Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 5: Testing set diamonds at home
• Method 2 of 5: Testing unset diamonds at home
• Method 3 of 5: Have a diamond tested by a professional
• Method 4 of 5: Differentiate diamonds from other stones
• Method 5 of 5: Get proof that your diamond is real
• Tips
• Warnings

Finding out if the diamond you bought is real can be very exciting - do you want to make sure? Most curious laymen turn to a professional jeweler to have it sorted out. But you don't have to be a detective to tell the real one from the fake. A little light, some water or warm breath and a magnifying glass are all you need. Continue to Step 1 for additional details and information about the wonderful world of the diamond.

To step

Method 1 of 5: Testing set diamonds at home

1. Use the fog test: Hold the stone in front of your mouth and spread the vapor from your breath like you would in a mirror. If it stays blurry for a few seconds it is probably a fake diamond. A real diamond spreads the heat immediately and will not fog up quickly.
   • You may find it helpful to hold a stone that you know is real next to the suspect stone and spread the vapor from your breath over both stones. You can then see how the real stone remains clear while the fake stone remains washed. And, if you do this repeatedly, you will see how the condensation on the fake stone increases. The vapor increases with each exhalation while the real stone is still clean and clear.
2. Check the setting and mounting. A real diamond is usually not set in cheap metal. Stamps in the setting that indicate that it is real gold or platinum (10k, 14k, 18k, 585, 750, 900, 950, PT, Flat) are a good sign, while a 'CZ stamp' (Cubic Zirconia) gives away that the inner stone is not a real diamond.
3. Use a jeweler's loupe to inspect the diamond. Mined diamonds usually have small imperfections or blemishes ("inclusions") that you can see this way. Look for small flecks of minerals or small color differences. Both signs indicate that you are dealing with a real, but imperfect, diamond.
   • Lab-created zirconia and diamonds (which usually get a positive result in all other tests) have no imperfections. That's because they grew in a sterile environment, rather than in the lab called Mother Earth. A stone that is too perfect is usually a fake.
   • However, it is possible for a real diamond to be flawless. So don't use imperfections as the deciding factor in determining whether your diamond is real or not. First rule out counterfeiting using other tests.
   • Note that lab-grown diamonds will not normally have imperfections either, as they are also produced in controlled environments. Gemstone grade diamonds grown in a lab can be chemically, physically and optically identical (and sometimes superior) to naturally occurring diamonds. This ability to surpass the quality of "natural" diamonds has raised great concern among those in the mined diamond industry who have lobbied intensively to distinguish lab-grown diamonds from "natural diamonds". Lab-grown diamonds are "real," but not "natural."

Method 2 of 5: Testing unset diamonds at home

1. Look at the refractive power of the stone. Diamonds have a high "refractive index" (this means that they far deflect the light that shines through them). Glass and quartz have a lower index of refraction, which means that they shine less, even when properly cut, because the refractive index is an inherent physical property that cannot be changed by sharpening a stone nicely. By looking closely at the refractive power you should be able to determine whether you are dealing with a real or a fake stone. Here are some ways to do that:
   • The newspaper method: Turn the stone upside down and place it on top of a piece of newspaper. If you can read the newspaper through the stone or if you see distorted black spots, the stone is probably not a diamond. A diamond would deflect the light so sharply that you cannot see the letters (unless the stone cutting was done deliberately out of proportion, in which case the letters of the newspaper could be read through a real diamond).
   • The punctual test: Draw a small dot on a piece of white paper with a pen. Place your diamond that has not yet been set on the center of the dot. Look down through the diamond from above. If your stone is not a diamond you will see a circular reflection in the stone.
2. Observe the reflections. Those of a real diamond are usually visible in shades of gray. If you see rainbow reflections you are dealing with either a low quality diamond or a fake diamond.
   • Look at twinkle instead. A real diamond sparkles much more strongly than a piece of glass or quartz of the same size. Keep a piece of glass or quartz next to it for comparison.
   • Don't confuse sparkle with reflection. Sparkle has to do with the brilliance or intensity of light refracted by how the stone is cut. Reflection has to do with the color of the light that is refracted. So pay attention intense light, and not colored light.
   • There is one stone that sparkles even more than a diamond: moissanite. This synthetic stone is so similar to diamond that even jewelers find it difficult to tell them apart. To see the difference without special aids, you can hold the stone close to your eye. Then shine a flashlight through the stone. If you see rainbow colors, it is a sign of double refraction. This is a property of moissanite, but not diamond.
3. Put the diamond in a glass of water and see if it sinks to the bottom. Because diamond has a high density, it will sink. A fake diamond floats on the surface or halfway down the glass.
4. Heat the stone and see if it falls apart. Heat a suspected stone with a lighter for 30 seconds, then throw it into a glass of cold water. Weaker materials such as glass or quartz will break from the inside due to the rapid change in temperature. Real diamond is strong enough to pass this test.

Method 3 of 5: Have a diamond tested by a professional

1. Ask for a heat test. The dense, evenly distributed crystalline structure of a diamond ensures that it dissipates heat quickly; real diamonds do not get hot quickly. The test takes about 30 seconds and is often done for free. This method of testing does not damage the stone, unlike some other methods.
   • The heat test works on the same principle as the latter home test with temperature changes. However, instead of seeing if the stone breaks, it measures how long the diamond maintains its temperature.
   • If you'd like to get your diamond professionally tested, look online to find a reputable jeweler near you.
2. Ask for a combined diamond / moissanite test. Many jewelers have special tools to quickly distinguish a diamond from a moissanite.
   • With a traditional heat test you cannot distinguish between a moissanite and a real diamond. Make sure that the test is performed with an electronic device, and not with a heat test.
   • If you often test diamonds at home, you can buy a combination tester online or at a specialty gem store.
3. Have the stone examined under a microscope. Place the diamond upside down under a microscope. Gently move the stone back and forth with tweezers. If you see a bit of orange shimmer coming off the facets, the diamond could actually be a cubic zirconia. Sometimes imperfections in a diamond are also filled with zirconia.
   • For best results, you should use a microscope that magnifies 1200x.
4. Weigh the diamond. Diamonds can be recognized by very minute differences in weight, as a cubic zirconia weighs about 55% more than a diamond of the same shape and size. Use a carat scale or precision scale to compare the stone in question to a real diamond.
   • You can only perform this test accurately if you have a diamond that you know is genuine and of roughly the same size. If you don't, it is difficult to know for sure if the weight is correct.
5. Hold the stone under UV light. Many (but not all) diamonds show a blue light under ultraviolet or black light. A moderate to strong blue light thus indicates the diamond's authenticity. However, the lack of blue light does not indicate counterfeiting; some diamonds do not fluoresce under UV light. A little greenish, yellowish or gray glow can indicate that it is a moissanite.
   • You can narrow the possibilities with a UV test, but do not let your conclusions depend solely on this test. As mentioned above, some diamonds glow and others do not glow under UV light. Some fake diamonds are also treated with a liquid so that they glow under a UV lamp.
6. Have an X-ray of the stone taken. Real diamonds are not visible on an X-ray. While glass, square cubic zirconia and crystals all have light radio density properties, diamond is radiolucent.
   • If you want to get an X-ray of your diamond, you will need to take it to a professional lab.

Method 4 of 5: Differentiate diamonds from other stones

1. Recognize synthetic diamonds. Some diamonds have been created in a laboratory or are synthetic, but are strictly speaking "real" diamonds. They cost a fraction of what mined diamonds cost and have (largely) the same chemical compounds as "natural" diamonds. Determining the differences between a natural and synthetic diamond is beyond the scope of this article and is best done by an expert.
2. Recognize moissanite. Diamond and moissanite are difficult to tell apart. It's hard to tell the difference, but moissanite shimmers slightly more than diamond and gives a double refraction. If you let a light shine through the stone and it gives more color and brilliance than a diamond that you know is real, it will be a moissanite.
   • Diamond and moissanite have very similar thermal conductivity. If you only use a diamond tester it will indicate "diamond" when in reality you have moissanite. It is important to test any stone that indicates "diamond" with a diamond tester or moissanite tester. It is best to just use a diamond moissanite combined tester.
3. Recognize white topaz. White topaz is another stone that can look a bit like a diamond to an untrained eye. However, a white topaz is much softer than a diamond. The hardness of a mineral is determined by its ability to scratch, or to scratch other materials. A stone that can scratch other stones without scratching itself is hard (and vice versa for soft stones). Real diamond is one of the hardest minerals in the world, so look out for scratches on the facets of your stone. If it has scratches here and there, it is probably white topaz or some other soft stone.
4. Recognize white sapphire. Contrary to popular belief, a sapphire is not always blue. This stone even comes in just about every conceivable color. The white kind, usually translucent, is widely used as a substitute for diamond. However, this stone does not have the sharp, sparkling contrast between the dark and light spots that diamond does.If your stone is a little cloudy or "icy", it means that the contrast between the light and dark areas is not that great; it is probably a white sapphire.
5. Recognize zirconia. Cubic Zirconia is a synthetic stone that is very similar to diamond. The easiest way to recognize cubic zirconia is by its color, or by its "fiery" glow. Zirconia has an orange glow, making it easy to identify. It is artificial in origin, which makes it a bit more "transparent" than diamond, which often has some minor stains or flaws.
   • Zirconia also has a wider spectrum of color when light is shone on it. A real diamond has a reflection and sparkle that is mostly colorless, while a cubic zirconia can project a colored sparkle.
   • A common test to determine whether a stone is a real diamond is to scratch glass with it. If the stone can scratch the glass without scratching itself, it would be a real diamond. But good quality zirconia can also scratch glass, so this test is not waterproof.

Method 5 of 5: Get proof that your diamond is real

1. Find a reliable diamond appraiser near you. Most jewelers will hire their own appraisers, but some consumers prefer to hire an independent party. If you want to invest in a stone or are curious about a stone you already have, you want to make sure that the stone is valued fairly and accurately.
   • A valuation involves two basic steps: first identifying and evaluating the stone in question, and then determining its value. If you are looking for an independent appraiser, it is best to choose one who has a degree in gemology and who does not sell the gems themselves. Then you can be sure that you will receive a fair valuation.
   • If you are taking a diamond to someone else for assessment, make sure it is someone trusted in the community. It's a good idea to choose a jeweler who will evaluate the stone for you on the spot, rather than through a website.
2. Ask the right questions. In addition to finding out whether the stone is real, a good appraiser can also answer all kinds of questions about the quality of your stone, so that you can be sure that you will not be ripped off. This is especially important if you have already bought or inherited the stone. The appraiser should be able to tell you:
   • whether the stone is natural or artificial
   • whether or not the stone is colored
   • whether the stone has undergone any treatment
   • whether the stone matches documentation provided by the seller.
3. Ask for a certificate of authenticity. Whatever tests you have taken, the best way to say for sure whether a diamond is genuine is to check the paperwork and talk to the appraiser. Certification assures you that the stone has been "approved" by experts. Evidence is especially important if you buy the stone without looking at it first, such as from the Internet. So ask for a certificate.
   • The best way to check the authenticity of a diamond is to get it certified by an organization such as the Gemological Institute of America. If there is a location near you, you can take your diamond directly to them or you can have it removed from the setting by a professional jeweler and then sent to the GIA.
4. Look closely at the certificate - not all certificates are created the same. The certificate must be from a recognized certification body (e.g. GIA, IGI or HRD) or from an independent appraiser, but never from a seller.
   • A certificate provides a lot of information about your diamond, such as the carat weight, size, proportions, color grade, clarity and how it was cut.
   • A certificate also sometimes provides information that you would not expect from a jeweler, such as:
     • Fluorescence, or the amount of glow the diamond gives off under a UV lamp.
     • Shine, or how smooth the surface is.
     • Symmetry, or how the opposite facets mirror each other perfectly.
5. Have your stone registered. When you are certain that the diamond is genuine, whether you have it determined by an appraiser or a lab, take your stone to an organization that can register it. Then you know for sure that you have a real stone, and no one can ever change it unnoticed.
   • Every diamond is unique. New technology makes it possible to have a "fingerprint" made of your stone. Registration often costs less than 100 euros and can come in handy if the insurance asks for it. If a stolen diamond shows up somewhere in a database with your fingerprint, you can easily claim it if you can show the correct papers.

Tips

• Enjoy your jewelry. Does it really matter if your diamond is real or not when you wear it? If even experts can be fooled then you may wonder if it should bother you. Only when you buy or sell is it important to know whether the stone comes from the ground or a laboratory.
• If you decide to have the stone appraised by an independent jeweler, you can count on an amount of approximately 45 euros. Make sure you don't lose sight of the stone because people could swap your stone for a fake stone.

Warnings

• There is no way to 100% verify that your diamond is genuine unless you have a certificate. If you buy a pledged piece, something from a stall on a market or a piece through a website, you are taking a risk.
• Do not test a diamond by rubbing against it, including for bragging purposes. If it is real you will not scratch it, but you can inadvertently cause the diamond to break or break a piece. Diamonds are hard but also brittle, not strong. It is also better not to scratch because many imitation stones are very hard and can withstand scratches. If it is a fake diamond and you do scratch it, you are unnecessarily damaging a piece of jewelry that looked exactly like a diamond.