Definitions Associated with diamonds and colored stones

Real Natural Synthetic Simulant / Imitation

Real
This term is often used in referencing a natural gemstone, however, the term is misleading as it simply means that a material exists or has physical presence.

Natural
A gemstone formed by nature that has a specific chemical composition (for example, diamond is made of crystallized carbon), physical properties (for example, diamond is hard and doesn’t scratch easily), and optical characteristics (for example, diamond typically sparkles and appears fiery when exposed to light). Gemstones can either be formed inorganically like crystals or they can originate, organically, from a living thing such as pearls are formed in mollusks (oysters).

Synthetic (lab created)
A laboratory grown material that essentially has the same physical, optical and chemical properties associated with a natural gemstone. For example, a synthetic ruby is a manmade material that is very similar in appearance and has essentially the same optical and chemical properties of natural ruby.

Simulant or Imitation:
A material that resembles a natural gemstone in appearance only. For example, a simulant or imitation pearl looks like a natural or cultured pearl, however it is not composed of the same material as pearl, nor has its properties. A cubic zirconia might look like a diamond, but doesn’t have diamond’s chemical composition, physical or optical properties.