Birmingham, West Midlands -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/28/2010 -- Leading certified diamond specialist Marlows are calling for more to do be done internationally about the spread of the diamond simulate known as Moissanite, after helping out a customer at their store recently who had been duped into buying the Russian-made fakes.

The customer had entered Marlows recently to match up an earring he had lost that he had bought for his wife as a pair. As his wife was Russian, and in a gesture of his love to her, he travelled to the East to buy her the earrings and was told they were real diamonds - paying diamond prices or their purchase.

Marlows discovered upon closer inspection that they actually weren't diamonds, but a cheaply made replica called 'Moissanite'. Ironically invented in Russia, they are a laboratory-made replica and almost impossible to tell apart from genuine diamonds as they share the same characteristics, acting very much like a real diamond. Marlows were able to help the gentleman, however, and recreated a new pair of earrings for him using real diamonds.

"This case was very upsetting for the gentleman involved as he had travelled to Russia out of love for his wife, and a genuine desire to buy her the best diamond earrings he could find for her," says Carol Marlow of Marlows Certified Diamonds. "Unfortunately the general public aren't very aware of Moissanite, and exactly how closely it can resemble a genuine diamond. People need to double check and make sure they go to reputable jewellers when purchasing diamonds to make sure they are the real deal and not these cheap forgeries."

To find out more about Marlows and their wide range of certified diamonds, please visit http://www.marlowscertifieddiamonds.co.uk or call 0121 236 4415.