Synthetic Diamonds versus Real Diamonds

Despite what you may have heard, synthetic diamonds are in fact real diamonds, albeit ones produced under artificial circumstances in the controlled environment of a laboratory. Synthetic and natural diamonds have the same chemical and physical properties, both being three dimensional carbon crystals.

Synthetic diamonds are also referred to as artificial diamonds, cultured diamonds or manufactured diamonds in the jewelry trade.

It also should be mentioned that synthetic diamonds are not the same thing as cubic zirconium, which is a different stone altogether that only superficially resembles a diamond.

Naturally occurring diamonds are created deep in the Earth's crust, a result of millions of years the high temperatures and extreme pressures deep underground. Synthetic diamonds are created in a lab in a much shorter time span using artificially induced pressures and temperatures as one might find deep underground.

Tell the difference between synthetic and natural diamonds

Many consumers are rightly concerned about telling the difference between cheaper synthetic diamonds and more expensive natural ones. The good news is telling the difference between the two is not all that difficult. Inclusion is a geological term that refers to solid, liquid or gaseous foreign bodies enclosed in a mineral or rock. All naturally occurring gemstones will have some kind of inclusion inside their structures. The best way to telling a natural diamond apart from a synthetic one is to look for inclusion patterns in the stone. In a natural diamond this will take the form of mineral grains inside the gem.

Synthetic diamonds will not have natural mineral inclusions.

Additionally, synthetic diamonds typically have variations in color - these are best seen under magnification where a synthetic diamond's color variations will appear as curving bands in the stone. Natural diamonds also have these color variations, but they appear as concentric hexagons under magnification. Another way to tell the two apart is by noticing the flaws in each stone. Since synthetic diamonds are created in precise conditions in a controlled laboratory setting, their internal structures are quite flawless. All naturally occurring diamonds will have slight imperfections, a side effect of occurring in the fiery bowels of the Earth without human hands guiding it along. Any reputable jeweler can easily highlight the differences between synthetic and natural diamonds with little fuss.

Regardless of their origin, both synthetic diamonds and natural diamonds have the same chemical, physical and optical properties that make them so valuable to consumers. Despite this there are some important differences between the two that the consumer should be aware of.

Most synthetic diamonds are produced in a lab, except for those from the Gemesis Company, and are normally one carat or smaller in size. The certificates that attest to the 4 C's (cut, clarity, carat weight and color) of a diamond are not issued for synthetic diamonds; they are restricted to only natural diamonds. The best certification you can expect for your synthetic diamond is an identification report that reveals the stone's carat weight, measurements and transparency.

A quick way to tell the difference between synthetic diamonds and natural ones are by weighing the stones. A synthetic diamond will normally weigh more than a similarly sized natural one.

Although you may expect synthetic diamonds to be significantly cheaper than natural diamonds, this is not always the case.

Don't expect more than a 15% reduction in price for a synthetic diamond compared to its natural counterpart - real diamonds will always cost more. There is no such thing as a great bargain in the diamond industry; if the price of a stone sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

While most synthetic diamonds are created to be flawless, some customers will always pay premium for the real thing.

When you are looking at diamonds always ask the jeweler if they are synthetic or natural, don't pay full price for a synthetic stone. Synthetic diamonds, while essentially a real diamonds, are not considered rare and will not retain its value over the years like natural diamonds.