FAKE DIAMOND SIMULANTS AND SYNTHETICS
IF IT DOESN'T SAY "DIAMOND", IT'S NOT A DIAMOND
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Don’t be fooled.
Don’t be fooled into thinking a fake diamond (or diamond simulant) is a real diamond just because of the name.
It may look like a diamond, but that doesn’t mean it is one.
There are plenty of fake diamonds on the market. And there is an easy way to separate the fakes from the real…
Check the name.
For a stone to be sold as a “diamond”, it has to be a real diamond. Anything else will have to be disclosed and labeled correctly (i.e. diamond simulant).
Just recently I saw an ad in a magazine for a diamond simulant called “DiamondAura”
DiamondAura is not a real diamond. It’s not even a fancy name for a name brand diamond (like the LEO diamond, which is a real diamond with extra facets). DiamondAura is a diamond simulant.
A substitute.
It’s a fake stone.
Fake diamond clues:
There are usually a couple of big clues that separate the real diamonds from the fake.
They are:
- Colorless
- Flawless
- More fire or dispersion
Let’s take a closer look at them:
Colorless:
Most diamond replicas (imposters) will be pure white in color. Too white. If they were a real diamond they would be considered colorless (D color), which is the highest color range there is. To get a diamond without color is extremely rare.
Most diamonds are not pure white. They have a little color to them like a slight yellow hue. So seeing a bright white stone makes it look too good to be true.
To me, it just screams “fake.”
Flawless:
Simulants generally are flawless. They have zero inclusions or flaws in the stone. Which is totally the opposite of what mother nature does. Diamonds have imperfections, that’s just the way it is. It’s also what helps distinguish diamonds from fake ones. If it looks too perfect… It usually is.
More fire or dispersion:
Fake stones usually have more flashes of color in them (called fire or dispersion). Like a CZ’s for example. CZ’s (or cubic zirconia) have more flashes of color in them than a diamond does because they have a higher dispersion value.
Read more: CZ vs Diamond.
Stones that emit such a colorful display are a huge giveaway.
Other clues…
There are other factors as well that help separate real diamonds from fake:
- Durability
- Metal
- Price
Durability:
No gemstone is equal to a diamond when it comes to durability. Diamond is the king of hardness.
All of the other gemstones and simulants will show signs of wear and tear over time. Things like: chipping, breaking, dulling up or losing their sparkle.
CZ’s are known for becoming dull and lifeless, and this is because they scratch too easily.
The softer a stone is, the more it will scratch (it’s impossible to scratch a diamond – unless you use another diamond).
The DiamondAura in the magazine listed the stone’s hardness as “cuts glass“. This claim is silly to say. “Cuts glass” should not be a determining factor of whether a stone is durable or not.
Tons of materials and gemstones cut glass.
That means nothing.
Glass is soft. Anything higher up than glass on the MOH’s scale of hardness will cut it.
Glass is a 6-7 on the MOH’s scale.
Take a look at some of the other things that will cut glass:
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Everything cuts glass.
So you see, pretty much everything can cut such a soft material. Even Emeralds and Onyx which are known for being soft stones can still cut glass. “Cuts glass” is a phrase that fails.
Glass is not durable.
Metal:
The metal used for fake diamonds is a big clue. Most simulants are set in sterling silver or gold plated jewelry. If the metal is plated or cheap, the stone is probably fake.
Real diamonds are normally set into more durable metals like gold or platinum, and nowadays, silver as well. It’s not always the best indicator of “fake“, but it should make you more aware of the possibilities that it could be.
Silver is soft, cheap and tarnishes.
Plated jewelry is basically just costume jewelry.
Neither one is preferred or durable enough to really hold in diamonds securely.
Price:
Price is a huge red flag signal. If a ring looks like it could be worth thousands, but it’s selling for only $99… BINGO! It’s a fake!
The DiamondAura says it has 2 carats worth of stones and sells for $145.
That should leave no question in your mind whether it’s real or not.
You get what you pay for.
Diamond simulants:
There have been a lot of genuine gemstones and man-made stones that have been cut to look like a diamond (cut like the brilliant cut diamond with 58 facets).
These popular diamond simulants are:
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Watch the terminology.
If the clarity is listed as “clear” instead of an actual clarity grade like VS or SI… beware.
If the diamond is listed as “hard as a diamond” or “cuts glass“… beware.
If the price is dirt cheap… beware.
If the diamond is listed as having a color of colorless…
BEWARE!
Think twice before you buy something that “resembles” a diamond but isn’t clearly marked.
If you want a simulant, fine, there’s no problem with buying one. As long as you know it’s fake and are fine with that. That’s all good.
But if you think it’s a real diamond, or aren’t sure… take caution.
Simulants or synthetic diamonds won’t last like a genuine diamond will. They will wear down, erode, dull up and lose their sparkle. Plus, there’s no resell value at all.
Fakes are fake, don’t let them fool you.
My advice:
Buy a diamond (get a really great deal, from James Allen here) if you want something that looks like a diamond. Everything else is a wannabe.
There’s nothing wrong with that…
Some of them are extremely beautiful, and you really can’t beat the price…
But personally, I don’t think they’re worth it.
Then again, I’ve worked in the industry for over .0 years, I lean towards the real thing; diamonds.
It’s your call, your money.
Spend wisely. :)
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I have had my diamondaura ring for 8 years. It has no scratches and I get compliments on it all the time. My mom’s CZ, from the 90s has scratches. But, diamondaura acts and looks as good as my diamonds! :)
I guess if you are a snob and want something “precious” because of your need to be valued by money and not be other things, then sure. Diamond is the way to go, and good for you landing a man who’ll waste that kind of money on you. You get what you pay for. But for those of us who are practical and reasonable, diamondaura and high quality moisenette are perfectly beautiful, a sparkling reminder of what our men value in life… practicality, beauty and a smart (not shallow) wife.
This post is more of a “heads-up” so people don’t get ripped off thinking they’re getting a genuine diamond, when they’re not. Buy what you want and be happy, just don’t fall for a “fake” one, and believe it’s the real deal. There’s a huge difference. :) -Richard
If you don’t tell anyone and pretend that you never question it, no one will really know the difference. So save your money
for a rainy day.