How Do You Choose Good Imitation Diamonds?
While old-fashioned rhinestones are fun for cheap costume jewelry, if you really want to fool people, you need to look into some of the more realistic imitation diamonds that are now available. Study the differences between cubic zirconia and moissanite, currently the two best imitation diamonds on the market. Jewelers generally agree that moissanite most closely resembles a diamond, but good cubic zirconia may also be a pleasing alternative. Look at the individual stones. Notice the brightness, color, cut and clarity of each stone, and compare them side by side with a diamond to see which matches it most closely. Buy the imitation stone in a good setting. Inferior metals, low-grade gold and other cheap alternatives will not make for a convincing look. Find out if you can get a guarantee with your purchase, and what that guarantee will cover. Get information about how to clean and care for the stones. While moissanite is almost as hard as a diamond, cubic zirconia is considerably softe
