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  • Diamonds and Non-diamonds center stones alternatives.

    Diamonds and Non-diamonds center stones alternatives.

    natural, treated, and artificial.

    With the development of technology, processes of improving the quality and appearance of natural diamonds as well as growing diamonds in the laboratory were made possible. In this article, we will detail and compare all the alternatives. Let us note that there is no dichotomy of good and evil or beautiful and ugly. There are pros cons, and depending on the costs. The purpose of the article is to provide information for an intelligent choice.

    Natural diamonds

    Those are diamonds found in nature, mined in mines in the belly of the earth or by filters from rivers. Polished by traditional methods of polishing. Other than that, they have not undergone any treatment of any kind. The color of the diamond was the natural color it had when it was removed from the ground, and so was its degree of cleanliness. The diamonds, at their highest grade, are transparent and colorless. Diamonds also appear in yellowish or brown colors that are less appreciated and quite common. The rarer colors - green, blue, pink, orange, black, and the most occasional of all - red. Colored diamonds that meet the "FANCY COLOR" color criterion are costly.

    A diamond built of carbon with an orderly crystalline structure is considered the hardest material (10 on the mousse scale) and has a very high luster.

    Natural diamonds enhanced

    HPHT These are low color natural diamonds, usually brown which have undergone color enhancement treatment. The process is done at a very high temperature and pressure that simulates the pressure in the soil. The process can be described as a continuation of the ripening of the diamond. After the treatment, the diamond is fixed in its new color that will never change. The monetary value of a diamond is lower than a natural diamond of the same quality. All diamond properties are identical to natural diamonds.

    Clarity enhenced diamonds - low-quality diamonds that go through one of two processes. If the diamond has white cracks, the filling material will make the diamond look better and cleaner to an exposed eye. The process hides the crack. If the diamond had a black inclusion, it was removed by drilling a small hole with a laser and melting the black inclusion (pique) with acid. After treatment, the quality of cleanliness of a stuffed diamond over time is not guaranteed. A diamond from which only a black inclusion has been removed will remain clean. A diamond filled with material may lose its material when cleaned with acid. The value of a treated diamond is significantly lower than a natural diamond of the same quality.

    Color-enhanced diamonds -  Those are natural diamonds that, by exposure to high temperature and pressure conditions, will cause the diamond to change color or, as those who perform the process prefer to say, "color reveal." The color is already imprinted in the diamond, and the process allows it to be revealed. According to them, if the diamond had remained in the ground, the process of color discovery would have happened naturally. After treatment, the color will remain forever. The value of a colored diamond is lower than a natural diamond in the same color. However, all the qualities of an enhanced colored diamond are like a natural diamond. The motivation is to create a variety of colored diamonds at affordable prices.

    Laboratory diamondsThose are diamonds that have been grown by artificial means, in a laboratory, in a process that simulates the conditions in the soil (high pressure and high temperature). They contain the same material from which the natural diamonds are made, the same crystalline structure, and the same hardness and luster properties. Gemologists with advanced and expensive experience and instrumentation can notice slight differences between the natural and the laboratory. Still, without these sophisticated means, no distinction can be discerned. Definitely when the diamond is already set in the jewel.

    To some extent, it can be said that a laboratory diamond grows in a supervised process and is, therefore, more orderly than a diamond that has crystallized in the earth's crust under unknown conditions. However, this is a discussion for professionals. The end customer has no meaning to the above discussion. As can be understood, the value of the material (carbon) is very low, and the value of the laboratory diamond is determined by the cost of production technology. Technology and the pace of production are likely to improve over time, and without a major player such as the natural diamond market (De Beers), its price to the final consumer will go down. The properties of a laboratory diamond are the same as those of a natural diamond.

    Colored laboratory diamonds: Since the growth process is supervised, the color can be controlled, and colored diamonds can be crystallized. The process is more expensive and, therefore, also costs accordingly.

    Notes on lab diamonds:

    • There are two methods of producing HPHT and CVD laboratory diamonds. In both growing methods, the result is excellent. However, in terms of buying the final product, the difference between them should not be taken in your calculation.
    • There is a bitter debate between those who deal with natural diamonds and those who advocate lab diamonds, and a lawsuit has even been filed with the American Standards Institute to ban the use of lab diamonds as diamonds. Claiming that diamonds are only those mined from the ground. The claim was rejected.
    • Proponents of lab diamonds claim that lab diamonds are created in friendly ways that do not harm the planet .Another name is Eco Diamonds.
    • Proponents of natural diamonds claim that paying a high price for a piece of jewelry with a natural diamond shows a deep love and commitment to the partner for whom the jewelry was purchased. (As you already understand, the debate is business, and this article deals with the physical and economic aspects only)

    Black diamonds - as the name implies, black diamonds are not transparent. There are debates about whether they are natural or not. There is no clear answer. Some of them were used as part of drills for oil drilling, and while drilling was burned and turned black after the drill was blunted, the diamonds were broken and polished into black diamonds. They are very cheap, and those who like black will buy them.

    Non-Diamond 

    Moissanite - is a natural, crystalline, rare mineral with a degree of difficulty, almost like a diamond, and a sparkle higher than a diamond. Appears in nature in diamond-like colors. After polishing, it looks very similar to a diamond. There is also Moissanite that has undergone paint treatments. Since the cost of the Moissanite is much cheaper than a diamond, the economic considerations are not weighty. Therefore, the dilemma is in the beauty of the stone. As already mentioned, the stone is hard and stable, and its color or luster will never change.

     

    White Sapphire: White Sapphire belongs to the Cordorondom family. Precious stone, the Cordurondum, is the third hardest mineral after Diamond and Moissanite (9 on the mousse scale). The Cordurondom in a red appearance is called Ruby. And in all other colors, Sapphire. White Sapphire is rare in nature because any substance that mixes with it will add color to the stone. Therefore, it is also clean. As mentioned, Sapphire is hard, dense with a high sparkle, stable, unbreakable stone that will last forever. It's cheaper compared to diamonds.

    There are as well Lab sapphires, which are of high quality, and their economic value is cheaper than the natural. Enlarged white sapphires are used as glass for high-quality watches. (Not scratched)

     Zircon - Zircon is a natural mineral that appears in nature when transparent to semi-transparent. It is pretty hard (7.5 on the mousse scale). And has a high luster. New zircon stone looks excellent over time due to (reasonable) use and small blows that the stone absorbs over time. Small fractures and scratches are formed. The stone loses its luster. Its cost is low.

    Morganite - a stone from the Beryl family, semi-precious, usually clean of inclusions, crystalline. Hard (7.5-8 on the mousse scale) and brilliant. Even in its lightest color, Morganite will have a pinkish tint and is therefore also known as pink beryl. The Emerald Stone is Beryl in green color, and Aqua Marin is Beryl in blue. Morganite is a mainly diamond replacement due to its low price (about $ 300 per carat)

    Aqua Marin - a stone from the Beryl family (Morganite and Emerald), semi-precious. It is usually clean and transparent. Even in its lightest color, there is still a slight bluish tinge. It is hard (7.5-8 on a mousse scale), and its luster is lower than a diamond. Aqua Marine is considered a semi-precious stone and is a substitute for a diamond, mainly due to its low price (about $ 300 per carat)

    Goshenite  Another stone from the Beryl family, white, transparent, and usually free of inclusions, it's hard (7.5-8 on the mousse scale). It is not common in jewelry because its sparkle is not as intense as diamond or Sapphire. However, due to its properties, Goshenite was used to create lenses.

    In conclusion

    There are many more gems. In this article, we have concentrated on those with a similar appearance to diamonds and which are considered when you come to buy an Engagement ring or Solitaire ring for any occasion. All of the stones mentioned are of high hardness and crystalline and can be used daily. It is essential to maintain them and clean them with lukewarm water and soap (not acid and not rub with a toothbrush, the gold will scratch)

    No doubt, a diamond is the best choice and will fulfill its role to the satisfaction and joy of the wearer, but it will always be the precious choice. Therefore, there are substitutes that, in a given budget, will provide a satisfactory and happy solution. The laboratory diamond looks precisely the same as the natural diamond, and its price is much lower. The white Sapphire belongs to the group of precious stones, strong, shiny, and beautiful. With a passing glance with the naked eye, you can not tell the difference between it and a diamond.

    And yet, if there are still budget constraints, you can choose from the semi-precious gems or zircon.

    At the end of the day, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

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  • Gold - Brief information you want to know about gold

    Gold - Brief information you want to know about gold
    Gold, throughout human history, has been valued and coveted more than any other metal, and to this day, gold is used as the best financial security. Women crave gold jewelry.

    Why?

     Gold is a metallic chemical element that has a chemical symbol  "Au" (Latin, aurum) does not tend to chemically bond to other elements and can therefore be found in nature in its pure form. Hence its nickname "Noble metal". It does not mix with ordinary people. And its resistance to corrosion reaction with acids or bases. Gold is easy to process and always shiny. Because this features and the characteristic luster of gold gave it a special status and social symbol through its adornment and many other ceremonial uses.

    Gold Trivia

    • 11.5 trillion us$ - the value of all gold in the world (November 2021).
    • 19.32 grams per cc - specific gravity.
    • 1 troy ounces = 31.1 g. A special unit of weight for precious metals.
    • 1,064 degrees Celsius - the melting temperature of gold
    • 66 km. - The length to which one gram of gold can be stretched (in the plate)
    • South Africa - is the primary source (about two-thirds) of gold in the world.
    • Isaac Newton - Link the pound sterling to the gold trade. Thus began the era in which coins were tied to the amount of gold each country had.
    • 1971 - The year in which the President of the United States, Richard Nixon, abolished the dollar's peg to gold.
    • 1 ton of soil - the amount of dirt needed to find 1-5 grams of gold.

    A bit of history

    Gold has been known to man since ancient times and is probably one of the first metals that man used. There is a number of evidence for its ancient use, including written inscriptions from Khartoum from 2600 BC and additional evidence from geographical areas rich in gold.
    Gold is mentioned in the Bible at the beginning of the book of Genesis. Many of the sacred vessels were made of gold. The Book of Exodus mentions the golden calf that the children of Israel built at the foot of Mount Sinai.
    In Greek mythology, there are several stories that tell about gold in different contexts:
    King of Midas with the golden touch.
    The story of the golden fleece
    Wounded gods, their blood was magical gold that solidified very quickly.
    The Golden Aphrodite - was the extended name of the goddess of love and beauty.
    In Inca culture, gold was considered the "sweat of the sun." The Aztecs used to sculpt various figures in gold and make jewelry for the priests.
    Gold, glittering, is considered throughout history to be one of the most precious metals. It is a symbol of wealth, power, royalty, nobility, and more.
    During a period of the gold rush in the 19th century, gold mining discoveries around the world led to mass migrations of adventurers who hoped for rapid enrichment. The most famous was that of California in 1849. Also known in Alaska, where a film depicting the period was produced. They were also in South Africa and Australia. These migrations during the gold rush changed the face of the United States and several other places in the world that were focal points for gold mining. Moreover, these migrations influenced the political-demographic-economic shaping of the world. Their influence is very noticeable to this day.
    Gold has been, throughout history and to this day, a reliable commodity and has been a refuge for people in fear of changes in global markets, so they invest in gold with the expectation that its price is generally stable. The price of gold rises when there is a fear of a financial crisis, currency depreciation, instability in world stock markets, and in times of war.

     

    What are the uses of gold?

    • Jewelry - the primary use of gold.
    • Electronics - printed circuits and motherboards in computers.
    • Sports - First place trophies and medals in Olympic competitions are traditionally made of gold.
    • Dentistry - Production of dental crowns in dentistry.
    • Food - Gold leaf and gold powder are used as a decorative addition in gourmet foods and in several spirits. Gold leaves are edible on ice cream.
    • Art - Gold leaves and gold powder are used in paintings.
    • Religious Rituals - Gold leaves are used to express worship in some religions. The golden leaves are placed on the statue representing a particular god.
    • Fashion - Gold threads are used in various clothes, especially in luxury clothes or clothes with a religious connection.
    • Trade - Gold is used as a credit guarantee in most central banks in the world. There are countries where gold is used as a money reserve for emergencies.

    In conclusion, gold was discovered two thousand years ago, and since then, its value and passion have not decreased. Gold has excellent physical properties, does not rust, does not oxidize, is shiny in any condition, and is soft and easy to process. All attempts by the alchemists to find a replacement for gold, failed. Gold has no competitor to the symbol of wealth, strength, stability, brilliance and value.

    "Everything has its limit – iron ore cannot be educated into gold."

             Mark Twain

     

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