How to tell if a Diamond is real or fake at Home
Knowing whether or not a diamond is real before you sign on the dotted line is obviously important because purchasing a diamond is an emotional decision. But how can you determine whether a diamond is genuine? It makes sense that you'd want to verify the authenticity of your engagement ring, whether you're looking to buy a diamond ring or you just want to look at your own jewellery. It is now relatively easy for humans to produce stones that closely resemble diamonds but aren't the actual thing. Although beauty is subjective, appearances can be deceiving. Many "fake" diamond equivalents are readily confused for real diamonds these days. White topaz, white sapphire, and white zircon are a few examples of natural jewels that closely resemble diamonds.
Here are some methods about How to tell a Diamond is real or fake at home:
- TESTING YOUR DIAMOND IN WATER
It is not conclusive, but this is arguably one of the simplest ways to tell if your diamond is real or not. Simply place the diamond into a glass of water after obtaining the glass. Due to the diamond's high density, if it is real, it will fall to the bottom of the glass. It will float on the water's surface if it is a fake.
- CHECKING FOR REALITY IN YOUR DIAMOND WITH A BLACK LIGHT
You'll need a black light for this one. Once you have it, switch off all of the lights in your house and position the diamond in front of the UV light. The majority of diamonds will emit a blue glow under UV light, but not all of them will; certain diamonds do not shine under UV light. Watch for its reaction and note the colour it displays. A gem is typically not a diamond if it exhibits a faint green, grey, or yellow fluorescence in its place. Though not all diamonds will exhibit a blue colour, keep in mind that this test is not conclusive, thus it is advisable to have a diamond professional use their sophisticated equipment to analyse the diamond.
- Perform the Fog Test
Breathe on the gem, then exhale as though you're attempting to defog a window or clear your glasses to see if your gem is a real diamond. It is not a diamond if the stone's surface fogs up. Since diamonds do not hold heat effectively, they will not fog even when exposed to warm air from your breath.
- Think on the settings for the diamond
The majority of diamonds are set in precious metals like platinum or gold. The mounting for the stone may be phoney if it looks to be plated or is solely made of a semi-precious metal (like copper or aluminium). Similarly, the diamond might not be very expensive if the setting appears shoddy or made with poor craftsmanship.
- Check to see if the stone breaks by heating it
A suspicious stone should be heated with a lighter for 30 seconds before being dropped into a glass of ice water. The tensile strength of weaker materials, such glass or quartz, will be overwhelmed by the fast expansion and contraction, causing the stone to fracture.
- Obtain a microscopic analysis
With the top facet facing up, place the diamond under the microscope. Carefully swing the diamond back and forth with tweezers. The diamond might possibly be Cubic Zirconia if you notice a faint orange flash along the facets. It might also mean that the diamond's flaws were filled with Cubic Zirconia.
- Reading Comprehension Test
For best results, use a loose, round brilliant diamond in this test. It evaluates a stone's refractivity (the way light is broken up and scattered). A newspaper with a lot of lettering should be placed flat-side down over the diamond. If they are slightly smudged, the letters will still be readable through the stone if the diamond is a fake. A genuine diamond contains several facets that will reflect light in many ways, rendering it impossible to see the inscriptions. Make sure to do this test in a well-lit area without the possibility of a shadow falling on the stone and influencing the outcome.
- A Real Diamond is Tested by Public Weighing
The scales used by jewelers and gemologists are often quite precise and can measure even the smallest weight discrepancies. A real diamond would weigh less than imitation stones like Cubic Zirconia, but only specialized scales for measuring Carats will be able to distinguish these tiny variations.
Select a fake diamond that is almost identical in size and shape for the test. Compare it to the diamond you are considering using this stone.