Different Types of Fake Diamonds

Did you know there are many different types of fake diamonds? Here are their names and characteristics.

Cubic Zirconia

CZ, while synthetically produced in a laboratory, is among the most popular of the imitation diamonds out there. Some people even think they are prettier than the real thing. In terms of bling, they are more brilliant and colorful than diamonds, and of course a whole lot cheaper! The downside is that they are not quite as hard as diamonds, and can be scratched. So they will lose some of that sparkle after a while.

Zircon

Not to be confused with cubic zirconia, zircon is a natural mineral which can be of many different colors. The colorless variety is used as a diamond substitute. It is much softer than CZ or diamond, and consequently will lose its luster over time.

Spinel

Also a natural mineral, spinel can come in several colors. The white spinel may be used as an imitation diamond. Its hardness is moderate.

Moissanite

Not quite as hard as a diamond, but harder than the cubic zirconia, moissanite can sometimes be found in nature, but is usually made synthetically in a lab. It also has a nice sparkle and appears colorless and without blemish. It is also a very popular choice for an imitation diamond.

White Sapphire

This gem is on a par with moissanite as far as hardness is concerned, although just a tad softer. It is colorless and durable, thus making it a good choice for a diamond substitute.           

Glass

Here we hit the bottom of the barrel for fakes. Glass is colorless, exhibits little or no brilliance and scratches easily.

It goes without saying that all of these imitations are way cheaper than the real thing.

Caveat emptor!