What is the difference between a synthetic diamond and a simulant?
Synthetic diamonds are real and simulants are fake. Lab-created, or synthetic, diamonds have the same chemical composition, brilliance, hardness and atomic structure as natural stones. Scientists can grow diamonds in a matter of days by recreating the same conditions of intense heat and pressure that formed natural diamonds billions of years ago. A good jeweler will tell you whether a diamond is natural or synthetic. But because it is hard to identify synthetics, many diamond buyers get reassurance from an identification report from a gemological laboratory, like the Gemological Institute of America. The Federal Trade Commission now requires all synthetic diamonds have a laser inscription. Diamond simulants, such as cubic zirconia or moissanite, do not have the same brilliance, hardness or chemical properties of a diamond. How can I tell between a real and a fake? At roughly $5 a carat, cubic zirconia is a very cheap diamond substitute. It’s also easy to recognize as a fake. For instan
