How To Buy Diamonds For Less And Still Satisfy Your Champagne Taste
In general, most people love diamonds, but are deterred by the cost of owning them. The once popular synthetic cubic zirconia (CZ), an inexpensive option, is heavy and lacks the brilliance that makes diamonds so desirable. In large sizes, CZs don't even look real to the naked eye. How, then, can one purchase the fire and sparkle at a reasonable price? Lab-created gems have come of age. They are no longer poor substitutes for the real thing - they are the real thing. In fact, they go one step farther -- these stones are flawless.
Carbon crystals with the same chemical, optical and physical properties as those stones that are found in mines, "cultured", or man-made diamonds, provide the same brilliance, sparkle, fire and scintillation as their natural counterparts. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) grades cultured gems by the same standards it uses for natural ones, acknowledging that they are in fact diamonds. The primary difference is that the rating describes cultured stones as "laboratory grown."
High quality colored stones are extremely rare in nature, and thus very expensive. These colors result from certain impurities - nitrogen will create yellow, boron will create blue, and so forth. Besides being flawless, lab-created diamonds can easily be produced in several different colors. Prices for these vibrantly colored stones are fairly comparable to colorless gems.
Man-made diamonds are available for purchase loose, or already set in jewelry of every kind. However, you probably won't find these cultured stones in the majority of jewelry or department stores. They have only recently been released into the market, and still represent only a small fraction of the total diamonds available.
Here are some differences to be aware of regarding man-made diamonds: 1. Most are 1-2 carats in weight. Larger stones are made, but are the exception, rather than the rule. 2. The majority of man-made stones are colored, rather than colorless - precisely the opposite of natural stones. 3. While experts can detect that these gems are man-made, special equipment is required to be sure. This equipment is very expensive. 4. It is far easier to find "matched pairs" of identical man-made stones for use in jewelry than it is when one is using natural gems.
So, should you be concerned that someone will try to pass off a man-made diamond to you as the "real thing?" This is probably not all that likely if you are purchasing from someone reputable. First of all, the manufacturers of the lab-grown diamonds are very proud of the gems they are able to produce. Secondly, these are actually diamonds rather than "cheap" imitations. Thirdly, the difference in the stones is detectable. And lastly, jewelers have every incentive to preserve the integrity of the natural diamond market, so a jeweler will readily help you identify what you are getting.
Basically, opting for lab-grown diamonds will allow you to purchase more for less. However, this isn't a "champagne on a beer budget" scenario. You can expect to pay about one third less for cultured stones than for natural stones. Lab-produced stones can be easily found via the internet, and these sites proudly advertise that their offerings are "synthetics." But, similar to other online purchases, you'll want to investigate the vendor carefully prior to making your purchase.
Looking for quality diamonds at a reasonable price? The premiere producer of man-made diamonds, JewelNet.com, features certified loose stones and fine jewelry. Visit the website for a free e-book on Diamond Savings. SEO 2.0 Services
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