Blog · · 4 min read
Are “Diamond” G-SHOCK Bezels Real Diamonds?
In short
Usually not. Iced-out G-SHOCK bezels are often called “diamond” bezels, but many are set with moissanite or cubic zirconia rather than mined diamonds, and they are aftermarket parts, not Casio products. Ours are set with moissanite, a lab-created gemstone that passes thermal diamond testers and shows more fire than diamond, and every listing says so.
What sellers mean by a “diamond bezel”
“Diamond bezel” is often used loosely for any bezel covered in clear stones. The stone itself can be diamond, moissanite or cubic zirconia, and the three differ a great deal in hardness and price. The listing should name the stone. If it does not, ask.
Diamond, moissanite and cubic zirconia compared
These are the three stones you will meet on iced-out watches.
| Moissanite | Diamond | Cubic zirconia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Silicon carbide (lab-created) | Carbon | Zirconium dioxide (lab-created) |
| Mohs hardness | About 9.25 – 9.5 | 10 | 8 – 8.5 |
| Refractive index | 2.65 – 2.69 | 2.42 | 2.15 – 2.18 |
| Dispersion (fire) | 0.104 | 0.044 | 0.058 – 0.066 |
| Thermal diamond tester | Passes | Passes | Does not pass |
| Relative price | Low | Highest | Lowest |
How to tell what a bezel is really set with
Three checks tell you most of what you need to know before buying.
- The stone name: a careful seller writes moissanite or cubic zirconia, not just “diamond” or “ice”.
- The price: a bezel fully set with natural diamonds costs far more than a moissanite one.
- The details: look for the clarity and color of the stones and the metal of the bezel itself.
What “passes a diamond tester” means
Common diamond testers measure how well a stone conducts heat. Moissanite conducts heat almost as well as diamond, so it passes those testers. A tester that measures electrical conductivity tells the two apart, and so does a jeweler with a loupe, because moissanite is doubly refractive and diamond is not.
A stone that passes a thermal tester is therefore not proof of a diamond. It is proof that the stone is not cubic zirconia or glass.
What GshockVendor bezels are set with
Our stone-set bezels use moissanite, most of them VVS clarity in D color, on a plated brass base. We call them moissanite bezels because that is what they are. You get the hardness and sparkle that make an iced-out watch look right, at a price that mined diamonds cannot match.
Common questions
Does GshockVendor sell real diamond bezels?
No. Our stone-set bezels are set with moissanite, a lab-created gemstone, and each listing names the stones.
Can a jeweler tell moissanite from diamond?
Yes. A tester that measures electrical conductivity separates them, and under a loupe moissanite shows doubled facet edges because it is doubly refractive.
Is moissanite a fake diamond?
No. Moissanite is its own gemstone, silicon carbide. It is not an imitation made to be passed off as diamond when it is sold under its own name.