How to Tell if a Diamond is Fake
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How to Tell if a Diamond is Fake
With the increasing number of fake diamonds sneaking into the jewellery
market, customer is often at a risk of buying imitations thinking them to be
the genuine stones. The worst part is that buying an imitation will burn a deep
hole in your pocket. That is why you should know how to differentiate an
authentic diamond from an imitation.
The good news is you don’t have to be a gemmologist to determine whether
a diamond is real or fake. While the help of an expert is always the best way
to do this, there are a few things you can do at home. Below stated are a few
tests to help you determine if your diamond is real or fake.
The Fog Test or the Breath Test
As easy and quick way of verifying the authenticity of your diamond is
the fog test. You can do this test on a loose diamond or with a mounted one,
such as the ones mounted your diamond rings or pendants. Clean the diamond and hold it within one centimetre of your mouth. Fog
it up with your breath just like you would fog a window or a mirror. Since a
diamond is known to be an efficient conductor of heat, it doesn’t fog up. If
your diamond stays fogged for three to four seconds, chances are it is a fake
diamond.
Use the Loupe Test
A loupe is a magnifying glass using which experts inspect the colour and
clarity of a diamond. You can get hold of one from a jeweller and look through
it at your diamond in good light. If you can see naturally occurring flaws or
inclusions in the stone, it signifies that the diamond is a real one. However,
the absence of imperfections not necessarily means a fake diamond. Remember
that lab-grown diamonds are without imperfections but they are real. So, be
sure to also use other tests before ruling out the diamond as fake.
The Water Test or the Floating Test
There is an easy way to determine the genuineness of loose diamonds. It
is called the Water Test or the Floating Test. All you need to do is to drop
your diamond in a glass of water and observe if it sinks to the bottom or
remains floating. The high density of a real diamond will ensure that it sinks
to the bottom of the glass. If your diamond floats on the surface, you have a
fake diamond. Since there are some fake diamonds that do not float on water,
this test is not a conclusive one.
Of Ice and Fire: Carry Out the Fire Test
No, this test is not as terrifying as it sounds. Putting your loose
diamond through the fire test is another way of verifying its authenticity. Use
a candle flame or a lighter to heat up the diamond for 20 - 30 seconds. Then
immediately drop it straight into a glass of cold water. Since diamonds are
very strong, this test won’t harm a genuine one. While the rapid expansion and
contraction will crack or shatter a fake diamond.
The Refractivity Test
Diamonds have an inherent quality of refracting or sharply bending the
light passing through them. A fake diamond lacks this effect. It is possible to
judge whether your loose diamond is genuine or fake by applying the two methods
mentioned below:
The newspaper method: Put your diamond
upside down on a piece of newspaper. If you are able to read the print or see
black smudges, then the stone is probably a fake one. But it might be possible
to see the print through a real diamond if its cut is disproportionate.
The dot method: Take a sheet of
white paper and draw a dot on it with a pen. Place the diamond exactly over the
dot and look down at it. If the diamond is genuine, you won’t be able to see
the dot. If you notice a reflection in the diamond, be sure that it is a fake
one.
Check the Mount or the Setting
This test is applicable for the mounted diamond. It is very unlikely
that a genuine diamond will be set in an inexpensive metal. Look for the stamp
inside the setting or mount of your diamond. If the stamp indicates that the
setting is made up of precious metals like platinum or gold, chances are that
the diamond is real. But if the stamp indicates that the setting is made of an
inexpensive metal, it can mean that the diamond is not genuine. You can take
your jewellery to an expert for a more conclusive result.
What to Do If Your Diamond Fails
One Or More Tests?
It is best to go one by one when conducting these tests. If your diamond
fails one of the tests, do the next one to double-check the results. If your
diamond fails all the tests mentioned above, there is a high probability that
the stone is a fake one. But if it is able to pass even one of the tests, there
is still a possibility of it being a genuine diamond. Get the stone tested
professionally at a gemmologist to find out its authenticity.
How to Procure Authentic Diamonds?
In order to be sure regarding the authenticity of your diamonds, follow
two important measures while buying them. First, do not indulge in buying
uncertified diamonds. Second, always buy your diamonds from trusted & the
certified jewellers, who are well-known for selling only high-quality diamonds
and diamond jewellery. They say prevention is better than cure. A little care
you exercise at the time of purchase will save you from many sleepless nights.