Do you want to know if your diamond is real?In order to find out, most citizens turn to a professional jeweler.It's possible to tell the real from the duds.A little bit of light, some water and a warm breath is all you need.
Step 1: The fog test can be used.
If you put the stone in front of your mouth, it will look like a mirror.If it stays fogged for a couple seconds, it's probably a fake, because a real diamond won't fog up easily.It will clear much faster than a fake if you wait in between fogging it up and looking at it.It's possible to use a stone next to the suspect stone and fog.If you breathe on fake diamonds repeatedly, you will see condensation build up, so you can watch how the real one stays clear.The fake stone will fog up more and more, while the real one will still be clear.
Step 2: Look at the setting and mount.
A cheap metal is not likely to be used to set a real diamond.A "C.Z." is a good sign if there are stamps inside the setting indicating real gold or Platinum.The center stone is not a real diamond.C.Z.It is a kind of synthetic diamond.
Step 3: The diamond should be inspected with a jeweler's loupe.
You can borrow one from the store.Small naturally occurring imperfections are called "inclusions" and can be seen with a loupe.Look for a small amount of minerals.There are two signs that you're dealing with a diamond.It usually doesn't have flaws, and it should pass all of the other tests.They are grown in sterile environments instead of in the Earth's laboratory.A gem that is too perfect is more likely to be a fake.It is possible that a diamond will be flawless.It's not a good idea to use imperfections as a factor in determining if your diamond is real or not.Don't use fakes on other tests first.Lab-grown diamonds will usually have no flaws because they are also produced in carefully controlled environments.Gem-quality diamonds grown in a lab can be very similar to naturally occurring ones.This ability to surpass the quality of "natural" diamonds has caused considerable concern among those in the mined diamond business who have lobbied heavily to have lab-grown diamonds distinguished from natural diamonds.Lab-grown diamonds are not "natural".
Step 4: The stone has a high refractivity.
Diamonds bend, or refract, the light that passes through them, resulting in their brilliant appearance.The lowerRefractive index makes stones sparkle less.Even with an expert cut, a stone's brilliance is an inherent property of the stone.You should be able to tell whether the stone is real or fake by taking a close look at it.You can place the stone on a piece of newspaper by turning it upside down.It probably isn't a diamond if you can read print through the stone or see distorted black smudges.You wouldn't be able to see the print if you had a diamond in your hand.If the cut is disproportionate, the print can still be seen through a real diamond.Place the stone over the center of the dot by drawing a small dot with a pen on a piece of white paper.Look down on it.You will see a reflection in the stone if it is not a diamond.You can't see the dot through a real diamond.
Step 5: Look at the reflections.
A diamond's reflections can be seen in many shades of gray.Straight down, you can see the top of the diamond.If you see rainbow reflections, you're either dealing with a fake or a low-quality diamond.Check for sparks.A diamond will sparkle more than a piece of glass.You might want to take a piece of glass with you.Don't confuse sparkle with reflection.It has to do with the brilliance of the light that's reflected by the gem.It has to do with the color of the light.Look for intense light, not colored light.There is a stone that is more beautiful than a diamond.Even jewelers can't tell the gemstones apart because they are so similar.If you don't have special equipment, hold the stone close to your eye.A penlight can be shone through the stone.It's a sign of double refraction if you see rainbow colors.This is not a diamond.
Step 6: If the stone sinks to the bottom, you can drop it in a glass of water.
A real diamond will sink due to its high density.There is a fake one in the middle of the glass.
Step 7: If the stone shatters, you should heat it up.
Drop a suspect stone into a glass of cold water after 30 seconds with a lighter.The rapid expansion and contraction will cause the stone to break from the inside.Nothing will happen with a real diamond.
Step 8: Ask about a heat probe test.
Real diamonds will not heat up easily because of the tight, evenly-packed structure of diamonds.The heat probe tests can be done for free.It doesn't hurt the stone in any way.The same reasons that the "shatter" test works can be found in heat testing.Rather than measuring whether the gem breaks under the pressure of rapid contraction, heat probes measure how long the diamond lasts.If you want to have your diamond professionally tested, look online to find a jeweler in your area.
Step 9: Request diamond/moissanite testing.
Many jewelers have specialized devices that can tell if a stone is a real diamond or a fake.A heat probe test can't tell the difference between a moissanite and a real diamond.The test should be conducted with an electrical tester and not a thermal tester.If you want to test a lot of diamonds at home, a combination tester can be purchased.
Step 10: Get a microscope examination.
The diamond should be placed under a microscope.If you want to rock the diamond back and forth, use tweezers.If you see an orange flash along the facet, it could be a diamond.It is possible that the diamond was filled with Cubic Zirconia.The best way to see the diamond is with a 1200x power microscope.
Step 11: The diamond should be weighed with high sensitivity.
For the same shape and size, diamonds can be distinguished by the difference in weight.A scale that can measure down to the grain level is needed for this comparison.A known real diamond of the same size and shape is the only way to accurately perform this test.It will be difficult to determine if the weight is off without something to compare it against.
Step 12: The diamond needs to be inspected under the UV light.
The presence of a medium to strong blue under an ultra violet or black light is confirmation that a diamond is real.The absence of blue does not mean that a stone is fake.The stone may be moissanite if it is green, yellow, or gray under ultraviolet light.If you can, try to avoid relying on the results of the UV test as definitive indicators of whether or not a diamond is real.Some diamonds do not fluoresce under UV light.It is possible for fake diamonds to be "doped" so that they glow under UV light.
Step 13: Get an x-ray.
Diamonds don't appear in x-ray images because they have a radiolucent structure.It's possible to see glass, zirconium, and crystals on an x-ray.If you want to get your diamond x-ray tested, you will either have to submit it to a professional diamond testing lab or make a deal with your local xray center.
Step 14: Look for synthetic diamonds.
Synthetic diamonds are not real.Synthetic diamonds cost less than mined diamonds, but they are usually the same color.To tell the difference between a natural and a synthetic diamond requires a trained professional using highly sophisticated equipment which tends to rely on detecting the higher uniformity (closer to perfect) structure that gem-quality lab-created diamonds usually have as well as distinctive trace quantities and uniform distribution of specific non-Due to successful PR campaigns by the mined diamond industry, man-made diamonds do not command the same re-sale value as mined diamonds.If you care about re-sale and insurance values, it is important to know if the gem is natural or man-made.
Step 15: It's a good idea to recognize moissanite.
Both diamond and moissanite are easy to mistake for each other.It is difficult to tell the difference between moissanite and diamond because they both have a double refraction, which can be difficult for most people to see.You can try shining a light through a stone, and if it gives off a more colorful and large shine than a known diamond, you'll know that moissanite is what you have.Both diamond and moissanite have similar thermal conductivities.You can only use a diamond tester if you have moissanite.It's important to test a stone for "diamond" on a diamond tester or a moissanite tester.A combined diamond/moissanite tester is the best option for a professional jeweler.
Step 16: White topaz can be recognized.
White topaz can look like a diamond to the untrained eye.White topaz is softer than diamond.The ability to scratch and be scratched by other materials is what determines a mineral's hardness.A stone that can scratch others without being scratched itself is hard.Diamonds are some of the hardest minerals on the planet, so look for scratches around the sides of your stone.If your stone seems to be scratched up, it's probably a white topaz or another soft substitute.
Step 17: White sapphires can be identified.
Contrary to popular belief, sapphires are not only blue.The gems are available in almost every color.White varieties of sapphires are often used as diamond replacements.The contrast between light and dark areas is not found in these stones.If you find that your stone has a hazy appearance, it's probably a white sapphires.
Step 18: It's a good idea to recognize the zirconia.
There is a synthetic stone that resembles a diamond.The easiest way to see a zirconia is by its shine or fire.This stone has an orange shine which makes it easy to identify.Its artificial origin can give it a more "clear" appearance than natural diamonds, which often contain minor flaws.When light is focused on the stone, it can show a greater spectrum of color than real diamonds.A real diamond's sparkle and reflection should be mostly white.One way to determine if a stone is a real diamond is to scratch glass with it.If the stone scratches glass without becoming scratched itself, it's a real diamond according to popular belief.This test is not a definitive way to determine if a diamond is real or not because some high-quality cubic zirconia can scratch glass.
Step 19: You can find a diamond appraiser in your area.
Many consumers prefer an independent gemologist who specializes in the appraisal of diamonds to hire their own gemologists.If you're going to invest in a stone, or want to know more about the stone you already own, you need to make sure that the appraisal is accurate.The first step in an appraisal is to identify and evaluate the stone in question.If you're looking for an independent gemologist who isn't involved in the sale of diamonds, you should look for someone with a Graduate Gemologist degree from a Gemological Institute in your country.You can be sure that the science is sound by doing this.It's a good idea to make sure the person you take your diamond to is trusted in your community.It's a good idea to choose a jeweler who will appraise the stone in front of you, rather than taking it out of your site.
Step 20: Ask the right questions.
If you want to make sure you're not getting ripped off, a good appraiser can answer a lot of questions about the quality of your stone.If you've already purchased a stone, this is important.The gemologist should be able to tell you if the stone is man-made or natural.There is a section on detecting man-made diamonds.Whether or not the stone has had permanent or temporary treatment added is dependent on the documentation provided by the retailer.
Step 21: A certificate of appraisal is needed.
The best and most reliable way to tell if a diamond is real is to check the paperwork and speak to the gemologist.You can be sure that your stone has been proven by experts.If you're buying a stone sight unseen, proof is important.You should ask for a certificate.If you want to check the authenticity of your diamond, you should have it certified by the Gemological Institute of America.If there is a location near you, you can either take your diamond to them directly or have it removed from the setting by a professional jeweler.
Step 22: Not all certificates are created equal.
The certificate needs to be from an authority that grades.An independent appraiser who is affiliated with a professional organization, like the American Society of Appraisers, but not with any one retailer.Lots of information about your diamond can be found in certificates.You might not expect a jeweler to give you information on certificates.The diamond gives off a faint glow when exposed to ultraviolet light.The smoothness of the surface is called Polish.Symmetry is the degree to which the opposing aspects mirror each other.
Step 23: Register your stone.
If you know for sure that your diamond is real, you should take your stone to a lab that can register and fingerprints it.No one will be able to switch out your real stone without you knowing.Like humans, every diamond is unique.A "fingerprint" of your gem is being created by new technology.It costs less than $100 to register, and can be used for insurance purposes.If a diamond with a fingerprints shows up in an international database, you should be able to get it back by showing documentation that proves it is yours.