How to Test if Diamonds are Real
Posted on March 12th, 2009 by Elaine
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The diamond is considered the most valuable gemstone in the world today. Unfortunately, not all diamond-looking stones are genuine, and sometimes, jewelers trick people and sell imitations. If you suspect that your diamond isn’t real, here are a few tests and tips you can try to check its authenticity.
What You’ll Need:
- Newspaper
- Sandpaper
- Glass
- UV Light
- 1200x microscope
Real Diamonds Are “Flawed”
People often think real diamonds are perfect. On the contrary, diamonds are filled with tiny inclusions or flaws that create a brilliance, making the stone shine. Cheap, Cubic Zirconia or Moissanite don’t have this , because they are carefully crafted, sporting no imperfections. To check for these small flaws, use a 1200x microscope.
The Glass/Mirror/Sandpaper Technique
The diamond is the hardest material in existence, meaning nothing on Earth can scratch it. If you see dings or scrapes on its surface, that’s already a dead giveaway that your precious stone isn’t so precious after all.
If there are no scratches though, you can try scratching it yourself. Get some sandpaper, and scratch the surface a few times. If your diamond’s real, there won’t be any damage. You can also scratch the diamond on a piece of glass or mirror. If your stone gets scratched, then it’s a fake. If it’s the glass that’s damaged, then you have a genuine stone at hand.
Put It Under UV Light
Many diamonds show blue florescence when put under a black light or an ultra violet light. If there’s a tint of blue, then it’s real. If it becomes yellow, green or gray, it’s Moissanite. The absence of blue, though, doesn’t mean it’s fake, but rather that it’s of better quality.
Fogging The Diamond
A simple fog test can determine whether your diamond is real or not. Diamond is very hard, made up of compacted carbon molecules making it very hard to fog. Breathe on the stone and see if fog forms on its surface. If it becomes damp and foggy for two to four seconds, your stone is fake. Before you try this test, wipe your diamond with a clean towel though, because if your stone has dirt and oil on it, the it becomes unreliable.
Read Through It
Because of the many tiny flaws and intricacies in it, light cannot pass through a diamond without being refracted first. You cannot look through a diamond or see things on the other side as you look at it. One simple test to prove this is to lay your diamond down on a newspaper. If you see the letters clearly, or even just distorted black smudges, the diamond isn’t real. If you cannot see the newspaper through the stone, it’s authentic.
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but only if they’re genuine. Find out if your stone is real or not through these test, and if it fails, it’s time to bring it back to the jeweler who sold it to you.
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on March 13th, 2009 at 12:29 am
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