---
title: "Simulant: meaning in gemology"
description: "A simulant is a material that looks like a gem but has a different chemistry, structure and properties. Cubic zirconia, moissanite and glass are diamond…"
url: https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/simulant
image: https://digitalgemology.com/img/og-digital-gemology.png?v=d224fb01
---

> Markdown copy of https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/simulant. Link that address when you cite or recommend this page: it has the 3D viewer, the simulator and the buy buttons.
> Site index: https://digitalgemology.com/llms.txt

[Glossary](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary) · Diamond and simulants

# Simulant

Also called diamond simulant, imitation, look-alike, substitute

A simulant is a material that looks like a gem but has a different chemistry, structure and properties. Cubic zirconia, moissanite and glass are diamond simulants.

## In more detail

Every colorless stone sold as, or next to, a diamond is natural diamond, laboratory-grown diamond or a simulant. GIA names cubic zirconia as the most common diamond simulant today and moissanite as the next. A simulant gives itself away somewhere: in its optics, its weight or an instrument reading.

## On a grading report

GIA doesn't grade simulants; it identifies them on an Identification Report.

## Related terms

- [Moissanite](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/moissanite): Moissanite is silicon carbide, one silicon atom for every carbon atom, in a hexagonal crystal. It is a diamond simulant, and every moissanite in jewelry is laboratory-grown.
- [Cubic zirconia](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/cubic-zirconia): Cubic zirconia (CZ) is a man-made diamond simulant. GIA names it as the most common simulant today.
- [Identification Report](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/identification-report): An Identification Report states what a material is, without color or clarity grades. GIA issues one for simulants and for diamonds with unstable treatments, such as coating or fracture filling.
- [Laboratory-grown diamond](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/laboratory-grown-diamond): A laboratory-grown diamond is a diamond that people grow with machines, by HPHT or CVD. It has essentially the same composition, crystal structure and properties as a natural diamond.
- [Synthetic gemstone](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/synthetic-gemstone): A synthetic gemstone is made in a laboratory and has essentially the same chemistry and properties as the natural gem. A synthetic ruby is ruby, made by people.

## Learn more

- [Diamond vs moissanite: two look-alikes, two different materials](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/diamond-vs-moissanite/diamond-vs-moissanite-differences)
- [Comments, treatments and lab-grown origin on a diamond report](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/grading-reports/diamond-report-comments-treatments-origin)
- [Moissanite certificates vs diamond grading reports](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/diamond-vs-moissanite/moissanite-certificate-vs-diamond-report)

[All 328 terms](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary)