What is a Simulated Diamond? Is Simulated Diamond Jewelry a Good Choice?
Unlike a lab-created or synthetic diamond, a simulated diamond is a material which can closely mimic a diamond’s properties but it is not, in fact, a diamond. Some of the more well-known simulated diamonds are Cubic Zirconia and Diamonique (a branded name of the cubic zirconia simulated diamonds sold by QVC). On the higher-end of the simulated diamond industry is Moissanite (MOYS-UH-NITE), a simulated diamond material created by Charles & Colvard of North Carolina, that registers a hardness greater than that of natural sapphires, rubies and emeralds, has a measurably greater fire and brilliance over natural diamonds and is second only to natural diamonds in hardness. Moissanite so closely resembles a natural diamond that the FTC warns that thermal testers used to distinguish cubic zirconia (simulated diamonds) from natural diamonds may register Moissanite as natural diamond rather than a simulated diamond. In other words, provided you receive full disclosure and know in advance you are
