HOW TO CORRECTLY REFER TO DIAMONDS, MAN MADE AND NATURAL
In gemmology, the term “natural” refers to a gem that is completely made by nature and has had no alteration caused by humans – other than cutting and polishing.
We use the term “artificial” for a material that has not been formed by nature – and so is “man-made”. There are many artificial materials used in jewellery, such as cubic zirconia and all synthetics.
A “synthetic” is an artificial material that has a counterpart in nature. In other words; there are man-made and natural versions of the same material. Both the natural and man-made counterparts have essentially the same chemical composition and crystal structure. Therefore, they have all the same properties; both physical and optical. And so, a natural diamond and synthetic diamond are the same material, however, they have different growth origins. This affects their rarity and price, so clear disclosure of the product is of utmost importance.
The word “synthetic” is not to be confused with the word “simulant”. A simulant diamond is an alternative material to diamond. In other words; it is not a diamond but it does look like one and so it can be used to imitate [a diamond’s] appearance. Popular diamond simulants include cubic zirconia (CZ) and synthetic moissanite. These materials are convincing look-a-likes of diamonds,
“Laboratory-grown” is the recommended term to use to refer to man-made diamonds. This can be shortened to “lab-grown” or “LGD” for “lab-grown diamond”
The prefix “cultured” is also sometimes used to refer to laboratory-grown diamonds.
At Deltora Diamonds, we refer to our precious stones as Lab Grown Diamonds or Cultured Diamonds. We are very proud to be one of a handful of retailers, revolutionising the $80 billion diamond industry. Good things happen when a market is rattled by newcomers, especially with such innovative technology. At the end of the day, it is the customer who wins, with higher quality options at an accessible price point.
