CARAT* Simulants vs. Natural Diamond

While we agree nothing sparkles quite like natural diamond we believe you will not find a better alternative on the market. With very similar optical characteristics to diamond, many Jewelers have agreed they have difficulty telling our stones from naturals. Additionally given our commitment to value for money and quality, we believe CARAT* workmanship is second to none.

Seeing is believing so here are 2 stones side by side. One is a US$60,000.- 2 Carat D color Internally Flawless Diamond, the other is a CARAT* Diamond Simulant. Both were shot from exactly the same angle with exactly the same lighting with exactly the same camera.

The answer to which one is which can be found >>here<<

Hardness:
Measuring an impressive 8.5-9.0 Mohs, with only diamond measuring the maximum 10 Mohs, our stones are close to Sapphire and Ruby in Hardness. While being very hard our stones demand the same respect you would give their natural inspirations. Keep them clean and try not to knock the mountings too much and they last a lifetime.

Cut Comparison:
All our stones normally exceed GIA accepted "ideal" cutting tolerances. By doing this we ensure ensuring that our stones are some of the most beautiful simulants in the world.

Color Comparison:
Normally when compared on the GIA Diamond Color scale our stones have an equivalent D or E color ("D" being the very top of the scale).

Clarity Comparison:
Typically we yield a clarity of "IF" (internally Flawless) although VVS1 (Very very small inclusions) can be noted in some larger stones. By definition you will need a jewelers Loupe to see any inclusions, if at all, in CARAT* stones.

CARAT* Cutting Styles

	Round The Round Brilliant, or Brilliant Round, is what comes to mind for most people when most people think of a diamond. It is one of the simplest yet brilliant expressions of a cutters wheel. With 58 facets to refract and reflect on, it represents the most popular form of cutting in the 21st century.
	Princess Second in popularity to the Round Brilliant Our Princess cuts are slightly modified from their traditional cutting to reveal the true potential of its brilliance. Fiery scintillation and bursting with reflected light is one way to describe them.
	Pear Another Brilliant cut this stones bears many of the facets of a round except the proportion are elongated along the tip. One of the keys to cutting a good Pear shape is the reduction of the bow-tie effect that appears in the lower mid section of the stone. Additional facets are also added to the tip of the stone (so called "French Tipping") to counter light leakage in the area. Though superior cutting techniques we have been able to achieve a brilliantly proportioned Pear that will outshine most others.
	Oval Yet another Brilliant cut borrowing the same faceting techniques from the Round Brilliant although additional facets are added to assist in the elimination of "bowtie effect" in the mid section of the stone. The overall effect is a stone that is more often seen as the exclusive domain of the very rich since they look a little different from the ubiquitous rounds.
	Marquis This stone is another adaptation of the 58 facet round brilliant. Previously the domain of Royalty this stone has very unique shape and suits long slender fingers particularly well. The crown is modified in the marquise to form what is called a "French Tip," where the bezel facet at the point of the stone is eliminated. This allows a more even spread of scintillation along the length of the stone.
	Emerald The emerald cut is not a brilliant cut, but is called a step cut. Step cuts are comprised of larger facets which act like mirrors. The emerald cut has less facets most cuts. Because of the angle, size and shape of the facets, the emerald cut shows less brilliance and fire (dispersion) than the other brilliant cut diamonds. However, the emerald cut stone reveals a classic beauty and elegance not seen in other cuts
	Radiant Our radiant cuts have 70 facets and this stone is truly one of our most brilliant cuts. The crown section has a combination brilliant-step cut arrangement and the pavilion section has more of a brilliant styling with a slight step-styling in the upper sections just below the girdle. The overall look is one of bewildering light and color.
	Asscher This shape is nearly identical to the emerald-cut, except that it is square. Also, this shape has a pavilion that is cut with rectangular facets in the same style as the emerald-cut. The original Asscher cut was very popular in the early 1900's, before the Great Depression and the invention of the modern diamond sawing machine made it uneconomical to cut. Its beauty, however, is breathtaking and thus this cut has been revived and improved with the addition of 16 extra facets to add even more brilliance and life to this outstanding cut.
	Heart Another brilliant cut and a slight variation of the Pear Cut with a small slice removed from the top section, revealing a sparkling symbol of love. Our attention to detail ensures that removed section is also hand polished for maximum brilliance. Something you will find lacking in many other simulants.
	Cushion The Cushion cut was one of the most popular cuts for almost 70 years, starting in 1830. Up until the early 1900's this is how most diamonds were cut and was usually referred to as the Pillow Cut due to its slightly rounded sides. The Cushion Cut was cut for the candle light of its period and can definitely hold its own in room full of round stone wearers.
	Flanders This cut is an example of a modified round brilliant and as a result has comparable, if not superior to the best cut rounds or princess cuts. It is becoming more a more popular way to cut rough diamond as it yields a relatively higher carat weight than equivalent Round Brilliants or even Princess.