Though most like to buy diamonds, they are unaware of the terminology used by jewelers while describing synthetic and simulated variety of diamonds. Here is a brief description of different kinds of diamonds and other gems, enabling you to have better understanding of the subject, which should come handy when buying this item.
1. Jewelers classify synthetic stone as one that has the composition of a natural one, but has been produced and not mined. It must be made known if it’s man-made, lab-created, or grown.
2. Jewelers definition of a simulated is one that appears like a natural one, but lacks the chemical composition of a natural one. Its origin needs to be disclosed.
3. There are man made stones as well diamonds, but the jewelers must reveal the origin, else they are violating the rules of the Federal Trade Commission. For instance, it must be specified that it’s a man made ruby or its manufacturing process must be specified. It’s mandatory for the jewelers to follow the guidelines laid down by jewelry organizations.
4. For long there were no guidelines for jewelers and they sold synthetic red spinel as a “July birthstone”. Ruby is the birthstone for July born people and you’ll find many elderly people wearing rings with big red stones thinking those to be rubies!
5. Some synthetic stones are used as simulates. A synthetic sapphire with a pink to purple color is sold as a simulated alexandrite. One of June’s birthstones is an alexandrite. You also get synthetic alexandrite, which has the chemical composition of a mined alexandrite, with a color changing from green to red. Jewelers sell it as a synthetic alexandrite.
6. Synthetic diamonds have the same chemical composition as mined diamonds, but Jewelers must reveal the fact that they are not mined, and decent jewelers do.
There are also diamond simulates, which are not synthetic diamonds, such as cubic zirconium, white spinel, white sapphire, white topaz, and moissinite. Some of these may be mined or synthetic, but they remain diamond simulates.
7. People are always keen to know if the prices of natural diamonds will fall, now that we have synthetic diamonds in abundance. Well, synthetic diamonds and other stones have been available since 1930’s but the sales of natural stones has remained unaffected.
8. The decision of buying synthetics or simulates rather than the mined variety is yours. However, the information provided here should help you making an appropriate decision.
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