The Natural Diamond (Mineral) is a crystalline form of carbon. It is one of the most known and most useful of more than 3,000 known minerals. Diamonds are renowned for their superlative physical qualities, especially their hardness and their high dispersion of light. These properties and others make diamond valued for use in jewelry and a variety of industrial applications.
The gemological appeal of diamonds lies in their hardness and optical properties. Diamonds used as gems are cut and polished into a number of faceted shapes in order to accentuate these attractive qualities. The hardness of diamonds allows them to hold a polish extremely well and resist scratching giving excellent luster. Diamonds have been treasured as gems since at least 2,500 years ago. |
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Simulated Diamond (Cubic Zirconia or CZ) is zirconium oxide, a mineral that is extremely rare in nature but is widely synthesized for use as a diamond simulant. The synthesized material is hard, optically flawless and usually colorless, but may be made in a variety of different colors.
Because of its low cost, durability, and close visual likeness to diamond, synthetic cubic zirconia has remained the most gemologically and economically important diamond simulant since 1976. | |
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