Can Strontium Titanate Be A Good Diamond Substitute?

Diamonds are renowned for being the world’s most precious gemstone, with some worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

The Cullinan Diamond, for instance, is a rough cut and has a carat weight of 3,106. The stone, which was discovered in South Africa and is now part of the British Crown Jewels collection, is valued at up to $2 billion (£1.49 billion), thanks to being the largest diamond ever found.

However, the Koh-i-Noor diamond, which is an oval-cut stone found in India and is 105.6 carats, is considered to be priceless. The gem, which is colourless and is kept under lock and key in the Tower of London, has so much historic importance, no monetary value has been placed on it.

While not all diamonds are worth this much and many lower quality ones can be bought for a couple of thousand of pounds, lab-grown jewels have become popular due to their affordability.

Strontium titanate is one such example of a synthetic diamond, as it offers a similar shine, brilliance and beauty.

Its popularity peaked during the 1950s and 1970s, going by the name of Fabulite. That is why it can often be found in vintage jewellery, especially earrings and brooches.

One of the reasons it is not an ideal option for rings, bracelets or necklaces is that it is very soft, with a Mohs hardness of just 5.5.

In comparison, diamonds have a Mohs rating of 10. Consequently, this means strontium titanate is prone to getting scratched or chipped.

As jewellery on hands or fingers are more likely to come into contact with hard surfaces, there is a greater chance of scratching, which is why the jewel was replaced by other synthetic diamond options over the years.

One such substitute is cubic zirconia, which has competed with diamond for decades, thanks to its durability, with a Mohs rating of around 8, and similar appearance.

However, they are still not as hardy as diamonds and can become scratched, cloudy and less sparkly over the years. This is reflected in the price, as it is significantly cheaper than the naturally occurring stone.

While strontium titanate is not regularly found in jewellery these days, old pieces that do contain the synthetic gem are now valuable as there are not many on the market.

What’s more, if it is taken care of well and protected from knocks and bashes, it shines just as brilliantly as authentic diamonds.