|
1. Zircon
a. Natural gemstone of many colors.
b. DR
2. Synthetic rutile.
a. DR
b. Higher RI than diamond
c. Very strong dispersion.
1) Key indication.
2) Flash of colors.
d. Light yellow, not colorless.
e. Low hardness (abraded facets).
3. Strontium titanate.
a. Higher dispersion that diamond.
b. SR
c. Low hardness (abraded facets)
d. Most often seen in doublets.
4. YAG (yttrium aluminum garnet)
a. Not a synthetic garnet.
1) Structurally is
garnet-like.
2) Chemically is not garnet.
b. Lower RI than diamond.
c. Popular simulant until replaced by CZ.
5. GGG (gadolinium gallium garnet)
a. Also garnet-like.
b. Lower RI than diamond.
c. Scratches easily.
6. Synthetic cubic zirconia (CZ)
a. Rare natural counterpart.
b. Nearly as brilliant as diamond.
c. Slightly more dispersion than diamond.
d. More durable than other simulants (Moh's
hardness - 81/4-81/2)
7. Doublets (described in next section)
a. Common diamond simulants.
b. Any of above described simulants as
doublets. |