Diamond Alternatives That Are Just As Beautiful

Diamonds are the king gemstones of romance, and everyone loves them. However, they come at a significant cost, and everyone can't afford them. That's why some alternatives have constantly been seeking to replace diamonds.

Over the decades, scientists have worked on ways to find alternatives to this precious gem, and they have made significant progress.

Here are some diamond alternatives you can try out:

1. Aquamarines:

Aquamarine is a pale blue gemstone mined in Brazil, Asia, and Africa. They originated in the 1700s and were referred to as the Sailors Stone. Aquamarine is rare, has a natural coloring, and is very valuable. It is hard and durable but isn't very resistant to scratches; hence you need to be careful.

1. White Zircon:

White Zircon, also known as zirconium silicate, is colorless in its pure form and can be found in East Africa, Australia, and South America. Although much cheaper, they look very much like diamonds, shine with much brilliance, and display an array of colors.

1. Cubic Zirconia:

This was discovered in 1892 in its natural form of mineral zirconium oxide. However, it was not valued until 1977. Later on, people found that the crystals could be grown using a synthetic process. It wasn't until the 1980s that Cubic Zirconia (CZ) became popular in the costume jewelry world. Today, it is pretty challenging to differentiate between diamond and CZ due to the chemical enhancements made. These enhancements cause Cubic Zirconia to sparkle in rainbow-like colors while giving one the impression of a fancy-colored diamond.

1. Morganites

Morganites have a pink-peach look and are commonly used as the centerpieces of engagement rings. They were discovered in Madagascar in 1922 by George Kunz. Morganites are soft stones durable enough to be used as jewelry but require lots of care to avoid damage.

1. Moissanite:

A French scientist discovered this crystal in 1892. It was discovered in a crater site formed by a fallen meteorite. Since the discovery of the first moissanite, it has been impossible to find another, so scientists have recreated the properties of the origin moissanite using silicon carbide. The artificial moissanite presents a grayish flare when placed under certain lighting conditions. Moissanite is sparkly and gives off even more fire than a diamond. However, their basic look can be likened to that of a diamond.

1. Amethysts:

This crystal dates as far back as 2000 BC. It's associated with wealth and is backed by a Greek myth. Romans and Greeks believe that wearing this gem can protect one from intoxication. Amethysts are mostly purple-colored but can vary from lavender to pink in some cases. Amethysts are hard and suitable for everyday wear but still require great care as they can wear out easily.

1. Swarovski Crystals:

Swarovski crystals are glasses melted to form lead crystals. The lead gives the crystal a sparkly look, rigid structure, and the inability to scratch easily like a diamond. They are produced at high heat, melted, and cut to resemble diamonds. Swarovski is made to imitate diamonds closely; hence their nickname is Simulated or Imitated diamond.

1. Laboratory Diamonds

These are man-made diamonds, first created in the 1950s by Tracy Hall. They were first created using poor-quality diamonds made for industrial purposes. Lab diamonds are technically real diamonds. They share the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as natural diamonds. They also exhibit the same brilliance as natural diamonds. They are available in every color, cut, and shape. They are the ultimate alternatives to diamonds.

Naitri Sharma has completed her fashion designing course from Mumbai university. She loves writing about fashion and jewellery.