Two people putting their hands on decorative carpet wearing crystal fidget rings

The Six Types of Gemstones: A Guide to Simulated, Lab-Grown, and Natural Crystals

Person holding African Jade crystal fidget ring in front of other crystals

At CONQUERing, we offer a variety of different products. Our core product is fidget jewelry—fashionable rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets that also have a functional purpose. 

What makes our jewelry fashionable are the interchangeable elements that you can buy and wear to show off your personality and empower you to be your best self. One of the core types of elements we offer are crystals. 

From Amethyst to Zoisite, we have a lot of different crystals that you can choose from to wear with your fidget jewelry. 

Since a lot of our brand revolves around crystals, we've conducted a lot of research into gemology and the benefits of different types of gemstones. In this post, we will explore: 

  • The six different types of gemstones
  • Why gemstone type is important
  • What type of gemstone you can expect from CONQUERing

Crystals, Composites, and Simulated Stones...Whats in Your Jewelry Box?

Through our research, we've identified six key types of gemstones. These gemstones are popular in various types of jewelry and all have their own benefits. 

This chart explains the six different types of gemstones, how durable and affordable they are, what type of jewelry you can typically find them in, and the benefits of selling that type of gemstone. You can use this chart to determine what's in your jewelry box!

Category Other Names Composition Durability Affordability Jewelry Classification Benefits
Imitation Stones Faux Gems Materials like plastic, acrylic, or resin designed to mimic natural gemstones Low Highest Costume Jewelry Chosen for affordability with trendy pieces
Simulated Stones Synthetic Man-made Glass that is designed to visually simulate natural gemstones but differs chemically Medium High Fashion Jewelry & Bride Jewelry Appreciated for affordability & uniformity/
consistency
Composite Stones Doublets, Triplets, Assembled Stones, Hybrid Stones, Mosaic Stones
A mix of natural stone or organic fragments, resin, or glass fused together Medium to High Medium Bridge Jewelry Chosen for natural beginnings, durability, sustainability, affordability, and unique appearance
Crystals Natural, genuine, authentic semi-precious gemstones Naturally occurring minerals that form as crystals, such as amethyst, peridot, and sodalite, as well as non-crystalline stones like opal and turquoise, and organic materials like abalone shell and amber High Medium Bridge Jewelry & Fine Jewelry Valued for natural origin, one-of-a-kind appearance, and affordability compared to precious stones
Lab-Grown Gemstones Lab-Created Chemically and physically identical to natural gemstones but created in laboratories High Medium Bridge Jewelry & Fine Jewelry Sustainable alternative to mined stones & often selected for ethical reasons (e.g., avoiding conflict/blood diamonds)
Gemstones Natural, genuine, authentic precious gemstones Naturally occurring, rare minerals that form as crystals such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds Highest Low Fine Jewelry Coveted for rarity, enduring value, and cultural significance. Often used in high-end and heirloom pieces

Bold rows are the gemstones used in CONQUERing fidget jewelry

As you can see, there are a variety of different reasons that a company might decide to use a specific type of gemstone in their jewelry. We've highlighted the three different types of gemstones we use in our crystal fidget jewelry. Later in this blog, we'll discuss why we chose simulated stones, composite stones, and crystals to use in our fidget jewelry. 

Why Does the Type of Gemstone Matter in Jewelry? 

Jewelry serves different purposes. Some jewelry is considered cheap, which usually means it's the preferred option when you need it for a specific purpose. For example, you'd look into buying jewelry made from imitation stone if you need an inexpensive piece of jewelry to complete a Halloween costume. 

On the other hand, you'd likely be looking at lab-grown gemstones and gemstones for engagement rings that are expected to be expensive and are meant to last a lifetime. 

In our cast, the type of gemstone we use matters so our customers know exactly what to expect when they purchase our crystal fidget jewelry. When deciding which types to use, we kept durability and affordability in mind. 

We hope that our fidget jewelry is worn daily or is the first piece of jewelry someone grabs to put on when they wear jewelry. That means we wanted to find gemstones that are durable and can withstand the regular wear and tear jewelry might experience from frequent wearers. 

In addition to ensuring our jewelry doesn't break easily, we also want it to be affordable so anyone who wants one can buy one. All of these factors contributed to our choices of gemstone for our crystal fidget jewelry. 

Finally, it's important that you, as the consumer, know what types of gemstones we use so you can avoid engaging in activities that might break your crystal. If one of the crystals you purchased from us is a simulated stone, you might feel inclined to take it off when you're working out, doing yard work, or engaging in any other strenuous activities that involve your hands. On the other hand, you might decide to keep your fidget jewelry on in those same situations if you're wearing a crystal. 

What Types of Gemstones Does CONQUERing Use? 

Person standing outside putting their hands on a balcony wearing crystal fidget rings

As we highlighted in the chart above, we use simulated stones, composite stones, and crystals for our fidget jewelry. 

Simulated Stones

Simulated stones are the least durable crystal we offer. These stones tend to be more uniform than some of the other crystals we offer. They are also the most affordable crystal we have. 

Here are all of the elements we offer that are simulated stones: 

Composite Stones

Composite stones fall in between simulated stones and crystals in regard to durability. These stones are known for their sustainability and tend to be favored since they contain some natural materials in their composition. 

Here are a few of the elements we offer that are composite stones (note: all mosaic stones are composite stones):  

Crystals

Finally, crystals are the most durable gemstone we offer. We love crystals for their unique appearances and the fact that they are an affordable, natural option compared to rare, precious gemstones. 

Here are a few of the elements we offer that are crystals: 

Shop Different Types of Gemstones

Now you know the different types of gemstones that are used in our crystal fidget jewelry. We hope this post offers reassurances about the quality of product you can expect from our crystal fidget jewelry. 

You can check out our full crystal collection here to start, or continue growing, your CONQUERing collection!


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