Chatham built a chamber in their laboratory that recreates the intense heat and pressure required for the gemstones to grow naturally in the earth. All of the properties of the lab-created gemstones are exactly the same as natural gemstones mined from the earth, including their molecular makeup and their optical properties. Lab-created are every bit as “real” as a gemstone mined from the earth. The only difference is these gemstones are grown in Chatham’s laboratory in a controlled environment.                 

Did you know that over 95% of mined sapphires are actually treated, usually via extreme heating, but sometimes via irradiation or filling as well? Treatments are a way to greatly enhance a sapphire's color and improve its clarity. Even though the vast majority of mined sapphires undergo treatments, many are falsely labeled as "natural" by suppliers and jewelers. (By definition, a "natural" gemstone means it must be free of any treatments.) Since natural sapphires fetch a huge premium, bogus claims of "natural" sapphires have flooded the market and are all too common in the industry. On the other hand, Chatham expertly controls their laboratory environment so that the crystals grow perfectly and never require any sort of treatment to enhance their color or clarity. They’re simply grown that beautifully. The clarity and color of Chatham’s grown gems are far superior to nearly all mined sapphires -- not to mention their master stone cutters produce higher quality cuts than the vast majority of mined or grown sapphires on the market!