One of the burning questions facing you when you are buying diamond jewelry like engagement diamond ring or diamond bracelet or any other piece is whether the diamonds are real or fake.For this, gemologists advocate some basic tests at home or with a professional.
Some of the tests you can conduct at home include the following:
• Use a Jewelers loupe: A special magnifying glass available at any jewelry store is called as a loupe. It will enable you to take a close look at the diamond and its setting. A diamond made by nature will contain at least a few imperfections. But a fake diamond will be nearly perfect without any blemishes or imperfections.
When looking through a loupe, a real diamond in an anniversary ring will have sharp edges while a fake one will have rounded edges.
Finally looking through the loupe will reveal what type of metal is used in its settings. A real diamond will be set in costly metals like gold or platinum. Other metals mean that the diamond is a fake.
• Rub using sand paper: A simple test, it consists of rubbing the diamond with a rough surface. A real diamond is one of the hardest materials in the world and will not be scratched by this rubbing. A cubic Zirconium will get scratched.
• Fog test: Breathe on your diamond ring just like you will fog up your bathroom mirror. Real diamond will take a long time to fog up or will not fog up while a fake one will fog up soon. This is because a real diamond will disperse heat quickly and will not fog up.
• Observe its sparkle against light: Reflection of light by diamonds is unique: Inside it will sparkle white and grey (brilliance) and outside it will reflect rainbow colors (fire). A fake diamond will have rainbow colors inside it.
• Refractive index of diamond: The brilliance of diamonds is because of the manner in which they refract or bend light. Cubic Zirconium, Quartz and Glass may imitate the brilliance of a diamond, but they have much lower refractive indices. For this, you can conduct a newspaper test. Place a diamond on top of a newspaper, and you will not be able to read the print on it through the stone as it refracts light. A fake diamond will let in light and you will be able to read letters through the stone.
Once you have conducted all tests, you can confirm the value of a diamond by consulting with a gemologist. Find a reputed diamond appraiser in your area to check your diamond necklace. Ask relevant questions- whether the stones are manmade or natural, whether the stones have been subject to color altering, whether they have been through temporary or permanent treatment and whether the quality of diamonds match the grading report provided by the retailer.
Next, you must request for a certificate of appraisal. Observe your certificate with care- because all certification is not equal. Certificate will contain extra information like symmetry, polish and fluorescence.
Next step is to get your stone registered. A lab can fingerprint your diamond, which will help you claim it in case it is lost and found.
