Diamonds are the most well-known and popular gemstone, desired for their colourless appearance, hardness and fiery brilliance. There are some other terms which may be encountered when buying diamond jewellery that are also very important for the buyer to know. We are going to explore these terms, and what they mean, to better educate those who are interested in buying a diamond. The diamond is often the first choice for an engagement ring, as its durability and strength symbolize a lasting union.

Natural diamonds are between 1 to 3.3 billion years old.

Natural Diamonds

Diamonds need very specific conditions to form and there are two places in the earth where this is possible – the earth’s mantle below the continental plates and at the site of a meteor impact. Diamonds are the hardest natural material found on earth, and when they are cut into gem shapes they maintain their polish and facets better than any other gemstone. The diamonds are discovered through mining the earth to reach the kimberlite layer, or from this layer being naturally eroded over millions of years and depositing near water sources. Natural diamonds are between 1 to 3.3 billion years old. Although rare, scientists have also found deposits of small diamonds at meteor impact sites where the diamonds were formed under the heat and pressure of the impact. Cools into igneous rocks called kimberlite. The magma carries the diamonds upwards as it flows. Diamonds are carried to the earth’s surface by deep volcanic eruptions which create pipes in the earth that are filled with magma. Diamonds are composed of the element carbon that has been exposed to extremely high temperatures and extremely high pressure.

Diamond Simulants

A simulant may be artificial, natural, or a combination of the two. At first he thought he had discovered diamonds but later he identified them as silicon carbide. CZs are inexpensive to create. Classic moissanite has a slight gray, yellow or green hue which is especially noticeable in sunlight. This increases the material’s hardness, loss of luster through wear, and imitates a diamonds dispersion. Therefore cost a fraction of what a real diamond costs. All forms of it found today are created in a laboratory. It is not as hard as a diamond, so it is less durable and more prone to scratching. Moissanite costs significantly less than diamond of the same size and weight. You may also encounter diamond-coated cubic zirconia being sold in jewellery. Moissanite displays strong brilliance but it is different than that of diamond, in that it exhibits rainbow flashes that can have a “disco ball” effect. A diamond expert is able to determine if a stone is moissanite or diamond. Moissanite is quite strong and durable for everyday wear, however it is not as hard as diamond. Naturally occurring silicon carbide is extremely rare. Cubic zirconia using a magnifying loupe. It is very easy for a diamond expert to tell the difference between diamond. Cubic zirconia is optically flawless, usually colourless, and displays a nice brilliance. The most common diamond simulants used in jewellery are cubic zirconia, moissanite, and high-leaded glass, or rhinestones, which are usually only found in fashion jewellery.

Synthetic Diamonds

Synthetic diamonds are produced in an artificial process, such as a laboratory, rather than a geological process. HPHT was more commonly used for creating synthetic fancy coloured diamonds, as doping the process with nitrogen or boron would create a coloured diamond. The process must be very carefully controlled. Since the discovery that diamonds were made of pure carbon in 1797, scientists have been looking for a way to convert it into diamond. A synthetic diamond is the same material as a natural diamond – pure crystallized carbon. These machines are extremely expensive. Should always be disclosed to the buyer. These diamonds sell for 20-30% less than a natural diamond. However, the companies that create these diamonds are becoming more advanced all the time, and are frequently making large and colourless diamonds. This process places a carbon source, a small diamond “seed” and a metallic solvent in a large press which is then placed under extreme pressure and high temperatures to produce a diamond. Traditionally these processes have had difficulty creating colourless diamonds. The gas is then activated and broken down by microwaves which causes the carbon atoms to accumulate on the diamond seed. To determine whether a diamond is natural or synthetic a diamond expert would use various gemological equipment to determine its origin.

Decision Time

Knowing the difference between natural, simulant and synthetic diamonds helps the buyer make an educated decision. I am personally drawn to the natural diamond as a symbol of something that has endured over billions of years and is still strong and beautiful. People who are looking to buy natural diamonds also do so for different reasons. Some people are looking for something that will be an investment or hold its value over time. Other people are drawn to the traditional idea of the diamond as a symbol of love and strength. The main reasons people are interested in buying simulants or synthetics is that they cost less than a natural diamond, and the fact that they are created in a laboratory means less environmental impact and an absolute certainty that they are conflict free.