Briolite Simulated Diamond Company

I recently had someone discuss with me a company named briolite.com
It seems that this company is selling a simulated Diamond ( not
Synthetic Diamond ). Here is an excerpt from their

Briolite is a synthetic gemstone created using a method called
radio frequency induction to match natural diamonds in
virtually every aesthetic property."

Has anyone on Orchid heard of this company and know what it is they
are selling?

Their info is so vague about the material that I would guess it is
Cubic Zirconia being sold at a very high price.

Greg DeMark
www.demarkjewelry.com

I have never dealt with the company, but stay away from them.

Here is why:

Briolite is a synthetic gemstone created using a method called
radio frequency induction to match natural diamonds in virtually
every aesthetic property.

This is a description of Cubic Zirconia manufacturing process.

Zirconium Oxide cannot be melted in any container due to the high
temperature required. It is packed in crucible and subjected to radio
frequencies which caused the inside of pack to melt and upon cooling
to re-crystalize. The outside of the pack contains melted inside. So
called “Skull” method.

So while the description is technically correct, it meant to conceal
the fact that material is a CZ.

To me it is a Red Flag

Leonid Surpin.

Greg I have many of their items. Some are just downright jaw
dropping. The cut that they use catches the light so well that it
flashes everywhere. I have given them as gifts or kept them for
myself. They come mostly in silver or occasionally in 14K yellow
gold or white gold, I have those also. They are much better than a CZ
their quality sometimes confuses my diamond meter and it will set
off a weak signal on occasion. I just have fun with them.

Leslie

I did some reading on the Briolite website briolite.com and then a
retailer site for Briolite which has especially sly and concerning
wording in their educational page

http://www.shopnetwork.com/briolite_guide.php

After reading that and looking at some of the prices asked for
Briolite, I became very troubled. I then caught a little slip of the
tongue. A tiny mention of Signity within the Briolite education
page. Signity makes cubic ziconia. There is even a little bit of
duplicated text from the Signity website. I now believe that
Briolite is actually the Signity Star CZ. I have not tested these
stones in person but strongly believe this to be true.

Just as troubling is the sales tool they are using on Shop Network
to help sell Briolite. “Certificates of Appraisal and Authenticity”
by the “Diamond Institute of America”. As a consumer, be concerned
anytime you see a gem lab also giving values of gems. The Diamond
Institute site has very limited about themselves. Very
questionable.

There is nothing wrong with enjoying simulated diamonds. I am
mesmerized by them as well and enjoy studying them. But disclosure
is key. And this is bordering on fraud because of the way these
simulants are being marketed and the prices asked for them.

Be wary and enjoy your sparklies! -Carrie Nunes
www.carrienunes.com

One of my jeweler/customers sent me three stones from this company
for testing. It’s CZ, nothing special about it.

Cut anywhere close to proper angles, and properly polished
(something rarely seen these days), CZ looks very, very much like
diamond…except that it has higher dispersion, meaning it breaks
white light up into spectral colors more than diamond does.

Clean a loose one, turn it pavilion-up in dark field illumination
and you will see the diagnostic yellow flash covering almost the
whole pavilion. A scale will reveal that it is 70% or so denser than
diamond (heavier for a given size).

One can deceive by giving false or deceive by
withholding Briolite’s description of manufacturing
matches the method used for CZ. It’s CZ.

Wayne

I in fact have purchased many of the Briolite Simulated Stones. I hae
put them into settings and pendants/earrings They are stunning. I
sell them as imitation diamonds (not lab created nor CZ’s) I have a
page that goes with each piece telling the person just what they
have purchased. Mind you the person knows when you get a silver ring
with a briolite in it for $20.00 this is not a real diamond. I do not
mince my words with my clients, some of them just cannot afford
anything more, so this is a very happy settlement. In fact I have
ordered several pieces for myself and I love them. I don’t care that
they are not real diamonds I love them just for them. I think as
long as you are not trying to pass them off as diamonds and you give
full disclosure what is the problem of using them? Am I doing
something wrong? I only have my clients best interests at heart. They
do get the Briolite page telling them about the stone, when they
purchase the item they are told it is not a diamond etc. Please let
me know if I am crossing lines that I shouldn’t cross.

Leslie

Please let me know if I am crossing lines that I shouldn't cross. 

The Briolite companies litrature is designed to be just this side of
deceptive. You should not use the word diamond in describing them
even when prefixed with simulated. Unless you tell your clients that
they are buying CZ you are not providing full disclosure. Call them
what they are CZ.

James Binnion
@James_Binnion
James Binnion Metal Arts

360-756-6550

Hi Leslie,

There is no problem with using imitation stones in your work. You are
disclosing this to your clients and fully informing them. The problem
lies with the company promoting these stones. It sounds as if you
have found a source for Briolite that is more reasonably priced. But
I am seeing on more than a couple websites loose Briolite stones for
sale for $99, $350 and even $650. And the marketing text is
misleading to the consumer, in my personal opinion. I have not yet
been able to test one of their stones so I can only comment with my
suspicions and concerns. But if someone is spending extra money to
purchase Briolite because they have been led to believe that it is a
simulant that is so much better than CZ and what they have actually
purchased is CZ, that is misleading. Unfortunately this has been done
many times before by many companies. Please don’t let these concerns
make you feel bad in anyway about using imitation diamonds Leslie.
Every product has a place in the market. You enjoy them and your
clients are happy with the jewelry. You are informing them and that
is all that matters. Keep enjoying them! There are some consumers out
there dropping bigger bucks on this product. Maybe the illusion is
worth that to them. But I feel that maybe they are being taken
advantage of.

My interest in this topic was not to bash a company about their
product or marketing methods. I was interested to know what the
product actually is and what it is trading for in the marketplace. I
want to keep my customers fully informed too and be able to answer
their questions accurately.

Hope that helps-Carrie Nunes
www.carrienunes.com

Thanks Carrie: I know my customers enjoy the crystal stones. I can
usually pick them up for 1.00 - 15.00 ( haven’t paid more than that
yet) so I can really help young people who come to me for engagement
rings. I tell them exactly what they are getting, I give them the
opportunity to chose between a real diamond and the CZ one with the
fancy name. Because of the price difference they have usually chosen
the cheaper one. After checking back with many of them they are
still happy with their rings. So that is quite a few years going and
they are still happy, makes me happy.

Leslie