Jewelry

Archive for October, 2008

Lab Created

Lab-Created Diamonds - Simulated Diamonds And Manufactured
Diamonds Review

There has been a great deal discussion about lab-created
diamonds. Along with that talk, there is much misinformation and
perplexity. The jewelry lover, who is interested in realizing
the huge savings and aesthetic beauty that simulated diamonds
offer, is often bewildered by the manufactured diamond industry
jargon and available options. This article will categorically
break it down in easy-to-understand terms so that anyone can
make an intelligent decision when choosing a simulated diamond.

GEM MATERIALS: 99% of all lab-created diamonds sold worldwide
are polycrystalline on a molecular level. The differences are
fundamentally in the technical aspects of manufacturing,
cutting, and polishing. Think of it this way--all coffeemakers
are made of plastic, steel, and glass, the differences are how
these materials are designed and implemented. Higher quality
coffeemakers make a better tasting cup of coffee. Higher quality
manufactured diamonds are in line with mined diamonds.

QUALITY VARIANCES: It seems like grade variations are made out
to be a more complex lab-Created Diamond issue then it really
is. Once boiled down, there are three primary grades of
simulated diamonds--high, medium, and low. For the jewelry
shopper it should be noted that the quality of setting goes
hand-in-hand with the quality of the gemstone. Those that sell
manufactured diamond jewelry off point-of-purchase displays in
the Costume Jewelry sections of discount stores use low quality
or scrap stones that are not gem quality, and have disco ball or
murky look. Those that sell manufactured diamond jewelry on the
TV shopping channels--which is generally with a sterling silver
or a micro-thin layer of Gold Plated Over Silver (Vermeil
[pronounced ver-may]) settings--use medium quality stones not of
gem quality. Those that sell solid 14K gold or solid platinum
settings, as a rule, use the highest gem-quality man made
gemstones that replicate mined diamonds.

PRICING: Low grade stones are sold in bulk to costume jewelry
makers and are often glued on electroplated settings. This
jewelry is fine for children, where loss risk is high, and
usually retails for less than $15 per item. You will find medium
grade stones primarily in sterling Silver Jewelry that sells for
under $100 per item, settings and stones. Medium grade simulated
diamonds can be distinguished by the naked eye as not being
mined diamonds. High grade gemstone quality lab-created
diamonds, undistinguishable by the naked eye from mined
diamonds, are found mounted on settings of solid 14K gold and
platinum. This is considered to be Fine Jewelry, with the best
quality gemstones selling for under $100 per carat for the
gemstones alone. Manufactured diamonds that sell for over $100 a
carat are not higher quality than those that sell for between
$80 and $100 per carat.

RECOMMENDATIONS: If you are buying for someone that is likely to
lose the jewelry, there is no reason to spend any more than you
have to, and Wal-Mart will do just fine. On the clearance rack
you can even pick up some jewelry for less than $5 per item. If
you buy simulated diamonds set in sterling silver, expect decent
stones, but they will fool few into thinking they are mined
diamonds. Also, your fingers are likely to turn green or black
in response to a chemical reaction, not with the silver per se,
but with the nickel/copper alloys in sterling silver. With any
plated settings, gemstones are low to medium grade, and the
plating will eventually chip off, particularly around the edges.
When that happens, the nickel/copper alloys will be exposed, the
setting will look like it came out of a gum ball machine, and
your finger will generally turn green or black. It is just a
matter of common sense, if you want simulated diamonds with
mined-diamond qualities, they must be set in 14K solid gold.
Jewelers who offer lab-created diamonds are not going spend on
money on gold and not mount the highest quality stones, which
would defeat the purpose of creating fine diamond-like jewelry
and alienate customers

About the Author

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