Ofcourse its real

							                                                                  Daily Telegraph
                                                                  Saturday 30/05/2009
                                                                  Page:          17
                                                                  Section:       General News
                                                                  Region:        Sydney, AU
                                                                  Circulation:   369000
                                                                  Type:          Capital City Daily
                                                                  Size:          289.68 sq.cms.

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                    Of course it's real
                    Synthetic diamonds
                    shine in tough times
                   Erica Watson

                    DIAMONDS might be a girl's best            The Tiffany and Co-inspired set-                      setting just like a diamond, it really is
                    friend but synthetic alternatives are ting totals about three carats.                            like `hang on a minute, what's the
                    now a close second offering more           "I don't know anyone that has                         difference here'."
                    bling for their buck.                    been able to tell the difference at all,"                 But not everyone agrees.
                       With their brilliant lustre, lifetime Ms Brown said.                                            "Some people have forgotten the
                    warranty and low price tag in tough        Couples are using the spare cash to                   reasons why a diamond has earned
                    economic times, the demand for pay for their wedding, honeymoon or its reputation and value, which is
                   diamond alternatives has soared.          even a house deposit, Secrets Shhh deeper than its bling appeal," jewel-
                      Alana Chang, owner of moissanite jewellers managing director Jane lery designer Stefano Canturi said.
                   jewellery store Moi Moi, said sales Meredith said.
                   had jumped 50 per cent since the Sales of the store's diamond simu-
                   store's opening five years ago.          lant engagement rings, made from
                      Made from the mineral silicon mineral-based zirconium oxide and
                   carbide, moissanite is the closest set in 18k white or yellow gold, have
                   alternative to diamond, offering ex- increased by 25 per cent in two years.
                   cellent brilliance, lustre and hardness.    "[People are] really starting to re-
                      Rebecca Brown, 29, and her hus- assess their values and how strongly
                   band Dom Corcoran bought her they feel about whether a diamond is
                   custom-made moissanite engage- important to them," she said.
                   ment ring for just under $5000. The         "Once they see [the alternative],
                   diamond equivalent would have set feel them and experience them and Bling: Rebecca's moissanite ring
                   the couple back a cool $150,000.         they see that they are in a beautiful
                                                                                      Nobody can tell: Rebecca Brown and her husband Dom Corcoran




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