Saturday 27 April 2013

12 Ways to Determine if a Diamond is Real

12 Ways to Determine if a Diamond is Real





Whether you're buying that perfect gift for a special person in your life, or if you just want to know if your own diamond is the real thing; people have a lot of questions about how to tell the real thing from a fake. Obviously, working with a reputable jeweler you trust who can test the diamond without damaging the stone is always best, but here are a few helpful tips so you can learn to spot the real thing like a pro.


1. Ask to See the Paperwork - Most diamonds will have some sort of certificate from a grading authority such as GIA, EGL, AGS, HRD, etc and/or an appraisal from an independent appraiser who is affiliated with the GIA, American Society of Appraisers or other accredited professional organization.  Certificates are issued on diamonds that have been certified, and it gives all the specific details about the stone, its weight, measurements, origin, etc. A certificate is not the same as an appraisal, however.  An appraisal is used to determine the market value of a stone or fine piece of jewelry at the time it is appraised.

2. Check the Setting - Real diamonds are normally set in yellow gold, white gold or platinum settings. Check the stamps inside the setting. If you see: 10K, 14K, 18K, 585, 750, 900, 950, PT, or Plat, the setting is gold or platinum, that is a good indicator that the stone set in it may be a diamond. However, if you see the letters GF, RGP, or GP, these indicate the setting is gold plated or gold filled. If you see: sterling, 925, 9.25 or .925, the setting is sterling silver. If the setting is not gold or platinum, the stone is most likely not a diamond.  However, several popular jewelry designers, such as David Yurman, Judith Jack, John Hardy and others are setting semi-precious stones and diamonds in sterling silver and/or gold settings so while this is an indicator, the stamp in the setting is not a definitive way to determine if the stones in the setting are or are not real diamonds.  Likewise, if you see a stamp that says C.Z., this indicates the center stone is a cubic zirconia (regardless of what metal the setting is), although not all settings with cubic zirconias are marked that way.

3. Use a Jeweler's Loop - Mined diamonds as well as other natural stones will usually have small imperfections visible in the stone when viewed under a jeweler’s loop. These imperfections, known as “inclusions,” are natural flaws that occur during the formation of the stone. A real diamond will, more often than not, have some form of visible inclusions present in the stone.
A complete lack of inclusions indicates one of two things. Either the stone is a very high quality flawless or internally flawless diamond, (which would be a very expensive stone), or it is not a diamond at all. Cubic zirconias, moissanites and other synthetic lab-grown diamonds will usually not have any imperfections.

4. Look Through the Stone - Diamonds have a high refractive index, meaning they sharply bend light that passes through them. This is why diamonds sparkle like most nothing else. Glass, quartz and other simulations also bend light, but they have a lower refractive index. This means that even when they’ve been nicely cut, they sparkle less than a real diamond because they don’t bend light as well.
If the stone is in a setting, look into it from the top of the mounting. You should not be able to see the bottom point of a diamond when looking directly into it from the top.
If you have a loose stone, turn it upside down and place it flat side down on a piece of newspaper. If you can read the print through the stone, or even if you can see distorted black smudges, it probably isn't a diamond. Another thing you can do is to draw a line on a piece of paper. When you place the stone on the line, you will not be able to see the line through the stone at all if it is a diamond.

5. Observe the Reflections of the Stone - A real diamond's reflection will usually manifest in various shades of gray. If you see rainbow reflections, it may either be a lower-quality diamond, or it may not be a diamond at all.

6. View the Stone Under A Microscope - Hold the stone with tweezers under a microscope upside down with the point facing up. As you tilt the stone under the lens, if you see an orange flash, it is probably not a diamond.

7. A Diamond Can Be X-Rayed -  A real diamond is radiolucent but crystals or cubic zirconium exhibit radiopaque signs. Diamonds don't come up on x-rays.

8. Test Your Diamond with a Thermal Probe - This device will show if the diamond is genuine, if the diamond is real it will give a signal and if it is fake there will be no signal from the device.

9. Have Your Diamond Evaluated - A reputable diamond dealer such as Diamond Doctor Wholesale Diamonds and Fine Jewelry can give you expert advise on your diamond's quality or authenticity.

10. U.V. Your Diamond - True diamonds have fluorescence which are visible under ultra violet light. Most fake diamonds don't have fluorescence.  

11. Weighing The Stone - Weighing a cubic zirconium or c.z. will reveal that it weighs 55% more than a real diamond of it's comparable size.

12. Breathing On A Diamond - If you breath on the stone as you would a mirror and the fog stays on the surface of the stone for some seconds then it may not be a true diamond. More testing should still be performed.

How To Identify Real Diamonds


How To Identify Real Diamonds

With diamonds being the most sought after stones in the world, it goes without saying that a lot of shady frausters try to pass off imitation diamonds as the real thing. In the movies you may have seen someone test a diamond by trying to scratch glass with it. It is true that diamonds can scratch glass, but so can many fake diamonds, so this should not be seen as a reliable test.  So in order to avoid being scammed and to make sure your investment is genuine, I'll introduce you to some ways to spot fake diamond sepcimens and identify real diamonds.
Of course, the most reliable method is to take the diamond to  a reputable jeweler for a third party appraisal.  This may be practical if you are interested in purchasing one specific diamond, so not so if you are interested in a variety of possible purchases. The seller may also produce a certificate from a reputable third party diamond grading authority.
 When inspecting a diamond yourself, one way to test its authenticity is to look through it. Diamonds are highly refractive and bend light to a large extent.
So when you look through the diamond you shouldn't be able to see through it from top to bottom. One way to test this is to place the stone on a piece of
newspaper. If you can see the print, then it probably is a fake diamond. Similarly, if the diamond is mounted, looking from the top of the diamond you
shouldn't be able to see through to the bottom of the diamond.
Another way to check if the diamond is real is to look at its reflections. True diamonds' reflections appear in gray, so if you see see rainbow spectrum reflections, it is most likely a fake.
Diamond testing: real, fake?
Diamond testing: real, fake?
You could also test the stone under a UV light. Real diamonds will often have a blue fluorescent hue under ultra violet light, while an absence of blue likely means it is fake. It should be noted however that while the presence of blue confirms authenticity, the absence of blue does not confirm that it is fake.
Another common way to check the stone is to weigh it. Diamonds are much lighter than Cubic zirconia of the same shape and size. Comparison charts can be found online here.
One last way to test the stone is to drop it in water. Many con-artists cap fake diamonds with a diamond exterior, but when submerged in water the cap is much more visible and you will likely spot that the interior is not real diamond.
There are other ways to test to identify real diamonds, but they often require special equipment that normally belongs to professionals. These methods are intended to help you and prevent you from being conned. But they are intended to supplement professional appraisal, not replace it. Please take all necessary precautions when buying a diamond, an important purchase that requires due diligence.

Real Diamonds: How to check if a diamond is real?

Real Diamonds: How to check if a diamond is real?


A real diamond is rare and valuable. It is typically white and sparkly. Because people love them and pay big money to own them, there has been a major effort through the years to develop affordable diamond imitations. Some of the newer ones are so convincing that many frauds have been perpetrated with them. So how do you tell real diamonds from the imposters?

Custom-Platinum-Channel-Set-Diamond-Engagement-Ring-and-Band-by-Whiteflash-30451The first thing to understand is that before you spend good money for a “diamond” you should always have it double checked by a qualified expert – preferably a Graduate Gemologist. If the diamond has been certified by a reputable gem lab like the AGSL or GIA, it is much easier to verify authenticity. Your expert will perform a diamond check matching the measurements, weight, color and clarity characteristics against the lab report. Today many diamonds are also laser inscribed with identifying information which makes verification even easier.

As a layman some of the things you can look for to determine if a diamond is real are facet integrity, clarity characteristics and carat weight. If you have access to a jewelers loupe (10x magnification) or a magnifying, look at the edges of the facet junctions of the stone. If they are abraded, chipped or rounded (do not all come to a fine edge), chances are it is not a real diamond. Diamonds that have been worn for many years can also have some chips and abrasions, so this is not a conclusive test.

Four-Prong-Diamond-Engagement-Ring-By-Whiteflash-31758If the diamond is loose (not set in a piece of jewelry) you can check its weight. Real diamonds are composed of pure carbon, a light element, and therefore weigh less than most of the simulants. For instance, a well proportioned 1.00 carat round diamond will measure approximately 6.5 millimeters in diameter. Most simulants of the same dimension will weigh well over 1.50 carats.

Because modern technology has produced many synthetic and simulated materials that are very close in appearance to real diamonds extreme caution should be exercised when buying. It is extremely important that you buy from, or enlist the evaluation services of, a reputable and well trained professional before parting with your hard earned money for a diamond or piece of fine jewelry. Remember- before you write a check for a diamond, get a diamond check from an expert.

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一个真正的钻石是稀有和珍贵。它通常是白色,闪闪发光。因为人们爱他们,并付出很大的钱去拥有它们,已有了很大的努力,经过多年的发展负担得起的钻石仿制品。一些较新的有欺诈行为,许多与他们犯下如此令人信服。那么你怎么告诉真正的钻石从骗子?


定制白金迫镶钻石订婚戒指和带Whiteflash 30451The首先要明白的是,之前,你花好钱“菱形”,你应该始终有双重检查由有资格的专家 - 最好是研究宝石学家。 AGSL或GIA宝石实验室像一个有信誉的,如果钻石已通过认证,这是很容易验证真伪。专家将检查匹配的测量,重量,颜色和清晰度的特点,对实验报告进行钻石。今天,许多钻石激光刻有识别信息,这使得验证更容易。


作为一个门外汉一些的东西,你可以看看,以确定是否钻石是真实的面的完整性,清晰性的特点和克拉重量。如果你有机会珠宝商的放大镜(10倍的放大倍率)或放大镜,看在边缘的小路口的石头。如果他们被磨损,碎裂或圆角(不罚款边缘),机会是,它不是一个真正的钻石。已经穿了很多年的钻石,还可以有一些芯片和擦伤,所以这不是一个决定性的测试。


四爪钻石订婚戒指的钻石是Whiteflash 31758If松动(未设置一件首饰)你可以检查它的重量。真正的钻石是由纯碳,轻元素,因此重量低于大多数模拟。例如,一个匀称的1.00克拉的圆形钻石将测量直径约6.5毫米。大多数相同尺寸的模拟将重达1.50克拉。


由于现代技术已经产生了许多合成和模拟的材料是非常接近真正的钻石在外观上极为谨慎,购买时,应行使。你买,或者争取,一个有信誉的,训练有素的专业评估服务临别的钻石或一块精美的珠宝,你辛苦赚来的钱,这是非常重要。记得之前你写一张支票的钻石,得到专家的钻石支票。
看到我的其他指南的其他信息,销售珠宝。

How to Test a Real Diamond at Home

How to Test a Real Diamond at Home


1. Look at how the light reflects off the diamond in the sun. The diamond should have gray areas inside of it. If there is a rainbow reflection, either the diamond is of very low quality or it is a fake.

2. Check the weight of the stone by placing a cubic zirconium of the same size and shape onto a gram scale. Take this stone off the scale and place the stone in question onto it. The cubic zirconium should weigh about 55 percent more than a real diamond. If the stones weigh approximately the same amount, the stone in question is probably a fake.

3. Breathe directly onto the stone. If the stone fogs for several seconds, it is a fake. The fog on a real diamond would fade almost immediately.
4. Look at the metals used to mount the stone, if there are any. Real diamonds are set in superior metals, such as 14 karat gold, 18 karat gold, platinum and silver. These metals are generally marked with symbols such as 14k, 18k, PT or 950. A cubic zirconium will probably be set in a gold- or silver-plated jewelry.

5. Look at the stone from the side. A real diamond will sparkle from this angle. A cubic zirconium when looked at from the side will appear dull and will have no sparkle.


如何测试如果钻石是真的

1。看看光线如何反映的钻石在阳光下钻石应该有它内部的灰色地带如果有一道彩虹反射,无论是钻石质量很低或者是假的

2。检查放置范围具有相同大小和形状一个立方氧化锆的重量关闭的规模这块石头把它放置石头问题立方氧化锆应重约55%以上,真正的钻石如果石头重量大约相同数量问题,石头可能是假的。


3。直接到呼吸的石头如果几秒钟石头是假的真正的钻石上的雾气会逐渐几乎立即。



4看一下用来装载石头如果有任何的金属优越14克拉黄金18K金,银金属,真正的钻石这些金属通常用符号,如14K,18KPT或950立方氧化锆​​可能会被设置在一个镀金或镀银的饰品



5石头从侧面一个真正钻石闪闪发光,从这个角度来看立方从侧面看上去显得呆板不会有任何火花

看到我的其他指南的其他信息,销售珠宝