Simulated diamonds are also known as diamond simulants and include things like cubic zirconia (CZ), moissanite, and YAG. They can also include some natural clear gemstones like white sapphire, white zircon or even clear quartz.
Moissanite. Currently, the most sought-after fake diamond stone name in the industry is the moissanite. Moissanite has developed a reputation for being the best alternative to natural diamonds since they can rival them in brilliance.
Common diamond simulants include cubic zirconia, white zircon, white topaz, white sapphire, moissanite, white spinel, quartz (rock crystal), and glass. However, these gems all have different physical, chemical, and optical properties.
Topaz is an abundantly available mineral, making it one of the most affordable diamond alternatives. As a diamond substitute, topaz holds its own. While it is not as bright as diamonds—it has a Refractive Index of 1.64 compared to diamond's 2.4—it has a unique luster and is also quite hard.
The most common diamond simulants are high-leaded glass (i.e., rhinestones) and cubic zirconia (CZ), both artificial materials. A number of other artificial materials, such as strontium titanate and synthetic rutile have been developed since the mid-1950s, but these are no longer in common use.
The jewelry industry uses the term “simulant” to refer to materials, such as CZ, that look like another gem and are used as its substitute but have very different chemical composition, crystal structure and optical and physical properties.
This means that diamond jewelry is often imitated and sold as a real diamond. If you have been sold a fake diamond it is most likely to be CZ (Cubic Zirconia), an imitation created in a lab. While some choose to knowingly buy and sell CZ gems, others attempt to exploit the industry and sell them as real diamonds.
Moissanite, referred to as a diamond simulant, is engineered to give the illusion of similarity to diamonds, but is compositionally and visually quite different from a real diamond. The durability, brilliance, and color of the two gems are quite distinct.
What Is Moissanite? Moissanite is an interesting gemstone, because it is both synthetic, and a diamond simulant. It is not, however, a synthetic diamond. It is a diamond simulant because it is made to look like a diamond.
Radiant are square or rectangular brilliant-cut diamonds with cut corners. They are often the most affordable diamond shapes.
Currently, lab-made cubic zirconia (CZ) is the most popular diamond lookalike. At a fraction of the price, it can rival diamond in brilliance (the light it reflects) and dispersion or fire (the colorful flashes that seem to come from within the stone).
Yes, some diamond simulants can pass a diamond tester.
For example, moissanite, a man made gem, may pass as a diamond on a standard tester pen. This is because moissanite also has very high thermal conductivity! Other diamond simulants, such as CZ, will not pass the tester.
Most synthetic diamonds look too good to be true all due to their extreme brilliance. Does your stone look really bright with lots of rainbow reflected colors? If so, it's most likely cubic zirconia.
Scientists have found a mineral stronger than diamond. They say lonsdaleite could be used to fortify industrial tools like drill bits and saw blades - AND teach us about the evolution of earth.
Lab grown diamonds are as real as diamonds mined from the earth. Lab grown diamonds are identical to earth mined diamonds in every way, except that they are grown in a lab. They have the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as mined diamonds and exhibit the same fire, scintillation, and sparkle.
They're cheaper because they're much much easier to make than solitaires. Those tiny diamonds are known as “smalls” in the industry, and they're often made from the leftovers of bigger diamonds.
Also, cubic zirconia is available cheaper than Diamond, but it gives a better reflecting light than diamond. So, cubic zirconia is a reason to be a diamond alternative.
Brown diamonds are generally the least expensive of natural fancy colors. As with colored stones in general, color is paramount for fancy colored diamond pricing. Other quality factors like clarity and cut do not affect prices as much as with colorless diamonds.
Tanzanite. Tanzanite is a shocking 1000 times more rare than a diamond. Discovered for the first time in 1967 and only found in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, these gemstones go for about $1,500 per carat. Tanzanite has the ability to change color depending on the angle of light it is in.
Opals in general are quite valuable, black opal topping the list in terms of desire and value. The stone is dark but has a surprising array of color. Most black opal gems come from the Lighting Ridge area of New South Wales, Australia. The largest is the “Royal One”, a 306-carat gemstone valued at $3 million.
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Water Test
If you have a loose diamond to test, fill a regular glass about ¾ of the way full with water. Gently drop the diamond into the glass. If the diamond sinks to the bottom, it's real. If it floats at the surface or just underneath, it's likely a fake.
By holding a diamond close to a source of light, such as a flashlight, you can tell whether or not it's real. Watch closely for the shimmers of light that shine from the stone. A real diamond will reflect light easily, and provide you with a disco ball or rainbow-like display.
One carat is equivalent to 0.2 grams. A 1 carat diamond is about 6.5mm in diameter on average. Whereas a 2 carat diamond is approximately 8mm in diameter.