Diamond Simulants

Definition

A diamond expert is able to discern a loose diamond from a simulant just by eye alone, and is unconcerned with the following tests to separate the various impersonators, but we have included some of the differences for interest.
Many jewellers use some of the tests for their own piece of mind, and no doubt you will already have seen a jeweller using one of the many diamond testers available on the market, the most common being the thermal tester. This is however unable to distinguish between diamond and the new simulant Moissanite, and can occasionally fool the inexperienced appraiser.

Diamond simulant has the same meaning as imitation and refers to any material that has the appearance of diamond but does not posess the characteristics, atomic structure, chemical composition or physical properties of natural diamond. Simulants commonly include Cubic Zirconia, Colour less Synthetic Corundum (sapphire), Synthetic Spinel, Strontium Titanate, Yttrium Aluminium Garnet (YAG), Gadolinium Gallium Garnet (GGG), and Glass (Paste).

Original document: http://www.jewellerycatalogue.co.uk/diamonds/simulants_info.php

Diamond simulants categories

We can split simulants into five further sub categories:

Gems

These are natural stones having the appearance of diamond. Stones include Sapphire, topaz, Beryl, Quartz, Zircon; all in their colourless forms.

Natural Synthetics

These are manufactured stones that have the same chemical composition, atomic structure, and physical properties of a natural counterpart. They are man made and include: Synthetic Rutile, Synthetic Sapphire, and Synthetic Spinel. The term cultured is starting to be applied to synthetics.

Artificial Synthetics

These are the manufactured stones that have no natural counterpart and include: Strontium Titanate, Yttrium Aluminate (YAG) and Cubic Zirconia.

Imitations

Glasses of differing densities, often referred to a paste.

Composites

Stones were often constructed from more than one stone to enhance particular properties. Glass for example is very soft and to prevent the surface from scratching a layer of harder material was bonded to the surface. These stones are often referred to a doublets.

Articles

Diamond Substitutes - What is the Real Deal?
What word bonds all the following adjectives? Treated, Substitute, Synthetic, Simulant, Enhanced. Give Up? ... Diamonds. But what really is a treated diamond, a man-made diamond or a diamond simulant and just how easy can they be detected? A diamantaire's greatest nightmare is unwittingly buying a diamond simulant....

Synthetic and Simulant
Synthetic and simulant are terminology used by the USBM for laboratory grown gemstones. Others in the gemstones industry may use different terms to refer to laboratory grown gemstones. Laboratory grown synthetic gemstones have essentially the same appearance and optical, physical, and chemical properties as the natural material that they represent.

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Main Simulants

White Sapphire
White Topaz
Zircon
Synthetic Rutile
YAG
Cubic Zirconia
Synthetic Moissanite

Diamond Simulants Retailers

Living in the age of Internet jewelery retailers are turning to on-line market these days. On the one hand it is easier to purchase jewelry from the comfort of your house, but on the other it can take hours to surf the net to find detailed information about diamond retailers. Moreover, if you want to purchase diamond simulant you should be aware of simulants producers, retailers, technology used to simulate the stone and the property of gem hybrids. Here is the list of most known diamond simulants retailers and their products:

Asha is fake diamond of high quality. Though some can find it hard to differentiate Asha simulant from real diamond, in fact it is just cubic zirconia with the upper layer of special coating that makes the stone look like natural diamond. Each Asha simulant undergoes Amorphous diamond treatment (ADT) in a special chamber. ADT process applies microscopic diamond crystals onto the surface of CZ and makes it shine like diamond. Even though Asha hybrid stones are harder than usual cubic zirconia, they still can't compete with real diamond hardness property. Asha simulants are comprised of CZ and amorphous diamonds both of which make simulated stones to be a bit tougher, however the coating can be scratched while polishing as polishers usually contain diamond powder. In addition, Asha stone should not be overheated as micro diamond crystals of outer layer can be damaged, they can even turn into graphite, in this case the gem will turn into blackened and cracked stone. One more peculiarity of Asha simulants is that you can't order the stone of a certain size and color, just choose the one among those offered by the retailer. As for the price, 1 carat of Princess cut Asha stone will cost you from $150 to $325.

MiaDonna Diamond Hybrid is mostly like Asha diamond simulants as they use the same technology of applying the coating. MiaDonna diamond simulant consists of cubic zirconia core which is usually called a seed, on which the layer of cultured diamond micro crystals is applied. Due to such technology CZ acquires non-pores surface which is a bit harder and tougher if compared to usual untreated cubic zirconia. Still such diamond hybrid is prone to damage like scratching and breakage while applying some force. Though MiaDonna is considered to be a nice equivalent to natural diamond stones, it differs from real gems by its chemical components, thus does not possess all the properties of real diamonds. MiaDonna simulant is heavier and does not possess thermal conductivity property, instead it can get damaged at high temperature. Still it is rather bright and can boast to have near-to-diamond luster. As MiaDonna diamond hybrid is claimed to have optical properties of naturally-occurring diamond and good wearproof property the price for such stones is a bit higher than for usual diamond simulants. For example, cushion cut 1.5ct MiaDonna simulant costs around $540 while Asha simulant of the same cut and size costs from $225 to $337.

Diamantine is the name of the diamond simulant produced by Serenity Technologies. The company was founded in 2001 in Temecula, California, the United States. Serenity Technologies focuses on nanotechnology and has developed a range of brand new products with the application of its unique technology, and diamond simulants are among of them. Diamantine is nicely cut cubic zirconia with diamond-like coating. Nanocrystalline diamond coating is applied to cubic zirconia core in certain conditions like high heat and pressure. Thus, Diamantine could be identified by its chemical components, which are surely different than those found in natural diamonds. At the same time, diamond simulants of this sort possess optical characteristics of real diamonds like fire and luster, however possess medium to low toughness and hardness properties. Moreover, Diamantine contains specific trace elements which are not visible for naked eye, still give negative results when tested for diamonds. Price for one carat of Diamantine varies depending on the cut-shape, for instance round hearts and arrows gem costs $160 per carat while royal asscher costs $85 per carat.

Diamalite is the ideal (as the producer claims) cubic zirconia. Diamalite is produced by a private company found in Peachtree City, Georgia, USA. This diamond simulant is the hand-cut CZ which is treated by special DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating. DLC refers to unique technology used to enchant gem's physical and optical properties. The process of coating application takes time and special conditions as it is thoroughly spread over each cutting surface of cubic zirconia. As a result, a stone with fire and luster of real diamond appears. This hybrid diamond simulant is non-porous, so it keeps its color for quite a long time. However, Diamalite differs from its natural prototype by weight (it is heavier), chemical components (it is CZ, a form of zirconium dioxide not of carbon) and hardness (it does not possess the unique diamond hardness and is prone to breakage). Diamalite could be of fancy colors due to special treatment the gems undergo at AzoticR company. Some of the stones are coated at Serenity Technologies with the application of nanotechnologies. 1 carat of asscher cut Diamalite would cost you from $45 to $67 and you can buy 3 carats of the same stone for $135-$202.

Russian Brilliants is both the name of the company founded in 2000 in San Diego, California, and the name of the product offered by this company. Russian brilliant is diamond simulant, not real diamond or created diamond. Though on their official website Russian Brilliants do not mention what their brilliants are made of, still the stones are made on the base of high quality cubic zirconia with application of diamond-like coating. Thus Russian brilliants have the same properties as those of other diamond simulants like Asha, Diamantine or Diamalite. The stones are heavier than real diamonds and not so hard and tough, as a result simulated gem can be scratched or broken. In addition, if you have the ring with Russian Brilliant gem and want to change the size of the ring, you may have problems as the torch tool is used for that purpose. Russian Brilliants do not thermal conductivity property natural diamonds have, so they can be easily damaged. Nevertheless, these diamond simulants are rather bright and brilliant resembling real diamond gem. 1 carat of Russian brilliant loose stone costs $280 regardless the stone cut.

Diamond Nexus Labs is a known brand of simulated gems such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds. The company is located in Franklin, Wisconsin. Diamond Nexus is an on-line retailer with the only single shop in Mayfair Mall, Wisconsin. While the majority of diamond simulants are mostly CZ with applied coating, Diamond Nexus simulants are synthesized stones consisting of carbon, oxygen, zirconim, cobalt, iron and four more chemical elements. They are not real diamonds as you see, however they are not pure cubic zirconia. Stones of such chemical composition possess better properties: they are a bit harder than CZ and less porous, as a result they remain sparkle for a long time. Still, Diamond Nexus simulants do not possess unique properties of natural diamonds due to the fact both of these stones have various chemical properties. But Diamond Nexus simulant is bring enough to look like diamond. The main advantage of Diamond Nexus simulated stones is that they could be of various sizes starting from 0.11 carats up to 16.03 carats and even larger. In addition, Diamond Nexus offers fancy colored diamond simulants such as canary, blue, champagne, pale yellow, brown and pink. A platinum engagement ring with 0.84ct cushion cut diamond simulant costs around $500.

Sona Diamonds is the Israel company that claims it has found unique formula A1203 that helps to manufacture man made diamonds. In fact, Sona Diamonds are not man made diamonds, as the latter should possess the same chemical, physical and optical properties of natural diamond stones. In addition, the main slogan of this company is that their gems have natural diamond inside. In reality, Sona Diamonds are hybrid diamond simulants of absolutely different chemical composition. Though on its official website the company claims it offers equal alternative to natural diamond, the independent testing has shown opposite results: on one hand, Sona Diamonds stones have low concentration of carbon, which means the stones do not contain natural diamonds inside as it has been claimed; on the other hand, the concentration of oxygen is rather high which bodes the stones are yttrium-stabilized CZ, in other words old cubic zirconia where water and carbon dioxide reacted with Zn and caused the isolation of oxygen in abundance. So, Sona Diamonds are usual CZ hidden under the name of man made diamonds. As for the price, engagement ring with 3 carats of Sona Diamonds costs around $1500. If you want to know how much loose stones cost, you should contact the company to identify the price.

Charles & Colvard is the name of the company known for their advanced technology used to create Moissanite in laboratory conditions. Chemical composition of moissanite differs from chemistry of natural diamond, it is silicon carbide (SiC). The peculiarity of this synthetic gem is its high reflective index that makes the gem shine. It gives the opportunity to compare moissanite with diamond. Still, moissanite possess different optical as well as physical and chemical properties than diamond. Moissanite is rather tough and hard (its hardness rates at 9.25, while diamond's is 10 and CZ's is 8.5), so it is just perfect for every day wear and it can't be easily scratched or broken. When compared with cubic zirconia, moissanite can boast to be harder and nearly two times brighter than CZ (even brighter than natural diamonds). In addition, it is wearproof and does not become cloudy after a time. Moissanite is lighter in weight than diamond, so it is usually sold in carat size equivalent to diamond, for example 0.870 round cut moissanite which equals to 1 carat of diamond costs about $290.

Secrets Shhh stones are diamond simulants created on the base of zirconium oxide, naturally-occurring mineral. On applying intense heat this element turns into synthetic fine gem. Having nothing in common with diamond (neither physical properties, nor chemical composition) nevertheless the stone possesses excessive fire and brilliance, that is why it has found its niche in jewelry market. Secrets shhh diamond simulants are less harder than diamonds (rating only 8.5 on Mohs scale) which surely reduces stone's wearproof property. In addition, one should be very neat while wearing Secrets' jewelry as their diamond simulants are prone to scratching. However, Secrets stones are rather bright and shiny and non-professionals can think they resemble diamonds. Still, the secret is revealed - it is CZ inside Sectrets stones, which is rather hard and bring but can't compete real diamonds. The price for Secrets stone is affordable, for example 14k white gold ring with 1ct round cut Sectrets diamond simulant costs about $495.

Carat Jewellery Limited was found in 1991 in Hong Kong. Carat is specializing on manufacturing simulated diamonds, multi-color gems, pearls, coral and turquoise gems. Despite company's location more than a half of all jewelry products is exported to the United States, the rest goes to Taiwan. On their official website you can find detailed information about the company and its policy, however nothing is said about what Carat gems are made of. In addition, there are no prices on the website, just the collection of jewelry, so you have to contact the administration to identify the price. Still it is known that the prices vary between $300 and $20,000.