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There are now many imitation
diamonds out in the market. It is difficult to tell with the naked eye that the
stone one is holding is the real thing or not. They are usually very well made.
The best known imitation diamonds are moissanite and cubic zirconia.
Moissanite is a synthetic gem.
It is not a fake diamond at all. It is a mineral that appears very similar to a
diamond.
Moissanite is made in a
laboratory using silicon carbide crystals. They have a more brilliant shine than
diamonds. They are also less expensive, usually costing a mere 10th of the cost
of the real thing.
Moissanite was discovered in
the late 1800's in Arizona, at the bottom of a meteor crater. It wasn't until
1995 that it was discovered that there was a way to make these stones into
jewelry. The process was perfected and cutting styles that would allow the
moissanite to truly sparkle were crafted.
Moissanite stones are popular
with couples who are working on a tight budget and want a ring with a bigger
stone. That it sparkles so beautifully is a plus in their book. It is also
pretty strong stone and is quite close to a diamond in hardness. Buyers should
know though that moissanite tends to have greenish or grayish tint instead of
being colorless.
Cubic Zirconia on the other
hand was discovered in 1937 by two German scientists. It is created by heating
and combining yttrium oxide and zirconium oxide in a complicated process
perfected in 1970. To the naked and untrained eye, it would be difficult to
distinguish a real diamond from a cubic zirconia stone if the imitation piece is
well cut.
The most famous name in the
retail of cubic zirconia is Swarovski and Co. Being less costly than the real
gem; cubic zirconia has been used by the wealthy, the elite and the celebrities
to decorate almost any fashion piece from jewelry to bags to clothes. There's
even a motorcycle encrusted with it owned by socialite turned actress, Paris
Hilton.
If you want to get a diamond
and want to avoid purchasing an imitation piece, you need to find yourself an
honest jeweler. You also need to learn the basics of buying a diamond (namely
the four C's - cut, clarity, color and carat). Best of all, make sure that you
get a certificate issued by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
identifying the uniqueness of your diamond.
Will your fiancée mind if you
gave her an imitation gem? Only if you told her it was the real thing, would be
our guess. After all, everybody hates to learn that they have been deceived.
Better to let her make the choice and work within your budget.
About the Author: Lesley-Ann Graham runs
WeddingTrix.com - a valuable
wedding planning resource with articles, tips and
advice to help you plan your perfect wedding!
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