Diamonds have for countless centuries enchanted, captivated and almost hypnotized man (and woman) like no other gemstone. With time, however, whether because of cleverness or craftiness, jewelers figured that some rocks and artificial materials could be made and passed off as real diamonds.
From the word “simulate” or “simulation”, a diamond simulant is an object that has some features and characteristics of a real diamond, like hardness, brilliance, and dispersion, and therefore can easily pass off as real diamond. Diamond stimulants can be artificial or natural.
A diamond simulant may also be referred to as:
- A diamond imitation.
- Fake diamond.
- Simulated diamond.
- Faux diamond.
Types Of Diamond Simulants
The following are some common examples of diamond simulants:
Rhinestones
Just like the name suggests, these were literally stones from the Rhine River, the huge watercourse that transverses Europe. At the moment, however, rhinestones can be made from materials like quartz or plastic. Depending on how the color eventually comes out, rhinestones can subsequently be sold off as diamonds.
This is how you can identify a rhinestone from a real diamond.
Rhinestones are easier to scratch, unlike real diamonds, which are almost impossible to scratch, being the hardest mineral on earth. . Their facets are also a little more round. Additionally, rhinestones retain fog better and longer than true diamonds. If you breathe on a rhinestone, the gemstone will be foggy for about 7 minutes on average.
Cubic Zirconia
Cubic Zirconia is sometimes just abbreviated as CZ. If you have a ring, these initials are sometimes stamped on the inside of the ring.
While CZ’s have a lower refractive index—a measure of brilliance—relative to real diamonds, they have higher dispersion, hence they are more colorful than real diamonds.
Moissanite
A moissanite is made from silicon carbide, also known as carborundum. It derives its name from the scientist who first discovered it, a Frenchman and a Nobel laureate by the name Henri Moissan.
According to the GIA (Gemological Institute Of America), a Moissanite is the closest simulant to a real diamond. This is based on the measure of refraction (brilliance), dispersion (colorfulness), hardness, and gravity.
In case you’re shopping for a diamond ring or any piece of jewelry, contact us today and start the journey of bringing more enchanting sparkles to your wardrobe.
