What Are Simulated Diamonds?

Simulated diamonds are gems that are created in a lab to closely simulate the brilliance and sparkle of real diamonds. There are several types of simulated diamonds on the market, each of which is created with a different technique. Most simulated diamonds are hard to distinguish from natural, mined diamonds with the naked eye.

Types

The major types of simulated diamonds are cubic zirconium, yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG), strontium titanate and moissanite. All of these visually resemble diamonds and all are used in jewelry in order to simulate the look of diamonds.

Significance

Simulated diamonds are not as hard as real diamonds, which are the hardest of all natural substances. On the Mohs scale of hardness, a diamond rates a 10, while simulated diamonds rate anywhere from a 5 to a 9.5.

Benefits

While simulated diamonds aren't as hard as the real thing, they may actually have more brilliance and "fire" than real diamonds. A cubic zirconium has more brilliance than a diamond because of its molecular makeup.

Considerations

Simulated diamonds, even very high-quality ones, cost far less than a diamond of the same size. Simulated diamonds tend to cost about 30 percent or less of the cost of a real diamond of the same size and cut.

Warning

Gemologists have reported increasing Internet fraud among those who sell diamonds online. Many buyers pay thousands for what they believe are real diamonds, only to discover that a cubic zirconium or other material has been substituted.