by bfranklin at 12:51 PM on May 31, 2013

I haven't ordered for years but Rio Grande was always reliable. IIRC they sell a lot of Chatham.
posted by kmennie at 12:55 PM on May 31, 2013

Here is a really good picture that compares Chatham and BTD emeralds against a natural emerald.
posted by rada at 1:34 PM on May 31, 2013

BTD all the way here.
posted by anonnymoose at 1:56 PM on May 31, 2013