Synthetic gemstones are gemstones that are produced in a laboratory. Unlike simulated gemstones, which look like gemstones but differ from natural gemstones physically and chemically, synthetic gemstones duplicate natural gemstones entirely.

Good quality synthetic gemstones have been around since almost the turn of the centure. Some early synthetic gemstones looked too good to be true as they did not contain natural inclusions that are present in all natural gemstones.

Today however, new sophisticated manufacturing processes produce synthetic gemstones that are very difficult to tell about from natural gemstones without the use of specialized equipment and testing.