diamond education, diamonds, Jewelry care, jewelry education, moissanite

How to Tell if a Diamond is Real: A Few Simple Tests

Posted on by Diamonds By Monet
03
Apr

Diamonds are the most popular precious stone in jewelry. They bring brilliance, beauty and durability to engagement rings, necklaces, earrings and other designs. When buying diamonds or considering the jewelry you already own, you may be wondering if your diamonds are the real thing. After all, these classic gems have been imitated by many materials throughout time. 

Popular diamond simulants include cubic zirconia, glass, crystal, white sapphire and moissanite. Despite some simulants coming close, nothing compares to the beauty of genuine diamonds.

Whether you’re in the market for a new piece of jewelry or assessing the value of an heirloom, being able to distinguish between real diamonds and their imitations is essential. The fastest way to check a diamond is to bring it to a jeweler who can test it with an electronic diamond tester. In this guide we’ll explore several at home methods to help you possibly determine if a diamond is real.

 

Visual Inspection

    • Look for Flaws: Real diamonds often have imperfections called inclusions, which are tiny flaws within the stone. Use a jeweler’s loupe to examine the diamond closely for these natural characteristics.
    • Assess the Mounting: Examine the setting of the diamond. Real diamonds are typically set in high-quality metals like gold, platinum, or sterling silver. If the mounting appears cheap or flimsy, it could indicate a fake diamond.

 

Fog Test

    • Breathe Warm Air: Hold the diamond close to your mouth and breathe warm air onto its surface. Real diamonds disperse heat rapidly and will not retain fog.
    • Observe the Reaction: If the diamond remains foggy for more than a few seconds, it may be a fake. This method works best when the diamond is clean and free of oils or residues.

 

Transparency Test

    • Read Through the Diamond: Place your diamond face down, with the pavilion facing up, on a section of text in a newspaper. If you can read the letter through the diamond chances are that your stone is fake. But if the letters are blurry this is one indication that your diamond is real. Make sure your diamond is clean before going through with this test. Real diamonds have high refractive indices, which means you should not be able to read the text through the stone.
    • Dot Test: This test for telling if a diamond is real measures the refractivity of your gemstone and is best done with an unmounted diamond. A real diamond is exceptionally refractive. For this test, draw a small dot on a piece of paper and place your diamond over the dot you’ve drawn. A real diamond will typically have high refraction that makes it difficult to see the dot through the stone. It is important to note that diamond cut plays a role in this test, and some diamonds with less-ideal cuts may be less refractive. 

 

Water Test

    • The water test is another technique for testing if an unmounted diamond is real. Both lab grown and natural diamonds are heavier than diamond fakes such and quartz. This means that in general, a diamond will sink when dropped into a small glass of water. Glass and quartz, on the other hand, may sink slowly or even float. This  a foolproof technique to tell if a diamond is real, as some simulants like cubic may sink quickly as well.

 

Brilliance Test

    • Check for Reflections: Diamonds refract light in unique ways. Hold the diamond under a bright light (You can use your phone’s flashlight, or any flashlight) and observe how it sparkles. Real diamonds will exhibit sharp, colorful reflections sparkle in shades of gray with intense light. Other simulants like moissanite will have a majority rainbow sparkle. A highly polished jewelry-quality gemstone that has a dull sparkle is likely not a diamond. 

 

 

While these tests and techniques can help you get a better idea of whether you have a real diamond, the best way to tell if a diamond is genuine is to check with a jeweler. Every diamond is different, and some of these tests may not apply to certain diamond shapes, colors, cuts or clarities.

If you have any doubts about the authenticity of your diamond, consider seeking expert assistance to ensure peace of mind. Diamonds by Monet offers free diamond testing, steaming cleaning to make sure your jewelry is always in top shape!