What Are "Man Made" Crystals? Are They The Same As "Lab Created" Crystals? 

The mystical crystal can be man-made and created in a lab. It's important to know the difference between man-made and the "real deal" especially when it comes to gemstones.

Now, quartz is not considered as rare, and is still quite abundant for lapidary and metaphysical purposes. In fact, 12% of the earth's crust is quartz.

Crystals are made of silicon. Synthetic crystals are made to produce energy and are mostly used in digital production. This would be your cell phone among other sophisticated technological devices such as computers.. We could not enjoy modern technology without this discovery. Synthetic crystals came to be long before communication was even a glimmer in Alexander Graham Bell's eye. C.E. Schafhautl produced the first synthetic tiny quartz crystal in 1845. I'm not really sure for what purpose, but this was long before quartz crystals were introduced to the industrial field in 1959.

Quartz crystals are not the only things that can be manipulated in a lab. Almost any gemstone can be produced or improved under laboratory conditions, and this is what must be understood by the customer looking to buy an authentic stone. Because of the advanced technology of the process, you should always buy your authentic emeralds, rubies and other gems from a reputable dealer. Not everyone can afford the price of a high quality ruby. Rather than living with deprivation, the red tourmaline can fill the bill quite nicely.

This is not to say that man-made gemstones are bad. These miracles of science certainly have their place in jewelry making. In general all the synthetics sell well.

For those looking for a gemstone for its metaphysical purposes, there may be a problem. The ruby is said to be beneficial to the metabolism and strengthen the heart, but what about the healing properties of the man-made variety? In most instances, man-made stones are merely altered versions of the real thing. In other words, man had a hand in helping the process along. As a rule, the altered stone is more attractive than the original; more perfect, but there is some debate as to whether it's beneficial to our health and well-being. Some say that man-made gems have the same effect as the genuine, only at a lower strength. Others say absolutely NOT. I don't know about all of that. I say if it works for you, then I am certainly not one to dispute it. I say the opinions probably change according to who is selling what, and for what purpose. There are snake oil salesmen everywhere, so buyers beware! Those looking to find quality should not have to gaze into a "crystal ball" and hope for the best. Besides, a genuine "crystal ball", or flawless quartz sphere, can be very pricey. The largest one in America is displayed in the Smithsonian's Museum of Science and History in Gem Hall. It shares a room with the Hope diamond and it was valued at close to $250,000. THAT WAS IN 1938!

I am a wire sculptress and so my interest lies more in the aesthetic properties and pleasing my customers. It is most important to emphasize to my customers exactly what they are getting. I make that "crystal clear" because credibility is everything in this business.