| When you buy a diamond, how do you really | | | | alikes, but a new method has been developed |
| know if it is real? | | | | that creates a diamond in the lab which is of |
| | | | such high quality that most jewelers will not |
| Of course, if you deal with a reputable | | | | be able to distinguish it from a natural |
| jeweler who has a reputation to uphold, your | | | | diamond. These diamonds that will soon hit |
| chances are pretty good that you will get the | | | | the market place will set you back about half |
| real thing. But if you come across a deal | | | | the cost of the same size of a natural |
| from a relatively unknown source and it seems | | | | diamond. |
| too good to be true - it just may be! | | | | |
| | | | So how do you tell the difference? |
| You might think a fake is a fake, but just | | | | |
| like anything else there are different | | | | Since you need specialized equipment and |
| qualities of simulated diamonds. Some are | | | | training, the average person cannot tell the |
| very inexpensive and easy to spot. A cheap | | | | difference between a real and simulated |
| cubic zirconia ring in a plated setting will | | | | diamond, unless it is of terrible quality. |
| probably look nice for a while but will soon | | | | The best way to protect yourself when buying |
| lose it's luster and any jewelry would be | | | | diamonds is to buy from someone you trust. |
| able to tell right off the bat that it is not | | | | The other thing is to educate yourself about |
| an expensive gem. That's not to say that | | | | the 4 C's of buying a diamond so you will |
| these are no good - on the contrary - you can | | | | know what to look for when you do go |
| buy a very nice ring for around $20.00 and | | | | shopping. |
| have it look gorgeous to the causal observer. | | | | |
| It might last a year if you take care of it | | | | These 4 C's - color, clarity, cut and carat |
| and that's not bad for the price! | | | | weight are what determine the value of the |
| | | | diamond. You may pay less for a large diamond |
| Other simulated diamonds can be quite | | | | that does not have good clarity, cut or color |
| expensive. Some are very high quality and set | | | | then you will for a smaller diamond of better |
| in platinum or 14K rings. These will cost | | | | clarity, cut and color but is it really worth |
| you, but not as much as a real diamond in the | | | | it? The answer is mostly a matter of personal |
| same setting. These rings will last a long | | | | preference but if you deal with a jewelry you |
| time and are a good value if you want the | | | | can trust, he or she can guide you as to the |
| look but don't want to spend the money. Most | | | | best value for the money whether you decide |
| jewelers can tell the difference between a | | | | to buy a real or simulated diamond. |
| real diamond and even these high quality look | | | | |