In general, most people love diamonds, but are deterred by the cost of owning them. The once popular synthetic cubic zirconia (CZ), an inexpensive option, is heavy and lacks the brilliance that makes diamonds so desirable. In large sizes, CZs don't even look real to the naked eye. How, then, can one purchase the fire and sparkle at a reasonable price? Lab- created gems have come of age. They are no longer poor substitutes for the real thing - they are the real thing. In fact, they go one step farther -- these stones are flawless.
Cultured, or man-made, stones are the same carbon crystals with the same chemical, optical and physical properties as those stones that nature created in the underground mines throughout the world. Cultured stones offer the same brilliance, sparkle, fire and scintillation. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) grades the cultured gems by the same standards it uses for the mined ones, although its rating describes the stones as "laboratory grown." In fact, the GIA acknowledges that these ARE diamonds, just man-made.
In nature, certain impurities will result in colored diamonds - nitrogen will create yellow, boron will create blue, and so forth. Because high quality colored stones are rare in nature, they are usually very expensive. In addition to being flawless, lab-created diamonds can easily be colored. The costs for these highly coveted colored stones is pretty comparable to the cost for colorless stones.
Like their counterparts, man-made diamonds can be purchased either loose, or already in jewelry settings. However, you are unlikely to find these cultured stones in most jewelry or department stores. They have only recently made an appearance on the market, and represent a very small part of the total diamond inventory out there.
Some differences to be aware of with man-made diamonds include:
1. They are generally available in 1-2 carat weights. Larger stones are made, but are the exception, rather than the rule.
2. Most man-made stones are colored, rather than colorless - exactly the opposite of what occurs in nature.
3. Experts can detect that these gems are "synthetic" but special equipment is required to be sure and this equipment is expensive.
4. It is not difficult to find "matched pairs" of identical stones for use in jewelry. This of course has historically been very difficult and expensive in natural stones.
So, should you be concerned that someone will try to pass off a man-made diamond to you as the "real thing?' This is probably not all that likely if you are purchasing from someone reputable. First of all, the manufacturers of the lab-grown diamonds are very proud of the gems they are able to produce. Secondly, these are actually diamonds rather than "cheap" imitations. Thirdly, the difference in the stones is detectable. And lastly, jewelers have every incentive to preserve the integrity of the natural diamond market, so a jeweler will readily help you identify what you are getting.
The bottom line is you will be able to purchase more for less, but you are unlikely to be able to get lab-grown diamonds on a beer budget. You can expect to pay approximately one third less for lab produced stones than for those found in nature. Lab-produced stones are readily available via the internet, and openly advertise that these are "synthetics." But, as with all internet purchases, be sure to check out the vendor as carefully as possible before you buy.
Looking for quality diamonds that won't break the bank? The only eco-friendly diamond producer named by Earthshare, JewelNet.com is the premiere producer of man-made diamonds. They offer loose stones, bridal jewelry, pendants and earrings with certified stones in six different colors. Visit the website for a free e-book on Diamond Savings. Powered by SEO 2.0 Services
