There are a number of precious and semi-precious stones similar to diamonds both in appearance and very similar in physical properties. Some of these stones are natural stones, but most of them are synthetic analogues of minerals rarely found in nature. Artificial crystals in our time are grown in the laboratory. This industry is very widespread.
White Sapphire
In mineralogy, only the blue variety of the mineral is called sapphire, all the rest, with the exception of ruby, are called corundum. White sapphire is a colorless, pure form of alumina and does not contain oxides of other metals that color corundum in various shades.
The white variety of sapphire is used as a diamond imitation, or rather, a reasonable alternative to an expensive diamond. This very diamond-like stone is second only to diamond in hardness - 9 on the Mohs scale. The stone is almost impossible to damage. Unless, of course, purposefully scratch it with technical diamond or corundum.
White Topaz
White topaz, a natural semi-precious stone, aluminum silicate, with a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale, is considered relatively fragile by jewelers. It has a strong glassy luster with a slight pearly sheen. A well-cut stone looks like a real diamond. In jewelry, only a specialist can distinguish them.
Transparent sapphire and topaz are not imitations, they should rather be called analogues of diamonds.
Moissanite
Moissanite is a crystalline form of silicon carbide. Rare, usually found in or near meteorite craters. Almost all moissanite used in the jewelry industry is an artificially produced mineral.
Because of its hardness (9.5 on the Mohs scale), this imitation mineral is closest to diamond in terms of durability. The stone looks like a diamond, but differs greatly from it in optical properties.
Moissanite outshines diamonds. It's not a joke. The stone perfectly reflects light. The dispersion coefficient of moissanite significantly exceeds the dispersion coefficient of diamond. A beam of white light is decomposed into monochromatic rays of the entire spectrum of the rainbow. The stone shimmers like the lights of neon advertising, and this slightly vulgar sheen immediately betrays the imitator. However, many people often refer to moissanite as an artificial diamond.
For lovers of glamor without the epic price tag of half a year's salary, this is the perfect stone.
Cubiczirconium
For the first time synthesized in the cubic system in 1970 for the needs of the optical industry, the zirconium dioxide crystal immediately attracted the attention of jewelers with its potential as a diamond simulant. In the Soviet Union, it was called fianite, the technology was developed by scientists from the Physical Institute of the Academy of Sciences. In the West, the stone is called zirconium, zirconite and is abbreviated CZ.
Artificially melt-grown in the laboratory in unlimited quantities and at an affordable price, the crystal was immediately aptly defined as a "diamond for the people".
Today it is one of the most popular diamond substitutes. It can be found in the products of famous jewelry brands and mass-produced luxury jewelry.
The stone has optical properties very close to those of diamonds. But not only these unique properties contributed to the widespread use of cubic zirconia in jewelry. The stone is fantastically cheap: one carat cubic zirconia costs about $20 on the world market. The growing technology is such that the crystal growth rate ranges from 8 to 10 mm/hour.
The main difference between cubic zirconia and diamond is hardness, it is 8.5 on the Mohs scale. The stone is easily damaged and quickly wears out, loses its luster. By specific gravity, cubic zirconia is much heavier than diamond.
Visually determine which stone in jewelry, zirconium or diamond, can onlyexperienced connoisseur. Artificially grown crystals are always flawless, they do not have the defects that are often found in natural gemstones. By the way, this is the main express analysis used by jewelers. Comparing a diamond and cubic zirconia does not require long and complex analyzes. If a gemstone looks like a diamond but has no flaws and is perfect, it is undoubtedly cubic zirconia.
Zirconium is the leader in the use for making stylish jewelry with cutting-edge design. A stone in jewelry can look both elegant and brutal, depending on the size and color of the crystal.
Zionite crystal growth technology has improved over the years to such an extent that the color of the crystals varies from transparent to black.
Pomegranate
Colorless crystals are not found among natural garnets. But synthetic varieties of minerals in the laboratory can be created with any given color characteristics.
All colorless garnet crystals are of artificial origin and are used in jewelry as an analogue of a diamond. It is mainly used in earrings, necklaces, pendants and pendants, since garnet is much softer than diamond - the hardness of synthetic garnet ranges from 7.5 to 8.5 on the Mohs scale. Its advantage as a diamond simulant is its brilliance: the colorless variety of the mineral has a diamond brilliance.
Spinel
A rare mineral, a mixture of aluminum and magnesium oxides. Transparent, uncolored varieties of spinel are sometimes used as imitation diamonds. The diamond-like stone has a bright glassy luster and good optical properties.
Like all substitutes, spinel is softer (about 8.0 on the Mohs scale) than real diamond.
Rutile
Rutile is a natural mineral, pure titanium dioxide. Belongs to the category of semi-precious and ornamental stones. There is a developed industry for the production of a synthetic analogue of rutile. In nature, colorless variations of the stone are not found, but in laboratory conditions it is elementary to grow a crystal without impurities. Sometimes used as a simulated diamond.
This is a fairly soft mineral, with a hardness on the Mohs scale of 6.0-6.5. Such hardness is considered insufficient for jewelry inserts in expensive metals, since even dust particles can leave scratches on them with strong friction. Rutile crystals are commonly used in the production of jewelry for the mass consumer.
Choice: diamond or…
Certainly, diamonds can be some girls' best friends. But not all and not always.
Yes, they are beautiful, durable, amazingly sparkle. They are timeless and out of fashion. Expensive and too classic if you're the kind of modern girl who wants to wear something different on her ring finger.
For many centuries there has been an unshakable rule of etiquette: ladies under thirty-five do not wear diamonds. The stone was a symbol of the achievement of its owner of the "Balzac age", andwhat kind of lady is ready to admit to being old?
Didn't wear diamond jewelry until 5pm either. An evening gem, a diamond shows off its charm best when exposed to multi-directional artificial lighting, whether it's candle flames or modern energy-saving lamps.
The custom of giving the bride an engagement ring with a diamond, without fail, arose as a result of a clever and targeted marketing campaign by De Beers in the thirties of the XX century. This was the only concession society made. A diamond engagement ring is worn all the time, and this is not bad manners.
Modern jewelry dress code is not so categorical. The main thing in choosing everyday jewelry: a sense of style and proportion. A large diamond in a ring on the hand of a lady walking a shepherd dog in a tracksuit looks as ridiculous as a swimsuit on a ski trip.
