gemstone
Diamond (or Diamond Simulant)
Carbon (C) or Cubic Zirconia (ZrO2)
Hardness: 10 (Diamond) or 8.5 (Cubic Zirconia); Color: Colorless/White; Luster: Adamantine; Cut: Round Brilliant; Specific Gravity: 3.52 (Diamond) or 5.6-6.0 (CZ)
- Hardness
- 10 (Diamond) or 8
- Color
- Colorless/White
- Luster
- Adamantine
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Physical properties
Hardness: 10 (Diamond) or 8.5 (Cubic Zirconia); Color: Colorless/White; Luster: Adamantine; Cut: Round Brilliant; Specific Gravity: 3.52 (Diamond) or 5.6-6.0 (CZ)
Formation & geological history
Natural diamonds form deep within the Earth's mantle under extreme pressure and temperature before being brought up by volcanic kimberlite pipes. Simulants like Cubic Zirconia or Moissanite are synthetic/lab-grown.
Uses & applications
Used widely in fine jewelry (rings, necklaces, earrings) and industrial applications like cutting, grinding, and drilling tools.
Geological facts
Diamond is the hardest naturally occurring substance on Earth, made of pure carbon organized in a isometric crystal structure.
Field identification & locations
A thermal conductivity tester or jeweler's loupe can differentiate real diamond from simulants like CZ or glass rhinestones by observing dispersion, inclusion patterns, and facet crispness.
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Diamond and Gold Jewelry
Carbon (Diamond) / Au (Gold)
gemstone
Ammolite
Ammolite (Biogenic Aragonite with trace elements; fossils of Placenticeras meeki and Placenticeras intercalare)
mineral
Cubic Zirconia (simulant) or Diamond
ZrO2 (Cubic Zirconia) or C (Diamond)
gemstone
Red Jasper
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Hematite inclusions
sedimentary
Cubic Zirconia (or possibly Diamond)
Zirconium dioxide (or Carbon)
gemstone
Faceted Gemstone
Unknown transparent mineral, possibly Diamond (C), Cubic Zirconia (ZrO2), Quartz (SiO2), or Glass
gemstone