Jewelry lovers are often confused between simulated diamonds and created diamonds. These two terms mean the same thing to most people but you’d better think twice. As an educated consumer, you should know the difference.
Simulated diamonds are quite popular and most sellers and distributors claim that the diamonds are the same as created diamonds. A created diamond is like mined diamonds physically, visually, and chemically. It is also sometimes called lab created diamond because it makes use of technological processes like the CVD and HPHT. A simulated diamond has similar gemological characteristics as the mined diamond and it can be natural, artificial, or a combination of the two. Typical examples are rhinestones and white sapphire. The latest creation is hybrid diamonds which was launched this year.
If you want to own a simulated diamond, you need to be aware that it possesses properties that are very much similar to diamonds although there are notable differences. Diamond simulant have flaws and are not as hard as the diamond. The real diamond is the hardest according to the Mohs scale. Poor polish is another external difference. In terms of brilliance and fire, the simulated diamonds comes close to mined diamonds especially the all new hybrid diamonds. According to studies, most diamond simulants are more brilliant than diamonds which makes them quite popular.
Aside from rhinestones and the new hybrid diamonds, other materials include glasses, white sapphire, spinel, rutile, Strontium titanate, YAG, and GGG. So take a closer look at the two most popular simulated diamonds.
Hybrid diamonds – this is the newest simulated diamond available in the market. It can’t be called a created diamond because it did not undergo the CVD or HPHT process. It was created using the FCVA-Ion Jet Beam Diamond Seeding which resulted to an affordable alternative. The current price of the hybrid diamond is $800/carat and it is sold in artisan designs. If you’re looking for jewelry with unmatched brilliance, this may be an excellent choice. The price is still reasonable as compared to the very expensive diamonds. You can get it at major jewelry stores worldwide.Synthetic rutile – this was first introduced in 1948 and is quite popular for its brilliance. It resembles low-color grade diamonds because of its high refractive index and 6.5-dispersion that causes the exceptional fire display. However, if you observe the stone closely, the back facets tend to double. Yellowish body color usually remains on the stone.
YAG – this is different from garnet. It is created using the flux melt method and was launched way back in 1969. Like diamonds, it loups clean, hard, and singly refractive. It lacks fire but when cut properly, it can look like real diamonds.
As long as you know the difference between the two terms, you can surely shop for the perfect jewelry. Sellers often claim that simulated is the same as created. It doesn’t really matter how the sellers and distributors call them as long as you know how to purchase wisely.