Diamond is one of the world’s most popular gemstones. Its dazzling appearance and universal appeal have inspired a wide variety of less-expensive look-alike material. Some of them come from ground and others from lab. The imitations are known as simulants, and of all, few of them are more successful and are quite attractive. But still no simulants has come close to matching the brilliance, fire and lustre of a natural diamond.
The one thing that makes simulants important to the jewelry industry is that they are more widely available and are less expensive than a diamond.
In this blog we are going to discuss about various simulants from both early times and modern times.
GLASS
Glass has been an effective diamond imitation since 1700s. European glassmakers used to add lead oxide to glass to make it more reflective and brilliant. Glass jewels can add dazzle to fashion jewelry without adding to its cost. And can imitate diamonds and colored stones.
But how to differentiate between a diamond and a glass ?
Glass has much lower brilliance, lustre and hardness than a diamond, making it easier to recognize.
RHINESTONES / FOILBACKS
All stones backed with metal foil – foilback are not necessary be an imitation. Before 18th century, almost all transparent gems which includes diamonds were backed with a foil to give color and improve brilliance. In modern days, rather than metal foils a mirroring film is used to give brilliance and color. Rhinestones are widely used in glamorous, sparkly jewelry which are quite affordable too.
FOILBACK
YAG and GGG
In the late 1960s, scientist started developing a number of lab grown diamonds with garnet like cubic crystal structure. Apparently, Yttrium Aluminum Garnet is the first lab grown diamond to be used as a diamond simulant. YAG was heavily promoted and one of the most famous promotions being used for Cartier’s replica of the 62.42 carat Taylor-Burton diamond. With newer and better diamond simulants, YAG gradually lost its popularity. It also lacked the diamond like fire.
Gadolinium Gallium Garnet or commonly known as GGG was the next garnet like material used as a diamond simulants. It even showed diamond like fire as its dispersion was similar. But the biggest drawback was its hardness and therefore was prone to scratching unlike a diamond. It was also heavier than a a diamond.
YAG ( YTTRIUM ALUMINIUM GARNET )
SYNTHETIC CUBIC ZIRCONIA
CZ is a modern day simulant which entered the market as early as 1970s. It is most of the most widely used diamond simulants. CZ is almost as brilliant and lustrous as a diamond, and is even quite durable. It comes in variety of shapes and colors and reasonably priced. It is widely used in silver jewelry.
Due to its closeness to diamonds, thieves have been using it as a good counterfeit. There have been a lot cases wherein the CZ were sold by mixing them with the parcels of real diamonds and even rough diamonds.
Natural diamond (left), and various diamond simulants: (inner left to right) synthetic rutile, gadolinium gallium garnet (or GGG), synthetic spinel, strontium titanate, synthetic corundum, yittrium aluminum garnet (or YAG), and colorless zircon.
SYNTHETIC MOISSANITE
Synthetic Moissanite was first developed for industrial use as an abrasive due to its superior hardness- 9 1/4 on Mohs scale. It was introduced as a diamond simulant in 1990s. Moissanite tends to be slightly yellowish or greenish and is slightly less brilliant than a diamond but has more fire than a diamond and even CZ.
It is the first and only diamond simulant which can even fool some thermal testers. Due to its heat conducting properties, some thermal testers registers it as a diamond instead of a simulant.
Synthetic Moissanite
Always be aware that, no matter how careful you are, outside influences can affect your judgement. Most people who walk into a dealer’s office or a jewelry store are legitimate, but a few are not. Dishonest people have ways of encouraging you to accept simulants as natural diamonds. At Caratique, every single diamond goes through proper testing to rule out any diamond simulants or imitations before being purchased from legitimate source. All our diamonds are purchased from reliable and ethical sources and are conflict free. Feel free to book an appointment with us at www.caratique.com .
Thank you for reading :)
Source of information :-
GIA