What Is a Diamond Simulant?

Do you want to surprise your loved one with a diamond look-alike at a fraction of the cost? Well, look no further. A diamond simulant easily passes off as a natural diamond by the looks, though it has different chemical and physical compositions.

This article defines a diamond simulant, its properties, cost, and how to tell them apart from natural diamonds.

What Are Diamond Simulants?

A diamond simulant is a stone that looks like a diamond but has a different chemical composition and physical properties. A diamond simulant is a fake diamond and is never to be confused with a synthetic diamond which is grown in the lab and is identical to a natural diamond.

Properties of a Diamond Simulant

How can you differentiate natural or synthetic diamonds from simulated diamond? Here are properties to differentiate natural stones from simulated diamonds:

Sparkle: Diamond stimulants exhibit a more colorful sparkle when exposed to light. However, it does not apply to all fakes, it helps differentiate real stones from cubic zirconia and other fakes.
Color: Diamond stimulants are colorless and would get the highest grade if subjected to the diamond color scale.
Clarity: Unlike natural diamonds that have inclusions embedded in their structure during formation, stimulated diamonds have no internal flaws, and hence have high clarity.
Hardness: Natural diamonds are known as the hardest metal on earth. Simulated diamonds are prone to chips, cracks, and scratches.
Setting: Simulated diamonds are set as cheap metals and are mounted in silver instead of platinum. Any imitation set on gold will be plated and not in a solid-state.
Price: While natural diamonds sell for thousands of dollars, diamond simulants sell at a fraction of the price.
Thermal and Electrical conductivity: A diamond stimulant has a different chemical composition and has a different thermal and electrical conductivity.
Fluorescence: Natural diamonds emit light and change color to appear yellow, green, blue, mauve, and red under the sun. Diamond simulants don't show a wide spectrum of colors.

Types of Diamond Stimulants

There are several types of diamond simulants in the market. Here are the popular diamond stimulants:

Zircon
Cubic Zirconia
Synthetic Garnet
Moissanite
White Sapphire
Spinel
Rutile

Advantages of a Diamond Simulant

Diamond simulants make a good choice thanks to their wide range of advantages. Here are the advantages of a diamond simulant:

Affordable: Simulated diamonds cost 80% less than natural diamonds making them more affordable.
Easy to clean: They are easy to clean, and professional cleaning services are not required.
Eco-friendly: Natural diamond mining process leads to environmental degradation. Simulated diamonds are grown in the lab, making them environmentally friendly.
Conflict-free: natural diamond mining is prone to human conflicts, human rights violations, and child labor.

Mervis Diamond Importers does not offer diamond simulants. We show only the finest real diamonds. Our diamonds are both natural, mined diamonds and lab grown diamonds.