| There has been a great deal discussion about | | | | gem-quality man made gemstones that replicate |
| lab-created diamonds. Along with that talk, there is | | | | mined diamonds. |
| much misinformation and perplexity. The jewelry | | | | PRICING: Low grade stones are sold in bulk to |
| lover, who is interested in realizing the huge | | | | costume jewelry makers and are often glued on |
| savings and aesthetic beauty that simulated | | | | electroplated settings. This jewelry is fine for |
| diamonds offer, is often bewildered by the | | | | children, where loss risk is high, and usually retails |
| manufactured diamond industry jargon and | | | | for less than $15 per item. You will find medium |
| available options. This article will categorically break | | | | grade stones primarily in sterling silver jewelry |
| it down in easy-to-understand terms so that | | | | that sells for under $100 per item, settings and |
| anyone can make an intelligent decision when | | | | stones. Medium grade simulated diamonds can be |
| choosing a simulated diamond. | | | | distinguished by the naked eye as not being mined |
| GEM MATERIALS: 99% of all lab-created | | | | diamonds. High grade gemstone quality lab-created |
| diamonds sold worldwide are polycrystalline on a | | | | diamonds, undistinguishable by the naked eye |
| molecular level. The differences are fundamentally | | | | from mined diamonds, are found mounted on |
| in the technical aspects of manufacturing, cutting, | | | | settings of solid 14K gold and platinum. This is |
| and polishing. Think of it this way--all | | | | considered to be fine jewelry, with the best |
| coffeemakers are made of plastic, steel, and | | | | quality gemstones selling for under $100 per carat |
| glass, the differences are how these materials are | | | | for the gemstones alone. Manufactured diamonds |
| designed and implemented. Higher quality | | | | that sell for over $100 a carat are not higher |
| coffeemakers make a better tasting cup of | | | | quality than those that sell for between $80 and |
| coffee. Higher quality manufactured diamonds are | | | | $100 per carat. |
| in line with mined diamonds. | | | | RECOMMENDATIONS: If you are buying for |
| QUALITY VARIANCES: It seems like grade | | | | someone that is likely to lose the jewelry, there is |
| variations are made out to be a more complex | | | | no reason to spend any more than you have to, |
| lab-created diamond issue then it really is. Once | | | | and Wal-Mart will do just fine. On the clearance |
| boiled down, there are three primary grades of | | | | rack you can even pick up some jewelry for less |
| simulated diamonds--high, medium, and low. For | | | | than $5 per item. If you buy simulated diamonds |
| the jewelry shopper it should be noted that the | | | | set in sterling silver, expect decent stones, but |
| quality of setting goes hand-in-hand with the | | | | they will fool few into thinking they are mined |
| quality of the gemstone. Those that sell | | | | diamonds. Also, your fingers are likely to turn |
| manufactured diamond jewelry off | | | | green or black in response to a chemical reaction, |
| point-of-purchase displays in the costume jewelry | | | | not with the silver per se, but with the nickel |
| sections of discount stores use low quality or | | | | copper alloys in sterling silver. With any plated |
| scrap stones that are not gem quality, and have | | | | settings, gemstones are low to medium grade, |
| disco ball or murky look. Those that sell | | | | and the plating will eventually chip off, particularly |
| manufactured diamond jewelry on the TV | | | | around the edges. When that happens, the nickel |
| shopping channels--which is generally with a sterling | | | | copper alloys will be exposed, the setting will look |
| silver or a micro-thin layer of gold plated over | | | | like it came out of a gum ball machine, and your |
| silver (Vermeil [pronounced ver-may]) | | | | finger will generally turn green or black. It is just a |
| settings--use medium quality stones not of gem | | | | matter of common sense, if you want simulated |
| quality. Those that sell solid 14K gold or solid | | | | diamonds with mined-diamond qualities, they must |
| platinum settings, as a rule, use the highest | | | | be set in 14K solid gold. |