What Is a Faux Diamond?
A faux diamond is a stone that isn’t really a diamond, but it’s carved in such a way that it looks like one.
They’re made from a range of different materials. Most commonly, they’re made from moissanite, white sapphire, and cubic zirconia.
To the average person, a faux diamonds looks identical to a real one. Of course, a professional jeweler can tell the difference, but most of us can’t.
What Makes a Good Faux Diamond?
If you’re buying a faux diamond, you want it to look as much like a real one as possible. You also want it to have similar properties to diamonds.
The color, for example, is very important. Some faux diamonds shine much brighter than real ones. If you’re wearing one of those, anyone who knows anything about diamonds will instantly spot the difference.
The hardness is important, too. Diamond is one of the hardest materials known to man (which is partially why they’re so valuable). Some faux diamonds will crack or scratch if you drop them.
How Faux Diamonds Are Different from Synthetic Diamonds
There are two distinct tiers of imitation diamonds. Each one is priced differently.
Faux diamonds, or simulated diamonds, look and feel similar to the real thing. They’re priced much lower than real ones, making them a great alternative for people who are trying to save money on their jewelry.
There’s another class of imitations that feels almost exactly like the real thing. These are known as synthetic diamonds.
This type is manufactured in a laboratory using chemicals. While they aren’t harvested from the Earth the same way that authentic diamonds are, it’s very hard to tell the difference between them. Sometimes, these diamonds cost just as much as genuine ones.
What is Moissanite?
Moissanite is a stone that’s often used to make faux diamonds. While moissanite is not as hard as real diamonds, the two stones are very similar.
In the past, this gemstone was sourced from meteorites. However, due to the rarity of meteor showers, these stones are increasingly hard to find. Therefore, scientists started to synthesize them using silicon carbide.
Typically, synthesized moissanite is far less expensive than a real diamond. Authentic, meteor-derived moissanite is similar in price to an authentic diamond.
what is cubic zirconia
Cubic zirconia is also used as a diamond substitute. It’s far less expensive than an authentic stone, so it’s commonly used in faux diamond jewelry.
While this stone looks almost identical to a diamond, it’s not nearly as hard. So, cubic zirconia stones often scratch or crack over time.
This stone is a great substitute if you are trying to save money on a wedding ring. However, you shouldn’t expect it to last for centuries as a real diamond does.
what is white sapphire
White sapphire is a natural stone that’s also used in the production of wedding rings. It costs about one-third of the price of a genuine diamond, due to the fact that its slightly softer than the real thing.
It also has a whiter tone than an authentic diamond. The whiteness gives it a slightly cloudy color that you’ll notice if you look very closely.