Imitations of diamonds are natural or artificial stones and even a combination of both. And that, without a doubt, have been produced or used with the intention of replacing diamond in jewellery. Stones that, although they have material properties or compositions different from those of diamond, have certain characteristics such as their optical dispersion and their hardness that imitate the appearance of diamond.
Therefore, they become so similar that it is difficult to distinguish or differentiate between the original diamond and an imitation. Being recognized only by trained gemmologists with the appropriate equipment.
It is no secret to anyone that diamond is one of the most coveted and valued stones in the world of jewellery. So it will always be an object of imitation. So we invite you to discover with us which are the best known imitations of diamonds.
Imitations of natural diamond
There are many ways in which diamonds have been imitated. This is how colourless natural stones were used at first, including corundum, quartz, spinel, zircon, beryl, and topaz. However, the first natural stones and perhaps the most used as natural imitations of the diamond would be:
The white sapphire, although it does not look exactly the same as a diamond, due to its properties this is a natural stone that is very close to it. Since a white sapphire of excellent quality is colourless, reaching a refractive index, although a little lower, but quite similar to that of diamond.
White or colourless zircon, although less hard, due to its light reflective qualities, which are often better than diamond, was also used as a substitute for it. While, in the case of white topaz, the pure specimens are colourless and exhibit transparency similar to that of a diamond.
Imitations of artificial diamond
Many were the natural gems used to imitate the diamond, but in all cases without success. Until the discovery of artificial products with high refractive indices and properties that in appearance are very similar to those of diamond. Being the best known by the south used as imitations of the diamond, the following:
The “Synthetic Rutile” or “Titanite”
It appeared on the market in 1948. It is a stone with a high index, a strong dispersion and an unalterable shine. Properties that compete or exceed those of diamond. Synthetic rutile can even be made to be nearly colourless with excellent clarity. Characteristics for which synthetic rutiles came to be sold as imitations of diamond.
However, its popularity began to decline and it was used less in jewellery. When buyers discovered that it was very soft (6.5 on the Mohs scale), causing abrasion injuries.
The “Fabulite” or “Strontium titanate”,
Commercialized since 1953. It has a refractive index close to diamond and an optical dispersion greater than that of diamond. Although despite being a little softer it was much more similar than synthetic rutile. Therefore, it became an ideal candidate to imitate the diamond.
In fact, large quantities of strontium titanate were manufactured starting in 1955 for this purpose. But it was competing with synthetic rutile at that time, and it would fall into disuse as better imitations of the diamond appear.
Yttrium Aluminate or YAG
Commerciallyknown as “diamonair”, it first appeared in 1969. It is a material that does not exist in nature and that is manufactured by the method of drawing or Czochralski. It is specifically an oxide of aluminium and yttrium, also known as “yttrium aluminate garnet”. Since it has a structure equal to that of natural garnets, but with a different composition as it does not have silica.
However, despite having a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale, it has a lower index of refraction and is much heavier than a diamond of the same size.
The GGG, (Gallium Gandolinium Garnet)
Although it is monorefringent like this, it has dispersions below it, but it is much softer than diamond (6.5 on the Mohs scale) and has a higher specific gravity. It is a material made synthetically by the method of stretching or Czochralski, which appeared in the 60s.
Cubic zirconia, or “zirconia”
Sometimes shortened to the acronym ZC, it appeared in 1976, and due to its diamond-imitating qualities it is considered the second best diamond substitute. Although its hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale does not reach that of this gem, it allows it to acquire a good polish and is not scratched.
Also it optically looks so much like diamond that it is difficult to tell the difference. Since its refractive index gives it a brightness close to that of a diamond and its dispersion power, although it is high, it is not excessive.
However, it is much denser than diamond. Something that gives it away and that translates into a specific weight of almost twice that of diamond, in a stone of the same size. It is also distinguishable by its different conductivity.
Synthetic moissanite, the best among imitations of diamonds
Appears in 1998, by the hand of the company Charles & Colvard. And it is the best imitation diamond ever created. It is a very rare material that is only found in very small quantities in meteorites and small deposits located in the earth’s crust.
It was discovered in 1893 by Nobel Prize winner Henry Moissan, from whom it owes its name. With a hardness of 9.25 on the Mohs scale, it is the second hardest stone in the world after diamond.
But it is not the only property for which it is considered the perfect imitation of diamond. Since it also shows twice the dispersion and has a similar specific gravity 3.22 versus 3.52 of diamond. In addition, it presents birefringence or double image, without forgetting that it is 10 times cheaper.
Its producers claim that this is not one of the imitations of the diamond, but a precious gem in itself. And thanks to its composition, it cannot be considered a synthetic diamond either. But, currently advances in technology have made it possible to create synthetic diamonds. Depending on the process by which they are made, they may have lower or higher properties than natural diamond.
We can finally say that perhaps these will not be the only stones that will imitate the diamond. Well, in our eagerness to create new materials, some identical to diamond may continue to emerge. In any case we will always have various methods and of course with the help of expert gemmologists to detect diamond imitations.
ALFA