Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
- Sandpaper
- Newspaper
- Diamond tester
Step1
Observe the mounting. Real diamonds will be set in precious metals, and most likely in an open setting. Though not a guarantee of a fake, if the setting has a closed back, then more than likely the gem is not a diamond.
Step2
Breathe on the stone. Diamonds are excellent conductors of heat, so you should not be able to observe any condensation on the stone if it is a real diamond.
Step3
Rub sandpaper across the surface. A diamond will not scratch or nick from this procedure, but a fake might. If you're buying directly from an individual and they refuse to let you do this, then you can be confident that it is probably not real.
Step4
Be skeptical of scratched glass. Though this is a popular technique, keep in mind that glass is only rated 5.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. While a diamond is rated a 10 on the Mohs scale, anything higher than a 5.5 will still scratch glass. Quartz rates at 7.5 and cubic zirconium rates in at 8.5, so this test won't work at all.
Step5
Place the diamond on a piece of newspaper over the text. If you can see the letter at all, whether clearly or as a hazy likeness, your gem is not a diamond. A diamond's brilliance, even a poor specimen, refracts light so dramatically that you won't be able to see anything through the stone.
Step6
Use a diamond tester. These handy gadgets will run about $100, but if you're regularly on the hunt for diamonds it may be a good investment.
Step7
Look for flaws. Diamonds are not perfect, and even the best specimens will have tiny flaws. If the stone is perfectly clear then be skeptical of it being a diamond.