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Use of Strontium Titanate
Strontium titanate was a very popular diamond simulant in the 1950s through the 1970s and was sold under a variety of trade names. Although its surprising fire captured the attention of consumers, its lack of durability resulted in consumer disappointment. It was replaced by materials such as YAG and cubic zirconia that are superior in…
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Tausonite – The Strontium Titanate Mineral
Naturally occurring strontium titanate was not known as a mineral until its discovery in 1982. It was first found in Eastern Siberia, Russia, and later occurrences were found in Paraguay and Japan. It is a very rare mineral, found in tiny cubic crystals, crystal clusters, and irregular masses. Natural specimens are typically so small and so rare…
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Differentiating Strontium Titanate from Diamond
Strontium titanate can be differentiated from diamond using a number of properties. On a quick visual inspection, an experienced person will see that the dispersion of strontium titanate instantly stands apart from diamond, YAG, GGG, CZ, and moissanite. Strontium titanate sometimes contains bubbles that reveal its lab-created origin, and this distinguishes it from diamond. The…
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Competition From Other Diamond Simulants
Strontium titanate does not have the hardness and toughness of diamond, and that was a problem. It has a hardness of 5.5 — low enough that contact with many common objects could result in a scratch or a damaged facet edge. This deficiency allowed newly developed simulants a place in the market. Starting in the…
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The Rise and Decline of Strontium Titanate
The impressive fire of strontium titanate made the stone a rapid success in the jewelry trade. People loved the intense fire and the lower price compared to diamond, and many purchased strontium titanate instead of diamond. Many people bought it just because they loved its appearance. Savvy merchants invented exotic trade names for strontium titanate…
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What is Strontium Titanate?
Strontium Titanate is a man-made material with a chemical composition of SrTiO3. It grabbed public attention in the early 1950s as a diamond simulant – a material that has an appearance that is very much like diamond but has a different composition and/or crystal structure. When cut and polished like a diamond, strontium titanate has a very…