Posted by Henri M on December 28, 2011, 5:40 am, in reply to "Re: Paste vs real"
From the reactions I can make the conclusion that there are much more affordable alternatives for diamonds and other gemstones which are amazingly glittering indeed and can provide (almost) the same splendour.
Now I would like to come to my point. There are royals which do not have so many jewels. For a fraction of the price of the real stuff, they can out themselves with great diadems or colliers, so very well made that only a close expert look will or can reveal if it are real stones. When I was a junior royal with no access to grand pieces, I would go for the € 20.000,-- not real but extremely well-made collier than go for the € 200.000,-- real thing. After all € 20.000,-- still is a substantial amount to hang around your neck, of course.
I have no experience, standing eye in eye with real diamonds versus perfect alternatives. It seems that the "real thing" indeed is visibly so much better (which is hard to believe because a simple swarovski crystal already has such a stunning glitter when moved in the light).
In this light I can understand it when the Duchess of Brabant would go for paste (her spouse has money enough for the real stuff anyway) but then paste of the ultimate quality, of course, no beads and no glue.