Fake Diamonds

Knowing how to tell the difference between real and fake diamonds can you save you a lot of money in the long run. There are many ways, available to ordinary people, which will detect a fake diamond from a real one. Some of these tests require everyday items, or special equipment while others can be done with nothing but your own senses. Certain tests shouldn’t be done at all since they are unreliable at best and possibly damaging at worst. This article will go over several ways to accurately determine real diamonds from fake diamonds as well as some assessments that aren’t worth your time.

Self-Sufficient Testing

There are a couple of tests you can perform that don’t require anything but eyes and a mouth. First thing you can try is looking closely at the setting the stone is placed in. High quality settings are rarely, if ever, used for fake diamonds whereas no one would set a genuine diamond in a plated metal setting. Another test for diamond authenticity is called the “fog” test. Don’t worry, you don’t need a real fog machine, just your own breath. Gently blow upon the surface of the stone and if the breath shows for a few seconds after, you have a fake. Genuine diamonds clear up breath almost immediately. Be careful though as any oil or dirt on the surface of a real diamond can affect the outcome negatively. Now if you don’t feel you can trust your own eyes it is possible to conduct further tests with some easily attainable equipment.

Some Equipment Required

If you are interested in tests that give a little more concrete proof, consider performing the black line test, also known as the transparency test. Draw a black line across a piece of paper and place the diamond on top of the line. If the line is visible through the stone, you know you have a fake diamond. Occasionally fake diamonds with exceptionally fine cuts won’t show lines so it’s always best to use this method paired with another more accurate method. One such test can be done with a small gram scale. Cubic zirconium is the most common material used for fake diamonds and it happens to weigh about 55% more than natural diamonds. By weighing a stone, you should be able to tell the difference between the real and fake diamonds with a good measure of accuracy. Any of the above methods will lead you in the right direction without damaging your diamonds like some tests can.