Synthetic diamonds have been available for quite a while. They look the same, but they are MUCH cheaper. Apparently you can pick up a large one in a particular colour for a comparatively small amount of money.

being something of a homespun jewellery expert due to my expensive wifestyle the ebst diamond substitute I've found is Moissanite (think of Moist Tonight and you get the drift) although it occurs naturally in meteorites, most moissanite jewellery is synthetic, made under heat and pressure. the result is a gemstone that looks like diamond and tests like diamond; a thermal diamond tester checks it out as diamond, scratch tests check it out as diamond, and an average jeweller wouldn't know the difference (neither would you) and you can often catch even a good jeweller out with it. I got a moissanite ring valued as diamond for insurance purposes, hey it was the jewellers fault, he's supposed to be a professional!

tip: how to identify moissanite. it's very bright and looks like really well cut diamond, also under a jewellers glass it has a double refraction, whereas a true diamond has a single refraction. it looks bloody great though, and retails up to 1/2 the equivalent price for diamonds up to about 2 carats. My mrs loves the stuff, although naturally she prefers real diamonds.

I don't see anything wrong with CZ myself

LOL

Well. There are adds about "value" furnishings that are upholstered with "genuine naugahide." There are "value" jewelry adds for "genuine cubic zirconium." So those things must have developed a market all their own.

Does moissanite come in any colors other than white? The wife prefers reddish gemstones, like rubies. They can be pale as pigeons blood grade but they can't be pink.

Edited by - Indy11 on 2/18/2004 8:40:56 PM

oh yes you can get it in many colours, but its best white imho, it really does shine. I have to put welders goggles on to look at my wifes stuff dont think of it as imitation diamond, think of it as a gemstone in its own right.

Rubies. This years ruby cost me all my new stuff.

Edited by - Tawakalna on 2/19/2004 1:20:35 AM

@equilax, i have a more underground connection with all the astronomy societies around the globe. we're currently doing a joint project to precisely pinpoint, or de-prove the origin of the big bang

@ taw jewelers may have trouble telling that stuff from diamond but ill bet most women can smell it out at 100 yards (you didnt actually tell your other half it wasnt diamond did you ) (worth a try though)


Edited by - [STEEL on 2/19/2004 4:49:15 AM

she already knew, Geoff, she was the one who told me about it, sort of in the style of "Get me moissanite NOW!" but you're right, women can spot it a mile away. No point even trying to pass it off as the real ting.

She does actually prefer it from an aesthetic point of view, although of course she ain't ever gonna turn down a real piece of ice. I've got to admit, it does look very nice, esp the big 2 carat ones set in 18K. She has so much of the stuff that I can collect Air Miles with it.

Kimk - Have you tried looking at the centre of the universe?

Soooooooo Shiny....I want it!! My precioussssssssssssssssss

*chuckles hysterically, and runs of to garage to start working on a secret plan to get Lucy*