Strange as it may seem it's not because the real diamond is far superior. It's the internal flaws in the natural diamond that betray its origins. A simulated diamond is less expensive than a real diamond, flawless and beautiful too. These seem reason enough to buy one.
While the market for lab-grown diamonds isn't as large or powerful as earth mined diamonds, there is still a resale value for lab-grown diamonds. The resale value typically depends on the carat and quality of the diamond. But it also depends on the commodity market for diamonds which is constantly fluctuating.
Is it unethical to wear fake diamonds? No, it most definitely is not. It's harmless.
Introduction. When an object is so desirable, particularly when it can be sold for such a high price, there are always likely to be vendors seeking to imitate the item and sell it as an authentic piece. This means that diamond jewelry is often imitated and sold as a real diamond.
Synthetic or fake stones, sparkle less than real, or mined diamonds. With light reflection, look for shades of gray. Synthetic stones, such as cubic zirconia, sparkle with more iridescent colors. Natural diamonds reflect light in more grayish hues.
The way that diamonds reflect light is unique: the inside of a real diamond should sparkle gray and white while the outside should reflect a rainbow of colors onto other surfaces. A fake diamond, on the other hand, will have rainbow colors that you can see inside the diamond as well.
A real loose diamond will not react to this extreme temperature change (they're made of extremely strong material). However, many fake diamonds – including those made of glass, cubic zirconia, or quartz – will break or shatter during this test.
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. Yes, real diamonds are brilliant, but they are much more subtle than synthetics.
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.
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.
A large percentage of real diamonds turn a shade of blue under UV lighting because of the minerals inside the stone. Fake diamonds, on the other hand, will light a yellow, grey, or green shade.
Plastic and glass jewelry are generally okay to wear in the shower and at the beach. Simply wipe them down when you dry off or take them out to air dry. Be careful of any baubles or filigree that may come loose or be damaged on glass and plastic pieces.
A fake diamond will let the black shine through, and you may even be able to read a word depending on the size of the fake stone. If your diamond is mounted, make sure you can't see through it to the mount itself — that's a very bad sign.
The average price of a 1 carat diamond is currently $4,745 (see price chart below). 1 carat diamonds can cost anywhere from $1,518 - $11,198 depending on the diamond's shape, color, clarity, and other factors.
Professional jewelers and gemologists cannot tell the difference between a lab created diamond and a natural one just by looking at it with the naked eye. They will have to use a microscope to look for the tiny differences in its inclusions that indicate how it was formed.
While the capital costs for lab-grown diamonds are similar to naturals, the supply chain is significantly shorter. Since lab-grown diamonds skip the mining process, they touch less hands along the way – ultimately resulting in a less expensive diamond. Natural diamonds' prices also represent their rarity.
Moissanite Arguably the best faux diamond in existence, moissanite comprises silicon carbide, which means it is almost of the same hardness as a natural diamond. It also has reasonable colorlessness, although the glow is far more colorful than what you would see in a real diamond.
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.
But the vast majority (by some estimates, 98 percent) of diamonds don't come from these natural byproducts and are mostly synthetic. “The only way that mined diamonds are economic is if they're sold as jewelry,” says Paul Zimnisky, an independent diamond industry analyst.
The floating test:
If the diamond is real, it will drop to the bottom of the glass due to the high density of the stone. If the diamond is a fake, it will float on the surface of the water. Not all fake diamonds float in water so don't take the results of this test as conclusive.
Diamonds are dense and will sink quickly, while certain imitations will sink more slowly. If your gem doesn't immediately sink to the bottom, it's likely a glass or quartz imitation. However, other imitations, including cubic zirconia, will also sink quickly.
The Density Test Real diamonds are incredibly dense, and often outmatch the fakes in density tests. To confirm this, fill a glass up with water and drop your diamond in. A fake diamond will most likely float on top or only sink to the middle while a real diamond will sink to the bottom thanks to its density.
Many begin as gray, heavily included and fractured diamonds that are subjected to high-temperature/low-pressure treatment, which graphitizes the fractures, turning them black. Artificial irradiation of off-color diamonds can also produce a green so dark the diamond appears black.
The stones could then work loose from the prongs. The chemicals that you use while doing washing and cleaning work can also be harmful to your jewellery. The oils, lotions and soaps you use everyday can leave traces that accumulate over time and create a filmy layer over the stones, making them lose their sparkle.