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Separating Lab-Grown from Natural Diamonds
Contrary to some marketing messages, lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds are not identical in every way. Lab-grown diamonds are produced at Earth’s surface by two different processes: HPHT (high pressure high temperature) and CVD (chemical vapor deposition). Diamond crystals grown in these manufacturing processes inherit characteristics of the manufacturing process that can be used to…
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Separating Lab-Grown from Imitation Diamonds
An ability to positively identify natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds, and the many imitation materials is essential today for several reasons. First, significant price differences exist between these materials. Second, diamond customers are cautious and want to know exactly what they are buying. And, third, the reputation of every business that sells diamonds is at risk.…
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History of Lab-Grown Diamonds
Lab-grown diamonds have been produced since the 1950s. Nearly all of the earliest lab-grown diamonds were put to industrial uses such as making abrasive granules for cutting, drilling, and polishing tools. At that time, lab-grown diamonds had color and clarity issues which made them unsuitable for use as gems. One of the main incentives for…
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What Are Lab-Grown Diamonds?
Lab-grown diamonds are diamonds that have been made by people. Just like the natural diamonds that form deep within the Earth, lab-grown diamonds are a crystalline form of carbon with a cubic (isometric) crystal structure. Lab-grown diamonds have chemical, physical, and gemological properties that are the same as natural diamonds. However, the manufacturing processes used to produce…
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Social Importance of Jade
In the United States and Europe, diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, opals, garnets, and a few other gems are much more popular than jade. Jade is not thought to be as precious in these regions as it is in China. The Chinese have a much higher regard for jade than any other people. For thousands of years, jade has been the most…
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Geologic Occurrence and Prospecting
Jadeite and nephrite are minerals that form through metamorphism. They are mostly found in metamorphic rocks associated with subduction zones. This places most jadeite and nephrite deposits along the margins of current or geologically ancient convergent plate boundaries involving oceanic lithosphere. Jadeite is typically found in rocks that have a higher pressure origin than nephrite. This normally…
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Geography of Jade
Most people immediately think of China as the source of jade and jade objects. China has always been an important producer of jade, a leading jade cutting center, jade consumer, and jade market. The only time dominance in these activities moved outside of China was between World War II and the early 1980s. At that…
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Materials Confused With Jade
A number of other minerals and materials that are commonly cut and polished are easily confused with jade. All of these materials can have a color, luster, and translucence that is very similar to jade – so similar that the average person is unable to recognize them. These materials are often used to manufacture cabochons,…
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Use of Jade as a Gemstone
Jade is a durable, colorful material that can be worked into shapes and given a high polish. These properties make it a very desirable gemstone. Jade has been used to make a variety of jewelry items such as pendants, necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, beads, cabochons, tumbled stones, and other items. These jewelry items are often made of…
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Early Use of Jade in Tools
People have used jade for at least 100,000 years. The earliest objects made from jade were tools. Jade is a very hard material and is used as a tool because it is extremely tough and breaks to form sharp edges. Most jade does not have a color and translucence that is expected in a gemstone.…