Synthetic diamonds: new fashion?

Pepe Dávalos, a pioneer gemologist in Mexico by the Gemolical Institute of America in Vicenza, Italy.Founder of JD Jewelry.Since 2019 he has sought to expand his market taking the first step in California, USA.Where he currently only works unique pieces for Latin celebrities in this country.

TW: @tugemologo // jdjoyeros.com

IG: PEDEVALOSOFORIAL // Twitter: Pepedavalosh

• The diamond as we have talked is the most important gem in fine jewelry.For this reason, the diamond is the gem that is most frequently sought to imitate either with the intention of giving the same "look" at a lower price or with the intention of defrauding the consumer.

• It must be understood that, although most diamond imitations could be easy to identify for an expert;For the consumer it can be very easy to confuse and be able to make very expensive mistakes.

• To start talking about this issue it is important to define 2 concepts;Imitation and synthetic.

• An imitation as its name says, it is an element that mimics another.This can apply for different concepts.But when we talk about gems it is a gem that "wants to look like another."There are good or bad imitations.

• Synthetic, is the recreation in the laboratory of a material that exists in nature.Achieving the same physical and chemical characteristics as that against natural part.In many cases synthetic are difficult to identify.

There are natural gems that are used as an imitation of diamonds:

- White Zafiro

- White Topacio

- Quartz

- Zircón

You are all in its colorless varieties.

There are synthetic gems that are used as imitation of the diamond:

- Synthetic sapphire

- Synthetic Moissanita

- Synthetic ruth

- Synthetic diamond

• The “problem” that diamond imitations have is that the characteristics of the diamond are very difficult to have, starting with its hardness and through its brightness and way of refracting the light.

• The reality is that the only imitation capable of achieving this is synthetic diamond.

The 3 historical imitations:

1. Cubic Zirconia:

• It was introduced to the market in 1977 and it was a very hard blow since there was no tool and knowledge to differentiate it.

• It is obtained by dissolving together a chemical element, the zirconium, with dioxide of zirconium powder and heating everything at a very high temperature.

• Since it is a synthetic stone, cubic zirconia is perfect: it does not have the inclusions or defects that can be found in a natural stone.

• Among other things, the CZ is almost as difficult as a diamond: on the Mohs hardness scale it is 8.5, while a brilliant is the most difficult element of all and reaches 10.

• (Hardness 8.5)

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2. Synthetic Moissanita:

• The Moissanita mineral was discovered by Henri Moissan while examining rock samples from a meteorite crater located in the Diablo Canyon, Arizona, in 1893.

• Moissanita, in its natural form, is very rare.It has only been found in a few places in mantle rocks and meteorites.

• In the 80's (almost a century later) it began to seek to synthesize it in a laboratory and it was more or less in 1995 when crystals were used to be used in jewelry.

• It has many applications, ranging from its traditional use in jewelry as a diamond simulant gem.

• In general, a Moissanita stone will be sold for 10 or 15% of the price of a diamond, with similar clarity and cutting.

• (Hardness 9.25)

3. Synthetic diamond:

• The first synthetic diamond attempts have been sought since 1971.

• Some companies managed to make some crystals, but the production costs were extremely high.

• The first synthetic diamond Gem quality of 1 carat had a production cost of one million dollars.

• (hardness 10 as well as natural diamond).

• One of the precursor companies in this industry was GE (General Electric)

What process is used to make synthetic diamonds?

• Most synthetic diamonds are made by man through the following processes:

o HPHT: High pressure, high temperature.During this process, a pressure device is used to provide the correct pressure and temperature and, therefore, allow the diamond to grow, as well as during the natural process.A diamond seed is placed at the bottom of the pressure device.The soluble metal melts until it dissolves in high purity carbon.Then it is transported to the seed to settle and form a great synthetic diamond.

or CVD: chemical vapor deposition.This is a completely different method in which synthetic diamond is formed by a mixture of hydrocarbons gases.This method is considerably simpler, more flexible and more popular.

The blow to the natural diamond industry:

• Mustrs, Alrosa, Rio Tinto and the other companies that dominated the diamond market promised them very happy.But now, the business faces an even greater challenge: the diamond boom manufactured in the laboratory.With the same optical, physical and chemical properties as the natives, their takeoff puts at risk a business that moves 75,000 million euros a year.

• Given such a panorama, Musters launched its own synthetic diamond company (Lightbox).

• Lightbox will sell them to only $ 800 percoate to conquer a market in which they already invest famous such as Leonardo DiCaprio

How to know if a diamond is real or not:

• You have two options when it comes to determining real diamonds against false diamonds.

• The first option is to have the help of an expert who can do a diamond test with professional equipment.

• Or two, you can use some homemade methods to find out if your loose diamonds are real or false.

Or the sandpaper test: everything you need is sandpaper.Simply rub the sandy side of sandpaper against the stone.Diamonds are one of the hardest materials in the world, so a real diamond will not be affected by sandpaper and must remain in perfect condition.

Or complete reading proof: any diamond that is not mounted in an encagte or piece of jewelry, also known as loose diamonds, can be tested in this way.Follow these steps for the full reading test:

Or keep in mind that it is impossible to read through a real diamond, but false diamonds will let you distinguish the words printed on the page.

Or the brightness test: the refraction of the natural light of a stone cannot be altered, so the refraction of the light, or the lack of it, of a gem is usually precise.Synthetic or false stones, shine less than real or extracted diamonds.Synthetic stones such as cubic zirconite shine with more iridescent colors.Natural diamonds reflect light in more grayish tones.

o Water test: just take a glass and add water.Carefully drop the diamond loose in the glass of water.If the stone sinks, then you know it is a real diamond.If it floats below or on the surface of the water, then it is a false diamond.

Or the heat test: expose a diamond loose to an open, but controlled flame (such as that of a lighter), for about 30 to 45 seconds.Immediately after heating, put the gem in a container with cold water.

Or why this method works: diamonds drive heat well and spread it evenly throughout the stone, while false do not support heat.That is, the extreme heat and the sudden change in cold water will ruin anything other than real diamonds, so do not do this homemade test unless you are willing to ruin a false diamond.