Let’s face it. We all can’t be Jenny from the block. Protestations of superstardom aside, Ms. Lopez can buy and sell us all ten times over, even though we’ve been admonished not to be fooled by the rocks that she got. She used to have a little and now she got a lot. She’s just Jenny from the block. Go Je-Lo. Thanks to the massive markup in the diamond industry that results in exorbitantly priced diamond jewelry, the only diamond most women will ever own is the one in their engagement or wedding ring. Still, we all want a bit of the bling, right? So, how do you get a little of the sizzle without any of the sting?
While it’s pretty tough to perfectly mimic the dazzling sparkle of a fine genuine diamond, there are a few alternatives that can get you close, and not all of them are flat-out fakes. Here are some alternatives to the real thing that might make a satisfying stand-in.
Cubic Zirconia: Cubic zirconia is the cubic crystalline form of zirconium dioxide, which occurs naturally. However, what is used in jewelry is not natural. This substance is very rare, and all cubic zirconia used in jewelry is man-made. There are similar sounding substances such as zircon, which is a zirconium silicate, zirconia, and zirconium, which are words often mistakenly confused with cubic zirconia. Because cubic zirconia, or CZ, as it’s called, closely resembles a natural diamond, is low cost and durable, it is probably the most popular substitute for a diamond since mass-production of CZ began in 1976.
Moissanite: In 1893, Henry Moissan was checking out mineral samples from a meteor crater in Arizona and discovered some sparkly rocks that he thought were diamonds. Sadly for him, no. Pouting face. About ten years later, the crystals were determined to be silicon carbide. However, since Mr. Moissan was kind enough to stumble across them, the crystals were named for him, hence, the name Moissanite. Smiling face with squinting eyes. Moissanite, in its natural form, is very rare. It has been discovered in only a few places, including, apparently, meteorites, so all Moissanite is synthesized. Moissanite was introduced to the jewelry market in 1998, and is now manufactured under several brand names. Some “gems” that are entirely man-made do share some optical properties with genuine diamonds, and in some instances, exceed those of a diamond, although under close scrutiny, they are easily revealed as the imposters they are.
For a nice example of a diamond dupe that is fo’ real, as the kids say, I offer you the white sapphire. Of course the first thing that leaps to mind when you consider a sapphire is that they are blue. Actually, sapphires can be found in every color of the rainbow, and the white sapphire is a lovely diamond alternative. It’s a precious gem, it can be found in abundance, and it’s really pretty. Granted, it does not sparkle in the same way a diamond does. One of the magical properties of a diamond is that when it sparkles, a diamond throws off a rainbow fire that is truly unmatched, which is why they are so desirable. However, if man-made isn’t your thing, then consider a natural white sapphire.
Another genuine gem you might consider when shopping for a diamond dupe is a clear, or colorless, topaz, also called a white topaz. topaz, as you probably already know, is most recognized for the colors of pale blue, called…wait for it…blue topaz, or a deeper, more saturated blue, referred to as a London blue topaz. When in a lemon yellow or golden color, it is called a citrine. Topaz is a member of the quartz family, and quartz is one of the most abundant mineral substances on the globe. White topaz is not as hard as a diamond or a sapphire, but it is far less expensive. The white topaz is not usually cut with as many facets as a diamond, but some very nice glitter can be brought out of a white topaz. Gemstone cutting is a precision process usually reserved for gems that, due to their crystalline structure, benefit by a multitude of facets that take advantage of light that ignites a stone’s brilliance. That’s why you don’t often see faceted opaque stones. Still, if you want the suggestion of a diamond in a genuine gemstone with a bit of bling, a white topaz is probably priced within most budgets. A reflective white topaz set into high-polished sterling silver is quite attractive.
Gemstone simulants can be found in a variety of materials, from glass to resin to lead crystal. Swarovski, a company headquartered in Austria and founded in 1895, created what are now considered the jewelry industry’s premier brand of cut crystals. The founder, Daniel Swarovski, sought to make a “diamond for everyone,” by making crystals affordable. Swarovski crystals are now used throughout the fashion jewelry industry, as home decor items such as chandeliers and figurines, and another division of the company manufactures optical instruments such as binoculars and telescopes. Just a few years ago, the Swarovski company created “Zillion,” a copyrighted cut that adds maximum sparkle to their lead crystal “gemstones.” Coatings and backings are also used to bring out the rainbow reflectivity of their beautiful crystal objects.
Finally, it should be mentioned that the technique of diamond cutting into metal, which is a finishing technique whereby a diamond-tipped cutting tool is used to cut micro facets into metal surfaces, can add sparkle to a jewelry design without stones. Precision diamond cutting can, at a glance, create the illusion of glittery diamonds set into metal, when really the silver, white gold, or platinum is not set with stones at all.
When it comes to genuine diamonds, the expression “fake it ’til you make it” is probably apt. When your ship comes in and you hit the big time, say hi to Jenny for me. Until then, sparkle on!
Laura