synthetic rubies

Rubies are a very beautiful gem, but can also be a very expensive one too!

Lab-created rubies have their place in the market as a more affordable alternative to natural rubies.

Below is a list of the different types of synthetic rubies.

synthetic rubies

flame fusion (melt process)

The curved banding in a flame fusion synthetic ruby resembles the grooves on a vinyl record
Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CM (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals

Curved striae under magnification & diffused lighting (often confused with polish marks)

Gas bubbles (strings of gas bubbles may resemble broken silk)

Strong red fluorescence under LW & SW, with best reaction under SW.  Typically stronger than natural rubies.

flux grown (solution process)

High relief, coarse flux inclusions in a synthetic ruby
Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CM (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals
Flux inclusions in a synthetic ruby are commonly confused for fingerprints in natural ruby
Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CM (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals
This platinum inclusion near the center of a flux fingerprint can easily be mistaken as natural inclusions inside this synthetic ruby.
Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CM (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals

Flux inclusions are generally white and high-relief, but can appear near-colorless, whitish, brownish, or yellow to orange

Flux might appear as two-phase, wispy veils that look like natural fingerprints or as coarse globules that might appear drippy, tubular, rod-like, icicle-like, or as droplets, dashed lines or clouds of minute particles

Sharp-edged triangular or hexagonal platelets, or stubby, needle-like metallic inclusions (usually platinum) strongly indicate synthetic.

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QUENCH CRACKLING

Some flux-grown synthetic rubies undergo an additional treatment known as quench crackling.  This process involves heating the stones up to around 2000º Fahrenheit and then dropping them into cold water.  This drastic change in temperature shocks the stone, creating many fractures within the stone that can resemble fingerprint inclusions in natural rubies.

hydrothermal (solution process)

Wavy, undulating growth zoning indicate the ruby is synthetic by way of hydrothermal process
Photo courtesy of GIA

Chevron-shaped or wavy, undulating growth zoning

pulled & floating zone (melt process)


Often nearly inclusion free

​Faint curved striae

​Gas bubbles

Smoke-like, swirling, veil-like inclusions

Swirls of color