LAB GROWN DREAMS · BIRTHSTONE INDEX · UPDATED OCTOBER 2026
12
MONTHS TESTED
11
WITH A TRUE LAB-GROWN BIRTHSTONE
1
HONEST EXCEPTION
FIG. 1
Tap any element to open its lab report. Top left is the month, top right is hardness on the Mohs scale.
01
6.5–7.5
Ga
Garnet
X₃Y₂(SiO₄)₃
JAN
02
7
Am
Amethyst
SiO₂ (Fe)
FEB
03
7.5–8
Aq
Aquamarine
Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈
MAR
04
10
Di
Diamond
C
APR
05
7.5–8
Em
Emerald
Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈
MAY
06
8.5
Ax
Alexandrite
BeAl₂O₄
JUN
07
9
Ru
Ruby
Al₂O₃ (Cr)
JUL
08
8
Sp
Spinel
MgAl₂O₄
AUG
09
9
Sa
Sapphire
Al₂O₃ (Fe, Ti)
SEP
10
5.5–6.5
Op
Opal
SiO₂·nH₂O
OCT
11
7
Ci
Citrine
SiO₂ (Fe)
NOV
12
5–6
Tq
Turquoise
CuAl₆(PO₄)₄
DEC
STATUS
● Lab-grown
● Rare
○ No commercial version
THE SHORT VERSION
The words sound similar on a product page, but they describe very different materials. Here is the distinction we use in our own workshop.
01 · TRUE LAB-GROWN
Same stone, grown above ground
A lab-grown emerald is still beryl. A lab-grown ruby is still corundum. The chemistry and crystal structure match the natural stone.
02 · SIMULANT
A lookalike, different material
Glass, cubic zirconia, synthetic forsterite and other imitations can share the color without sharing the gem’s identity.
03 · NATURAL
Mined from the earth
Natural stones form under geological pressure and are extracted from the earth. They can be beautiful, but they are not the only honest option.
For the full chemistry and sourcing context, read our guide to lab-grown gemstones and diamonds.
SPECIMEN 01 / 12 · JAN
Lab-grown red spinel or lab-grown ruby
JANUARY · No lab version
LAB REPORT
LGD-BS-01
SPECIES
Garnet
FORMULA
X₃Y₂(SiO₄)₃
GROWTH METHOD
Not commercially grown
HARDNESS (MOHS)
6.5–7.5
LAB STATUS
No lab version
Here is the truth most birthstone sites skip: true gem garnet has only ever been grown for research. It is not produced for jewelry. The “garnets” made in labs, like YAG and GGG, share the family name but not the chemistry, and they were historically sold as diamond simulants. So if a shop sells you a “lab-created garnet”, ask exactly what material it is.
Our pick for january
For that deep wine-red January look, lab-grown red spinel gets you the closest color and a harder stone (8 on the Mohs scale). Want it brighter? Lab-grown ruby is a 9 and holds up to daily wear in a ring.
Enquire about a january piece
SPECIMEN 02 / 12 · FEB
Lab-grown amethyst, or lab-grown purple sapphire
FEB · LAB-GROWN
LAB REPORT
LGD-BS-02
SPECIES
Amethyst
FORMULA
SiO₂ (Fe)
GROWTH METHOD
Hydrothermal growth
HARDNESS (MOHS)
7
LAB STATUS
Lab-grown
Lab-grown amethyst is real quartz, grown on seed plates inside a hydrothermal autoclave, the same technology that gives us quartz watch movements. It is so close to natural that separating the two often needs advanced lab equipment. Color is even and clean from stone to stone, which makes matching pairs for earrings easy.
Our pick for february
Amethyst is a 7 on the Mohs scale, fine for pendants and earrings. For an everyday ring, I steer clients toward lab-grown purple sapphire: same royal purple mood, but a 9 in hardness.
Enquire about a february piece
SPECIMEN 03 / 12 · MAR
Lab-grown aquamarine when available, or lab-grown light blue sapphire
MAR · LAB-GROWN · RARE
LAB REPORT
LGD-BS-03
SPECIES
Aquamarine
FORMULA
Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈ (Fe)
GROWTH METHOD
Hydrothermal growth (beryl)
HARDNESS
7.5–8
HARDNESS (MOHS)
Lab-grown · rare
Aquamarine is beryl, the same species as emerald, and it can be grown hydrothermally. Russian labs produced it and gemologists first described it in 1990. It is genuinely rare in the trade, because natural aquamarine is plentiful and affordable. Watch out for blue synthetic spinel sold as “lab aquamarine”: pretty, but it is spinel, and it should be labeled that way. Bloodstone, March’s second stone, has no lab version.
Our pick for march
If you want that icy sea-blue in a ring that takes knocks, lab-grown light blue sapphire is the practical pick. For pendants and earrings, ask us about lab aquamarine availability for your size.
Enquire about a march piece
SPECIMEN 04 / 12 · APR
IGI or GIA certified lab-grown diamond
APRIL · Lab-grown
LAB REPORT
LGD-BS-04
SPECIES
Diamond
FORMULA
C
GROWTH METHOD
CVD and HPHT
HARDNESS (MOHS)
10
LAB STATUS
Lab-grown
The April birthstone is where lab-grown is most mature. CVD and HPHT diamonds are pure carbon, identical in chemistry and hardness to mined diamond, and graded by IGI and GIA on the same 4Cs. This is our home turf: we supply certified CVD diamonds loose and set, straight from Bangkok.
Our pick for april
April babies get the hardest birthstone on the list, so anything goes: engagement rings, tennis bracelets, studs. Always ask for the certificate number and verify it on the lab’s site.
Enquire about a april piece
SPECIMEN 05 / 12 · MAY
Lab-grown emerald
MAY · Lab-grown
LAB REPORT
LGD-BS-05
SPECIES
Emerald
FORMULA
Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈ (Cr, V)
GROWTH METHOD
Hydrothermal and flux
HARDNESS (MOHS)
7.5–8
LAB STATUS
Lab-grown
Flux-grown emerald became commercially viable in the late 1930s, and hydrothermal emerald reached jewelry in 1960. Both are real beryl colored by chromium and vanadium. The big win over mined emerald: far fewer fractures, which means no oil or resin filling to worry about. We cut lab-grown emeralds in-house, so we control the color and the cut.
Our pick for may
A clean lab emerald in an emerald cut is the classic May piece. Choose protective settings like bezels or halos for rings, since emerald is tough but not as tough as sapphire.
Enquire about a may piece
SPECIMEN 06 / 12 · JUN
Lab-grown alexandrite (true chrysoberyl)
JUNE · Lab-grown
LAB REPORT
LGD-BS-06
SPECIES
Alexandrite
FORMULA
BeAl₂O₄ (Cr)
GROWTH METHOD
Czochralski, flux, floating zone
HARDNESS (MOHS)
8.5
LAB STATUS
Lab-grown
Alexandrite is the showstopper of the birthstone list: bluish green in daylight, purplish red under warm light. Natural alexandrite with strong color change is one of the most expensive gems on earth. Lab-grown alexandrite is real chrysoberyl and shows the same switch. One warning: much of the cheap “lab alexandrite” online is actually color-change synthetic sapphire. Pearls are cultured inside living oysters, not grown in a lab, and moonstone has no lab version.
Our pick for june
At 8.5 on the Mohs scale it is ring-ready. Ask any seller for the species name on paper. If it says corundum or sapphire, it is not alexandrite.
Enquire about a june piece
SPECIMEN 07 / 12 · JUL
Flux or hydrothermal lab-grown ruby
JULY · Lab-grown
LAB REPORT
LGD-BS-07
SPECIES
Ruby
FORMULA
Al₂O₃ (Cr)
GROWTH METHOD
Flux, hydrothermal, Czochralski, flame fusion
HARDNESS (MOHS)
9
LAB STATUS
Lab-grown
Ruby was the first gemstone ever grown commercially: Auguste Verneuil’s flame fusion process started the lab-grown industry in the early 1900s. Today flux and hydrothermal methods produce rubies with the soft, glowing red that collectors chase. It is corundum colored by chromium, so it is a 9 on the Mohs scale.
Our pick for july
Those growth methods give the most natural-looking color. Ruby is the July birthstone that works everywhere: engagement rings, signet rings, men’s pieces.
Enquire about a july piece
SPECIMEN 08 / 12 · AUG
Lab-grown spinel in any color
AUGUST · Lab-grown
LAB REPORT
LGD-BS-08
SPECIES
Spinel
FORMULA
MgAl₂O₄
GROWTH METHOD
Flux and flame fusion
HARDNESS (MOHS)
8
LAB STATUS
Lab-grown
In 2016 the American Gem Trade Association and Jewelers of America made spinel an official August birthstone, and that is great news for lab-grown buyers. Peridot, the classic August stone, has only been grown experimentally and is not on the market. Spinel is grown widely, comes in reds, pinks, blues and lavenders, and is harder than peridot.
Our pick for august
Pink and red spinel are the crowd favorites, and they are officially August, so no compromise needed. If someone loves the peridot green, a lime-toned lab sapphire is the durable stand-in.
Enquire about a august piece
SPECIMEN 09 / 12 · SEP
Lab-grown royal blue or cornflower sapphire
SEPTEMBER · Lab-grown
LAB REPORT
LGD-BS-09
SPECIES
Sapphire
FORMULA
Al₂O₃ (Fe, Ti)
GROWTH METHOD
Flux, hydrothermal, Czochralski
HARDNESS (MOHS)
9
LAB STATUS
Lab-grown
Sapphire is corundum in every color except red, and lab-grown sapphire covers the whole rainbow: royal blue, cornflower, pink, yellow, padparadscha tones and white. Iron and titanium give the blue. Same 9 hardness as ruby, which is why sapphire is the most popular colored engagement stone in the world.
Our pick for september
September is the easiest month to design for. Classic blue for heritage pieces, pink or yellow for something playful, all at a fraction of mined prices.
Enquire about a september piece
SPECIMEN 10 / 12 · OCT
Lab-grown opal, or lab-grown pink sapphire for tourmaline fans
OCT · Lab-grown
LAB REPORT
LGD-BS-10
Pierre Gilson began selling lab-grown opal in 1974, after scientists figured out that opal’s play of color comes from stacked microscopic silica spheres. Lab opal is real opal with a bold, even fire. Ask whether it is polymer impregnated, since many budget “lab opals” contain resin. Tourmaline, October’s other stone, has only been grown in tiny experimental crystals and is not sold lab-grown.
Our pick for october
Opal is soft, so I set it in pendants, earrings and protective bezel rings. If the birthday person prefers pink tourmaline, lab pink sapphire gives the color with far more toughness.
Enquire about a october piece
SPECIMEN 11 / 12 · NOV
Lab-grown citrine, or lab-grown yellow sapphire
NOVEMBER · Lab-grown
LAB REPORT
LGD-BS-11
SPECIES
Citrine
FORMULA
SiO₂ (Fe)
GROWTH METHOD
Hydrothermal growth
HARDNESS (MOHS)
7
LAB STATUS
Lab-grown
Citrine is quartz, so it is grown the same hydrothermal way as amethyst, and it can even be grown together with amethyst as bicolor ametrine. Topaz, the traditional November stone, has been synthesized only experimentally and is not commercially available as lab-grown. Anything sold as “lab topaz” is likely something else.
Our pick for november
Citrine is perfect for big, sunny cocktail rings on a budget. For a ring that gets worn every day, lab yellow or golden sapphire is the tougher choice.
Enquire about a november piece
SPECIMEN 12 / 12 · DEC
Lab-grown violet-blue sapphire for the tanzanite look
DEC · Lab-grown
LAB REPORT
LGD-BS-12
December has three official stones. Gilson turquoise is a true lab-grown turquoise made since the 1970s, though it is a specialist product. Tanzanite has never been grown in a lab: the “lab tanzanite” you see online is usually synthetic forsterite, an imitation. Zircon is not grown commercially either, and cubic zirconia is a different material entirely.
Our pick for december
Want December blue-violet in a ring? Lab-grown violet-blue sapphire is honest, a 9 in hardness, and does the tanzanite mood better than the imitation does. Lab blue spinel is the other great option.
Enquire about a december piece
FIG. 2
A quick reference for the stones you will see most often in a lab-grown birthstone conversation.
Month
Birthstone
Lab-grown?
Notes
January
Garnet
No
Only grown for research. YAG and GGG are different materials.
February
Amethyst
Yes
Hydrothermal quartz, widely available.
March
Aquamarine
Yes, rare
Hydrothermal beryl. Uncommon in the trade.
March
Bloodstone
No
No lab version.
April
Diamond
Yes
CVD and HPHT, graded by IGI and GIA.
May
Emerald
Yes
Flux and hydrothermal, widely available.
June
Alexandrite
Yes
True chrysoberyl. Beware color-change sapphire sold as alexandrite.
June
Pearl
Cultured
Grown in living mollusks, not in a lab.
June
Moonstone
No
No lab version.
July
Ruby
Yes
The first gem ever grown commercially.
August
Spinel
Yes
Official August birthstone since 2016.
August
Peridot
No
Grown experimentally only.
August
Sardonyx
No
No lab version.
September
Sapphire
Yes
Every color except red.
October
Opal
Yes
Gilson-type lab opal since 1974.
October
Tourmaline
No
Only tiny experimental crystals.
November
Citrine
Yes
Hydrothermal quartz.
November
Topaz
No
Experimental only, not commercial.
December
Turquoise
Yes, rare
Gilson turquoise, a specialist product.
December
Tanzanite
No
“Lab tanzanite” is usually synthetic forsterite, an imitation.
December
Zircon
No
Not commercial. Cubic zirconia is a different material.
FROM OUR BANGKOK WORKSHOP
Want a family ring with every birthstone?
We match size and color across all twelve months, then build the setting around the story you want to tell.
Start a conversation
BUILD YOUR OWN BIRTHSTONE STORY
Tell us your month, your preferred color and how you want to wear it. We will help you choose the honest lab-grown stone.
Design my piece
FAQ
A few practical answers before you choose a stone, a setting or a month.
Can you get lab-grown birthstones for every month?
Are lab-grown birthstones real gemstones?
What is the difference between lab-grown, lab-created and synthetic?
Which lab-grown birthstones are best for everyday rings?
Is there lab-grown tanzanite?
Is there lab-grown peridot for August?
How much cheaper are lab-grown birthstones?
Can I make a family or mother’s ring with lab-grown birthstones?
Do you ship lab-grown birthstone jewelry internationally?