Don’t feel bad if you’ve ever looked at the gleaming gem on your finger and wondered if it was genuine or a convincing fake. Whether a diamond is natural or not is frequently posed by jewelers, and it’s not a frivolous one. Perhaps you’re concerned about the validity of the jeweler from whom it was purchased, or perhaps you want to be sure that what you’re wearing is genuine. To establish the quality of a diamond ring, first determine whether or not you own one. This attribute is determined by a diamond’s reflectivity or the amount of light reflected by the diamond. From dazzling and blazing to drab and darker, it can be found. When a genuine diamond is examined, it should be glittering with various color variations. However, a false one will appear flat and uninteresting.
Another method of determining whether or not a diamond is genuine is to subject it to heat testing. To carry out this test, you will need to wear gloves resistant to fire. A fake diamond will almost certainly shatter when exposed to heat, while a genuine diamond will not. Soft materials can break because of the rapid expansion and contraction of the heart. On the other hand, Diamonds have high thermal resistance and do not respond when exposed to abrupt temperature fluctuations.
How to Tell if a Diamond Ring is Real?
It is very easy for someone who is not knowledgeable about the structure and components to confuse it with a synthetic stone-like one made of cubic zirconia or moissanite if they are not careful. Depending on how realistic-looking a synthetic is, you might go months or even years without discovering it’s a fake! If this causes your blood pressure to soar, don’t be concerned; there are a variety of at-home tests you may perform to determine the truth.
Amazon Collection Sterling Silver Diamond Heart Ring (1/20 cttw, I-J Color, I3 Clarity)
Features
- Polished sterling silver ring with twisted heart design and the band of pave-set diamonds
- Crafted in .925 sterling silver
- All our diamond suppliers confirm that they comply with the Kimberley Process to ensure that their diamonds are conflict-free.
- Imported
- An Amazon Brand
1. Both Colour and White Light are Reflected by it
One of the most aesthetically beautiful aspects of a diamond is how it shines and shimmers when exposed to the sun’s light. Examine the hues reflected by your stone to see how well it performs this test. Not only should you see white winking back at you, but you should also see rainbow colors winking back at you. When there are no reflections of color, and when it simply reflects white back at you no matter how you play with it and turn it around, Wegman believes that the image is not realistic. It is undeniable that diamonds reflect a combination of white light and the rainbow.
2. It Is Not Fogged
Simply breathing on the stone in question is a quick and straightforward at-home test that anyone can perform. It is less likely to fog up if the diamond is natural rather than synthetic, according to Wegman, because condensation does not adhere to a diamond in the same way that it will adhere to synthetics. If you breathe on a CZ, on the other hand, you’ll find that it remains fogged up for a far more extended period. This is another test that works better when comparing stones rather than looking at them individually is worth mentioning.
3. It’s Not Blinding You with Rainbow Flashes
Here’s when things get a little complicated: One characteristic of a CZ may be the absence of color, while another is the presence of far too much color. “If it’s a CZ, it will be extremely, extremely, extremely rainbow-y and extremely dazzling,” says Wegman. “It almost appears to be too fantastic to be true since it is so incredibly brilliant,” says the author. As Wegman points out, a genuine diamond will be bright, but it will also be more subtle than cubic zirconia. For the most part, if you think a diamond is too good to be true, it very well might be.
4. In Extreme Temperatures, it will not Shatter
Performing a fast hot/cold test will make your heart race, but it will also reveal the nature of the stone you are dealing with. Pour a glass of cold water over the stone and set it over a flame (yes, a real one) to start the process. According to the theory, a genuine diamond will not shatter; however, a fake diamond will shatter due to the excessive temperatures. In addition, Wegman explains that “you can apply as much heat as you want to a diamond without causing any damage.” “A fake will not be able to withstand such high temperatures.” While you may be able to ruin your phony diamond in the process entirely, a genuine diamond will remain intact.
5. It is Unaffected by Scratches
Remember that diamonds are tough to damage, which implies that nothing can scratch them (aside from another diamond). To begin, if you have the courage, take a knife and lightly scratch the stone’s surface. ‘If it scrapes, it’s probably not a diamond; it’s almost certainly a synthetic,’ Wegman explained. “The thought of attempting to scratch it is perhaps not the most pleasant thing to contemplate, but a real diamond will not scratch from stainless steel, whereas a cubic zirconia (CZ) would scratch almost soon.”
6. It isn’t Floating
The float test is a less dangerous alternative. In a glass of water, place your stone. It’s probably real if it sinks, but it’s a fake if it floats even slightly. The only issue with this one is that it isn’t always 100% correct. “A real diamond would sink,” Wegman says, “but it depends on what the synthetic is composed of.” While a genuine CZ may float, fakes can be manufactured of various materials, some of which are heavy enough to sink. The moral of the story is that if something floats, it’s a fake. What happens if it sinks? It has the potential to go either way.
7. It Passes the Tool Evaluation
According to Wegman, an at-home diamond selecting tool, which can be purchased on Amazon, is the most accurate DIY test. You switch on and place this tiny handheld device against the stone. According to Wegman, this device will tell you if the item is a diamond on the spot. She recommended checking reviews to ensure that it is legitimate but otherwise stated that it is a safe option to put your trust in it.
8. It is Considered Genuine by a Jeweler
Even though these at-home tests are quick and straightforward to administer, they are not failsafe. “There aren’t any super-easy tricks,” Wegman asserted. When in doubt, bring the stone to a jeweler, who will be able to detect almost instantly if it is a fake. Jewelers have the tools and high-powered magnifying glasses necessary to complete the job and the knowledge and education to back up their claims, and visiting one will swiftly clear up any confusion or misunderstanding.
Diamond Switching: What is it?
People who leave their diamond ring unattended by an uncaring low-level employee, such as a sales associate, or at an unreputable jeweler or pawn shop without investigating the establishment or taking the necessary safeguards are the most likely victims of diamond swapping.
Natural diamonds can be swapped out for fake diamonds in seconds. Therefore deceptive personnel in a pawn shop or other establishment might effectively swap your diamond in a matter of minutes by heading to the backroom.
Some con artists spend a lot of time perfecting their methods for replacing a natural diamond with a fake. Typically, they will remove the original diamond from your ring and replace it with a Cubic Zirconia stone or another diamond simulant so that you can keep it.
Because if you leave the store without examining your diamond, the jeweler may refuse to sell it to you. The employee who did it may resign. You want to know the difference between a fake and a natural diamond to rule out any doubts before leaving the store.
Is the Scratch Test Reliable for Verifying a Diamond’s Authenticity?
The scratch test was a previously frequently used procedure to evaluate the hardness of a gemstone’s mineral, and it was designed to do so. Scratching the loose gemstone up against a mirror to see if it would scratch either the mirror or the stone was part of the test.
In contrast to natural diamonds made of rigid materials, imitations such as cubic zirconia and moissanite are highly durable and scratch-resistant. As a result, the scratch test is inaccurate in this situation. Instead, it would help if you undertook other tests, like a thermal conductivity test or have the diamond evaluated with a professional loupe instrument to determine its quality.
How do you know if it’s a Synthetic Diamond?
With the frequency of synthetic diamonds on the rise, it’s critical to understand how to distinguish between lab-created and genuine diamonds. Synthetic diamonds feature chemical and molecular components comparable to those found in natural diamonds.
We recommend having the diamond examined by a professional due to its complicated internal features. They can do a conductivity test and examine the stone under a microscope. It’s critical for resale and insurance values, even if it’s difficult to distinguish between a synthetic and a genuine diamond with the naked eye.
How can you Know Whether it’s a White Sapphire?
To the naked eye, sapphires appear clear in blue, but they are in various colors, including white, which appears transparent. White sapphires are frequently used to impersonate diamonds, although they lack the glitter and contrast of dark and light areas that distinguish diamonds from other gems in this category.
The stone is more likely to be a white sapphire if the hue is more muddled, meaning there are no definite light and dark areas.
Conclusion
Numerous tests in this guide, including the fog test and the thermal conductivity test, can assist in determining whether a diamond is genuine or not. Given the large number and complexity of synthetic gemstone materials available, we recommend consulting with a diamond expert or jeweler to assess the pieces you already own. These professionals have received specialized training in identifying a fake diamond.
If you purchase a diamond through our diamond education or diamond professionals, you will never have an issue determining if the diamond is genuine or not. A natural GIA or AGS certificate will accompany every diamond you purchase, and all you need to do is make sure the diamond you are purchasing matches the certificate.
