How do you know if a diamond is real or fake? Don't be misled! (2024)

A diamond can be a girl's best friend, as the famous saying goes, but also her worst enemy. If the stone turns out to be fake and you don't know how to tell if a diamond is real, a girl's world can collapse around her. The knowledge of how to spot a fake diamond seems like something only a professional gemologist or jeweler should know. Believe it or not, there are too many scammers trying to sell you a piece of plastic or glass and claiming it is a precious stone. Not so long ago, a very thoughtful woman gave her future daughter-in-law a beautiful 2 carat diamondengagement ringonly to make the devastating discovery that it was worthless.

Extraordinary 2.22 carat TW Fancy deep purple pink and F+ colorless pear floral pattern diamond earrings

Buying diamonds is unlike any other purchase you will ever make. You are purchasing a rare item that is in high demand, and it can go for very high prices. To avoid such a disastrous scenario, you need to take precautions and be aware of the markings that point to a real diamond. That's why we decided to specify a few points that could help.

Sometimes knowledge and experience is one of the only ways to identify a true natural fancy color diamond

1. Certificate of authenticity of diamond

First and foremost, one should always apply for the appropriate certification with any potential diamond purchase. A grading authority such as the GIA, IGI, AGS and an independent appraiser affiliated with a professional organization are the best sources to use as a basis for the authenticity of a diamond.

A GIA diamond grading report

2. How do you know if a mounted diamond is real?

Some of the best diamond imitations have even managed to fool diamond experts, so it can be difficult to use your eyes to determine whether a diamond is real or not, but it can be done. If a diamond is mounted, you shouldn't be able to see all the way to the bottom if it is actually a real diamond. The reason is simply because of the way light passes through the many facets of the stone. If an unmounted diamond is placed face down on a newspaper, you shouldn't be able to see the writing, and if you can, that's a problem.

3. Can you see through a diamond?

Only rarely, when the cut is disproportionate, can you see through a real diamond. But since this is rare, if you can read the text or see through the setting, take it in to have it checked.

4. Diamond reflection test

The reflection of a diamond says a lot. A real diamond will reflect in shades of gray. If you see shiny rainbow colors, the diamond is probably fake.

Running a diamond

5. Can diamonds be seen on X-rays?

While a zirconium may go unnoticed on an X-ray, a real diamond cannot. If it is x-rayed and the stone does not come out, then it is not authentic.

6. Do real diamonds sparkle?

Two other quick and easy ways to recognize a real diamond are to see how it sparkles in the light and how much you can see through it. A real diamond appears gray and white inside (brilliant) when held up to the light and can reflect the colors of the rainbow (fire) on other surfaces. A fake diamond shows rainbow colors in the stone when held up to the light.

See how the light shines through and through the stone

7. What does a real diamond look like?

Because it can be difficult for the untrained eye to determine what a real diamond looks like, it is always recommended to purchase from a reputable source.

8. How do you know if a diamond at home is real?

Use this simple test to make sure a diamond is real.

Find a normal-sized drinking glass and fill it ¾ full with water. Carefully drop the loose stone into the glass.

If the gemstone sinks, it is a real diamond. If it floats under or on the surface of the water, you have a fake on your hands.

A real diamond has a high density, so the water test shows whether your stone meets this density level.

9. How can you tell if a diamond is real based on sunlight?

The way diamonds reflect light is unique: the inside of a real diamond should shimmer in gray and white, while the outside should reflect a rainbow of colors on other surfaces.
A fake diamond, on the other hand, has rainbow colors that you can also see in the diamond.

10. How to identify a real diamond using a mirror

This test, also called the 'scratch test', used to be considered the easiest way to test a diamond. The test consists of simply scratching the loose stone against a mirror. The idea is that if the stone is hard enough to scratch the mirror, it is probably a diamond. However, because today's counterfeits are made of strong, durable materials, this is not a reliable method.

11. Heat resistance

Glass will shatter if brought near a heat source, while an original, authentic diamond will remain unharmed.

Apply heat to the setting

12. Is it fogging up?

Another very quick way to spot a fake is by fogging. (I wouldn't recommend basing your decisions solely on this test, though.) A synthetic stone can't absorb heat, so simply breathing on a diamond can give you an idea of ​​whether it's real or not. A real diamond will fog up (but will brighten immediately), while a fake diamond should not be tarnished at all.

13. Type of institution

Although this is not a foolproof method, it usually applies. Once the diamond has been set, check to see if the metal in the ring you are looking at is of poor quality, such as a metal with a 'C.Z' stamp. The stone is most likely not real. On the other hand, rings made of 10K, 14K or 18K gold or those marked 585, 750, 900, 950, PT or Plat are likely to contain real diamonds.

A beautiful Vivid Yellow Cushion Diamond Halo Ring in platinum

14. Sand it down

This method may sound a bit intimidating, but remember that diamonds are the hardest natural elements in existence. You can physically rub a diamond with sandpaper and the stone will appear as if it were untouched. If you notice any damage to the stone, it is probably fake. Still, I'll be honest. While I believe this to be true, I have never personally tried this method. If you're super brave, let me know what happens, because there's no way I can cut my diamond, fake or not!

15. Weigh it

Well, this one only works if you have access to cubic zirconia, a substance often used to replace real diamonds, of similar size. Interestingly, a diamond weighs less than a cubic zirconia. If your stone weighs 55% less than the cubic zirconia, yours is a real diamond. If it weighs the same, it could very well be a fake.

Unfortunately, just like in any other industry, there are scammers looking for easy money. As time goes by, more and more imitations emerge, but there are also more and more ways to spot them before it's too late. Only go to jewelers you trust or get qualified reviews that prove they are who they say they are. In addition to the above tips, it is also possible to buy a magnifying glass from a jeweler or borrow it locally and use this tool to briefly study a diamond. A real diamond will generally have some imperfections, while a fake will look completely perfect.Familiarize yourself with the common imperfections found in diamondsand ask all your questions to the jeweler.

By educating yourself before purchasing a diamond, you protect yourself from financial losses and emotional stress. In the long run it's worth it.

Read more on ourFrequently asked questions about diamonds, or browse our collections ofLoose colorless diamondsofFancy color diamonds.

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