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Diamonds – Are They Real Or Fake?
By Joy McDougle
Diamonds are costly treasures. The majority of people in the market for one are looking for a good stone that is still a bargain. These days’ shoppers often look to online auctions, estate sales, and online jewelers. For the most part all these options are honest businesses, but we still might worry about the diamond’s authenticity.
This is a valid question with so many manmade stones now on the market. Most of them look like the real thing. Let’s face it, most of us can’t tell the difference, unless the stone is cut glass or crystals, or some of the colorless gemstones. Those made from cubic zirconium or Moissanite, using the latest technology, are harder to spot as fakes.
Ideally, you should have any diamond checked out by a legitimate jeweler or certified diamond cutter. It’s hard to do that when you’re buying from an online auction site but it’s worth it to find a way. You could lose a lot of money and be dreadfully disappointed if you learn you bought a fake. There are some things to do if you think you’re being shown a cubic zirconium.
First, breathe on the stone. If the fog created lingers then you know the stone is a cubic zirconia but if the fog disappears quickly, the stone is real. Then, with an ink pen, try to write on the surface of the stone. If the stone is a cubic zirconia, the ink will ball up whereas it would stay in a clean line if real. Another test is to flip the stone upside down, looking through it over a piece of newspaper. If the print can be read easily and clearly, the stone is more than likely fake. Now, the one exception to this rule is that today, some shallow
cut diamonds");
are more transparent.
Checking its weight is another way to test a stone. Cubic zirconium weigh about 55% more than a comparable diamond. Comparing it with a diamond the same size, or accessing a gram or carat scale, will help you in this situation. Another telling feature is the color. The majority of manmade Diamonds");
(99%) look clear when viewed under a black light. What you want to see is a fluorescent blue color. Blue indicates a true diamond, but too much blue indicates one that’s of inferior quality.
You can also place the stone under a magnifying glass. Look at the facets from the top and see how they are joined. In real Diamonds");
the facets have sharp rather than rolled edges. The girdles should be faceted or frosty, rather than clear looking. If they are too resinous or slippery, you know the stone is not a real diamond. These tips should help you make sure you get your money’s worth when you buy a diamond.
Copyright 2006, Joy McDougle, All Rights Reserved. This article may be published on web sites or in newsletters provided this notice and the resource box is included without ammendment.
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