Types of Simulated Diamonds

Diamonds--especially good ones--are expensive and out of the reach of most consumers. Few people can afford to own a decent diamond, so most of us either settle for a low-grade diamond or a simulated one. But before you purchase a simulated diamond, there's some things you should know.

What is a Simulated Diamond?

There is only one type of natural diamond, but there are many names for simulated diamonds, including: synthetic, cultured, cultivated, faux and man-made. These are all general terms and can be used to describe any non-natural diamond.

Natural Simulated Diamonds

Not all simulated diamonds are man made, however. Some are made from quartz or white sapphires, for example, which are attractive, natural stones.

Man-Made Diamonds

Man-made diamonds include those made from glass, yttrium aluminum garnet, cubic zirconia and moissanite. These names refer to the man-made stone that is used, not the brand name of the manufacturer.

Cubic Zirconia

Cubic zirconia is possibly the most widely recognized simulated diamond. When natural zirconium oxide and yttrium are melted together, they can be used to grow a cubic zirconia in the laboratory. Good cubic zirconia is flawless and clear and receives the highest ranking on the diamond color scale. Cubic zirconia can also be created in any color, including a soft yellow that simulates many natural diamonds.

For jewelers, cubic zirconia is easy to spot. For one thing, it weighs 65 percent more than natural diamonds. Cubic zirconia also has a higher dispersion rate than natural diamonds, meaning it splits light into wavelengths (creating colors much like a prism) and outshines natural diamonds.

Some brand names of cubic zirconia include: Russian Brilliants, Asha, Diamond Nexus, Diamonique, CARAT and Zironite.

Moissantie

Moissanite is a natural, though rare, mineral. There is not enough natural moissanite available to create a single pair of stud earrings. For jewelry, moissanite is created in the lab and is usually labeled as the finest simulated diamond available. It has a finer brilliance than diamonds and can be colorless or mildly tinted.

Jewelers recognize moissanite's superior brilliance compared with natural diamonds. It has a far greater dispersion rate than any natural diamond.

At this time, only Charles & Colvard make moissanite gems.

Yttrium Aluminum Garnet

Yttrium is a synthetic crystalline related to natural garnets and can be made in any color. Yttrium is rarely used for simulated diamonds any more because cubic zirconia and moissanite make more impressive simulations.

References

• Synthetic Diamonds or Diamond Simulants?
• What is Moissanite?
• What is Cubic Zirconia?