| DIAGNOSTICS OF NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC CUT DIAMONDS |
|
Natural and synthetic diamonds are analogs; their composition, structure, physical and other properties are highly similar. Identifying the natural or synthetic origin of a diamond is based on revealing some fine differences in the composition, structure, and properties of natural and synthetic diamonds. Any crystal has some individual fine peculiarities of composition, structure, and properties. Natural diamond crystals differ from synthetic ones in formation conditions. Therefore, those peculiarities of the chemical composition and properties connected with the formation conditions of diamond crystals are most important for diagnostics of natural or synthetic origin of diamonds. When synthesizing diamond crystals, it is impossible to completely reproduce all the conditions at which crystals grow in nature. Therefore, there is no way to artificially produce a complete analog of a natural diamond crystal. Diagnostics of natural or synthetic origin of cut diamonds implies successive diagnostic tests and comparison between the properties of the sample under study with those of natural and synthetic diamonds. Often, distinguishing between synthetic and natural diamonds is only possible under laboratory conditions, using special equipment. As a rule, a single diagnostic method does not provide enough information to reveal the origin of the studied sample. So, an unambiguous conclusion about natural or synthetic origin of the diamond is usually the result of applying a set of diagnostic methods. Before starting the diagnostics of natural or synthetic origin, diagnostics of the stone itself should be performed in order to make sure that the studied stone is indeed a diamond. The diagnostics of natural or synthetic origin of diamonds implies successively studying the following key features (properties), which are different for natural and synthetic diamonds:
|
