Synthetic LAB Diamonds vs Simulated "Diamonds"

 

Moissanite - Simulated Diamond - Hardness 9.3

Cubic Zirconia - Simulated Diamond - Hardness 8

White Sapphire - Natural Gemstone - Hardness 9

Cut Glass - Simulated Diamond - Hardness 5.5

Lab Diamond - Synthetic Diamond - Hardness 10



Synthetic Lab Grown vs Simulated Diamonds

Some of my clients have told me that feel they've been tricked into buying what they believe is a synthetic lab diamond, when in fact it is a simulated diamond. Synthetic lab diamonds are in fact real diamonds that have been created in a lab through CVD (chemical vapour deposition) or HPHT (high pressure high temperature) - vapor deposition being the prefered method as this most closely mimics the natural processes of the earth. . They are also composed of pure carbon and nothing else. They are virtually indestructible with a "moh's scale" hardness of 10.

Simulated "diamond" is in fact not diamond at all, it does not shine the same, nor do they have the same hardness of diamond(often less hard than even sapphire). Moissanite is slightly harder than a sapphire and are the best and least expensive option other than Diamond or Lab diamonds. Cubic Zirconia is extreemly inexpensive but very soft and easily breakable.

This picture from the GIA website shows the different simulated diamonds. Click on this picture to take you to the GIA website that explains this in more detail:

Contact
 
synthetic vs simulated diamonds
LEARN MORE
 
 
Natural diamond (left), and various diamond simulants: (inner left to right) synthetic rutile, gadolinium gallium garnet (or GGG), synthetic spinel, strontium titanate, synthetic corundum, yttrium aluminum garnet (or YAG), and colourless zircon.

Image Source: GIA.EDU

Ethical Considerations

Many modern potential buyers gravitate towards Canadian Diamonds as well as Lab Grown. The Labs, not only for the amazing cost savings, but because of the fear that a natural diamond might be from an area where "blood diamonds" are traded for weapons. In response to these concerns, the world diamond council came together and established the KIMBERLY PROCESS. Simply put, this process established extremely rigid rules as well as lobbied governments to control the import of rough diamond from overseas.

Canadian Diamonds

There are multiple diamond mines all across Canada. Canadian diamonds are arguably some of the most ethically sourced and sustainable industries in the world. Ferguson Jewellery sells ArcticMark Diamonds from the Ekati and Diavek Mines in the Northwest Territories.
KIMBERLY PROCESS to induce ethical diamonds
Canadian Articmark Diamonds
 
 
Canadian Diamond Mines