How to Spot a Fake Diamond
With so many high quality imitation diamonds, it can be difficult to detect a fake. What's more, some dishonest jewelry dealers sell fake diamonds, but charge consumers as high a price as if the stones were real. Some tips may help you spot an impostor. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Ask about the stone. A knowledgeable jewelry dealer should be able to provide information on the stone. Ask whether the stone is a diamond or moissanite. Moissanite stones closely resemble a diamond, and it can be hard to distinguish between the two. And, unfortunately, some less scrupulous retailers have a "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
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Check the setting and mounting. Fake stones are typically set in substandard metals. Ask about the silver or gold metal and whether it's gold or silver plated. While a jeweler may claim a stone's genuineness, they may acknowledge an inferior metal without realizing you'll see this as a red flag. Cheap settings usually mean a cheap stone.
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Check the stone for scratches. Diamonds are extremely durable. On the other hand, cubic zirconium and moissanite stones scratch easily. Before buying a diamond, carefully check the stone for scratches and other imperfections. Ask the jeweler for a small magnifying glass. Multiple surface imperfections indicate a fake. On the other hand, if you can look at the stone with a jeweler's loupe, beware of stones that appear perfect. Real diamonds usually have minor imperfections within the stone.
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Place the stone on a newspaper and see if you can read the newsprint through the stone. If it's a real diamond, the refraction of light from it will make it impossible to read through it. If you can read through it, it's a fake.
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Have the jewelry appraised. Persons who question a diamond's genuineness after a purchase should have the stone appraised by a trusted jeweler. Professionals can effortlessly spot a fake diamond.
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Get a certificate for the diamond. If a diamond is real, the jeweler or dealer will willingly issue a certificate from the Gemological Institute of America. This organization examines diamonds and provides a grade report. Consumers can obtain a report upon purchase of a diamond.
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References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
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Comments
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one of the best ways to tell is The fog test. This test I like a lot. Put the stone in front of your mouth and fog it like you would try to fog a mirror. If it stays fogged for a couple seconds, it’s a fake. A real diamond disperses the heat instantaneously so by the time you look at it, it has already cleared up, or if it happens to be a little dirty, it still clears much faster than a fake. I usually put a stone I know is real right next to the suspect and fog both. You can watch how the real one stays clear while the fake one fogs over, plus if you breath on them repeatedly, you will see condensation start to build up on the fake, it fogs more with with each puff, while the real one is still clean and clear.
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cadence
Dec 09, 2008
Great tips about diamonds!
