Facts about Synthetic Diamonds

Synthetic diamonds are considered to be fakes although they are molecularly identical to diamonds that occur naturally. Synthetic diamonds are produced in factories normally using a chemical process resulting in a harder and cheaper material. Man made synthetic diamonds are often yellow in color if they are produced using High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) process. Nitrogen causes the yellow color but Boron or simply irradiation could result in a blue, green or pink synthetic diamond. Although it is hard to distinguish between natural diamonds and synthetic forms, experts can tell the difference mainly judging by their color.

One of the most popular replacements for diamonds over the years has been cubic zirconia which is similar to a diamond but a lot less expensive. Synthetic diamonds have begun to replace the popularity of cubic zirconia as they contain the same properties as the naturally occurring kind. It is very cheap to produce forms of synthetic diamonds as opposed to mining for real diamonds making the man made variety more popular with manufacturers. Synthetic diamonds have become readily available and are slowly replacing the more expensive naturally occurring forms.

Can Synthetic Diamonds Replace the Real Deal?

There has been a lot of speculation regarding the quality of synthetic diamonds and if they could possibly replace naturally formed diamonds. Although the artificially made diamonds have been improving over the years and have grown more and more similar to the real deal, it is not certain if they could ever replace the diamond as the most sought after gem. Synthetic gems are much cheaper than the real variety and this can be an attractive quality as can the various colors but it is the authenticity of real diamonds that raises them above the others.

People still associate real diamonds with status; the more carats and money spent the better. Artificial diamonds have a long way to go in terms of reputation and wow factor but it is unknown how things will fare in the future. The fact that synthetic diamonds can be mass produced can be off putting for those who want something limited or original but for those who cannot afford to spend a large amount of money on expensive gems, a cheaper replacement can be the ideal solution. As of yet, the synthetic gem industry has not managed to surpass the quality and popularity of the diamond industry but it seems that younger generations are growing increasingly fond of synthetic gems as part of affordable jewelry that can be used daily. The days of diamond and pearl costume jewelry seem to slowly fading away which could be worrying for those dealing in real diamonds.