| Diamonds are a girl's best friend is what they say. | | | | synthetic diamonds will not pass this test. |
| But can she tell the difference between a natural | | | | However, there is a mineral called Moissanite that |
| mined diamond and a man made diamond? | | | | is laboratory made. This has become a favorite |
| Probably not, since even experienced jewelers | | | | material for man-made diamond manufacturing |
| have trouble at times. So, for the future groom, | | | | since it will cut glass as cleanly as a real diamond. |
| considering a man made diamond is plausible. | | | | Moissanite does not, however, possess the optical |
| Two processes are utilized to manufacture | | | | properties of natural diamond. |
| man-made diamonds. The most popular is called | | | | The term "man made diamond" is the same thing |
| HPHT or High Pressure, High Temperature. A | | | | as "synthetic diamond" so don't be fooled by |
| gigantic press that creates a massive pressure is | | | | someone trying to play word games with you. |
| used. The temperature created by the pressure | | | | Man made diamonds look the same, feel the |
| is over 1500 degrees Celsius. This method can | | | | same and create the same good feeling when |
| produce a 2.8 carat yellow diamond in about three | | | | wearing them. Comparative pricing is the tell tale |
| days. This will yield a 1.5 carat diamond after | | | | thing here. |
| cutting and cleaning. | | | | Natural diamonds are priced at around $13,500 per |
| The other method is CVP or Chemical Vapor | | | | carat while man-made diamonds are around $500 |
| Deposition. In this process, a sliver of real diamond | | | | to $700 per carat. Of course, there are others |
| is used and various gases are used to duplicate | | | | that will be pricier but they won't be any clearer |
| the natural process inside the earth's crust. This | | | | or sharper than the next one. And keep in mind |
| method is a bit more expensive and so is not as | | | | with those prices, the 4 C's of diamonds (color, |
| widely utilized in the industry. | | | | cut, caret, and clarity) come into play in pricing it. |
| Aside from the processes used to manufacture | | | | Man made diamonds are pretty much "perfect", |
| diamonds, there is still no replacement for the real | | | | but they are, after all, synthetic. If it is made in |
| deal. As far as being able to tell the difference, | | | | nature like a real diamond is, there are very few |
| you couldn't tell by just looking at the outside of | | | | "perfect" diamonds, and the ones that do exist |
| the diamond. It would take the trained eye of an | | | | command a very high price. |
| experienced jeweler to make the judgment. Of | | | | So in conclusion, man made diamonds are good |
| course under magnification, the differences would | | | | for the wallet, make the women happy and are |
| be more apparent. | | | | easy to come by. Many people shy away from |
| The real test of a diamond has always been "Will | | | | them due to the words "synthetic" or |
| it cut glass?" Since natural diamond is the hardest | | | | "man-made". This is unfortunate because when a |
| naturally occurring substance known to man that | | | | diamond can be created in 3 days time compared |
| can cut glass cleanly, this has become the test | | | | to millions of years, it can't all be bad now can it? |
| for man made diamonds. Most man made or | | | | |