Lab grown coloured gemstones guide

Colour changes the mood of a piece completely. A clear stone reads clean and classic. A coloured stone feels more personal, it says something about the person wearing it that a white stone does not.

This guide covers lab grown ruby, sapphire and emerald: what they actually are, how they compare, and how to choose the one that fits your life and your wardrobe.

What lab grown gemstones actually are

A lab grown gemstone is created in a controlled environment that replicates the conditions under which the stone would form naturally, the same heat, pressure and chemistry, compressed into days or weeks rather than thousands of years underground. The result is the same gemstone. Same chemical structure, same optical properties, same hardness.

This is different from a simulant. A simulant is something that looks similar to a gemstone, it is not the gemstone itself. A lab grown sapphire is a sapphire. A simulant is not.

Myraé uses lab grown coloured gemstones because the quality is consistent, the sourcing is traceable, and there is no extraction cost built into the price. It is not a compromise. It is a deliberate choice.

Ruby, sapphire or emerald?

Ruby

Ruby sits at Mohs 9, one of the hardest gemstones in jewellery. The colour reads warm, strong, deliberate. It stands out at a wedding, at a festival, at a dinner where presence matters.

It pairs naturally with Indian festive dressing, the warm reds and pinks of the stone work with rich fabric tones and silver settings alike. It also contrasts well against white, cream, or black for more contemporary styling.

Blue sapphire

Sapphire is the most wearable coloured gemstone for daily use. Blue reads as settled and polished, and it works with almost everything. Denim, black, white, cream, grey, olive, blue sapphire works with most wardrobes without requiring a second thought. If you want a coloured stone for everyday wear that goes with everything without effort, sapphire is the clearest answer.

Hardness 9 means it handles daily wear without concern.

Emerald

Emerald works in both traditional and contemporary styling without forcing a choice. The colour carries a richness that few stones match, particularly against Indian skin tones. In Indian clothing, both festive and casual, a good emerald reads as grounded, considered and sophisticated.

Emerald is slightly softer than ruby and sapphire at Mohs 7.5 to 8. For pendants and earrings, this makes no practical difference. For rings worn daily, choose a protective setting, bezel or halo, to protect the stone’s edges.

How to choose a piece you will actually wear

The most common mistake with coloured stones: buying the one that photographs most dramatically. The stone that looks most striking on screen is not always the one that gets worn.

A practical test: look at the clothes you reach for most often. What colour would work across at least two-thirds of what you already own? If your wardrobe runs to neutrals, sapphire or emerald is probably more wearable than ruby day to day. If you dress in warm, festive tones often, ruby has more room in your life.

For everyday pieces: smaller stones in clean, simple settings get worn far more than large cocktail pieces. A 0.5ct sapphire stud in a simple setting will be worn three times a week. A large emerald statement ring will come out for specific occasions.

Before you buy

• Confirm the stone is described as lab grown, not simulated, inspired by, or synthetic.
• Read the setting details, especially for pieces you plan to wear daily.
• Check the metal. All Myraé coloured gemstone pieces are set in 925 sterling silver.
• Consider whether the colour works with what you already wear, not just with the outfit in the product photograph.

Care by stone

Ruby and sapphire (Mohs 9): Fully daily-wear durable. Clean with mild soap, warm water and a soft cloth. Keep away from harsh chemicals. Very low maintenance.

Emerald (Mohs 7.5–8): Clean gently with a soft cloth and warm water. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners and harsh chemical contact. For daily-wear emerald rings, a protective setting is worth choosing from the start.

Frequently asked questions

Are lab grown gemstones real gemstones?

Yes. A lab grown ruby is chemically and optically a ruby. A lab grown sapphire is a sapphire. The difference between lab grown and mined is origin, not composition, not appearance, not quality.

Why does Myraé use lab grown gemstones instead of mined ones?

Consistent quality, traceable sourcing, and honest pricing. Achieving consistent colour and clarity in mined coloured stones at a fair price is genuinely difficult, there is significant overhead in rarity and supply chain. Lab grown gemstones remove that overhead without removing the stone. Quality you can see. A price you can trust.

Can I wear emerald jewellery every day?

In pendants and earrings, yes, without concern. For rings worn daily, the slightly lower hardness (Mohs 7.5–8) means the stone edge is more vulnerable to chipping if knocked hard against a surface. A bezel or halo setting reduces this risk significantly. With the right setting, an emerald ring is a daily-wear piece.

Which coloured stone is easiest to wear for everyday?

Blue sapphire. Hardness 9, the most versatile colour, pairs with the widest range of clothing. If you want one coloured piece you can wear every day without thinking about it, start with sapphire.

Do lab grown coloured gemstones fade or change colour over time?

No. Lab grown ruby, sapphire and emerald do not fade, cloud, or change colour with regular wear. The colour is a permanent part of their crystal structure, not a coating, treatment, or finish.

What is the best coloured gemstone for an Indian festive look?

Ruby for warmth and celebration, it works particularly well with festive Indian dressing. Emerald for a richer, more layered look that reads both traditional and contemporary. Blue sapphire for a more polished, modern interpretation of a festive look.

For clear stone jewellery, read what moissanite is. For broader buying decisions, the jewellery buying guide is the right place to start.

The wardrobe test works

Coloured stones reward people who know what they want. That wardrobe test, which colour works across two-thirds of what you already own, is the fastest path to the right decision. It removes the drama of choosing and leaves you with the piece you will actually wear.

Browse coloured gemstone pieces in the Virasat Collection. For the Crown Emerald Ring specifically, the product page has the clearest view of how the stone reads against silver. Not sure which stone fits your wardrobe? Ask our team. This is a two-minute conversation.

Know someone who always wears gold or white stones? Send them this and see if it changes anything.