The diamond rhinestones they are natural or artificial stones and even a combination of both. And that, without a doubt, they have been produced or used with the intention of replacing the diamond in jewelry. Stones that, although they have material properties or compositions different from those of diamond, have certain characteristics such as optical dispersion and hardness that mimic the appearance of diamond.
Therefore, they come to resemble each other so much that it is difficult to distinguish or differentiate between the original diamond and an imitation. Being recognized only by trained gemologists with the proper equipment.
It is no secret to anyone that the diamond is one of the most coveted and valued stones in the world of jewelry. So it will always be the object of imitation. So we invite you to discover with us what are the diamond rhinestones best known.
Natural diamond imitations
There are many ways in which they have tried to imitate diamonds. This is how at first colorless natural stones were used, including corundum, quartz, spinel, zircon, beryl, topaz. However, the first natural stones and perhaps the most used as natural diamond imitations would be:
the white sapphire, although it does not look exactly like a diamond, due to its properties this is a natural stone that is very close. Since a white sapphire of excellent quality is colorless, it has a refractive index, although a little lower, but quite similar to that of a diamond.
white or colorless zircon, although it is less hard, due to its light-reflective qualities, which are often better than diamond, was also used as a substitute for it. While, in case of white topazpure specimens are colorless and exhibit diamond-like transparency.
artificial diamond imitations
Many were the natural gems used to imitate the diamond, but in all cases without success. Until the discovery of artificial products with high refractive indices and properties that are apparently very similar to those of diamond. Being the best known for being used as diamond rhinestonesthe following:
The synthetic rutile or “Titanite”
It appeared on the market in 1948. It is a stone with a high index, strong dispersion and unalterable brilliance. Properties that rival or exceed those of diamond. Synthetic rutile can even be made nearly colorless with excellent clarity. Characteristics for which synthetic rutiles came to be sold as diamond rhinestones.
However, its popularity began to decline and it was used less in jewelry. When the buyers discovered that it was very soft (6.5 on the Mohs scale), which caused it to suffer from abrasion injuries.
The «Fabulite» or «Strontium Titanate»,
Marketed since 1953. It has a refractive index close to that of diamond and an optical dispersion greater than that of diamond. Although despite being a little softer, it was much more similar than synthetic rutile. Therefore, it became an ideal candidate to imitate the diamond.
In fact, large quantities of strontium titanate were manufactured beginning in 1955 for this purpose. But it competed with synthetic rutile at that time and would also fall into disuse when better diamond rhinestones.
Yttrium Aluminate or YAG
Commercially known as «diamonair», it first appeared in 1969. It is a material that does not exist in nature and is manufactured by the drawing or Czochralski method. It is specifically an oxide of aluminum and yttrium, also known as “yttrium aluminate garnet”. Since it has a structure equal to that of natural garnets, but with a different composition as it does not have silica.
However, despite having a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale, it has a lower refractive index and is much heavier than a diamond of the same size.
The GGG, (gallium gandolium garnet)
Although it is monorefringent like this, it has dispersions below it, but it is much softer than diamond (6.5 on the Mohs scale) and has a higher specific gravity. It is a material made synthetically by the stretching or Czochralski method, which appeared in the 1960s.
Cubic zirconium, or «zirconite»
Sometimes abbreviated to the acronym ZC, it appeared in 1976, and because of its diamond-imitating qualities, it is considered the second best diamond substitute. Although its hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale does not reach that of this gem, it allows it to acquire a good polish and does not allow scratches.
In addition, optically it resembles a diamond so much that it is difficult to tell the difference. Since its refractive index gives it a brilliance close to that of a diamond and its dispersion power, although high, is not excessive.
However, it is much denser than diamond. Something that gives it away and that translates into a specific weight of almost twice that of the diamond, in a stone of the same size. It is also distinguishable by its different conductivity.
synthetic moissanitethe best among diamond imitations
It appears in 1998, from the hand of the company Charles & Colvard. And it comes to be the best imitation of the diamond created to this day. It is a very rare material that is only found in very small quantities in meteorites and small deposits located in the earth’s crust.
It was discovered in 1893 by Nobel Prize winner Henry Moissan, to whom it owes its name. With a hardness of 9.25 on the Mohs scale, it is the second hardest stone in the world after diamond.
Although it is not the only property for which it is considered the perfect diamond imitation. Since it also shows twice the dispersion and has a similar specific gravity 3.22 compared to 3.52 for diamond. In addition, it presents birefringence or double image, without forgetting that it is 10 times cheaper.
Its producers affirm that this is not one of the diamond rhinestones, but a valuable gem by itself. And thanks to its composition, it cannot be considered a synthetic diamond either. Although, currently advances in technology have made it possible to create synthetic diamonds. That depending on the process by which they are made, they may have inferior or superior properties to those of natural diamond.
We can finally say that perhaps these will not be the only stones that will imitate the diamond. Well, in our eagerness to create new materials, it is possible that some identical to the diamond will continue to emerge. In any case, we will always have various methods and of course with the help of expert gemologists to detect the diamond rhinestones.