It is a common misconception that a rhinestone shares similarities with a diamond; however, several reports confirm that rhinestones and diamond constitutes to form two different types of precious stones. Although the rhinestones and diamonds may look similar, they tend to differ in terms of their applications, materials, styles, and uses.
The misconception has been debunked by the experts, and now, rhinestones are classified as a different category of precious stones. Acquiring rhinestones is significantly easier than buying diamonds, and anyone can add rhinestones to their collection if they are familiar with the differences between diamond and rhinestones.
When compared to its counterpart, the rhinestones are usually integrated into jewelry, which are primarily composed of plastic, glass, and quartz, and it could be modified into a number of colors.
Also, the rhinestones are comparatively cheaper and accessible, as opposed to the diamonds. While the rhinestones are not diamonds, it could be used as an imitation of diamonds, when acquired in its colorless form.
Here in this article, we are going to break down and introduce more detail about the difference between rhinestone and diamond.
What Are Rhinestones?
The misconception has been debunked by the experts, and now, rhinestones are classified as a different category of precious stones. Acquiring rhinestones is significantly easier than buying diamonds, and anyone can add rhinestones to their collection if they are familiar with the differences between diamond and rhinestones.
When compared to its counterpart, the rhinestones are usually integrated into jewelry, which are primarily composed of plastic, glass, and quartz, and it could be modified into a number of colors.
Also, the rhinestones are comparatively cheaper and accessible, as opposed to the diamonds. While the rhinestones are not diamonds, it could be used as an imitation of diamonds, when acquired in its colorless form.
Read more detail introduction about rhinestone from our post “What is a rhinestone? What are different types of rhinestones?“
Diamond vs Rhinestone vs Crystal vs Glass
What is a diamond?
Diamond is a natural substance. It is a colorless crystal of carbon, the hardest substance known to naturally exist. Rhinestones are not as valuable as diamond. They are made of artificial materials and are divided into different materials like glass, crystal, and plastic.
Rhinestones vs Diamonds
A rhinestone is often mistaken for a diamond, and the analogous characteristics of each precious stone can be confusing to a first-time buyer.
A rhinestone differs from a diamond in several facets and elements; however, it requires the buyer to be highly mindful of the differences prior to investing in rhinestones.
The following salient differences help an individual in telling these two types of precious stones apart:
Shape
When it comes to the shapes of the two precious stones, rhinestones often come in two shapes, which include the flat backs and point back (chatons) shape. The use of chatons is prominent in manufacturing handbags, accessories, and anywhere which encompasses of a metal case in its composition. On the contrary, the use of flat back rhinestones in common in manufacturing shoes and clothes, and it could be directly applied to a fabric without relying on a metal case. These two shapes are often encapsulated in foil.
In addition to these shapes, a rhinestone also comes in oval, heart, rectangular, pear, and parallelogram shape. The composition of rhinestones allows a jeweler to mold them into a customizable shape.
In terms of shape, the real diamonds are shaped with pointed backs, which are known as pavilion, and this shape proves significant in maximizing the reflective and refractive properties of the diamond.
Quality and Type of the Metal
Rhinestones are often supplemented with a flat metal, which keeps the light from refracting through the stone; however, the use of the metal allows the reflection of light from the front section of the stone. On the contrary, a diamond uses a refined build, which permits the refraction of light from both sides.
The quality of rhinestones is considerably premium, and it could be categorized into quartz material for making jewelry articles. On the contrary, a diamond is extracted from carbonate, and it is refined to perfection by breaking down the composition of carbon by the use of selected procedures, which attributes to its high quality.
Composition
The crystals and gemstones etc. appear to be very hard but in reality, there are softer ones, and then there are the harder ones too. Know that the diamonds are always sharp and hard and you can easily check the sharpness once you hold a diamond in your hand. On the other side, rhinestones are softer, and you can easily notice the softness because rhinestones usually come with round edges that aren’t too sharp and hard.
Different Types of Rhinestones
The use of rhinestones has become considerably notable for making jewelry and accessories articles; however, rhinestones are found in a number of categories, which are listed as follows:
Glass and plastic Rhinestones
Rhinestones are further categorized into crystal rhinestones, glass and plastic rhinestones, and each type of the stone attributes to manufacturing accessories and miscellaneous articles.
Glass rhinestones are alternatively known as crystal stones, and it is ideal for making Swarovski crystal rhinestones.
Crystal Glass Rhinestones
The following are two of the famous companies renowned for their craftsmanship and collection of rhinestones. If you are planning to purchase one then make sure to check out both these companies because their products are always genuine and above everything, they have the best and the most beautiful rhinestone jewelry available.
1. Swarovski
Swarovski is world famous for the jewelry they manufacture and the rhinestones and other gemstones they use. From ornaments to watches, to necklaces, to bracelets, Swarovski has covered it all for their customers, and they have years and years of experience in this field which is why you can expect some high-quality products from them.
2. Preciosa
Preciosa is one of the top leading luxury brands in the world that manufacture top-notch quality glass and crystal products. Just like Swarovski, one cannot deny the quality and beauty of their products. The rhinestones they use and the way they cut them into beautiful shapes will make you love this brand more and more, and we assure you that once you see their necklace collection, you won’t be able to keep your hands off the “buy” button.
These two famous brands are doing pretty good when it comes to the rhinestone jewelry, and you can trust them blindly about the quality.
In addition to crystals, they also offer diamond buttons which you can sew them on shirts or other accessories to make them stand out.
How about diamond vs crystal? What is the difference between diamond and crystal?
Crystal as a noun means “highly transparent glass with a high refractive index.” Diamond is a precious stone consisting of a clear and colourless crystalline form of pure carbon.
Crystal is a type of material and diamond is a nature substance. Although they may look similar, they are different materials.
Acrylic Rhinestones
Acrylic rhinestones, alternatively known as the Lucite rhinestones, are considered to be an affordable substitute for crystal rhinestones.
It is primarily composed of plastic, and it lacks the lustrous properties of crystal rhinestones. However, the price of the acrylic rhinestones makes it possible for people to buy rhinestone accessories, and save money conversely.
One of the outstanding features of acrylic rhinestones is that it can be composed into a variety of colors. If you want acrylic rhinestones in a color of your preference, you can easily acquire it. The weight and composition of acrylic rhinestones is significantly simpler than its counterparts, which makes it an excellent option for crafting decorative pieces.
Read more about different types of plastic rhinestones from our post “Are Rhinestones Plastic? Resin vs. Acrylic Rhinestones?“
Rhinestones and diamonds are two different categories of precious stones; however, rhinestones differ significantly from the diamonds, and they are easily accessible at an affordable price. A majority of the people mistake rhinestones for diamonds; however, there is a substantial difference between these two types of stones.
If you are considering investing in rhinestones, you should be considerate of the brand and type of rhinestones to select from, and you should be experimental with your research to acquire favorable outcomes.
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SUNMEI BUTTON
SUNMEI is a specialized manufacturer of acrylic rhinestone and button for over 20 years. We provide a wide selections of acrylic rhinestones and buttons. Visit our product page and find out more styles!
