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Lab-Created Diamonds ~ Simulated Diamonds And Manu
by Robert Joseph
www.diamondnexuslabs.com
There has been a great deal discussion about lab-created
diamonds. Along with that talk, there is much
misinformation and perplexity. The jewelry lover, who is
interested in realizing the huge savings and aesthetic
beauty that simulated diamonds offer, is often bewildered
by the manufactured diamond industry jargon and available
options. This article will categorically break it down in
easy-to-understand terms so that anyone can make an
intelligent decision when choosing a simulated diamond.
GEM MATERIALS: 99% of all lab-created diamonds sold
worldwide are polycrystalline on a molecular level. The
differences are fundamentally in the technical aspects of
manufacturing, cutting, and polishing. Think of it this
way~all coffeemakers are made of plastic, steel, and
glass, the differences are how these materials are
designed and implemented. Higher quality coffeemakers
make a better tasting cup of coffee. Higher quality
manufactured diamonds are in line with mined diamonds.
QUALITY VARIANCES: It seems like grade variations are
made out to be a more complex lab-created diamond issue
then it really is. Once boiled down, there are three
primary grades of simulated diamonds~high, medium, and
low. For the jewelry shopper it should be noted that the
quality of setting goes hand-in-hand with the quality of
the gemstone. Those that sell manufactured diamond
jewelry off point-of-purchase displays in the costume
jewelry sections of discount stores use low quality or
scrap stones that are not gem quality, and have disco ball
or murky look. Those that sell manufactured diamond
jewelry on the TV shopping channels~which is generally
with a sterling silver or a micro-thin layer of gold
plated over silver (Vermeil [pronounced ver-may]) settings~
use medium quality stones not of gem quality. Those that
sell solid 14K gold or solid platinum settings, as a rule,
use the highest gem-quality man made gemstones that
replicate mined diamonds.
PRICING: Low grade stones are sold in bulk to costume
jewelry makers and are often glued on electroplated
settings. This jewelry is fine for children, where loss
risk is high, and usually retails for less than $15 per
item. You will find medium grade stones primarily in
sterling silver jewelry that sells for under $100 per
item, settings and stones. Medium grade simulated
diamonds can be distinguished by the naked eye as not
being mined diamonds. High grade gemstone quality lab-
created diamonds, undistinguishable by the naked eye from
mined diamonds, are found mounted on settings of solid 14K
gold and platinum. This is considered to be fine jewelry,
with the best quality gemstones selling for under $100 per
carat for the gemstones alone. Manufactured diamonds that
sell for over $100 a carat are not higher quality than
those that sell for between $80 and $100 per carat.
RECOMMENDATIONS: If you are buying for someone that is
likely to lose the jewelry, there is no reason to spend
any more than you have to, and Wal-Mart will do just
fine. On the clearance rack you can even pick up some
jewelry for less than $5 per item. If you buy simulated
diamonds set in sterling silver, expect decent stones, but
they will fool few into thinking they are mined diamonds.
Also, your fingers are likely to turn green or black in
response to a chemical reaction, not with the silver per
se, but with the nickel/copper alloys in sterling silver.
With any plated settings, gemstones are low to medium
grade, and the plating will eventually chip off,
particularly around the edges. When that happens, the
nickel/copper alloys will be exposed, the setting will
look like it came out of a gum ball machine, and your
finger will generally turn green or black. It is just a
matter of common sense, if you want simulated diamonds
with mined-diamond qualities, they must be set in 14K
solid gold. Jewelers who offer lab-created diamonds are
not going spend on money on gold and not mount the highest
quality stones, which would defeat the purpose of creating
fine diamond-like jewelry and alienate customers.
Robert Joseph is an expert jeweler and founding partner of
http://www.diamondnexuslabs.com
To receive a FREE comparison chart on how Diamond Nexus
Labs lab-created diamonds stack up against mined diamonds
and register for a FREE no-obligation $50 Gift Certificate
giveaway send E-mail to: freechart@diamondnexuslabs.com
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