| There is little doubt that diamonds are one of the | | | | but without the enormous price tag that goes |
| most elegant of the precious stones, and that | | | | with it, then there is a new alternative that is so |
| diamond jewelry is simply a joy to wear. | | | | close to diamond in appearance that it is even |
| Unfortunately, though many of us are unable to | | | | fooling the experts. Diamond alternatives don't |
| afford the diamond jewelry we would so dearly | | | | come any better than this. |
| love, as the great beauty and value of the stone | | | | Moissanite is the latest diamond alternative, and in |
| are translated into the price that you have to pay | | | | some ways it is even superior to the 'real thing'. |
| to own one. Enter diamond alternatives. | | | | Moissanite has a similar pattern of refraction to |
| Traditionally, it was seen as a great compromise, | | | | diamonds, unlike diamonds, it is hexagonal - which, |
| a disappointment, to be forced by financial | | | | to the lay person, translates into facet edges that |
| considerations into choosing from one of the | | | | are doubled when compared to diamonds, |
| diamond alternatives available, but thankfully, in | | | | producing a stone that is twice as glittering as its |
| this age of technological advancement, there are | | | | 'real' counterpart. As those in the know would |
| real alternatives to diamonds, stones that capture | | | | say, moissanite offers a gem with twice the fire |
| the same beauty, without compromise. | | | | of a diamond. |
| Most of us, when thinking of diamond alternatives, | | | | Gone are the days when diamond alternatives |
| consider more traditional replacements, such as | | | | were second best. With developments in the gem |
| cubic zirconia, first discovered in 1937. First sold | | | | trade like moissanite, our choices are expanding |
| for mass consumption purposes in the 1980s by | | | | and we will, no doubt, soon find that diamonds are |
| the jeweller Swarovski, it gained great popularity | | | | not our first choice in the finest jewelry anymore. |
| at first, but later came to be considered as | | | | Diamond alternatives are more and more popular, |
| unfashionable and undesirable, a far cry from the | | | | and now are so good that they are as appealing |
| real thing. | | | | as diamonds, but at a much reduced cost. |
| But if it is the real thing that you are looking for, | | | | |