Synthentic diamonds

[Missrocks]

For all those concerned about "conflict diamonds", here's an interesting article:
http://www.pricescope.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=20466
Lets not forget about all the jobs the diamond industry has created.

Wearing diamond imitant jewelry is a personal preference. The looks of CZ and moissonite vs. diamond are distinguishable to me, so I choose not to wear it for that reason. CZ's have a watery glasslike appearance to me and the only thing moissonite has in common with diamond is thermal inertia- The dispersion, luster, and coloring are lacking that of a diamond. My mom says she can't tell any difference, so she has quite a few cubic zirconia pieces. Hey- I tell her only pay for differences you can see. (Unless there are "mind-clean" issues involved.)

I may consider a synthetic lab grown diamond in the future...I have seen some lovely half carat synthetic pinks and blues, and a much larger fancy brownish yellow. The synthetics are still fairly expensive, but still much less than say a natural pink or blue fancy. I am more interested in progess of the white synthetic diamond production- but have concerns on whether they can get the cost to be significantly lower than that of the natural white counterpart. Even though grown in a lab, getting the exact properties of natural diamond at a fraction of the price could be appealing to me.


And I don't really worry about losing my jewelry because I have everything insured and appreciate the peace of mind that comes with that.

 

[babevivtan]

http://www.gordonmax.com/
Still a diamond, but the process was made faster.

Any thoughts?

 

[sinniebunnie]

synthentic diamonds is just the same as a replica purse.. i would go for color gemstones instead.

 

[circoit]

Buying synthetic diamonds shouldn't be compared to buying a counterfeit purse because it isn't the look but the name that quantifies a purse as being counterfeit.

Cubic Zircon does exist in nature, but because it is extremely rare, anything found in the store has been lab created. I think a better comparison is whether you want to pay for silk or for polyester. Silk may be nicer, but polyester is more practical. But that doesn't make polyester bad.

 

[babevivtan]

http://www.gordonmax.com/
Still a diamond, but the process was made faster.

Any thoughts?

I am talking about diamond simulants. http://gordonmax.com/gordonmax/shopcontent.asp?type=diamond. Are diamond simulants CZs? Pardon my ignorance. I have read the thread but am a bit confused

 

[stylefly]

I am talking about diamond simulants. http://gordonmax.com/gordonmax/shopcontent.asp?type=diamond. Are diamond simulants CZs? Pardon my ignorance. I have read the thread but am a bit confused

No, man-made diamonds are made by the same process (extreme pressurized coal) as natural diamonds. The biggest complaint you hear about the well-made synthetics is that they are "too flawless"- which is what the diamond industry wants you to pay out the nose for anyway.
I think that comparing synthetic diamonds to counterfeit bags is ridiculous. People don't get their villages torched and arms chopped off to make your authentic Gucci bag, but by buying into the diamond myth these problems are certainly perpetuated. If you haven't seen movies like Blood Diamond, that might be a good place to start before making a comment like that .
Sorry if that sounds harsh but I think we are really sheltered from the reality of the industry and people need to be informed.

Here's a really good information page on man-made diamonds:
http://www.greatdiamondtips.com/manmade.html

 

[babevivtan]

No, man-made diamonds are made by the same process (extreme pressurized coal) as natural diamonds. The biggest complaint you hear about the well-made synthetics is that they are "too flawless"- which is what the diamond industry wants you to pay out the nose for anyway.
I think that comparing synthetic diamonds to counterfeit bags is ridiculous. People don't get their villages torched and arms chopped off to make your authentic Gucci bag, but by buying into the diamond myth these problems are certainly perpetuated. If you haven't seen movies like Blood Diamond, that might be a good place to start before making a comment like that .
Sorry if that sounds harsh but I think we are really sheltered from the reality of the industry and people need to be informed.

Here's a really good information page on man-made diamonds:
http://www.greatdiamondtips.com/manmade.html

stylefly - thank you for your clarification. I have watched the movie 'Blood Diamond'.

Sorry, am not sure who you are directing your "If you haven't seen movies like Blood Diamond, that might be a good place to start before making a comment like that ." to (not me, right?), as I have not made any comment about any diamonds (natural or simulants or CZ).

 

[stylefly]

^nope, definitely not you! I was directing my comment to the poster above who said:

synthentic diamonds is just the same as a replica purse.. i would go for color gemstones instead.

 

[babevivtan]

^nope, definitely not you! I was directing my comment to the poster above who said:

Thank you for clarifying.

I was reading the link you posted and it is very informative. I came across this topic in my local newspaper where a writer for one of the column suggested it as one of the gifts to get for V-day and so I got curious and where better to get more infomation than our beloved tPF.

 

[stylefly]

Thank you for clarifying.

I was reading the link you posted and it is very informative. I came across this topic in my local newspaper where a writer for one of the column suggested it as one of the gifts to get for V-day and so I got curious and where better to get more infomation than our beloved tPF.

I know! I can find information about EVERYTHING on this forum !!! It's an amazing resource...

 

[intheevent]

I've been hearing a lot about these. My brother's girlfriend is somalian and refuses a diamond engagement ring. Cause of the conflict. I'm going to suggest this to him. I might suggest it to my boyfriend too for me!

This is not like a counterfiet bag. At all. No comparison. Period. And I don't believe in a million years these companies that say they are conflict free. And even if they are have they always been? I am not sure where I stand on the issue but I understand the concern.

 

[sinniebunnie]

No, man-made diamonds are made by the same process (extreme pressurized coal) as natural diamonds. The biggest complaint you hear about the well-made synthetics is that they are "too flawless"- which is what the diamond industry wants you to pay out the nose for anyway.
I think that comparing synthetic diamonds to counterfeit bags is ridiculous. People don't get their villages torched and arms chopped off to make your authentic Gucci bag, but by buying into the diamond myth these problems are certainly perpetuated. If you haven't seen movies like Blood Diamond, that might be a good place to start before making a comment like that .
Sorry if that sounds harsh but I think we are really sheltered from the reality of the industry and people need to be informed.

Here's a really good information page on man-made diamonds:
http://www.greatdiamondtips.com/manmade.html

i find it funny that my comment is not the same as yours thus i am not entitled to my opinion. i personally do not buy synthetic diamonds or anything that resembles one because if i can not afford the real thing i do not want to give the idea i have it. same with replica bags, there are 99% copies available which i refuse to buy. instead i save up and purchase the real thing.

also addressing the comment on my gucci bag, are you 100% sure that nobody was harmed in the creation of gucci bags in general? was everyone who manufactured these bags, paid a fair wage corresponding to the original purchase price of the bag? maybe one of the workers accidentally had their arm cut off in manufacturing and the company refuses to compensate. hmm..

now to clarify: synthetic diamonds are made to look like natural diamonds. replica bags are made to look like authentic bags. what is the difference? they are copies/replicas/made to look like etc. no matter what you say about synthetic diamonds, they can never be considered a natural diamond.

if you do not like the idea of a so called "blood diamond" why are you buying a synthetic diamond, that sole purpose is to copy the look of a natural diamond?

so lets sum up my personal statement.

synthetic diamonds = replicated man made stones made to look like a natural diamond

replica bag = replicated bags made to look like a authentic bag.

feel free to question any of these lovely ladies with natural diamonds on why they decided to buy a possible blood diamond VS a stimulant. i am pretty sure they will say because it is natural and not a replicated man made stone.

 

[gabz]

canadian diamonds are a conflict free alternative.

i have a good friend who h8s diamonds bc of the conflict issues so her e-ring is a saphire and she wears a lot of pearls. personally i just dont like Czs or simulants in anyway. i have a fairly average siez ering (.75) and i prefer this to a 2ct cz anyday. i just dont like things that try to pass themselves off as something. but hey different storkes to different folks. im glad we live in a world of such options that people can make these choices.

 

[stylefly]

i find it funny that my comment is not the same as yours thus i am not entitled to my opinion. i personally do not buy synthetic diamonds or anything that resembles one because if i can not afford the real thing i do not want to give the idea i have it. same with replica bags, there are 99% copies available which i refuse to buy. instead i save up and purchase the real thing.

also addressing the comment on my gucci bag, are you 100% sure that nobody was harmed in the creation of gucci bags in general? was everyone who manufactured these bags, paid a fair wage corresponding to the original purchase price of the bag? maybe one of the workers accidentally had their arm cut off in manufacturing and the company refuses to compensate. hmm..

now to clarify: synthetic diamonds are made to look like natural diamonds. replica bags are made to look like authentic bags. what is the difference? they are copies/replicas/made to look like etc. no matter what you say about synthetic diamonds, they can never be considered a natural diamond.

if you do not like the idea of a so called "blood diamond" why are you buying a synthetic diamond, that sole purpose is to copy the look of a natural diamond?

so lets sum up my personal statement.

synthetic diamonds = replicated man made stones made to look like a natural diamond

replica bag = replicated bags made to look like a authentic bag.

feel free to question any of these lovely ladies with natural diamonds on why they decided to buy a possible blood diamond VS a stimulant. i am pretty sure they will say because it is natural and not a replicated man made stone.

I'm going to try to make this come out as politely as possible as of course you are entitled to an opinion- I don't think it's possible to debate this if you are not educated on the subject and by your statements above I can see that it's simply a case of you not knowing enough about the whole issue to understand my point. There is no illusion of scarcity that is attached to designer bags like there is with gems.
In short:
Pressurized coal = diamond. Coal ALWAYS comes from the ground. Whether the pressurization comes from the earth or a machine, the result is the same- a+b=c. So please remember that a lab-pressurized diamond and a ground-pressurized diamond are the SAME THING. I'm not talking abut CZs or other simulants anywhere- just actual diamonds made by speeding up a natural process. How is that buying a "replica"? Your comparison is way off the mark between bags and diamonds. There are trademark and design factors involved with bags- diamonds are just rocks found in the ground. It's this comparison that makes this a fruitless argument for me, same as if I were to form an opinion on something like train engines which I know very little about as well!

 

[circoit]

i find it funny that my comment is not the same as yours thus i am not entitled to my opinion. i personally do not buy synthetic diamonds or anything that resembles one because if i can not afford the real thing i do not want to give the idea i have it. same with replica bags, there are 99% copies available which i refuse to buy. instead i save up and purchase the real thing.

also addressing the comment on my gucci bag, are you 100% sure that nobody was harmed in the creation of gucci bags in general? was everyone who manufactured these bags, paid a fair wage corresponding to the original purchase price of the bag? maybe one of the workers accidentally had their arm cut off in manufacturing and the company refuses to compensate. hmm..

now to clarify: synthetic diamonds are made to look like natural diamonds. replica bags are made to look like authentic bags. what is the difference? they are copies/replicas/made to look like etc. no matter what you say about synthetic diamonds, they can never be considered a natural diamond.

if you do not like the idea of a so called "blood diamond" why are you buying a synthetic diamond, that sole purpose is to copy the look of a natural diamond?

so lets sum up my personal statement.

synthetic diamonds = replicated man made stones made to look like a natural diamond

replica bag = replicated bags made to look like a authentic bag.

feel free to question any of these lovely ladies with natural diamonds on why they decided to buy a possible blood diamond VS a stimulant. i am pretty sure they will say because it is natural and not a replicated man made stone.

I like the look of diamonds. I love clear stones, I always have. Sapphire is soft and doesn't sparkle well, same with topaz.

If I really liked the look of a designer bag, I would not go out and buy a replica (with the fake name stamped on it and everything), but if I did see a bag that was very similar, with another designers name on it - why wouldn't I buy it?

The problem with fake bags is the questionable sources and possible ties to terrorism, etc. Money from replicas is known to go to that sort of thing. It also steals money from a brand who has spent lots of time money and effort into establishing their name. Diamonds are a natural resource and are not proprietary property.

Nobody is hurt in the manufacturing of cultured diamonds or even czs. There are several actresses who will only wear fake diamonds to events. Imagine if they had to give up clear sparkly stones altogether simply because they didn't like the idea that they were wearing something man-made. It would be a lot tougher trying to find accessories for their outfits. And, they most certainly aren't wearing fake diamonds because they can't afford the real thing.

What about gold? Should we not wear gold plated or gold-tone jewelry because it is not the real thing (AKA: solid gold?).

As for me, I'm not going to stick my nose up at something because of the idea that it was created by man, rather than found in nature. What about stones that are irradiated or enhanced by man? Are those a no-go, too? What about cultured pearls?

I guess its fine if you don't like them, but its not fair to say that those who do buy them are only trying to look like they have more money than they do. I am wearing a cz engagement ring right now, not because I can't afford it, but because I have already lost two $$$ engagement rings and I don't trust myself with another one right now. I want some diamond stud earrings, but I would prefer to get CZ studs because I would rather spend my money elsewhere. I would rather put the money towards a nice watch, or nice bags, or nice shoes, or even some jewelry by an artisan designer - where I am paying for design and art rather than some over-inflated price set by a diamond cartel.