When purchasing jewelry of any kind with clear stones, you have a choice between natural, synthetic, or simulated diamonds. They all give the appearance of white or clear stones that offer varying degrees of light reflection. The difference between these stones is the rarity, quality, brilliance, and ultimately the price. Here, you will see how simulated diamonds compare to genuine and synthetic diamonds.

Natural diamonds are quite self-explanatory. They are rare white stones that occur by forces of nature. Heat, pressure, and gravity bear on rock containing carbon. After millions of years of this, the carbon becomes diamond. Diamonds form at a minimum of 90 miles under ground. They are brought to the surface by a volcanic eruption or some other earth transition.

Synthetic diamonds should not be confused with simulated diamonds, because they are not the same. Synthetic diamonds are made of the same chemical and molecular composition as genuine, naturally occurring diamonds. However, they are not formed after millions of years. Instead they are formed in laboratories and diamond-synthesizing machines in a few months. Synthetic diamonds shine as radiantly as natural diamonds. They are, in essence, real diamonds. Since they do not occur in nature, but are grown instead, they are approximately 30% less expensive than “real” diamonds.

Simulated diamonds are not of the same molecular structure as diamonds. They may be stones that occur in nature or they may be man-made. The reason they are called simulated diamonds is that they are cut in shapes that mimic diamonds. Yes, synthetic diamonds are fakes. But, they do offer similar aesthetic appeal to genuine diamonds. Simulated diamonds have a few disadvantages when compared to the real thing, however. These stones do not offer the same amount of fire or light reflection as genuine or synthetic diamonds. Cubic zirconia, white sapphire, rhinestone, and other stones do not possess the properties that allow them to reflect light as well as diamonds. The only exception to this rule is moissanite. It glistens radiantly.

Simulated diamonds also do not offer the clarity of genuine diamonds. Many of the other stones have a grayish or yellowish tint. While moissanite reflects light vividly, it is a prime example of a tinted stone. This makes simulated diamonds less attractive than synthetic or genuine diamonds.

The good news is that through technology, simulated diamonds do look very similar to real diamonds. They are less expensive than their counterparts, enabling consumers to purchase larger stones. Simulated diamonds can be purposely colored to create beautiful variations. Many stones are made in pink, blue, purple, and other colors. And, a tremendous amount of celebrities are donning simulated diamonds. They are worn by stars like Hilary Duff, Cameron Diaz, and Madonna. These famous people often choose to wear simulated diamond jewelry, because it is pretty but inexpensive. Therefore, if the jewelry gets lost or stolen, they will not have lost nearly as much money. It is also a fun and playful way to dress up. Even famous people can not afford to wear real diamonds all of the time. They can cost up to $20,000. What better way to look dazzling than with simulated diamonds.