Diamonds are among one the precious gemstones found on the earth. These gemstones are formed under very high pressure and temperature.
The process of extraction of the diamonds is very crucial as they need to be mined from the earth’s surface thus as alternative scientists have found methods to create diamonds in the lab itself providing the almost same conditions for its formation.
Simulated Diamond vs Lab-created Diamond
The difference between Simulated Diamond and Lab-created Diamond is that the simulated diamonds are easily distinguished as fake diamonds through the naked eyes but lab-created diamonds are very hard to distinguish from natural-made diamonds. The simulated diamonds have a double refractive index and emit rainbow colors while comparatively, on the other hand, the lab-created diamonds have the same refractive index as natural diamonds.
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Simulated Diamond is the diamonds that are said to be fake. The appearance of these diamonds can be distinguished just by looking at them. The refractive index of the diamonds is double which makes them emit the rainbow color.
The stones that are used as simulant diamonds are cubic zirconia and moissanite.
Lab-created Diamond is diamonds that are artificially prepared in laboratories. The conditions of the preparation of such diamonds involve all the natural environment that is been artificially created in the laboratories themselves.
Despite even being created in the laboratories these diamonds have the same physical, optical, and chemical properties.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Simulated Diamond | Lab-created Diamond |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Shiny and emits out VIBGYOR | Same as the natural obtained diamond |
| Cost | Cheap | Expensive |
| Physical and Chemical Properties | Different from natural diamonds | Same as natural diamond |
| Refractive Index | Double Refractive Index | Single Refractive Index |
| Advantages | Durable, ethical, and cost effective | Durable, ethical, cost-effective, and all the physical, chemical, and optical properties are the same as natural diamonds |
| Uses | Jewelry purpose | Industrial uses and jewelry making |
| Method of Distinguish | Naked eyes | Through special laboratory equipment only |
What is Simulated Diamonds?
Simulated diamonds are not the real diamonds and are also prepared in labs artificially. The stones that are prepared as the simulated diamonds are – cubic zirconia (CZ), moissanite.
These diamonds are appeared more or like real diamonds but the properties of these are entirely different from them.
The physical and chemical properties of the simulated diamonds are different from the naturally obtained diamonds. The optical property or the refractive index of the simulated diamonds are double from the real diamonds.
Due to this property only the diamonds emit the VIBGYOR pattern.
The main uses of these diamonds are to make jewelry that costs cheap and is affordable for everyone. These simulated diamonds are distinguishable through the naked eyes.
The hardness possessed by the zirconia gemstone is about 8.5 on Mohs scale while moissanite diamonds have approximate the value of about 9.25 on Mohs scale.
What is Lab-created Diamonds?
Lab-created diamonds are also artificially prepared and the conditions are extremely harsh. The diamonds are created by providing all the necessary natural conditions that are necessary for preparing the diamonds.
The extremely high pressure and temperature are created in the laboratories themselves to manufacture the diamonds.
The manufactured diamonds possessed all properties similar to that of real diamonds.
The chemical and physical properties of the lab-created diamonds are entirely the same as that of a real diamond like they are the hardest material, have the same chemical structure, formula, etc.
While the optical property like the refractive index is single.
These diamonds are so much elegantly and efficiently prepared in the laboratories that they are highly difficult for a person to distinguish between the real one and a lab-prepared one.
These are distinguished only after testing via specialized equipment in the laboratory only.
These diamonds are the best options for buying an engagement ring as they are cheaper than real diamonds so the individual can get the same size, cut, shape, and design on a pocket-friendly budget.
They are also used for many industrial purposes.
Main Differences Between Simulated Diamonds and Lab-created Diamonds
- The appearance of the simulated diamonds seems to be shinier and more appealing as they are fake and emit out the VIBGYOR pattern of light while comparatively, on the other hand, the appearance of the lab-created diamonds seems to be more of like naturally curated diamonds.
- The cost of the simulated diamonds is way cheaper while comparatively, on the other hand, the cost of the lab-created diamonds are expensive but less expensive than the real diamonds.
- The physical and chemical properties possessed by the simulated diamonds are entirely different from that of real diamonds while comparatively, on the other hand, the physical and chemical properties of the lab-created diamonds are completely the same as that of the real ones.
- The refractive index of the simulated diamonds is double while comparatively, on the other hand, the refractive index of the lab-created diamonds is single.
- The advantages of simulated diamonds are that they are durable, cost-effective, and ethical to use while comparatively, the advantages of the lab-created diamonds are that they are also cost-effective, durable, ethical to use, and possess all the properties of real diamonds.
- The uses of simulated diamonds are more in jewelry making while comparatively, on the other hand, the uses of the lab-created diamonds are in the industrial purposes along with jewelry making.
References
- https://opencommons.uconn.edu/srhonors_theses/34/
- https://journals.aps.org/prb/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevB.61.3877
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1024831908377
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
