Simulated diamonds have been around for a long time, but many people are still confused about them. So what are simulated diamonds? Are they as good as a regular diamonds? What about simulated diamonds vs. cubic zirconia? Let’s answer those questions right now.
The term “simulated diamonds” can sometimes be confused with “synthetic diamonds”. A simulated diamond could be anything from a piece of glass to a crystal, to a cubic zirconia stone. I will address cubic zirconia stones later on. Another common synthetic diamond material is moissanite, which has a different chemical makeup than synthetic diamonds or natural diamonds. For the purposes of this article, we will be discussing synthetic diamonds.
What are Simulated Diamonds?
Russia is one of the most prolific producers of synthetic diamonds, and so they are sometimes referred to as Russian simulated diamonds. They were created by scientists for use in industrial applications, such as for grinding and smoothing metal parts. GE is credited with developing the first viable, and reproducible procedure for growing lab created diamonds in the 1950’s. These lab created diamonds soon became very popular for use in jewelry because they were able to be cut and shaped just like diamonds mined from the earth. They are identical in chemical composition to mined diamonds. It is just the compression process that has been speeded up for these diamond gemstones. They are currently produced using one of two methods – HPHT (High Pressure/HighTemperature) or CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition).
When they are used as gemstones, simulated diamonds are rated just like diamonds are rated, for the 4 C’s: color, cut, clarity and color. Some people are surprised that a synthetic diamond might have inclusions or a color tint, but most of them do. If you are thinking about buying a simulated diamond ring, ask about its gemological rating, just as you would if it were a naturally mined diamond. The best-simulated diamonds will have high ratings for the 4 C’s.
So are they as good as natural diamonds? That is largely up to the consumer to answer. Simulated diamonds cost less to manufacture than it costs to mine them, and since they are not “rare”, they cost less than mined diamonds. Most people will say that a naturally mined diamond is better because it is “natural”; but those same people would not be able to tell the difference between a simulated and a natural diamond. You will have to decide for yourself what you think about them.
Simulated Diamonds Vs. Cubic Zirconia
Cubic zirconia should not be considered to be a synthetic diamond, because CZ stones have completely different chemical makeup than synthetic (and naturally mined) diamonds do. They can be considered to be “simulated diamonds”, however. Cubic zirconia rings are gorgeous, that is true. The only thing that may be slightly different about them is that they are not as hard as synthetic diamonds. That means that there is a small risk that a piece of jewelry made with cubic zirconia may get damaged over time. They cost less than simulated diamonds, which is a very big plus for many people who want beautiful jewelry but are on a very tight budget.
The long and short of it when it comes to synthetic diamonds is that they are gorgeous, and are identical to natural diamonds in composition. They do cost less than naturally mined diamonds, so they are a wonderful alternative for many jewelry creations. The cost of synthetic diamonds can is lower than natural diamond jewelry, but the “bling factor” is still off the charts! You will need to do some research and see some for yourself before you decide if you want to take the plunge. So does this mean we will all just have to do some shopping in the near future to check them out? I think so!
Happy shopping!
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