What Are Diamond Simulants?

There’s something about the sparkle of a diamond that never goes out of style and we think you can wear them with everything. But you don’t necessarily need a diamond to get that luminous, light-catching effect.

Enter diamond simulant earrings.

Designed to give the appearance of diamonds, diamond simulants offer an accessible way to wear brilliant, diamond-inspired jewellery without the price tag associated with natural diamonds.

But what exactly is a diamond simulant? Are diamond simulants the same as cubic zirconia? How do they compare with lab-grown diamonds? And what should you look for when choosing a quality pair of diamond simulant earrings?

Here’s everything you need to know.

What is a diamond simulant?

A diamond simulant is a gemstone or material that resembles a diamond in appearance but is not actually a diamond.

The term “simulant” describes a category of gemstones rather than one specific gemstone. Common diamond simulants include cubic zirconia (CZ) and moissanite, as well as some other natural and synthetic gemstones.

This is an important distinction when shopping for jewellery. A diamond simulant is not intended to be a diamond — it is chosen for its ability to create a similar visual effect.

And that’s exactly the thing that makes them so appealing.

For earrings, where sparkle and style are often more important than diamond provenance, a beautifully cut diamond simulant can offer plenty of impact.

Are diamond simulants real diamonds?

No. Diamond simulants are not diamonds.

A natural diamond is made of carbon and forms naturally within the earth. A lab-grown diamond is also a diamond: it has essentially the same chemical composition and crystal structure as a natural diamond, but is created in a laboratory.

A diamond simulant is different. It simply resembles a diamond visually and has different chemical and physical properties.

That doesn't make a simulant “fake” jewellery. It simply means you're buying a different type of gemstone with a different set of characteristics — and often a much more accessible price.

Are diamond simulants the same as cubic zirconia?

This is where things can get confusing.

Cubic zirconia is a type of diamond simulant, but not all diamond simulants are cubic zirconia.

CZ has been one of the most widely used diamond simulants for decades. Moissanite is another well-known example. Different simulants have different optical and physical properties, including differences in hardness, brilliance and the way they interact with light.

For a useful independent explanation of diamond simulants and how they differ from diamonds, see the Gemological Institute of America's guide, [What Are Simulated Diamonds?]

So when you see the term “diamond simulant”, it’s worth looking beyond the label and asking what is the stone, and what quality has been selected?

What makes a quality diamond simulant?

Not all diamond simulants are created to the same standard.

When choosing diamond simulant earrings, consider:

Colour

A bright, colourless appearance can give a stone the clean, sophisticated look associated with a fine white diamond.

Missana's Shimmer Collection uses D-colour stones, selected for their bright, colourless appearance.

Clarity

Clarity refers to how clean a gemstone appears, including the presence of inclusions or imperfections.

Missana's Shimmer stones are VSI clarity, selected for a beautifully clear appearance and impressive light performance.

Cut

Cut has a major influence on how a stone interacts with light. Two stones made from the same material can look very different depending on how well they are cut.

For earrings, look for stones with a well-executed cut that creates lively sparkle rather than a flat or dull appearance.

Hardness

Hardness matters if you want to wear your earrings regularly.

The Mohs scale measures a mineral's resistance to scratching. Diamond sits at 10 on the scale, while cubic zirconia is around 8.5 and moissanite around 9.25.

Missana's Shimmer stones have an 8.5 Mohs hardness, making them a practical choice for beautiful everyday jewellery.

Do diamond simulants look like real diamonds?

They can look remarkably diamond-like, particularly when they are well cut and selected for colour and clarity.

But a diamond simulant isn't designed to be chemically or physically identical to a diamond. Different simulants interact with light differently, which can affect their brilliance and flashes of colour.

For earrings, however, the question is often less about whether a gem is technically a diamond and more about how it looks when you wear it.

A well-chosen diamond simulant can give you the bright, polished sparkle you're looking for — without requiring a diamond-level investment.

Diamond simulants vs lab-grown diamonds

This is one of the most common points of confusion.

Lab-grown diamonds are diamonds. Diamond simulants are not.

Lab-grown diamonds are created in a laboratory but have the same fundamental chemical and physical characteristics as natural diamonds. Diamond simulants simply imitate the appearance of a diamond.

The right choice comes down to what matters to you.

If owning a diamond is important, a lab-grown or natural diamond may be the right choice.

If you're looking for beautiful, high-impact earrings with diamond-like sparkle at a more accessible price, premium diamond simulants can be a compelling alternative.

Why choose diamond simulant earrings?

There are a few reasons diamond simulant earrings have become such an appealing choice for everyday jewellery.

They're accessible.
You can enjoy the look of brilliant, diamond-inspired earrings without the cost of natural diamonds.

They're versatile.
Sparkling studs and hoops work so well with any outfit from jeans and sweats to your favourite evening dress. 

They're made for fashion.
If you love changing your jewellery with your wardrobe, choosing diamond simulants allows you to invest in the look rather than the rarity of the gemstone.

They can offer impressive durability.
The durability of a simulant depends on the material, but some are hard enough for regular jewellery wear.

Are diamond simulant earrings good for everyday wear?

They can be — but the quality and construction of the earrings matter.

Look at the hardness of the stone, the quality of the setting and the metal used for the earring itself.

For everyday earrings, it's also worth considering the weight and design. A beautiful pair that's comfortable enough to wear from morning to night will inevitably get more wear than a pair reserved for special occasions.

Missana's Shimmer Collection is designed around exactly that idea: high-impact sparkle that works beyond the occasion.

How do you care for diamond simulant earrings?

Like any jewellery, diamond simulant earrings benefit from a little care.

Keep them clean by gently wiping away oils, makeup and everyday residue with a soft jewellery cloth. When deeper cleaning is appropriate, follow the care instructions provided for the specific gemstone and metal.

Avoid exposing your jewellery unnecessarily to harsh chemicals, perfumes and beauty products, make sure your earrings are put on last AFTER makeup and hair products. Then store your earrings separately where possible to minimise scratching.

The better you care for your jewellery, the longer it will retain its original finish and sparkle.

So to answer the question, are diamond simulant earrings worth buying?

For many jewellery lovers, absolutely.

The appeal isn't that a diamond simulant is a diamond — it isn't. The appeal is that you can choose a beautifully made, well-cut, high-quality stone that gives you the sparkle and visual impact you want at a more accessible price.

The key is to look beyond the words “diamond simulant” and consider the actual specifications of the stone.

Colour. Clarity. Cut. Hardness. And, importantly, the quality of the jewellery it's set into.

For a deeper look at the question of value, read our guide [Are Diamond Simulants Worth It?].

And if you're ready to discover the Missana approach to diamond-inspired sparkle, explore our [Shimmer Collection] — featuring premium diamond simulants selected for D colour, VSI clarity and 8.5 Mohs hardness.

The bottom line

Diamond simulant earrings offer a simple proposition - beautiful sparkle without the diamond price tag.

They aren't diamonds, and they shouldn't be marketed as such. But that doesn't mean they can't be beautiful, durable and exceptionally wearable.

The most important thing is knowing what you're buying — and choosing quality over a vague promise of “diamond-like” sparkle.

Because when it comes to earrings, the real luxury is finding a pair you love enough to wear on repeat.