6 Ways to Tell If You Have a Real Diamond
With the rise of well-made synthetic diamonds on the market, it is natural to want to make sure that you have the real deal.
Whether you are testing out a potential purchase, or want to know about some inherited jewels, here are 6 ways you can be sure about the authenticity of your diamond:
Sink or Swim
One of the easiest tests to perform at home is a water test.
Diamonds have a high density and should not float. Drop your diamond (without its setting) into a cup filled ¾ of the way with water. If the stone floats to the top or hovers in the middle, it is a fake.
Obviously, this would be difficult to do at a jewelry counter, so this test is best for stones you already own.
Can It Handle the Heat?
Diamonds are incredibly strong and are unresponsive to high temperatures.
Have you ever baked with a glass dish and tried to wash it right away, only to have it shatter into pieces in your sink? This test is a similar process.
Fill a cup with cold water. Then, hold the flame of a lighter to the stone for about 45 seconds. Don’t forget to protect your hands by using pliers, tongs, or fire-safe gloves!
Once you have heated the stone, immediately drop it into the cold water. If it shatters, it is made up of weaker materials and is definitely a fake.
This is another test best kept for at home. Imagine bringing all of that into the jewelry store!
Fog Test
The fog test is super easy and requires nothing but your breath.
Hold the ring or diamond between your fingers and breathe a puff of air onto it (similar to creating fog on your car window as a kid). A thin layer of fog will form. If it disappears immediately, congratulations! You have a real diamond! If it takes a few seconds for the fog to dissipate, you are dealing with a fake.
Break Out the Black Light
If you own a UV light, or black light, you can place the diamond underneath and watch for a reaction.
Most real diamonds will emit a blue glow when placed under a UV light, however not all do. If it does not have a blue glow, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have a fake. It just needs further testing, likely by a professional.
Inspect With a Magnifying Glass
Hold your diamond up to the light and examine with a magnifying glass or a loupe. A loupe is the magnifying tool an appraiser uses. It is similar to a magnifying glass except that the lense is more conical.
Using your magnifying glass or loupe, look for any imperfections, also referred to as inclusions, within the stone. If you don’t find any, the diamond is probably lab-produced.
There are, however, flawless diamonds that are without inclusions. So the lack of imperfections does not necessarily mean you have a fake.
Bring Your Diamond To the Experts
If you still aren’t completely sure whether your diamond is real or a well-made synthetic, bring it to us!
Gold Thumb Jewelry Creations has been serving the jewelry needs of the greater Frederick County area for years. Our GIA Graduate Gemologists and Appraisers are ready to inspect your jewelry and evaluate it according to your needs. Whether you are just curious, or need to know the value for insurance purposes, our extensive gem lab will get you an accurate estimate of worth.