Crystals and diamonds are both extremely popular gemstones, and for good reason. These gemstones may look similar, but there are some key ways to tell them apart.
Crystals usually have a more irregular shape, while diamonds have a more uniform shape. Crystals also tend to be less shiny than diamonds.
Finally, the best way to tell the difference is by testing the hardness of the two materials. Diamonds are one of the hardest materials on Earth, while crystals are much softer.
How to Tell the Difference Between a Crystal and a Diamond?
If you’re wondering which one to buy, so you’re looking for the difference between a crystal and a diamond, here’s an answer: they vary in appearance, clarity, shape, hardness, and refraction.
Appearance
Crystals typically have a more geometric shape with flat faces and sharp angles, while diamonds have a rounder, more organic shape.
Hardness
Both crystals and diamonds are hard, but diamonds are actually the hardest naturally-occurring substance on Earth. Diamonds have a Mohs score of 10 out of 10.
This means that diamonds can only be cut with other diamonds or professional grade tools, while crystals can be cut with a variety of regular tools.
Refraction
Light bends when it passes through a crystal or diamond, but because diamonds have a higher refractive index, they actually bend the light more than crystals do. This difference is what creates the “sparkle” effect that is seen in diamonds.
Structure
Crystals have a very organized internal structure, while diamonds have a more random arrangement of atoms. This difference is what gives crystals their geometric shape and diamonds their more organic shape.
So, those are the key ways to tell the difference between crystal and diamond! Next time you see a beautiful piece of jewelry, you’ll be able to impress your friends with your knowledge of gemstones!
Crystals That Look Like Diamonds
Diamonds can be expensive. Fortunately zircon, moissanite, white sapphire, white topaz, quartz, are all crystals that can pass for diamonds.
Zircon
One of the most popular diamond look-alikes is zircon. This stone comes in many colors, but the most common and best-known color is a bright blue. Zircon is also found in shades of green, red, yellow, and brown, as well as colorless. In its natural state, zircon is often cloudy, but it can be heat treated to remove the cloudiness and produce a stone with exceptional brilliance.
Cubic Zirconia
Cubic zirconia (CZ) is another popular diamond stand-in. It’s made from zirconium oxide and is hard enough to be used in jewelry. It’s also colorless, like a diamond, and has a high refractive index that gives it plenty of sparkle. One of the main advantages of cubic zirconia is that it’s very inexpensive, so it’s a great choice for costume jewelry.
Moissanite
Moissanite is a relatively new stone on the market, first discovered in a meteor crater in 1893. It’s made from silicon carbide and is almost as hard as a diamond (9.5 on the Mohs scale, compared to 10 for diamonds). Moissanite stones have more brilliance and fire than diamonds and are less expensive, making them a popular choice for engagement rings and other fine jewelry.
White Sapphire
White sapphire is another good diamond alternative. It’s made from aluminum oxide and its hardness makes it durable enough for everyday wear. White sapphires also have a high refractive index, giving them plenty of sparkle. These stones are usually less expensive than diamonds, making them a good choice for budget-minded shoppers.
White Topaz
White topaz is another diamond stand-in. It’s made from fluorine and aluminum and has a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale, making it durable enough for everyday wear. Like other diamond look-alikes, white topaz has a high refractive index, giving it plenty of sparkle. These stones are usually less expensive than diamonds, making them a good choice for budget-minded shoppers.
Quartz
Quartz is a popular gemstone that comes in many colors, including white. It’s made from silicon dioxide and has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, making it durable enough for everyday wear. Quartz has a high refractive index, giving it plenty of sparkle. These stones are usually less expensive than diamonds, making them a good choice for budget-minded shoppers.
Glass
Glass is another common material that can be used to mimic the look of diamonds. It’s made from silica (sand) and has a hardness of 5-6 on the Mohs scale, making it durable enough for everyday wear. Glass has a high refractive index, giving it plenty of sparkle. These stones are usually less expensive than diamonds, making them a good choice for budget-minded shoppers.
How Many Sides Does a Diamond Have?
A diamond has four sides. The sides of a diamond are called facets.
So a diamond is a quadrilateral. It has four sides and four vertices (corner points). The angles between the sides will sum to 360 degrees since it is a flat surface. However, the angles between the facets will not sum to 360 degrees because each facet is cut at a different angle. The total angle around any vertex will be less than 360 degrees.
A diamond’s symmetry is also important to its beauty. A well-cut diamond will have symmetry in its facets so that all of the angles are equal. This creates an evenly balanced diamond that reflects light evenly across its surface.
The number of sides on a diamond can be increased by cutting additional facets into the surface of the diamond. However, this does not change the fact that a diamond is fundamentally a quadrilateral.
Final words
It can be a tough call deciding on whether to buy crystal jewelry or diamond jewelry. Knowing the differences between these two gemstones makes the decision that much easier. If this article helped you out, please leave a comment and share!
