Alternatives To Diamonds

With Valentines Day coming up, chances are that jewelry will be in the minds of many. I read a very sobering hub awhile back about 'Blood Diamonds' that has stuck with me and I thought I`d write something about alternatives to diamonds. The industry has gotten very good at making synthetic gems and a quality piece is just as stunning as the 'real deal'. Listed below are some alternatives to the mined gems.

Diamonds are among the best known and best sought after of the gemstones. They have been used as decoration since ancient times and can be traced back to India. They have been popular since at least the 15th century for the use of engagement and wedding rings. They are hardy, sparkly, and absolutely stunning. For me, the problem is the method in which most of them are gotten. I used to think there were men, down in a mine, chipping away at rock, hoping to find these beautiful stones. Might have happened that way at some point, but the reality is that they are usually mined by slaves, in a war zone in Africa, and sold to finance a warlord`s activity. Over 2/3rds of our diamonds are 'conflict diamonds'. Some people like to believe that because President Clinton started a policy back in 2001 that forbade the U.S. to accept 'blood diamonds'/'conflict diamonds', the diamonds sitting under a jewelers glass are humane. That`s a nice dream, but I don`t believe that anymore than I believe a petstore telling me they don`t get their puppies from a puppymill.

Cubic Zirconia is a fantastic diamond double. It too is durable, sparkly, and stunning. Production of this gem began in 1976 and it is the number one synthetic competitior to the diamond. People have realized its beauty and also the economic advantage of buying one of these synthetic gems. If you put a diamond and a quality piece of CZ next to each other, most people cannot distinguish between the fake and the real diamond. In fact, a friend of mine who had been divorced for quite some time decided to sell all of her jewelry and melt it into another piece. Well, she found out her engagement was, in fact CZ!

There has been some worry over emeralds since the movie about blood diamonds came out. People are wondering if emeralds are also obtained through war conflicts. As far as I can tell, Columbian emeralds are safe. The emerald mines there are owned by a bunch of large corporations, much like the mines in the U.S., and miners are hired to mine them.

Emeralds are gems that are a mixture of the mineral beyrl and have trace amounts of chromium which accounts for the green color. Sometimes there are also trace amounts of a metal called vanadium which also gives the emeralds their green hue. The gem is not considered to be great as far as its toughness goes. When grading an emerald for its beauty, color is usually the most important criteria, with crystal being a close second (meaning the transparency must be of a high degree). In the 1960`s, the American jewelry industry changed the definition of 'emerald' to include the green vanadium-bearing beryl as an emerald. Because of this, the emeralds bought in the U.S. are not recognized as emeralds in the UK and Europe. In America, we distinguish between 'true emeralds' and vanadium beryl gems with the term 'Columbian Emeralds'.

Emeralds are a rare stone and synthetic versions have also been created. One of the names they go by are simply 'created emeralds'. They have the same qualities as a natural emerald, the main difference being that they are created by humans. As with CZ, created emeralds are much cheaper than the 'real deal', but I think they are just as beautiful.

I love all gems, but amethysts hold a special place in my heart because they are my birthstone. I`m also in love with the color purple! Amethyst is quartz, which is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth`s crust, and it has a purple hue. The word 'amethyst' came from the Ancient Greek who believed the stone to have 'anti-drunkeness' properties. They actually made drinking vessels of it and believed it would prevent them from getting intoxicated. The gem was also believed to heal people and keep them cool headed so it was used in battle by midieval European soldiers. They wore it in amulets to protect them and keep them safe.

As far as I know, there is no such thing as a 'conflict amethyst' which makes them desirable to me. As with all of our precious stones, synthetic versions are also available.

I was always mesmerized by Dorothy`s ruby red slippers in The Wizard of Oz. Their shimmery, magical properties could take me from any bad situation just by clicking my heels together in a moment`s time.

While I don`t believe in their ability to wisk me away anymore, their beauty is still just as mesmerizing. Chromium is what gives this gemstone, which is aluminum oxide, its red color. The name is Latin, and comes from the word ruber, which means red. The prices of rubies are determined by the brightness. The highest quality ruby is called pigeon blood-red and demands a hefty pricetag. They are a strong gem, second to the diamond, which also makes them a desirable stone.

Rubie`s red color makes them a favorite when considering buying a gift for that 'special someone'. The color can range from an intense red, to red with yellow/orange undertones, or red with blue to purple tones. I think the differences contribute to the uniqueness and beauty of the piece.

As with all of the others, you can buy a synthetic stone which is much cheaper but equally beautiful. Whatever you decide, make sure you buy from a reputable dealer who discloses the stone`s origin and can vouch for the treatments that have been done to the gem. Genuine rubies are very expensive and you should never buy them without a report of authenticity from a qualified gem lab.