Diamonds continue to have an extremely high price tag but people in these modern times are now presented with several various options. While they may not have the budget to buy the real ones, they may be able to get hold of some imitations that look so much like the most valued stones. They can go for either diamond simulants or man made diamonds and still enjoy some of the benefits provided by a real diamond.
There is a big difference between a diamond simulant and a man made diamond. For one, a diamond simulant does not contain the same chemical composition, atomic structure, and physical properties that real diamonds are known to have. They only “simulate” the appearance of the real stones. A man made diamond, also known as synthetic diamond, on the other hand, may contain the same chemical composition, physical properties and atomic structure as real diamonds only that they are created in laboratories instead of mined. Both may possess the same appearance and beauty of the real stones.
Simulated diamonds as well as synthetic diamonds need to be created with diamond-like properties to be considered as a great substitute for the real stones. Properties to be considered include refractive index, hardness, luster, durability, and color characteristics to name a few. Refractive index refers to the measurement of how light bends when it enters the stone. Hardness and durability refer to how the stone resist scratches and damage as it comes into contact with some other objects. Luster refers to the stone’s brilliance.
Simulants are broken down into different types and categories. These include cubic zirconia, moissanite, synthetic rutile, zircon, and YAG to name a few. Cubic zirconia or CZ is created out of zirconium oxide (ZrO2) and is among the most popular simulants because of its close resemblance to diamonds. It has a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale and a refractive index of 2.15-2.18, a close comparison to the refractive index of diamonds which falls at 2.42. Introduced into the market in 1977, CZ is considered to be the oldest simulant used as a substitute for diamond. It is also considered as the second best diamond substitute. Cubic zirconia is not to be confused with zircon, another type of simulant.
Moissanite is considered to be the best diamond substitute in the world. Its close resemblance to the real stones makes it harder for even some of the most experienced jewelers to identify it as an imitation. Moissanite has a refractive index of 2.65-2.69 and has a hardness of 9.25. A real diamond has a hardness of 10. Compared to a real diamond, a moissanite has more brilliance and luster.
Other types of simulated diamonds may not easily fool unwary buyers as genuine stones because they may have characteristics that sell them out as fake diamonds.
Diamond simulants are primarily created for the jewelry-making industry. They differ greatly from man made diamonds on this aspect as synthetic diamonds are largely created for industrial use. The latter is primarily produced in high volumes and for the purpose of cutting tools in large industries. Recently, they have been used by the semiconductor industry as heat sinks.
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