| Advertisements promoting diamond earrings | | | | difference, the synthetic diamonds were priced |
| priced as low as $9.95 often tempt the unwary | | | | 3% lower than the naturals. However, the real |
| consumer. The diamond is claimed to weigh 0.25 | | | | savings are in the colored synthetic diamonds, |
| points. Following simple arithmetic, since there are | | | | which typically cost about 75% - 80% less than |
| 100 points to a carat, what is being offered are | | | | what a natural colored diamond would cost. |
| actually stones weighing 1/4th of one point, which | | | | Many laboratories are also committed to creating |
| is 1/400 of one carat and consequently worth | | | | imitation diamonds that look almost real. Cubic |
| about $2. The bottom line is, it is possible to get | | | | zirconia jewelry was highly popular in the 1980s. |
| both expensive and inexpensive diamonds, but | | | | At $5 a carat, it was highly affordable and a |
| they are all precious and hardly cheap. | | | | cheap substitute. However, it loses luster over |
| Most often, earrings made out of cheap diamonds | | | | time. It is not scratch-proof and can easily be |
| are marketed by jewelers claiming to buy the | | | | differentiated from the natural stone. Contrary to |
| diamonds directly from the cutter, by passing the | | | | this, Moisannite, an astounding fake, is almost as |
| middlemen. Cheap diamond earrings do not always | | | | hard as diamond and even more brilliant. It costs |
| refer to the massive discount afforded by | | | | about $600 a carat, ten times less than a natural |
| wholesale jewelers. | | | | diamond. A trained gemologist, however, can |
| In 2001, Gemesis, a company founded by General | | | | easily distinguish this from a real diamond. |
| Carter Clarke, initiated the mass-production of | | | | Looking for diamond earrings at affordable prices, |
| synthetic diamonds. The diamond industry, headed | | | | the general emphasis is on the awareness of cut, |
| by the De Beers company, fought against this | | | | color, clarity and carats, but the importance of |
| move, asserting them unfit to be regarded in the | | | | purchasing from an accredited, reputable institution |
| same league as the natural diamonds. Since | | | | cannot be understated. |
| diamond detecting machinery could gauge the | | | | |