Diamonds-Engagement Rings

Plague of Engagement Diamonds

Moissanite

Moissanite was named for the scientist who isolated it in a meteorite. Moissanite is gem quality silicon carbide.

What you see in stores commonly called Moissanite is a lab created synthetic, and since it is man made, cannot be considered rare. It really should be called Lab Moissanite or Synthetic Moissanite

Cultured Diamonds

Cultured diamonds are "cultured" in a laboratory apparatus. Crystals grow, and a "cultured diamond" is grown in a chamber. These stones don't meet the criteria of rarity.

Lab Created diamonds are manufactured in ever larger quantities - beware.

Clarity Enhanced Diamonds

Clarity enhanced sounds better than "fracture filled" as the process was originally known - and it may even look good for awhile. What the laboratories do is take natural diamonds with fractures and cracks open to the surface, and fill them with a material that has a similar refractive index to diamond.

Basically, it hides the cracks. "Good", you say. "Bad", sez I. It won't take nearly as much of a blow to fracture that diamond. If a jeweler ever has to re-tip the setting and doesn't know the diamond is fracture filled, that stuff bubbling out is what once filled those cracks.

Likewise, that diamond put in an ultrasonic cleaner could have some serious damage.

Pegasus Diamonds™

Pegasus™ is a process invented by General Electric™ that uses pressure and heat to "whiten" diamonds. Reputable labs such as GIA™ and EGL™ will divulge any "enhancements", assuming they have detected them - and they probably will.

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