Glossary of Diamond Terms

Finding a diamond in a rough can be a daunting task. However if you pass the rough diamonds under an X-Ray the diamonds will show a glow or hue, sometimes referred to as fluoresce due to fluorescence. Usually in a yellow or blue color. Once they see this, they know there's a diamond in there.

Yttrium Aluminum Garnet. It was used as a diamond simulant before Cubic Zirconia was discovered. It however was not a good substitute and the difference by today's standards could be easily seen.

One the color scale of diamonds starting with D and ending with Z. You slowly see the amount of yellow in each stage get greater and greater till eventually you have a champagne color. In diamond grading standards the more yellow the less valuable it is. But only Dull, Lifeless yellows. The Dull yellows will be found in the traditional diamond color scale. However once you get out of the scale you'll come across the fancy color Yellow. It's vibrant and full of life. Fancy colored diamonds, real ones not the artificially enhanced colors, will usually command quite a pretty penny in the diamond market due to it rarity. Same with the blues, reds, greens and oranges.

It's a type of flower cut discovered and used by De Beers.

Technical definition is a white solid used in ceramic glazes and refractory coatings and as a synthetic substitute for diamonds in jewelry. The diamond definition is somewhat different. Zirconia depending on how well it's made can really be a great substitute for diamonds, however it lacks certain livelihood. At a distance it looks like a diamond, and it could even possibly fool you if you're close. If you inspect it though and really look at it, you'll see something in most traditional simulates...the diamond looks perfect, but without the fire and brilliance. I say it's a great substitute because on first glance it will fool anybody, and if the wallet can't afford the real thing, well, Cubic Zirconia will definitely be in your budget. I've seen 3 to 7 carat CZ diamonds go for about 30 bucks. Of course if I were you, I would stick to anything 1ct and under and mainly use the CZ for earrings. If you use it on a ring, most people will want to look at, and really see it shine, glitter, and knock them out with the brilliance, and they will be disappointed that it doesn't, and you'll probably be embarrassed if you tried to pass it off as a real diamond. With this substitute, smaller is better. That's just our opinion and opinions vary greatly.