All you need to know about Diamond Simulants
Posted by Hari Krishna
March 26, 2022
If you are juggling between synthetic diamonds, diamond simulants, and natural diamonds to know their difference; then you’ve stopped at the right place! Many people misunderstand diamond simulants as natural diamonds and here is why we need to know about them.
Let’s understand these three terms in brief:
• Synthetic Diamonds: Synthetic diamonds are formed by experts in laboratories but are not found in the mines of the Earth. Synthetic diamonds are man-made diamonds formed by heating graphite to extremely high temperatures and pressures.
• Diamond Simulants: Diamond simulants can be called simulated diamonds as well. They look like natural diamonds, but they do not possess the natural diamond’s chemical, physical, and optical characteristics.
• Natural Diamonds: Natural diamonds are completely made up of carbon and are created after billions of years under natural conditions like high pressure and high temperature.
Now, as you have gained a basic idea of all three types of diamonds, let’s set our scope to the ‘Diamond Simulants’.
Simulated diamonds are gems created to mimic the appearance of natural diamonds.
They are made of different materials and, apart from their appearance, have no other characteristics in common with natural diamonds. As a result, diamond simulants are very inexpensive.
Simulant is defined by the GIA- Gemological Institute of America as, “The term ‘Simulant’ is used in the jewelry industry to describe materials that resemble another gem and are used as substitutes despite significant differences in chemical bonds, crystal designs, optical and physical properties.
Simulants, also known as imitations or substitutes, can be found in nature or created artificially.
Diamond simulants are stones that are designed to appear like diamonds but are not identical to diamonds in terms of physical or chemical composition. Simulated diamonds, such as cubic zirconia (CZ) or moissanite, have the appearance of real diamonds but are not real.
Diamond simulants don’t have the same chemical and physical properties as diamonds, so they’re less expensive. Simulants can be distinguished from natural or lab-grown diamonds by their fiery sparkle, which can be seen with the naked eye.
Materials Used in Making Diamond Simulants:
To produce diamond simulants, natural or synthetic diamonds are used to imitate them. For years, the materials used in making diamond simulants were mostly natural materials. These natural materials can be topaz, sapphire, colorless quartz, beryl, and particularly zircon.
Today, cubic zirconia and moissanite diamond simulants are famous, but they are manufactured in a lab, so they are synthetic stones. For example, cubic zirconia is made by melting powdered ingredients and then cooling the mixture to a solid-state.
Appearance-based on Density (weight to volume ratio):
Another aspect to consider is the varying densities of simulants. Simulants with more density than diamonds may look smaller than the same carat weight diamond, but a stone whose density is less than the diamond may look bigger.
When you decide to buy diamonds or diamond simulants from top Diamond companies in India, there are some factors to assess first. Most of the time, people prefer diamond simulants over diamonds as they are inexpensive compared to diamonds of the same characteristics such as color, clarity, and size.
However, the question is, ‘Are they valuable?’ The answer relies on you and your openness to each simulant’s distinct characteristics. Although no simulant is as hard as a diamond, some are tough enough to be used as ring stones.
In fact, many aren’t as brilliant or fiery as diamonds, but some rare diamond simulants have more fire. Finally, regardless of whether a simulant has less fire or more brilliance, you should see it in person to see if its unique sparkle and fire appeal to you.
You can trace the stone’s origin and can consider that factor, too! As we know, natural diamonds were formed years ago, and that adds extreme value to their cost.
And as it is considered the hardest element on earth, it can retain its value for years to come. Whereas, if you want the same characteristics of diamonds but at a reasonable price, you can opt for diamond simulants!
Before purchasing a diamond or diamond simulant, know the details about it, such as its material, originality, and lifetime, as these types of things will impact a stone’s worth. If you care for your special gems, they will shine longer with appropriate maintenance and washing.
Those that come close to replicating the real diamonds can be said to be the best diamond simulants. Both in terms of physical properties and overall appearance, they should be comparable.
Furthermore, the best diamond simulants should be nearly as tough as real diamonds so that they can be cut in the same way and have similar brilliance, scintillation, and fire.
Based on specified factors, moissanite, white sapphire, and cubic zirconia are the best stones that are very close to actual diamonds.
Diamond simulants are a beautiful substitute for diamonds, but they don’t have the same composition or optical properties as diamonds, so they don’t always hold their true value as well.
Although cubic zirconia is a well-known diamond simulant, there are a variety of other options. Moissanite and white sapphire, for example, are becoming increasingly popular diamond substitutes.
Many popular diamond simulants on the market today are highly durable and suitable for daily use so it’s essential to research the various properties of each diamond simulant to determine which is best for your particular lifestyle.
