Lab Grown Diamond
Lab grown diamonds are created in controlled laboratory environments using advanced technological processes. Unlike natural diamonds, which are formed over millions of years deep within the Earth, lab grown diamonds can be produced in a matter of weeks.
- Lab grown diamonds have the same chemical composition as natural diamonds: pure carbon atoms arranged in a crystal structure.
- High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT): This method mimics the natural conditions under which diamonds form, using high pressure and temperature.
- Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD): This technique involves the deposition of carbon atoms from a gas onto a substrate, gradually building up a diamond crystal.
Moissanite
Moissanite is a synthetic gemstone that has gained popularity due to its remarkable similarity to diamonds. Named after the French chemist Henri Moissan, who discovered the mineral in 1893, moissanite has unique properties that make it a sought-after alternative to traditional diamonds.
- Moissanite is primarily composed of silicon carbide (SiC), a very hard material.
- On the Mohs scale of hardness, moissanite ranks at 9.25, making it one of the hardest substances, just below diamonds (which score a perfect 10). This hardness contributes to its durability.
- Moissanite has a refractive index of approximately 2.65-2.69, significantly higher than that of diamonds (2.42). This results in greater brilliance and fire, producing a stunning sparkle.
Corundum
Corundum is a crystalline form of aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) and is one of the hardest minerals on Earth, ranking 9 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, just below diamond.
- Hardness: With a Mohs hardness of 9, corundum is extremely durable and resistant to scratching.
- Color: Pure corundum is colorless, but it can appear in various colors due to the presence of trace elements. For example:
- Ruby: Red corundum, colored by chromium.
- Sapphire: Typically blue, but can also be yellow, pink, green, and other colors, often colored by iron and titanium.
Cubic Zirconia
ubic zirconia (CZ) is a synthetic gemstone that resembles diamond and is widely used in jewelry.
- Composition: Cubic zirconia is made from zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂) and is typically stabilized with other oxides, such as yttrium oxide.
- Hardness: It has a hardness of about 8 to 8.5 on the Mohs scale, making it quite durable, though not as hard as diamond.
- Appearance: CZ is known for its brilliance and fire, often exhibiting a high level of clarity and a wide range of colors, including colorless, yellow, blue, green, and pink