Man Made Diamonds
|
| Cost | Hardness | No Flaws | Colorless | Brilliance | Fire | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diamonds | Highest | 10.0 | Rare | Rare | Higher | High |
| Nexus Simulant | Lower | 9.10 | Yes | Yes | Higher | High |
| Moissanite Simulant | Medium | 9.25 | Yes | Slight Tint | Highest | Highest |
| Cubic Zirconia Simulant | Lowest | 8.5 | Yes | Yes | High | Higher |
| HPHT Synthetic | Higher | 10.0 | Nearly | Yes | Higher | High |
| CVD Synthetic | Higher | 10.0 | Nearly | Yes | Higher | High |
Comparing Synthetic Diamonds to Real Diamonds:
- From the table, you can see that synthetic lab diamonds are extremely similar to real diamonds. The only difference: most synthetic diamonds are less expensive than real diamonds, and they are nearly flawless whereas most diamonds have some inclusions and blemishes.
- The only major con towards synthetic diamonds is the price; you can save thousands of dollars with the purchase of fancy color synthetic diamonds, but they are still priced much higher than simulant diamonds.
Comparing Simulant Diamonds to Real Diamonds:
- Simulant diamonds are not as hard as a real diamond, their brilliance and fire is not exactly like a real diamond, and unlike most real diamonds they are flawless.
- The biggest pro towards simulant diamonds is their cost. A one carat colorless loose cubic zirconia is around $40.00, a one carat colorless loose Nexus diamond is around $100.00, and a loose one carat moissanite diamond is around $320.00.
- The biggest con towards a simulant diamond is their difference in brilliance and fire. The Nexus simulant comes close to looking like a real diamond, a moissanite diamond has the highest brilliance and fire which can create a 'disco ball' effect that is undesirable to some consumers, and the cubic zirconia has a lower brilliance, but higher fire, than real diamonds.
- Another con: While Nexus and moissanite diamonds are so hard they cannot be scratched under most circumstances, the cubic zirconia diamond can scratch with long term wear and it has a tendency to absorb oils. As a result, a cubic zirconia diamond may appear cloudy if scratches accumulate on the surface and if it is not regularly cleaned.
- The moissanite diamond, like most real diamonds, is not colorless. These diamonds have a very light tint of yellow or brown which may or may not be visible to the naked eye.
Buying Tips for Man Made Diamonds:
- Before you purchase a man made diamond, always check to see if the company offers a guarantee or warranty in case the diamond becomes damaged or lost.
- Just like real diamonds, artificial diamonds should be graded and certified (an exception is cubic zirconia diamonds).
- If you are looking for an affordable diamond ring, try purchasing a loose diamond and then have it set in an affordable material such as stainless steel, tungsten, palladium, or titanium.
Do You Have Questions Or Comments About Man Made Diamonds?
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I will post answers to your questions as soon as possible!
What Other Visitors Have Said
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Carat Difference in Size in Cubic Zirconia
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I keep buying cubic zirconia rings, and when they arrive they look huge! I would like a 1 - 2 carat ring, but what is the carat difference so I can make ...
Where to Find a Synthetic Diamond?
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Where would you buy a synthetic diamond?
Hi Elle,
Lab created synthetic diamonds - which have the exact same physical and chemical properties as ...
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