Just in case you’re confused too! A real or fake diamond? A real or fake stone? Genuine or synthetic?

These are just some of the questions we ask ourselves  when the vocabulary used to describe the stones is not clear… And some explanations are called for! Beware, this blog post is going to require some concentration!

DIAMOND:

Diamonds are made of carbon, and it is the purest natural material there is. The word diamond originates from the Greek word adamas, meaning unbreakable… And men wonder why we are so crazy about them?!!! “The purest natural material… and unbreakable” It’s obvious, isn’t it?

So why do they sparkle so much? The real beauty of the diamond is caused by its high refractive index and its high optical dispersion: when the light rays hit it, they are reflected internally and the white light separates before re-emerging from the stone in a range of colours. The cut of the diamond plays a vital role in  the way it shines, with a brilliant-cut diamond being the cut which sparkles the most.

And why are they so expensive? Mainly because 10 tonnes need to be mined in order to extract one single carat of diamond! The weight of a diamond is measured in carats, and one carat is equivalent to about 0.2 grams. The size of the diamond affects its value exponentially. In other words, a two carat diamond costs more than two one carat diamonds because it is rarer. Its value also depends on its colour, it’s purity… More information >

SYNTHETIC DIAMONDS:

When carbon is put under high levels of pressure at a high temperature for a long time, it is possible to create a synthetic diamond.  But due to their small size, they are not used in industry. So only real diamonds are used in jewellery.

ZIRCON:

This is a natural stone, otherwise known as zirconium silicate, and when it is extracted it has a dark brown, green or red colour, depending on the heat conditions it was formed in. Once heated and shaped, the stone takes on diverse colours with a brilliant sparkle. One carat costs between £60 and £830, so they are more affordable than diamonds. However they are also more fragile, so it is often placed in enclosed settings. Zircon is often found in Asia, but it can also be found in the Haute-Loire region of France. So now we can stop using the word “zircon” when we are speaking about fake synthetic diamonds.

ZIRCONIA:

Zirconia. Or more precisely zirconium dioxide (wrongly called zirconium). This is made artificially and, when it shines, it is used by jewellers as a replacement for diamond. The word replacement is loosely used, as it can be pink, black, white… So this is what everyone talks about when they talk about synthetic diamonds. They just do not know the real name…

ZIRCONIUM:

This is extracted from zircon, and it is a metal. It is used in the nuclear industry.

So to summarise:

Real stones: diamonds and zircon (zirconium silicate)

Fake stone: zirconia (zirconium dioxide)

Not a stone at all: zirconium

…Sarah…

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